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Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

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  • Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

    The Grover Jackson story started in the ‘70s when guitar-centric rock played by rule-breaking virtuosos blew up big time. Ground Zero for this new musical movement was San Dimas, California, in a small industrial space called Charvel’s® Guitar Repair. One of Charvel’s customers was none other than the soon to be famous Edward Van Halen. In 1978, a little over a year after starting work at Charvel’s, the Tennessee-bred Grover purchased the shop from Wayne Charvel.

    The first Charvel guitars debuted at the ’79 Summer NAMM show and quickly became the weapons of choice for the new axe masters shredding their way across the Sunset Strip and onto radio stations and into the earliest music videos.

    Grover’s association with Randy Rhoads began in 1980 shortly after Rhoads left Quiet Riot to join Ozzy Osbourne. At about this same time Grover moved the shop across the street to Glendora, California. The collaboration between Grover and Randy resulted in the offset V-shaped, neck-through guitar with shark fin inlays, two humbuckers, and the name “Jackson” on the headstock. This was the birth of Jackson Guitars®. Other Jackson creations like the Kelly, King V, Dinky and Soloist have earned their position in the pantheon of legendary rock guitars.

    It was during Grover’s tenure at Jackson that the “Super Strat®” took its place of prominence for burgeoning rock guitar gods. These guitars were hand-built by Grover and a team of very young Southern Californians, all of whom were obsessed with creating the best sounding, best playing instruments. They featured locking bridges and nuts, deep cutaways, combinations of humbuckers and single coil pickups, wild graphics and the ubiquitous pointy headstocks.

    Grover merged the business with Ft. Worth, Texas-based IMC in 1985. By 1990, the high profile 10 year run of metal came to an end and a new style of music arrived. At this point, Grover sold his remaining interest in the company and went into the recording studio business in Beverly Hills. Working primarily in sound design, he was involved in Tales From The Crypt, Dinosaurs, and movie sound track work for Japanese television network NHK . Guitar-centric projects were also done during this period, and there was a long running relationship with Rusty Anderson who has become a mainstay in Paul McCartney’s band.

    By 1994 Grover went back to his roots and took over guitar production at the Washburn® factory in Illinois. Today, he continues to build musical instruments and does CNC programming for Rickenbacker® as well as job shop work for a number of other well known manufacturers. Nowadays, the Jackson and Charvel brands are owned by FMIC.

    We are very proud to have Grover, who rarely grants interviews or makes public appearances, spend time with us in the SDUGF today. So without further ado, ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Mr. Grover Jackson to the SDUGF!


    ============

    Strat, Charvel and Jackson are registered trademarks; and Kelly, King V, Dinky and Soloist are trademarks of FMIC. Washburn is a registered trademark of US Music Corp. Rickenbacker is a registered trademark of RIC. Seymour Duncan is not affiliated with these companies.
    Evan Skopp, Inside Track International
    Sales and marketing reps for Musopia, Reunion Blues, and Q-Parts.

  • #2
    Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

    .....feedback noise......is this thing on? Are we live?
    Originally posted by LesStrat
    Of course, I lack the requisite intellectual capacity to engage in a theoretical discourse regarding the sociological and ethical implications of the absurd and incongruous concept of personal ownership of firearms and the ridiculous supposition that humans are capable of responsibly using said weapons.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

      Welcome to the forum Mr Jackson!!


      Do what I do. Hold tight and pretend it's a plan!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

        Thanks for joining us Mr. Jackson, I think you set the standard for the super strats and I love them! Thank you for all of your contributions to the world of guitar.

        Is there a happy compromise to get the snappiness of a bolt-on with the feel of the neck-through design?

        I love the snap and pop of a Charvel with a maple board, but I love the feel of a Soloist with an ebony board....am I doomed to make a custom order for each or can I get those quailities in the same guitar?
        Originally posted by LesStrat
        Of course, I lack the requisite intellectual capacity to engage in a theoretical discourse regarding the sociological and ethical implications of the absurd and incongruous concept of personal ownership of firearms and the ridiculous supposition that humans are capable of responsibly using said weapons.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

          Ok, I'm here...had to run for a half a bagel
          Founder, Jackson Guitars

          Facebook Fan Page
          http://www.facebook.com/GroverJackson

          Jackson Guitar Palace
          http://jacksonguitarpalace.com

          Jackson/Charvel Forum
          http://www.jcfonline.com

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

            Welcome to forum, Mr. Jackson.

            The 80’s were my teen years, growing up in So Cal, and I remember going to and eventually playing on the Sunset Strip. I don’t think there was ever a gig there where I didn’t see a Charvel or Jackson onstage.

            During the early years of Charvel and Jackson, can you tell us about some of your favorite endorsees……guys who had real personality, whom you wish you’d had more time to hang out with….and any stories you can think of, pertaining to local California gigs.

            Also, any notable request for a wacky graphic that made you laugh or become disgusted?
            Originally posted by Boogie Bill
            I've got 60 guitars...but 49 trumpets is just...INSANITY! WTF!

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

              Welcome to the Forum, Grover. You and I go back to your days at Washburn, but your affiliation with the Seymour Duncan company goes back far beyond that. We very much appreciate the association.

              OK, who's got the first question for Grover?
              Evan Skopp, Inside Track International
              Sales and marketing reps for Musopia, Reunion Blues, and Q-Parts.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

                See post #4...I was a little early.
                Originally posted by LesStrat
                Of course, I lack the requisite intellectual capacity to engage in a theoretical discourse regarding the sociological and ethical implications of the absurd and incongruous concept of personal ownership of firearms and the ridiculous supposition that humans are capable of responsibly using said weapons.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

                  You are too awesome to grant this interview Mr. Jackson... thank you.

                  How old were you when you first started playing guitar?

                  How do you feel having had such a strict focus on producing the finest guitar parts available, and having that translate into one the most enduring brands of all time in Jackson guitars?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

                    Welcome to the SDUGF Mr. Jackson. I just wanted to say Thank You! I have no idea what I would be playing if it was not for you. THANK YOU!!!
                    "We live thinking we will never die. We die thinking we had never lived. Cut it out." - Jason Becker

                    "The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change" - Heraclitus

                    sigpicHouse of Jackson, Charvel, ESP, BC Rich, Dean etc.. Fans. Come and Join us!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

                      Originally posted by Binnerscot View Post
                      Thanks for joining us Mr. Jackson, I think you set the standard for the super strats and I love them! Thank you for all of your contributions to the world of guitar.

                      Is there a happy compromise to get the snappiness of a bolt-on with the feel of the neck-through design?

                      I love the snap and pop of a Charvel with a maple board, but I love the feel of a Soloist with an ebony board....am I doomed to make a custom order for each or can I get those quailities in the same guitar?
                      Thanx for the question. You'll need to be a little patient as I'm kinda new to this whole forum deal.

                      It's a pretty straight forward question but the answer may seem not direct. I think you have to evaluate each instrument on it's own merits. I mean some instruments that have all the right materials and are made by the right folks still don't speak to you. They might to somebody else but not you. As much as I've invested my life in making instruments, and hopefully some good ones, the truth is that there is still a sort alchemy that happens. Gee, I could on and on about this for a long time.
                      Founder, Jackson Guitars

                      Facebook Fan Page
                      http://www.facebook.com/GroverJackson

                      Jackson Guitar Palace
                      http://jacksonguitarpalace.com

                      Jackson/Charvel Forum
                      http://www.jcfonline.com

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

                        thanks so much for doing this!

                        can you talk about the design of the concorde/offset v with randy? that was the first guitar that i feel in love with even though i wasnt a huge ozzy or rhoads fan at the time. its one of the few guitars that i wish i have never gotten rid of

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

                          I'd just like to say thank you, as well. There is no guitar like a Super Strat. I will never play (well, for very long ) on anything else.
                          Dave Mustaine: How many of you can play guitar?
                          Crowd: *screams*
                          Dave Mustaine: How many of you can play guitar as well as I do?
                          Crowd: *screams*
                          Dave Mustaine: YOU LIE!!!!!!!!

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

                            You make awesome guitars, especially the Randy Rhoads Models.
                            So here is my question:

                            IS THERE GONNA BE ANY NEW MODELS OF THE RHOADS IN THE FUTURE, IF YOU KNOW?

                            Thanks Grover, and to me, you are a god.
                            Last edited by Chaz-6(sic)6; 06-30-2010, 02:19 PM. Reason: not specific
                            PICKUPS ARE THE MAIN INGREDIENT TO MAKING AN ELECTRIC GUITAR.
                            I KNOW YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: LIVE - Guest Luthier Series - Grover Jackson

                              Originally posted by Gearjoneser View Post
                              Welcome to forum, Mr. Jackson.

                              The 80’s were my teen years, growing up in So Cal, and I remember going to and eventually playing on the Sunset Strip. I don’t think there was ever a gig there where I didn’t see a Charvel or Jackson onstage.

                              During the early years of Charvel and Jackson, can you tell us about some of your favorite endorsees……guys who had real personality, whom you wish you’d had more time to hang out with….and any stories you can think of, pertaining to local California gigs.

                              Also, any notable request for a wacky graphic that made you laugh or become disgusted?
                              There were a lot of great people in that scene. I get asked about Randy a lot but I never think of him as a guitar player. We were just friens and connection happened to be guitars. The guitars really were incidental because he was such a great person. A non guitar player that have a great fondness for is Neil Zlozower, the photograper, ...that mold got broke. Probably the greatest disappointment was Robin Crosby. I really believed that he would go on to be a TV or Movie personality. He had such a warmness about him. I've used the lesson of his tragedy with my own kids that you don't have to go looking for trouble it will find you by itself.

                              I'm rambling again.
                              Founder, Jackson Guitars

                              Facebook Fan Page
                              http://www.facebook.com/GroverJackson

                              Jackson Guitar Palace
                              http://jacksonguitarpalace.com

                              Jackson/Charvel Forum
                              http://www.jcfonline.com

                              Comment

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