Ultimate Rhoads

Hey guys, I just read this over at the My Les Paul forum:

I have heard from a reliable custom shop source that there is a new Randy Rhoads custom shop guitar - It is a done deal! It will be the white Les Paul Custom. They will do 200 VOS and 100 aged. Fender had a contract with the family for Randy, but Fender said Randy would have wanted this, so they said it is okay for Gibson to do it.

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/histori ... -deal.html

Its no recent news but I haven't seen a topic about it on here, unless I missed something? What do you guys think about this?

I love to see LP's they always look stunning but I find the idea of creating an RR LP odd! I can see why they build special models of his other guitars because they are different shapes etc! but the LP to me (as a non guitarist) is just an LP and building a signature LP seems a little like cashing in.
How different to other LP's was Randy's?

Well Slash and Zakk had their custom LP with a special color, so I dont think Randy doesn't deserve a custom.. I got to say that the yellow/creamy les paul's are my favourite guitars!

I can your point Stewie, but with RR's LP he had used it from his days as a club player in LA, at that time he was nobody and his bands were not certain to launch him to fame, when Zakk joined Ozzy it was certain to launch him to Rock super stardom so his LP was always going to be a signature, much like RR's Jacksons are now because by the time those Jacksons were being made RR was on the rise.
I think the RR LP is a different thing but if an ordinary LP like RR's is reproduced isn't it just like adding a higher value to something already available just by adding the name Randy Rhoads to it?

Just my thoughts, and those of a non guitarist at that! (for what they are worth)

I'm with you on this one Ian , I'm very tired of companies cashing up by releasing "limited Edition" artist signature instruments and charging a rediculous amount , but on the same token if there are people unoriginal enough to buy them then the companies will make them .

+1

Zakk had his Les Paul Bullseye personalised, ie stock pick ups changed to EMG's, stripped neck, Bullseye Graphcs etc. It became the Zakk Wylde Bullseye.

Randy's guitar was an early 70's Custom. A lot of guys on the Gibson forums also don't rate the 'Norlin era' Gibsons saying this period of Gibson was substandard compared to the early Gibsons and the ones made 86 onwards.

I reckon it will be priced about £2900.00. In 1986 a Gibson Les Paul Custom was £599.00. There is no way everything has gone up over 400 percent. Current Les Paul Customs are start at £2399.00

Matt

Ritchie wrote:I'm with you on this one Ian , I'm very tired of companies cashing up by releasing "limited Edition" artist signature instruments and charging a rediculous amount , but on the same token if there are people unoriginal enough to buy them then the companies will make them .

+1

Its all about the money. Limited edition artist models always seem like a bt of a joke and never catch my interest. Maybe because i have almost no chance of ever owning one!

Rob

I believe that if you want to play one of the "artist edition " instruments or even a RR PDV live on stage you'd better be a muthafukker of a guitar player and really do it justice or you will be laughed at and be known as a wanna be .

Randy's Les Paul was totally stock except for changing the ring around the toggle switch and the truss rod cover. So a 'signature' model would cost Gibson nothing to create, yet they'd rape consumers for extra $$ just to put Randy's name on it. What a waste of time.

Paul Wolfe wrote:Randy's Les Paul was totally stock except for changing the ring around the toggle switch and the truss rod cover. So a 'signature' model would cost Gibson nothing to create, yet they'd rape consumers for extra $$ just to put Randy's name on it. What a waste of time.

Too right Paul. I think if you really want a similar Les Paul's to Randy, you can just pick a used early 70's off white Custom up for about £1500. It would have more mojo too

Matt

LOL

Nostrarose predicted this a while back to me!

Matt

Summerize about the latest Randy things:

-RR figure (by knucklebonze): doesn't look like Randy....
-1959RR: doesn't look like the one Randy used, contains a mod that Randy never used, and the white Marshall head Randy used wasn't even his main one..... (not to speak about the speaker cabs..)
-RR signature Les Paul custom: Randy used a regular Les Paul custom which people can still buy

None above are worth the $$$$. Meanwhile the good stuff that really matters (and people can afford ) is hidden away.
The only recent item that wasn't a 'hoax' is Rudy's book.......

The Flying Dutchman wrote:Summerize about the latest Randy things:

-RR figure (by knucklebonze): doesn't look like Randy....
-1959RR: doesn't look like the one Randy used, contains a mod that Randy never used, and the white Marshall head Randy used wasn't even his main one..... (not to speak about the speaker cabs..)
-RR signature Les Paul custom: Randy used a regular Les Paul custom which people can still buy

None above are worth the $$$$. Meanwhile the good stuff that really matters is hidden away.
The only recent item that wasn't a 'hoax' is Rudy's book.......

That is a very depressing, but honest summary my friend

Rob

I guess if Randy's LPC were all beat up and Gibson were to do what Fender have done with the Relic'ing on SRV , R Gallagher models etc then they could make it a "replica" but it's gonna take no effort on Gibsons behalf and suckers are gonna fork out the $$$

I agree, Gibson is going crazy with their prices. It would be cool if the Antique Ivory Epiphones were back available for the people who like that creamy color but don't got the money: