Randy Rhoads' Last Guitar?
The Jackson Concorde
In 1978 Grover Jackson bought Charvel’s Guitar Repair from his boss Wayne Charvel. The shop was located in Glendora, CA.
Wayne started the company in his home in 1974 and in a quick four years of existence the business went from a repair/mod shop to an aftermarket parts specialist of Gibsons and Fenders, and eventually into custom guitars.
The “Charvel” name had a very good reputation and Grover kept it as he ramped up production of Charvel guitars going into 1979. (Grove pictured below)
There’s a storied history of the story… how Randy Rhoads made contact with Grover Jackson and presented his idea/drawing for an asymmetrical flying V. Nonetheless, a meeting did take place in December of 1980 and the two collaborated to bring Randy’s concept to life.
Randy called his creation the “Concorde” (yes named after the passenger jet)
This is where the Jackson brand begins…
Grover was concerned the design was a little too edgy for the current Charvel offerings and didn’t want to hurt the brand. Rather be safe than sorry he put his last name on the headstock in case this experiment didn’t go over well.
The opposite occurred.
After gigging with the guitar for several months Rhoads requested some tweaks to the Concorde and a second version was delivered in December of 1981.
While on tour with Ozzie Osbourne, Rhoads died in an airplane crash in March of 1982.
The Randy Rhoads Jackson guitar was put into production in 1983.
RR specs from 1984 Jackson catalog: Standard body on all guitars- Maple Center block with poplar sides, Tunamatic bridge w/ strings thru, Kahler locking trem or Floyd Rose, 2 Humbucking Jackson Pickups, J-80 and J-50N, 2 Volume, 1 tone, pickup selector
Custom model - Ebony fretboard, shark fin inlays, neck and head binding
Student model - Rosewood fretboard, dot inlays, no binding
Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Thanksgiving! “See you” Friday!
Best, -David