So I went to Sam Ash today to pick up some strings. And I see this Rhoads V. I go take a gander at it, and I'm admiring it. I've been looking at them online, pretty good deal $300. So I was about to leave, and I stopped, and asked the sales guy to get it down for me. I plug it into a Krank Krankenstein they had, and I start rippin' away. I was shocked. The neck actually plays really well, everything is pretty damn clear. It's got an alder body, bolt-on maple neck w/ rosewood fingerboard, 24 jumbo frets, Tune-O-Matic bridge w/ string-thru body. Black with chrome hardware. Now, I'm sitting there, thinking "hmm, only $300..." So I keep jamming on it, and I literally could not leave it behind. So I bought it. Brought it home, plugged into my Mesa MarkIV/Mesa 2x12 w/V30's, and was even more impressed. I'm actually really glad I bought it. I've wanted another Rhoads V for a long time, and honestly I never thought I'd buy a guitar this cheap and be impressed and/or happy with it. The only cosmetic thing I wish were different would be some neck/headstock binding. And different inlays, but this is going to be a beater guitar, so I can't wish for too much, especially at $300 out the door.
Right now on the list of possible mods is a natural finish. I might strip it down and seal it, depending on the wood grain underneath, but right now looking at it, the finish is actually really nice. So that's far off and still up in the air.
The only thing I think I will do to it for sure is replace the pickups. Right now there is a pair of Jackson humbuckers in it. They have the plastic cover on them, like an EMG does, but it says "Jackson" in the corner where "EMG" would be. Passive, of course. I'm wondering if I should just throw a new set of passives, or go with an EMG-85 in the bridge, 81 in the neck. The stock pups aren't all that bad. I mean, yeah they could be better, but damn if they aren't surprising for a guitar that was only 3 bills. So, really good passives for metal? Or an EMG set? Or just an 85 in the bridge? I was thinking I wouldn't really use the neck hummer at all, I mean, this would be a live show guitar for my band The Forgetful Reagans (link to clips in my signature), so yeah.
Ideas?
~006
Right now on the list of possible mods is a natural finish. I might strip it down and seal it, depending on the wood grain underneath, but right now looking at it, the finish is actually really nice. So that's far off and still up in the air.
The only thing I think I will do to it for sure is replace the pickups. Right now there is a pair of Jackson humbuckers in it. They have the plastic cover on them, like an EMG does, but it says "Jackson" in the corner where "EMG" would be. Passive, of course. I'm wondering if I should just throw a new set of passives, or go with an EMG-85 in the bridge, 81 in the neck. The stock pups aren't all that bad. I mean, yeah they could be better, but damn if they aren't surprising for a guitar that was only 3 bills. So, really good passives for metal? Or an EMG set? Or just an 85 in the bridge? I was thinking I wouldn't really use the neck hummer at all, I mean, this would be a live show guitar for my band The Forgetful Reagans (link to clips in my signature), so yeah.
Ideas?
~006
If the guitar sounds good enough as it is, you might as well leave it that way..
