Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

[KE2KV2Rules]

why the hell are the regular, stock USA select King Vs designated KV2s and Kellys designated KE2s? and the signature series versions that once existed for Dave Mustaine and (blecchh!) Marty Friedman respectively designated KV1 and KE1?

Notice everything else in the USA series is a 1. SL1 (ok theres a SL2 and a SLATQH but thats not the point), a WR1, a DK1 and an RR1.

i dont know if this proves a point or anything but even Scott Ian's Jackson Junior sig series was designated JJ TWO!!

what is with this inconsistency with the Kelly and the King V? (ODDLY ENOUGH, THEY HAPPEN TO BE THE ONLY TWO JACKSONS I OWN how ironic)

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

You're right...the KE1 and KV1 were Marty and Dave's signature models. The first Scott Ian guitar was the JJ1, but it's since been discontinued. It was bolt on with two hums, and you could get it with a wraparound bridge or a Wilkinson trem...there's one on ebay right now with the wraparound that I really wish I had the money for [img]images/icons/frown.gif[/img]

[KE2KV2Rules]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

the only thing i know for sure is that the letter and number designation system was started around 1996.

accdg to Jackson's site the serialing and production start of USA (later to be called USA Select) Jacksons started in 1990. what confuses me is if those 6 Jacksons (the Warrior, Soloist, Kelly, King V, Dinky and Rhoads) all started in 1990 as being mass produced, well surely when the code system started in 1996, why would the Kelly and the King V be the only two USAs not being given #1s?

i'm going to try and answer my own question here, because accdg to Jackson's website any U-00000 Jackson isnt simply stated as a USA mass produce or what we now know as USA Select. I'm guessing it also counts for Sig Series. the only difference is for RR's being for custom Rhoads and J's for customs that aren't Rhoads and JA's for those Arch-tops. so i'm guessing if the code system began in 1996 for the "Jackson USA Neck THru" line, i'm guessing Jackson just gave the sig Kelly and King V priority and named them KE1 and KV1. in my opinion which would be a stupid mistake as now Friedman and Mustaine are gone. its a small thing i know, just something that bothered me.

if i have any of the details wrong in my hypothetical guess regarding the serialing processes, please correct me.

[charvel750]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

The reason is that the King V and the Kelly WERE NOT production guitars in the USA lineup initially. Only the Rhoads, Soloist, and Warrior were. By 1995 or 96 the Kelly and King V entered as production neck throughs. So that's why those two models have later model designations.

[KE2KV2Rules]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

hhhmm that explains a lot. especially some important info.

so there were Sig Series Kellys and King Vs produced BEFORE mass production versions of them? if that's the case, then my question is already answered.

[Newc]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

The Warrior was a USA AND Import model for 1990 (just in case someone misinterprets Xeno's post).

But yeah, the production model KV was given the "1" because they did plan on the "2" later, which started as a Professional model with a bolt-on neck and dot inlays. Also, the KV1 was not a sig model for a very short time, IIRC, before being redesignated the Mustaine Sig model. I do think the KE1 came straight out as the Marty, though.

Newc

[STLKINGV]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

It should be noted that the original King V was built for Robbin "King" Crosby of Ratt in the early-mid 80's.

I own (2) King V's:
J1370 1986 San Dimas
J4828 1988 Ontario

[charvel750]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

First of all, as Newc already pointed out, the Warrior was indeed a USA Production guitar in 1990. As I said above, only the Warrior, Soloist, and Rhoads were neck through production guitars from 1990 until at least 1994, with the Warrior falling off the map after 1991. There were NO King V's or Kelly's as production guitars until around 1995-ish. And, sorry, the first King V double Rhoads was for Dave Linsk of Overkill. He had the idea first, but the King was in the Custom Shop one day, saw Linsk's axe on the floor, and asked for one for himself. Since RATT was bigger than Overkill, Robben got the credit for it, but it wasn't his idea. Worse yet, Dave Mustaine has received the credit for that body shape...

[Jim Shine]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

What year did Dave Mustaine start playing the King V's?

[RacerX]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

1986, maybe '87.

I remember there was a JCF discussion about that very fact a few months back...IIRC it got a little heated but I was vindicated in the end!

DM was playing a BC Rich in the Cliff 'Em All vid (March 1983), and he stayed with them throughout the early days of Megadeth. Remember the ads with the guys all holding Richs circa '86? (DM was holding an Ironbird!).

However, I was an early fan of Megadeth, and attended most of their SoCal shows in the '86-'88 time period. Anybody remember Jezebel's in Anaheim? [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] I'm fairly sure by late '86 -- and for sure by '87 -- DM was playing King Vs.

[xenophobe]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

The USA Warrior was custom shop only until the late 90's. It was produced as an Import for one year in 1990.

That's why you hardly ever see any USA Warriors before what, 1998?

[xenophobe]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

double post....

[ October 30, 2003, 01:00 PM: Message edited by: xenophobe ]

[Newc]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

But the KV was not christened the Mustaine Sig until Rust In Peace (IIRC).

Newc

[KE2KV2Rules]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

OK NOW I AM ALL CONFUSED.

first let me get some facts straight here. accdg to Joe/Charvel750, Kellys and King Vs were not mass produced til 95. true or false?

so let me get it straight, the signature series Kelly and King V of Friedman and Mustaine were produced before the USA Select? if so, that would make sense why the USA select versions got the 2 designation instead of the 1. man, i hope i get this question answered finally.

second, as far as Dave Mustaine goes, if you check the credits of Peace Sells but who's buying, he credits BC Rich for his guitars. he doesnt officially endorse Jackson until So Far, SO Good...So What!

[charvel750]

Re: Something that needs to be answered about Kellys and King Vs....

I challenge anyone on this Forum to post a Kelly/King V with a U0 serial (production, of course) that dates prior to 1995. Go ahead...