Jackson’s new Legends Series celebrates the influence of Randy Rhoads, Marty Friedman, Scott Ian and David Ellefson on the brand’s legacy
Few guitar brands are as synonymous with heavy metal music as Jackson. Through the years, some of the genre’s top players have chosen Jackson guitars as their weapons of choice, and the brand has just honoured some of the most iconic with its new Legends Series.
Four metal players are honoured with the new Legends Series: Megadeth alumni David Ellefson and Marty Friedman, plus late Ozzy Osbourne sidekick Randy Rhoads and Anthrax veteran Scott Ian.
Each of the four guitars in the lineup are inspired by classic instruments built originally for these four players. “Jackson has translated these highly personal instruments into signature models built for today’s players – preserving the details that made each original distinct while making those ideas accessible beyond the artists who inspired them,” the brand says.
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The Legends Series starts with a recreation of Randy Rhoads’ white and gold Concorde V, which he built with Grover Jackson in 1980. The guitar – dubbed the CD1 – features an alder body, Seymour Duncan JB/’59 pickups, a compound-radius 12”-16” fingerboard, and a vintage-correct six-saddle tremolo with a whammy bar.
“The Rhoads family is so pleased to see this new Randy Rhoads CD1 model from Jackson,” says Kathy Rhoads D’Argenzio, Randy Rhoads’ sister. “Randy’s historic legacy has remained in the spotlight for over 40 years. There is no doubt Randy would be so honoured to know the impact he has had on Jackson Guitars and on the world of rock and metal guitar.”
Credit: Jackson
Next up is the Marty Friedman KE-1 – a recreation of his late-’90s Jackson Kelly signature model which he used extensively across some of Megadeth’s biggest albums, including Rust in Peace and Countdown to Extinction. This one features an alder body with a three-piece maple neck, singular Seymour Duncan JB pickup, plus a Kahler 7330 fixed bridge for rock-solid tuning stability.
Credit: Jackson
“My KE-1 represents living the dream to me,“ says Marty Friedman. “When I had the opportunity to create my own signature guitar, I went all out with Jackson to build the ultimate heavy metal guitar. No expense was spared, from the pickup and bridge to every detail and dimension. After thousands of concerts and countless recordings, the KE-1 remains a huge part of my journey and an iconic instrument that people associate with me.”
Next is the Scott Ian Rhoads RR22, which sports bolt “Not” body graphics which were central to Anthrax’s ‘80s era, plus a neck-through construction and a top-mount Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo.
“My Not Rhoads was such an important part of my journey,” Ian says. “I discovered my tone with it. It’s been used on every Anthrax record – it was the main guitar on those first five albums in the ‘80s. It’s the guitar that kind of made my life. I love that people connect with it.”
Credit: Jackson
And finally, Jackson has recreated its first-ever five-string bass, which was built for the former Megadeth bassist in 1990. It features an alder body with a three-piece through-body quartersawn maple neck, EMG 40DC and CS pickups, a three-band EQ, a Jackson HiMass 5-string bridge, and Open-Gear Hipshot tuners.
“My Jackson Concert basses have always been the sleek, high-octane version of what I consider to be a great bass,” Ellefson says. “Their slightly smaller body and fast action made them perfect for my aggressive playing style. My original 1987 Concert Bass gave me the freedom to fully develop my playing without limitations from the instrument. Jackson basses have become an integral part of who I am and the music I’m known for.”
Credit: Jackson
On the Legends Series as a whole, Jackson VP of Product Jon Romanowski adds: “Randy, Scott, David and Marty didn’t just play Jackson instruments – they helped define what Jackson became and pushed heavy music forward in the process.
“You can hear and see their influence in heavy music today, across generations of artists and increasingly across genres. Making these instruments available to players isn’t simply about recreating the past; it’s about putting them into the hands of the players who will take that influence somewhere new.”
Pricing for each of the four new Legends Series models is as follows:
Randy Rhoads CD1 – $2,499
Marty Friedman KE-1 – $2,299
Scott Ian Rhoads RR22 – $2,199
David Ellefson CB V Concert Bass – $2,499
Learn more about the Legends Series at Jackson.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
