NGD - Jackson RR Holy Grail!!

[slowhand84]

So unbelievably excited about today's NGD...after 10+ years of hunting I've finally scored my holy grail of Jacksons! I've been after a high end Rhoads for over a decade but I had a few specific requirements - I wanted one with the highest-end specs offered, a string thru body bridge, and preferably in the classic black n' gold color scheme. I didn't want to pay the insane prices USA models are going for these days, so I knew I had to look to the highest end Japanese stuff. Enter - this beauty.

This is a Jackson Stars RR TN01-STB (that's a mouthful!). For those who have never heard of these they are equivalent to the USA Rhoads models in every way (aside from being built in Japan, of course) - mahogany body, maple thru body neck w/ebony board and MOP inlays, MOP headstock logo, binding, and Duncan SH1N/SH4 pickups. These were only sold in Japan like the rest of the Stars line, and the catalog page I found shows these sold for about $1850 US back in 2008. Adjusted for inflation that's like $2600 or so today :p.

Interestingly enough this exact guitar was for sale online several months ago but it was located nowhere near me and the seller had it priced at $2000, which is a bit high as these normally go for $1500-$1800 on average depending on condition. Was randomly browsing earlier in the week and as it turns out he sold it to his local guitar shop...so I grabbed it at $1199 with the original gig bag.

It's in absolutely incredible shape, plays like a dream, and sounds fantastic. Just finished putting it through it's paces, these pics were taken pre-cleaning since I was rapidly losin' daylight and I had to compress 'em since they were a bit too big...but away we go. Please click for proper quality:

[slowhand84]

And a not very high-res photo of the catalog for the year these came out...if you click to open it up and squint a bit you can read all the specs and the original price (in yen, of course):

[RiverDog]

That's so sweet. The exact guitar I wanted back around 1988 when I ate, slept, and breathed Metallica and Kirk Hammett was playing one (albeit Floyd Rose-equipped). Congrats! How does the neck feel? What's the profile?

[slowhand84]

That's so sweet. The exact guitar I wanted back around 1988 when I ate, slept, and breathed Metallica and Kirk Hammett was playing one (albeit Floyd Rose-equipped). Congrats! How does the neck feel? What's the profile?

Yeah for me I always associate this guitar with (obviously) Randy Rhoads but also with Marty Friedman from Megadeth, another one of my favorite players who played a virtually identical USA model:

https://www.premierguitar.com/media-lib ... &width=980

The neck is terrific, I am normally not a fan of lacquered necks but Jackson is one company I make an exception for...you can really fly on this thing! I'm not very good at describing necks I'm afraid, but I know it is compound radius and I've seen it described as a "rounded C", which feels accurate to me. It feels quite similar to my 1990 Fusion Professional Pro (my other Jackson lifer in the stable), but maybe a teensy bit thicker on account of a little more lacquer.

[redman]

Sweet guitar I bet it sounds incredible really glad you found one of your Holy Grails so congratulations.

[LightWingStudios]

The "Gods Of Rock" work in mysterious ways my son.

[toomanycats]

Beautiful guitar, and congrats on the most excellent score.

It's surprising that an instrument so easily prone to injury originally came with only a gig bag instead of a hard case. I have a MIJ Jackson King V and the original case in ginormous.

[slowhand84]

Beautiful guitar, and congrats on the most excellent score.

It's surprising that an instrument so easily prone to injury originally came with only a gig bag instead of a hard case. I have a MIJ Jackson King V and the original case in ginormous.

Thanks man! Yeah I actually think from what I've seen a lot of the higher end MIJ Jacksons came with gig bags (usually those leather-y ones) even when purchased new...maybe the hard cases were an optional upcharge. The hardshell cases are indeed freaking huge, I had a USA King V back in the day and I think I ended up keeping the case in the garage because it was just ridiculously sized.

I've ordered a "hardshell gig bag" as they call them direct from Jackson, should be here in a few days. It's not as huge as the hardshell cases and slimmer, but just as protective if not more. I've switched from the typical hardshell over to these types of cases for many of my guitars.

[jtcnj]

WOW - that is spectacular.
Great score, congrats and enjoy.

[slowhand84]

WOW - that is spectacular.
Great score, congrats and enjoy.

Thank you! Pretty thrilled with it, this is one of those NGDs that was so long awaited and has exceeded all my expectations. I was originally planning on swapping the pickups but I can see why the SH1N/SH4 is such a popular combo for these models...really a great fit.

[tonebender]

Congrats on finally acquiring the guitar you had wanted so bad. Enjoy and never sell it.

[slowhand84]

Congrats on finally acquiring the guitar you had wanted so bad. Enjoy and never sell it.

Thank you! This one is a lifer for sure!

[Narsh]

Damn, that is one hell of a score!

[slowhand84]

Damn, that is one hell of a score!

Thanks man! Really is an absolute beast of a guitar, and has exceeded all my expectations. Don't think there are going to be any mods made here at all cuz it is really perfect as is, though I do have a custom made truss rod cover on the way that should be awesome. Felt this one deserved a little more than the blank one it came with.

[nomadh]

Congrats. You think like me. I can lust for something for years. But people don't understand you aren't willing to pay a stupid price for it. It makes me feel stupid. And it's not like i just couldn't afford it. Sometimes I can, I just wont.

[slowhand84]

Congrats. You think like me. I can lust for something for years. But people don't understand you aren't willing to pay a stupid price for it. It makes me feel stupid. And it's not like i just couldn't afford it. Sometimes I can, I just wont.

I hear you! Ijust have a set in stone rule that I don't ever buy anything without a reasonable amount of room for profit. I also really don't enjoy dealing with private sellers because I find haggling awkward and most sellers (on Reverb, eBay, etc) price their gear somewhere between wishful thinking and utter detachment from reality , so things are already starting out pretty far beyond market value to begin with.

So, I tend to buy from GC Used and occasionally from Sam Ash and MGR. If I ever sell this I wouldn't have any issues making $300-$400 on it, but I would be shocked if I ever let it go because it's something I've wanted forever and they're rare as hell.