Another Roswell ... But Mine Is Special. (?) Routed Tremolo!

[Meat&Beer]

Hello!

I've came across this site many times researching Roswells, the guitar I've so desperately wanted for so many years. Here, has been the greatest wealth of knowledge I've been able to find. So I'm looking to you, in hopes you can shed some light on my newly acquired beauty... And it seems I've been the only one to truly, and almost completely molest the original condition of this instrument! All that aside, theres something else, I've never seen one like this in my life, of looking at these things. Mine was what seems to be factory routed for a tremolo.

Clearly, (?) from Japan, being that its wood, (Stupid Poplar) I found it on the Bay. A flat pewter light blue, with a Wilkinson trem in it. I asked for pictures under the cavity plates, and this is what I saw:


http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/DSC01726.jpg

I had to bid on it, are you kidding me? And I was the only one who did. Probably because it had already been defiled by hideous screw holes that held in the stupid Roland Synth pickup, or by the big dent in the upper fin. But did and or do I care? Not at all. For I already had plans.

BUT... Whats with this?? It seems to be factory Blue, inside the trem cavity and electronics too... Where the ground collector things are, they have a graphite like black spray where they screw in... Thats not a home job. Neither is (was) the rout for the tremolo.

I figured since I already planned on taking a freaking router to whatever Roswell I got my hands on so I could have a Floyd in it I would buy it if I could afford it. I couldnt really afford it, but that doesnt matter, ...Whats With This Roswell?!?!?

I'm nearing completion on the transformation.. I had to go around and above the archtop with the jig to make a flat and level rout. Heres a pic of the rout I did:


http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/IMG_0685.jpg

...I've already spent the same amount I purchased it for in supplies and parts in order to make it how I've always wanted one. Heres PART of the routing jig for the Floyd recess:


http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/IMG_0702.jpg

The serial number is a sticker at the butt of the neck, close to the body,
it reads: J 011379.

The neck pocket, has a hand written RWR 85 with an H circled. Here it is:


http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/IMG_0664.jpg

So like I said, and as you can see, I routed for the trem. There was no paint underneath signifying it was a paint-over. This is (was) original...! I know, I know, I totally raped this thing with drill bits and routers and sandpaper and etc... But its exactly what so many people desire in a Roswell.

Oh yeah, the neck diving thing? Solved, with a 1/4" steel plate made into shape for the upper fin, (Mounted on the back) counterbalancing it to feel like an RR1 kickass Rhoads (No joke, I got one of those too) its always right where you want it/where you left it. THIS THING right here :


http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/IMG_0851.jpg

Mounts on there so perfectly nice, check this out..:


http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/IMG_0854.jpg

I'm actually going to grind off the point, makes me nervous for the woods sake... BUT, it feels awesome, plays awesome, and sounds incredible. So, this is my Roswell, I've transformed it, so its too late, HOWEVER.....

What? ..Is this some sort of custom shop? Theres just the "regular" Jackson logo on the headstock, the Roswell Jackson logo that is... It also came with Gotoh short locking tuners... An odd ball in themselves. I got rid of them though.. Everything, for that matter, in favor of Black. Everything its Black, including the "Illuminati Vs. the Universe" graphic I have working out for it.

Please, someone shed some light on this truly unique Roswell. ?

Please!!!!!!

For those that have one of these guitars already, and would love the balance fixer plate thing I made... I can also make you one for a small price. OR,.. I can explain to you how to do it with a simple hand-held metal grinder. Its not hard!


EDIT: I can plug my images now? Sweet deal. I think I was just being a ratard before though...

[QuantumRider]

Hey Meat&Beer,

Nice routing job!

BTW, that's not an "H" in the circle in the neck pocket, but the Japanese katakana for "Sa".

I'm going to link your photos within this post so that others who read it won't have to click back and forth between different windows/tabs.

[IMG]http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/DSC01726.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/IMG_0685.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/a...6/IMG_0702.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad328/agormortis666/IMG_0664.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad328/agormortis666/IMG_0851.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i948.photobucket.com/albums/ad328/agormortis666/IMG_0854.jpg[/IMG]

Hope this helps,
QR

EDIT: WTF? How come the IMG tags aren't working?

[Meat&Beer]

Thanks! It took about 4 days to make that jig, and about an hour to route. Now the jig is just about useless. Unless someone wants me to put a Floyd in their Roswell... (Or I get another one! ) Oddly enough my router completely broke when I was finishing. The whole jig works around the measurements of the base of that router. Poop.

Interesting tidbit on the character on the neck pocket, thanks!

I couldnt post the pictures either, I thought it was because I'm new, but I dunno.

So no idea on why this one had a factory rout? I've never seem one, have you?

[Newc]

Maybe it was a SemiCustom? Or a limited run for Japan only? Maybe it was stripped, routed, and refinished? Who knows.

[Devotee]

Whatever happened to it, post more pics!

[DalyTek]

My turn to try:

[Devotee]

Wouldn't it be more logical to just relocate the strap button to stop the neck diving instead of attaching a solid steel plate to the upper horn? Kinda reminds me of the guy who routed the upper horn of his Kelly and filled it with lead.

[Meat&Beer]

Yay pics! Thanks DalyTek!

I did relocate the strap button... Both of them, in fact, and it did little to nothing at all, aside from make the guitar sit on my right hip a little more. I'm a righty, and I dont want it there. Try doing the twist whilst soloing. I wish I had the means to pour hot lead into it! I actually tried to think of a way to do something like that....

That piece of steel makes the guitar sit front and center, I'm not kidding you when I say its in perfect placement and balance now. Do I like the fact that I screwed a stupid hunk of steel to my guitar? Not particularly. But it sure does do the trick.

I'm almost done all that I want to do... Next is the graphic and clear coat. I'll definitely post more pictures, possibly a vid. Until then, I'd still like to know if anyone has a personal stash of info on this model...

[coloradoman25]

I have one but not with the trem nor the mods. Never did yank the neck but I assume its got the same stuff yours has.

[Drake S.]

You guys ever want To Let 1 of these go just Let me Know

[Musician78]

Wouldn't it be more logical to just relocate the strap button to stop the neck diving instead of attaching a solid steel plate to the upper horn? Kinda reminds me of the guy who routed the upper horn of his Kelly and filled it with lead.

That's awesome! I was going to suggest he do that.

[jackson1]

That piece of steel makes the guitar sit front and center...

If you haven't already, check this video where Rob Cavestany talks about his Death Angel guitars and mentions "the butt plug" invented by Grover Jackson and used on Rob's DA guitars. A piece of metal drilled into the back of the body to adjust the balance of the guitar. Go to 3:05....

[Meat&Beer]

Thats exactly what I originally had in mind to balance... The little cylinder weights would fit right in a hole made w/ a spade drill bit.. I couldnt find any though. Funny! I swore that plate I used gave me more sustain, and even made pinch harmonics yell a little louder, glad to know its not all in my big fat head! GoooOOOO Death Angel and Grover! \m/

I could still do that, and use the screw holes for a cavity cover on the back, to cover the input jack if I decide to relocate it. I shure would like to do that too...

[DonP]

Damn, I though you only purpose on this forum was to reply to the beer thread

[Meat&Beer]

Rise from the grave oh ancient Roswell thread!!!

Well ladies and gentleman, I just discovered one on eBay, this thing was indeed factory with the trem! Check the listing while it's still up;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1997..._qi=RTM1562571

Haha, about 3 years later, I'll finally post a final photo. Plays like a dream, made a way cooler plate for the back. Super sustain from this guitar, perfect balance, thinnest neck I've ever played. Really, it's thinner than anything! I'm very pleased with how it came out.

Model; RWR-85, just like it says in the neck pocket. Go figure! The eBay listing says less than 200 of this model were made, and even less with the trem. Oh boy, I raped the crap outta this thing! I love it though, and it's not going anywhere. I also paid WAY less than what they're asking... Evidently, no one knows about this model and I got a great deal on an extremely rare Roswell!