Randy's classical guitar

[DMRX]

I recall reading somewhere Ozzy saying that shortly before Randy died he had bought a very,very expensive Classical guitar.For some reason I remember it being either 1400$ or 1800$$

EDIT--actually the more I think of it,Ozzy may have said it was Randys first Big Royalty/Recording Check,that was when Randy bought that guitar.

[RR-ElectricAngel]

In my Blizzard Of Ozz tab book insleeve Ozzy is quoted as saying, "He bought a Spanish guitar for $2,000 and spent his days and nights with it. He lived for guitar."

That's more than mine. Mine was only a mere $1,300.

[David Denson]

I recall reading somewhere Ozzy saying that shortly before Randy died he had bought a very,very expensive Classical guitar.

EDIT--actually the more I think of it,Ozzy may have said it was Randys first Big Royalty/Recording Check,that was when Randy bought that guitar.

Basically you've repeated what I said the first post of this thread. (Gotta razz you a little )

For some reason I remember it being either 1400$ or 1800$$

However, thanks for this tidbit of info. Where did you see these figures? Thanks!

In my Blizzard Of Ozz tab book insleeve Ozzy is quoted as saying, "He bought a Spanish guitar for $2,000 and spent his days and nights with it. He lived for guitar."

That's more than mine. Mine was only a mere $1,300.

But you never know if Ozzy has his facts right....it is the Ozz after all. $2000 is a nice rounded number as well....the guitar was probably lower than $2000....but maybe not that much lower?....depending on what luthier built it.

Thanks for all the info so far guys.

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

what ever the amount, an early 80's guitar for $2000 was a hell of a lot of money. What would that be like today?? $10000? More

It just shows to me where his heart was

[David Denson]

Yes Matt....even if it was $1300 like David's (RRElectricAngel's).....that might be like $8000-$10000 today!

I bet he spent most (if not all) of that first royalty check on that classical guitar!

[RR-ElectricAngel]

True David. That's mucho dinero. I looked up camparable prices in 1981. Found this as a comparison: "The Specialized Stumpjumper mountain bike 1981 price was $750, or $1,537 when adjusted for 25 years of inflation." (2006 prices) In 1980 the average cost of new car was $7210.00.

http://www.theped.com/article_details.asp?idno=19

You could therefore easily double the price of Randy's guitar to get a rough estimate of how much it would cost today. Maybe not the same as buying a new car but still...ouch!!

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

On a related subject I think Gibson has added a few extra $$$ onto the normal rate of inflation. In 1995 a Gibson Les Paul Custom was c£700. Now it is £2500!

[Geo Sav]

I love those pics of Randy playing the Classical.Haven't seen them in a while.Thanks for putting them up.

[DMRX]

OKay,well I found the article & it was in a Heavy Metal Guitar Book from like 1985 & had alot of cut up quotes from Randy,Ozzy Dee,Kelle,Rudy,Tommy,Max Don Airey ect.ect.
But part of Ozzys quote on that is here
"Randys heart was in the classics,to be honest;he wanted to be a classical guitar player.In fact,with the first record royalties he recieved,he went out & bought a very,very expensive classical guitar.He sat there for days & nights just working on his classical theories.As a matter of fact,right before he died he had been up for four days & nights-plus gigging- working on his theory because he wanted to get into a university and get a degree in music.And every town he went to he'd find a tutor.On days off I'd get into the barHe wouldnt,He'd practice all day,every day.He didnt take drugs,and he didnt drink too much.Every day of his life he practiced"

Now I am not sure where I read he paid 1800$ ,but I am fairly certin ,well I KNOW that I had read that somewhere?

[David Denson]

OKay,well I found the article & it was in a Heavy Metal Guitar Book from like 1985 & had alot of cut up quotes from Randy,Ozzy Dee,Kelle,Rudy,Tommy,Max Don Airey ect.ect.
But part of Ozzys quote on that is here
"Randys heart was in the classics,to be honest;he wanted to be a classical guitar player.In fact,with the first record royalties he recieved,he went out & bought a very,very expensive classical guitar.He sat there for days & nights just working on his classical theories.As a matter of fact,right before he died he had been up for four days & nights-plus gigging- working on his theory because he wanted to get into a university and get a degree in music.And every town he went to he'd find a tutor.On days off I'd get into the barHe wouldnt,He'd practice all day,every day.He didnt take drugs,and he didnt drink too much.Every day of his life he practiced"

Now I am not sure where I read he paid 1800$ ,but I am fairly certin ,well I KNOW that I had read that somewhere?

Thanks Dave

I used to have that same book, with Eddie on the cover. And I remember that bit of Ozzy interview. Maybe Randy did pay that much, if so, that was one hell of an expensive classical guitar for the early eighties!

[RR-ElectricAngel]

On the Randy Rhoads Society Page in Facebook someone asked what kind of classical was Randy's guitar? Here was the response. Does everyone agree? I have no idea what kind it was. Hey Matt, do you know for sure if this is indeed the right maker?


http://www.schrammguitars.com/

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

Hi Dave

Who was the person who gave you the answer? Cheers; good lead!

Re David Schramm

He graduated in the early 90's, his Bachelor in classical guitar, but I think by the article linked at the bottom, as a mature student
What doesn't add up is his guitars start at around $2000 (nowadays prices) for a hand made classical, Ozzy etc said it was that price c.1980?
Here is a higher end one for $5000
http://fretsandfingers.com/Schramm_Coco ... ttice.html

Most of his more expensive ones seem about $5000

"The early guitars sold for $500 so I would make a little money to buy more wood or tools and as the product got better, the price increased. I have had a waiting list for guitars from early on. Every time I build a guitar it's for someone else"

Here is the interview, he does mention RR, but only as an influence; surely IF he had built one for him he would have mentioned that too?
http://fretsandfingers.com/Schramm_Guitars.html

Matt

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

ps I have written to him and asked...

[RR-ElectricAngel]

Who was the person who gave you the answer?

Hmmm...shoot! They deleted the answer. Well that sucks...

[schrammguitars]

Hello, Well I'm honored that somehow I was thought to have built Randy's guitar, unfortunately I did not. I did meet Delores and her daughter's family in 2005 at an event that we both contributed to http://schrammguitars.com/Rhoads.html There are some photos of Randy's proto type guitar as well as the original. I told Delores that Randy was the reason I went to study classical guitar in the early 1980's. We both had tears come to our eyes. She said she loved to hear stories like that. I thought she had probably heard that millions of times and felt like a dork telling her that. She was genuinely touched and sincere. A friend of mine teaches guitar at Musonia.

BTW Diary of a Madman most people are aware of the Leo Brouwer Etude 6 influence, but did you know the other melody is influenced by Francisco Tarrega's Recuerdos de la Alhambra? Yup, the bass line of Recuerdos is very similar to the melody that comes in after the "Brouweresque" intro. I wrote an article about it.