Randy Rhoads 1974 Les Paul Custom VOS Electric Guitar

It is one of the most iconic guitars in rock history: Randy Rhoads' 1974 Les Paul Custom. The guitar that Ozzy Osbourne sideman Randy Rhoads drove to stardom on the landmark albums Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman has been one of the most requested re-issues ever. The Gibson Custom Shop's re-creation of this legendary axe has unique features that make this a must-have for any Randy Rhoads acolyte including the "Sandwich" '70s body, Schaller tuners with #2 buttons, "Randy Rhoads" stamped into the pickguard, newly developed '70s-type humbuckers, brass backplates, toggle washer, and a thin small D shaped neck that helped launched so many hall-of-fame licks.

With an impressive two songs in Gibson.com's Top 50 Guitar Solos of All Time ("Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley") and a legion of fans still worshiping his unparalleled shredding abilities 28 years after his blazing career was cut short, Randy Rhoads is firmly established as one of the brightest stars in the metal-guitar heavens. After forming Quiet Riot while still in his teens, Rhoads stepped up his game when Ozzy Osborne asked him to audition for his own band in 1979. Along came Rhoads, a practice amp in one hand, and his beloved 1974 Les Paul Custom in the other “ and before the young guitarist had even finished his warm-up licks, Osborne told him "you've got the gig." What followed was an amazing ascent, but a too-swift ending, which earned Randy Rhoads a unique place in rock history.

To honor this achievement, Gibson Custom releases the Randy Rhoads 1974 Les Paul Custom, an instrument crafted in the image of Rhoads' own much-loved, much-played instrument, and limited to only 100 hand-aged and 200 VOS guitars. Rendered in period detail, the Randy Rhoads 1974 Les Paul Custom captures all the fire and aggression of this hard-rock favorite of the early '70s, including numerous details that were particular to the model's production for a relatively short period of time. Specific woods, pickups and dimensions have been painstakingly recreated by Gibson Custom, and the precise look of Rhoads' own guitar also has been captured. One hundred examples of the Randy Rhoads 1974 Les Paul Custom will be hand-aged by Gibson Custom to match the playing wear and road abuse experienced by the star's guitar (product #H66075), while another 200 will be treated to Gibson Custom's VOS process to present the look of a gently aged instrument (this model). All in all, this is the closest any fan, player or collector can get to owning Rhoads' own guitar”without actually owning Rhoads' own guitar. Production is strictly limited, so order today.