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Now, I never get lucky in the unending quest for vintage C/Js in pawn shops and music stores. But yesterday, a last minute choice to stop into my local music store paid off BIG TIME! I took my daughter to a doc's appointment yesterday; after spending the previous night in the emergency room suspecting my 9 year old girl had apendicitis. Thankfully, it's only a viral infection. Anyway, I had the option of stopping into Swing City Music for a minute or heading home right away. I stopped in and did my usual scan of rack gear, used stuff, keyboard amps, etc. On the "used" wall, I saw the same two C/Js that have been up there for a year or so. A black neck-thru import Charvel (a beater for 700 bucks) or a purple Dinky Reverse. But then I noticed a natural finish Rhoads hanging up there. It had a rosewood board, sharkies, and no binding and it looked like a bolt-on from 20 feet away. I asked to look at it and I was shocked to see that it was a neck-thru. Then I saw the "made in USA" which was UNDER the Jackson logo! It had a black Kahler, a white Duncan 59 in the bridge and a black Duncan in the neck. The bad thing is that the previous owner stripped the original red finish off it and left it natural, putting a glossy clear coat over the body. Oh, and the wordt part....he sanded the 22nd fret down eliminating the serial number completely. The frets are small but have no fret wear. The points on the wings are fully intact and not bashed up. The electronics appear to be original. Get this! It was there on consignment for........$250. Yes, you read that right. I have dealt with this store since I was in high school and know the owners pretty well so I ask the manager to call the owner of the guitar and ask him what the serial is. He does but can only leave a message. Heck, even if I can't figure out the serial #, I know for certain that it's a San Dimas Rhoads. The thing I found odd was that it does not have neck or headstock binding and it appears that it never did. The fretboard is rosewood and it has sharkfins instead of dots. I always thought that the Rhoads made in SD were either Custom (ebony, bound, fins) or student (rosewood, not bound, dots).
Anyway, it looks to be in excellent condition even though it's now a natural finish and it does have Duncans and apparently original electronics. I've opened every conceivable cavity (there is none on the back obviously) and can't find any writing. Can any of the really knowledgable vintage Jackson guys (Joe, Jim Shine, Chuck, Hoss, Sully, Newc, etc) give me any tips to maybe identifying a year on this one? I am thinking either '83 or '84 but that's only a guess. Are there any parameters regarding fret size, primer type, type or color of wires used, etc that can narrow it down to a particular year?
My guess is that it was stolen and the thief sanded it down and removed the serial for that reason. I'll shoot some pics in a little while.
But that's not the end of the story....Of course, I asked if it came with a case and Art, the manager said no. But, he said, "I've got a bunch of Jackson cases, brand new, in the back that I need to get rid of." So he goes to the back room and starts calling out cases and what guitars that they are made for. He calls out a Rhoads Pro case, 3 King V cases, and 2 others that would fit maybe a stealth, fusion, dinky, or maybe a soloist. He says make me an offer for all of the cases and they're yours. So after a few minutes of bartering, he accepts my offer for all 6. Hell, I need to replace a few of my cases and whatever I don't need, I'll offer to JCF'ers at a mega low price.
In the end, the choice I made to stop in to that music store ended up costing me a little over $400. I don't know what I'll do with the Rhoads yet. Maybe a refin is in order. Maybe I should try and paint it myself. It is definitely in the condition that refinning it would make it look like a new guitar with minimal work. Now, I can actually say that I went into a music store and fell into a killer San Dimas Rhoads. Pics to come in a little while. I'd welcome any help in identifying this guitar.
Anyway, it looks to be in excellent condition even though it's now a natural finish and it does have Duncans and apparently original electronics. I've opened every conceivable cavity (there is none on the back obviously) and can't find any writing. Can any of the really knowledgable vintage Jackson guys (Joe, Jim Shine, Chuck, Hoss, Sully, Newc, etc) give me any tips to maybe identifying a year on this one? I am thinking either '83 or '84 but that's only a guess. Are there any parameters regarding fret size, primer type, type or color of wires used, etc that can narrow it down to a particular year?
My guess is that it was stolen and the thief sanded it down and removed the serial for that reason. I'll shoot some pics in a little while.
But that's not the end of the story....Of course, I asked if it came with a case and Art, the manager said no. But, he said, "I've got a bunch of Jackson cases, brand new, in the back that I need to get rid of." So he goes to the back room and starts calling out cases and what guitars that they are made for. He calls out a Rhoads Pro case, 3 King V cases, and 2 others that would fit maybe a stealth, fusion, dinky, or maybe a soloist. He says make me an offer for all of the cases and they're yours. So after a few minutes of bartering, he accepts my offer for all 6. Hell, I need to replace a few of my cases and whatever I don't need, I'll offer to JCF'ers at a mega low price.
In the end, the choice I made to stop in to that music store ended up costing me a little over $400. I don't know what I'll do with the Rhoads yet. Maybe a refin is in order. Maybe I should try and paint it myself. It is definitely in the condition that refinning it would make it look like a new guitar with minimal work. Now, I can actually say that I went into a music store and fell into a killer San Dimas Rhoads. Pics to come in a little while. I'd welcome any help in identifying this guitar.
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