Ultimate Rhoads

I'm building a PDV and was wondering if anyone knew what type of vintage tremolo RR used on his PDV?
I also noticed in pics that the earlier chrome tremolo was changed out for a black one.
Does anyone know why this is?

Thanks!

I believe it was a standard Strat trem, as there weren't too many options back then. As for the black, I don't recall his trem being black. His knobs went from white to black because the white knobs detracted from the appearance of the white polka-dots.

Yes that's right Dino he did swap it out for a black-chrome trem , there was only a couple companies doing this color at the time , black hardware became popular a few years later .

I believe he changed it to black just to keep all the hardware the same color .. IE : pick-up surrounds , knobs , switch tip , ... the o/p jack plate and tuners remained chrome .

Companies selling black hardware , at the time was WD parts in New York and some joint in Japan called Kokasai Gakki - i think that's how it's spelled off memory ..

Ritchie wrote:Yes that's right Dino he did swap it out for a black-chrome trem , there was only a couple companies doing this color at the time , black hardware became popular a few years later .

I believe he changed it to black just to keep all the hardware the same color .. IE : pick-up surrounds , knobs , switch tip , ... the o/p jack plate and tuners remained chrome .

Companies selling black hardware , at the time was WD parts in New York and some joint in Japan called Kokasai Gakki - i think that's how it's spelled off memory ..

Thanks Ritchie!
Would it be blasphemy to consider putting a Floyd on this guitar?
I've just never had much luck in terms of tuning stability with vintage trems.

I hate to have to route for a recessed trem, but ...

.

Hello Dino nice to meet you!

You could try a Trevor Wilkinson vintage trem, they are the same as an old fender trem except for the Wilkinson logo mine works great, even with serious Jeff Beck style abuse it doesn't go out of tune plus intonation is brilliant, of course having decent tuners and a good nut is also very important.

Wilkinson also do a two point pivot vintage trem, their hardware is exceptional, i would recommend it if you go the vintage trem route.

Rob

rice_pudding wrote:Hello Dino nice to meet you!

You could try a Trevor Wilkinson vintage trem, they are the same as an old fender trem except for the Wilkinson logo mine works great, even with serious Jeff Beck style abuse it doesn't go out of tune plus intonation is brilliant, of course having decent tuners and a good nut is also very important.

Wilkinson also do a two point pivot vintage trem, their hardware is exceptional, i would recommend it if you go the vintage trem route.

Rob

Thanks Rob!
I was actually looking at the Wilkinson trems last night.

Coincidence!

They are very good though, Trevor Wilkinson is arguably the God of contemporary guitar design, the number of clever design features he has come up with is astonishing. He is one of an elite group, not many designers can be held in as high regard as the likes of Leo Fender in terms of innovation.

I know many people who have put wilkinson trems on their fenders!

Rob

The saddles on Randy's black trem look alot like vintage Charvel saddles. Perhaps since Grover built Randy those 2 prototypes, Randy went to Grover for a replacement trem in black. Who knows.

Randy started out with white knobs on his guitar, but changed them to black. Maybe the chrome saddle and the black knobs clashed in his eyes.

NicDots wrote:Randy started out with white knobs, but changed them to black.

Well Nic you know the old saying "Once you go black you never go back ?"

GUITARIDOL5682 wrote:

NicDots wrote:Randy started out with white knobs, but changed them to black.

Well Nic you know the old saying "Once you go black you never go back ?"

SHAUN!!

^ hahahahaha .....

Oh Shaun, whatever do you mean? Can you explain it to me please? IN DETAIL?

NicDots wrote:Oh Shaun, whatever do you mean? Can you explain it to me please? IN DETAIL?

Don't ask him that! You will encourage him to explain!!!!!!!!!!!! Knowing Shaun as I do he will have more than one definition of knob in his answer