Ltd Rainbow Crackle 87 Re-release |
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Aug 27 2021, 08:16 AM
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As the saying goes, “everything old is new again”. This has never been more true than recently if guitars are any sort of indicator. Not to long ago, Ibanez reissued their legendary RG565 guitar which has been one of the most coveted Ibanez guitars ever built. They had previously reissued the RG550 line in the form of the “Genesis” versions of these guitars. Both RGs were very popular in the late 80s. As if to presage things, these guitars were well received. Also, ESP / LTD released several of the George Lynch guitars popularized in the 80s. Then the “Crackle” paint job started to show up on guitars from nearly every vendor imaginable. The crackle pain job was wildly popular in the 80s as it was a very visual design. A bright under color beneath a broken/crackled black paint job. One of the most striking crackle designs was the “Rainbow Cracike” which featured a rainbow of colors under the crackled black paint. Recently, the fine folks at ESP decided to release a spate of rainbow crackle guitars and even a bass. Let’s take a look at these “New Retro” designs.
These guitars are “Era Correct” and aimed squarely at the Shred Head guitar virtuosos that so often play this type of instrument. Shredding as well has seen a big revival in recent years. It certainly seemed dead around the time of Grunge Rock. It has since sprung back and now has a new following of younger players who shred it up on youtube. The guitars in the LTD line here are based on the ECLIPSE/MIRAGE DELUXE/M-1 CUSTOM and SURVEYOR 87. These were offered in the 1987 catalog. LTD ECLIPSE 87 This was a telecaster based shape, features a mahogany body with a 3 piece maple neck with an ebony fingerboard with 24 extra jumbo frets. The pickups are both Duncan humbuckers with a JB in the bridge and 59 in the neck. Individual volume and tone knobs for tone control and you get push pull for coil splitting. All this can be yours for $1,200.  LTD M1 CUSTOM 87 This double cutaway shredder has a single Duncan distortion TB6 pickup in the bridge. As was the custom in the late 80s, it’s only got the one pickup. After all, when all your doing is shredding at full tilt, who needs a neck pickup? As an added bonus, it’s got an EMG PA-2 active boost switch which adds a second dose of monster gain on top of what the pickup is already putting out. I’ve tried this boost system with the kerry King pickup set and it’s a blowtorch. The guitar has an alder body and 3 piece maple neck with ebony fingerboard and 24 jumbo frets. It has a locking floyd trem, of course, and can be yours for only $1,100.  LTD MIRAGE DELUXE 87 This is the more complicated brother of the M1. They share similar features in many ways, except that this one has two pickups. It has the same Duncan Distortion in the bridge but adds a Duncan Hot Rail in the neck. You get a 3 way switch and coil splitting via push pull knobs. You also get 2 fewer frets on this one. It can be yours for $1,100.  LTD SURVEYOR 97 To round things out, you can also get a rainbow crackle bass guitar! It’s got an alder body and maple neck with ebony fretboard with 21 extra jumbo frets. It has a duncan vintage jazz pickup in the bridge and duncan vintage p in the neck. All this 80s glory can be yours for $1,000.  For more info, check the ESP/LTD web site https://www.espguitars.com/products?categor...-series-guitars *Check out this lesson on 80s Glad Rock! https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...am-rock-lesson/ This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Aug 27 2021, 08:19 AM |
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Aug 27 2021, 08:33 AM
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Love them, here's my crackler
-------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE  “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Aug 27 2021, 05:56 PM
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QUOTE (Steve Gilfield @ Aug 27 2021, 10:56 AM)  Ok wow, I haven't seen this kind of Squiers before. Also, I never knew they had different logo style?! Is this a limited run or an anniversary edition? I ordered it blind by mail order out of Guitarist Magazine, the description said "Squier Strat HMIII red/blue crackle finish" I was expecting a Squier version of the heavy metal Strat with the normal Strat style headstock. I was very happy when I got it out of the box and saw the pointy headstock. The humbuckers aren't original, those are DiMarzio Paf Pros, the middle is stock though. The original trem wore out, that's a Schaller on there now with a Tremel-No in the back. It was, as far as I know, and Todd may correct me here, Fender's take on the Ibanez S series. I had an S and the body was almost identical except for the heel relief. A little thing that impressed me at the time was that the vol and tone knobs are real metal not plastic. The serial number shows it says made in 1989, I don't think it was a limited run though but they are quite rare. https://youtu.be/yjVTIry57aw Cheers This post has been edited by Phil66: Aug 27 2021, 05:59 PM -------------------- SEE MY GMC CERTIFICATE “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in instalments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day's success.” Israelmore Ayivor |
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Aug 27 2021, 10:39 PM
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A rare bird indeed!! That was an original crackle from back in the day and I'd love to have one. I may have to settle for a re issue as the vintage crackle are now going crazy in price!! Guitars that were 300 are now pushing 1k in us dollars. What's old is new again
 QUOTE (Phil66 @ Aug 27 2021, 12:56 PM) I ordered it blind by mail order out of Guitarist Magazine, the description said "Squier Strat HMIII red/blue crackle finish" I was https://youtu.be/yjVTIry57aw Cheers These are a limited run re issue from what I gather. They all look darn spiff!! I'd love to have any one of them. The 80s crackle paint job is coming back now in a big way and even KEASEL guitars are getting in on it. Also the signature Kelly from Brandon Ellis is a full green crackle with a single pickup. It's straight from the 80s. There is a huge wave of 80s revival going on in guitars just now. Not to mention ibanez re release the RG565 classic from the 80s as well. Ibanez should do a crack finish on it imho QUOTE (Steve Gilfield @ Aug 27 2021, 05:56 AM) About the LTD M1 CUSTOM 87, the only thing I'd change is the active boost's switch; instead of a separate switch, I'd have used a push-push knob for the volume. The boost will be activated by pushing the knob AND the guitar will be very simplistic (one knob, one pickup). Ok wow, I haven't seen this kind of Squiers before. Also, I never knew they had different logo style?! Is this a limited run or an anniversary edition? |
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