Old Jackson Rhoads pickup help please...

[phantasm]

Hi,
I can't decide. I have an 83 San Dimas Randy Rhoads V. It is neck thru, alder, and I believe it rosewood neck. It has the kind of bridge where the string go into the body. I can't make up my mind between a JB and a CustomCustom. I am replacing my emg 85/81.

The tones I like are pretty much anything from earlier mercyful fate/King Diamond. I also like Jake E. Lee's sound on Bark at the moon. The JB seems like the obvious choice but I saw Mike Wead of King Diamond a couple weeks ago who was playing a CustomCustom through a Valvestate and it was about the nicest thing I've ever heard...especially the high notes. I do play some thrash too, but the more technical/melodic kind. I will be playing straight into a Valevestate 8200 head and 4x12 celestion cab.

So...will either of these sound crappy in my guitar? I was thinking I would pair them with a jazz in the neck position. Thanks for any advice.
/Jeff

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Old Jackson Rhoads pickup help please...

Welcome to the forum :beerchug:

San Dimas Rhoads Students usually have a maple neck thru poplar wings and a rosewood fretboard, but as J/C was at that time still a 100% custom deal, that can change.... Just out of curiosity, what´s the serial number? Got any pics?

I´d go with a JB, the TB-4 of you have a Kahler and an SH-4 if its a stringthru

 

[phantasm]

Re: Old Jackson Rhoads pickup help please...

It's in the shop now getting a nut nut and adjustments, so I can't post any pics for a few days. Serial # is RR0235. I believe it's from the first batch after the prototype. It plays very nicely but there are a lot of dents and scratches. There isn't a whammy on it. It's what I think the call a tune-o-matic...like a LP but instead of the tailpiece the strings are anchored in the body.
Thanks for the reply.
/Jeff

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Old Jackson Rhoads pickup help please...

Custom Custom, mids are your friend. :wink:

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Old Jackson Rhoads pickup help please...

1983 was RR0001-RR0294, with RR0000 being the "original" in Delores Rhoad´s posession.... I wouldn´t be too sure on the first batch part, sounds more like the 14th or 15th

If you ever want to get rid of her at any point please let me know, I´ve always wanted a San Dimas String-Thru Rhoads :headbang:

 

[Davey]

Re: Old Jackson Rhoads pickup help please...

If you ever want to get rid of her at any point please let me know, I´ve always wanted a San Dimas String-Thru Rhoads :headbang:

i'll give you a nickel!!!!!

and sorry, i just got the wooden ones at the moment =/

the JB would be a good choice, but the custom, custom custom and dimebucker are hella nice too.

as for other companies. look into bareknuckle pickups. the nailbomb or miracle man pups. they might be a little expencive though :blackeye:

 

[phantasm]

Re: Old Jackson Rhoads pickup help please...

1983 was RR0001-RR0294, with RR0000 being the "original" in Delores Rhoad´s posession.... I wouldn´t be too sure on the first batch part, sounds more like the 14th or 15th

If you ever want to get rid of her at any point please let me know, I´ve always wanted a San Dimas String-Thru Rhoads :headbang:

Zerberus,
I should have been clearer. I meant that my RR0235 guitar was from the first batch of serial numbers on the Jackson site(after the proto). By stating the sn, I was hoping that someone would correct me on the woods if I was wrong. I'll let you know if I want to get rid of it. Like I said it's a little beat up cosmetically. I do have my eye on a Caparison or a GMW lately. Not sure if it's in the budget though.

Those of you who recommended the custom custom,
Can you get a pretty good modern(prog rock/tecnical metal) tone out of it? I've heard awesome vintage tones out of it but none of the samples I've downloaded from the tips/clips forum really show this.

Thanks all for the replies.
Jeff

 

[wixedmords]

Re: Old Jackson Rhoads pickup help please...

Jeff,

IMO, the thickness added with the CC will offset the thinness of the valvestate.

The valvestate can get heavy, but it is a tight soundwave, fairly modern.

Now, it won't add any articulation, but I would think using the JB in that situation would emphasize the spikey treble of the valvestate.

Now, the biggest factor here is how it sounds to your own ears, and it seems to have passed that also. I would also go with the Custom over the JB on this amp.

The Custom may be the best choice, articulation without the treble.

All IMO, totally subjective.

 

[fusion101]

Re: Old Jackson Rhoads pickup help please...

my first choice for u would be the distortion other whise go for the jb