10 Iconic Rock Stars' Guitars
6. Randy Rhoads - Jackson V
Randy Rhoads has several guitars that are instantly associated with him. Firstly there is the cream Gibson Les Paul, which is testament to the influence of Mick Ronson on Rhoads. He was a huge fan, and not only copied Ronson's guitar and amp combo, but even his hairstyle. Once Rhoads teamed up with Ozzy, equipment manufacturers were clamouring to have him endorse their gear. Rhoads hooked up with Jackson to produce his signature Jackson V guitar.
The Jackson V is, of course, influenced by the legendary Gibson Flying V, although with its offset body shape it was just about different enough to avoid claims of outright plagiarism. Randy had a couple of stylistic tweaks. Firstly there was the polka dot finish which he matched with stage outfits and then, more subtly, there was the pinstriping on the white model.
The Jackson guitars were a relatively late arrival to the Rhoads arsenal before his untimely death, and that is why the Les Paul is far more frequently pictured than the Jacksons. The Vs have continued to be popular with metal guitarists with many well known players using them. Children Of Bodom's Alexi Laiho even has his own signature variation on the Rhoads model.