Charvel/Jackson: Tales From The Shop 1983-1987

[stevoc]

Just reviving this thread...hoping more stories are coming soon!

[AIC70]

So are all the actual Double Rhoads guitars accounted for? Not including JCF02's or 25th Anniv DR's. I think I know who has the original Big Red and Curt must have at least four or five of Robbin's. I thought I read somewhere that there were around 10 total DR's made from 1983 - 1988? I'd take out a bank loan if an original ever surfaced for sale.

[bsteff666]

Wow. Great thread.

I haven't been here much lately...so happy to see this.

Thanks Curt!

[Danbass]

'Big White' And The Little Hole'

This one for me is just for fun. Not especially earth-shattering but still an interesting episode in the early Charvel/Jackson history with RATT.

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After the major label release of RATT's “Out Of The Cellar” and their smash hit video for “Round & Round”. The band was on a worldwide roll...'Ratt & Roll' to be exact!

Grover Jackson naturally, was pleased with their success and offered both guitarists an endorsement deal... and now both of the new guitar heroes were playing HIS guitars front & center in live shows across the United States. A tour of Japan was the band's next destination and would elevate them to even greater popularity, in fact Japan was where RATT were to become beloved like no other country in the world. All of the members of the band would agree that Japan was their favorite place to play.

Warren & Robbin were thrilled with their new Charvel/Jackson guitars and several more for each were already in the works...several bolt-on 'Strat' style guitars for Warren (with Glenn Matejzel designing the graphics...more on these famous guitars later in Part III!) and a brand new Neck-thru-body model for Robbin, tentatively called a 'Double Rhoads'. Basically a Randy Rhoads model with both wings being the same longer size. This seemingly 'small' change made the overall guitar MUCH bigger, but in Robbin's hands it was a perfect fit.

Robbin had briefly played a white Randy Rhoads 'Student' model (1st pic below) on loan from Grover Jackson while his first Jackson was being built, a Black 'Roundhorn' Flying V (2nd pic below). While he liked the Rhoads, he felt it was too small for him. He was 6 foot 6 inches in height and described that 'It looked like a toy on me!' So in discussion with Grover Jackson it was agreed that a 'Double Rhoads' would be much better proportioned for him.





So while RATT were preparing for their first Japanese Tour, just a week away, Robbin & Warren again visited the San Dimas factory to pick up some new guitars. When they arrived they found that the guitars weren't quite finished and were being worked on '….as we speak, they will be ready very shortly'. While Robbin was in Grover's office talking shop, out on the shop floor, a young employee named Willy Houston was charged with installing the electronics on the first 'Double Rhoads'.

He remembers being 'stressed out' and 'rushed' because Robbin was here in the factory to pick up the new guitar and it wasn't quite ready. With Glenn Matejzel standing nearby watching, Robbin & Grover walked up just in time to see Willy drill the first pilot hole for the bridge volume control...IN THE WRONG PLACE!!! Glenn instantly knew what had happened, Willy had drilled the hole according to a standard 'Rhoads' volume placement template...not taking into account the larger bottom wing and the relative geometry!

While Willy Houston turned absolutely deathly pale white with the drill in his hand.... Grover Jackson turned a fine shade of Purple/RED in the face and was CLEARLY horrified at this seemingly major error...he probably envisioned having to fill the hole and re-finish the entire guitar which meant Robbin would NOT be taking this guitar on tour.

Robbin Crosby, well known for his easy going, good natured attitude took it in stride and chuckled at the mistake and said 'No big deal, it's just a little hole....' In short order the guitar was drilled properly, wired and set up to his satisfaction. He left with the guitar and played it on the Japanese tour. It was also featured in RATT's next video 'Lay It Down'. The 'Little Hole' was forgotten and never fixed and Robbin played the guitar all over the world.

Go back and take a look at ANY picture of that guitar and focus...you will see that extra 'little hole' between the first & second knobs!!!

Here's a few...








One taken in Robbin's Hollywood Hills home circa 1987.




Fast forward and Here's what the guitar (Serial J0139) looks like TODAY in 2013. For the first time in more than 25 years, pictures of the guitar in it's current state.

'No big deal, it's just a little hole....' - Speaks volumes in regards to Robbin's good nature and incredible selflessness. Only adds to his legend as not only a stellar guitarist, but as a first class dude. A rarity these days, unfortunately.

Could you imagine if that guitar was for perennial douchebag Ritchie Blackmore??

[Danbass]

TALES FROM THE SHOP...Part II


Chris Holmes, a larger than life survivor from the 80's. It's a miracle he's still with us. VERY EARLY on he was a Charvel/Jackson player... The Blood Star, The Harley Star, The Bud Star and of course...The 'Yellow Shit' Star. The fact that this 'guitar' still survives is even more amazing than Chris being alive!! Did you ever wonder HOW it came to be in the state it's in now??

Here's a recent pic! I mean...damn it's missing the entire lower bout. Most people would have chucked it in the trash by then.


Early on this guitar was a Charvel Custom Yellow Star body with a reverse Strat Headstock and later was replaced with a matching Yellow pointy neck. It soon took a real BEATING as seen here. Abused beyond belief but the guitar is still *somewhat* in one piece. It's had at least 5 different necks on it over it's lifetime.


Here's the story from an employee at the C/J shop as he saw the guitar when it came in for 'repair'....A mere 'bus stop' in it's colorful life!


YELLOW SHIT
Sometime, somewhere in 1987 during the 'Electric Circus' tour Chris was doing the regular afternoon soundcheck and wasn't happy with what he was hearing. He and the soundboard guy were going at it...Chris was in a BAD mood and his frustration reached a boiling point...He finally says to the sound guy 'You know WHAT...FUCK YOU!!!" as he was pulling the 'Yellow Shit' off over his head. In a split second before anyone could react he had TOMAHAWKED the guitar across the room, end over end, at the sound board...the sound guy instinctively ducked as the guitar crashed against sound console platform with a sickening *CRAAACK*

Fast forward a week later and the guitar...or what was left of it...arrived back at the Charvel/Jackson shop for 'repair'.

There really wasn't much left to repair. The guitar had already been abused before this latest incident, and had a rather large hole in the face near the volume knob. The impact of the recent 'toss' had carried away the whole lower bout and the neck was completely beyond repair. Still Chris loved the guitar so much....he INSISTED that the guitar be fixed. After some serious consideration Mike Shannon settled on a steel 'prosthesis' for the lower bout...pic below. Unreal.


...and of course it was fitted with a new neck ...this one a matching color regular pointy Jackson-logo'd neck...pic below


Chris arrived at the J/C shop to pick it up and it was being given a final setup when he arrived...when finished the J/C employee handed Chris the guitar and said "Here give it a run and see if It needs any adjustment...' Chris smiled a demonic smile and said 'Hey man, you work here and....this is what you were hired to do, so it must be perfect...right?'

P.S. As a side note...it is rumored that the Ibanez Destroyer that Ed Van Halen cut up into a kinda 'Star' shape and used on 'Women & Children First' originally belonged to Chris Holmes.

Is the pickup melted??? Good god. And here I wipe down my bass after every use, place in securely back in the case.. Silly me. LOL

[BLOOD SPLATTER]

GREAT thread....much coolness....thanx Curt!!

[RR2772]

+ 1

[WYLDCHYLD]

Working on it....still some details to nail down. I want to make sure it is as ACCURATE as can be.

Soon.

Looking forward to it...

[Hellraiser6502]

When??????

Working on it....still some details to nail down. I want to make sure it is as ACCURATE as can be.

Soon.

[RR2772]

+1 once again

[stevoc]

When??????

+1

[RR2772]

Thanks and you're welcome!!

More to come.....

When??????

[Hellraiser6502]

Great topic!!! Thanks for the epic stories!

Thanks and you're welcome!!

More to come.....

[Bielzaoo]

Great topic!!! Thanks for the epic stories!

[Hamner1]

I couldn't agree more!! Best taste in guitars of the era.

Ditto. It seemed everyone else was going for as over the top as they could. Likely most of those have found the wood chipper or refins, but Robbin's could fit in then, during the 90's, & now. Besides outside of Vs & Firebirds I can't think of another shape he played. The Vs give the Metal edge without being over the top & the Firebirds have more of a classic feel.