Guitar Origins with Grover Jackson! Eddie's Bumblebee, Randy's V, Vai's Green Meanie!

[@tone-talk]

Flashback to our first show with Grover Jackson! These are the highlights of these three iconic guitars with new added pictures.

[@luckylicks3497]

The topic was so exciting it made me stop everything just to get excited about these guitars

[@tone-talk]

@@luckylicks3497 so glad you like!!!

[@flippercarlin1657]

I was blessed in the summer of 1978 to call and directly order a 1 3/4 flat and wide neck like Eddie's, kinda 😂 it wasn't the CBS headstock, I wanted the original shape. Wayne said that's all they do, the CBS was a mistake lol. After ordering a number of necks and bodies in 1979, Wayne made me his official contact for the Midwest, until I got a letter from Grover himself in 1980 stating he had bought Wayne Charvel out and was now building full production guitars, and I needed to stock 6 guitars a year....

[@Ryan-Hall]

A very interesting interview and a lot to take in , got to come back and watch more! Thank you for Sharing these moments in music and Guitar 🎸 History!! Keep The Music Alive 🫶❤️🤘🎸🤠

[@eddiejr540]

I could sit for hours and listen to Grover tell stories....he should write a book!!!!!

[@robg8784]

Highly Agree!!

[@meatrocket1]

Same here! First time I heard him on Tone Talk I was hooked 👍🏻 he’s a Legend.

[@anthonysilva5312]

So could I....if there wasn’t an ad every 90 seconds.

[@shorerocks]

This was literally what I was just thinking, rewatching this bit of the interview

[@shorerocks]

35 years ago I bought my first 'real' guitar, after a cheap Aria Pro II. A red Charvel Model II from 1987. Still have it. Got it refretted, and it rocks as good as ever.

[@billgerazounis5610]

Priceless interview❤️🎸

[@bunnyhands]

This is freaking amazing to hear about these specific guitars that are so iconic now. Interview with Grover Jackson. The Steve Vai story was so funny 😁

[@rdanalytics9197]

It's funny how things go. You would think that with all the different brands of guitars that players would have different guitars from different companies. Yet, one guitar builder was making all the guitars for all the top artists. It's the same thing with amps. I saw a KZbin video saying that there was a shop in LA that rented out amps. All the top players were all renting out the same head - unbeknownst to each other. It turned out that the same amp was used on most of the recordings in the 80's.

[@curlzwalk]

That was GREAT!!!

[@onlyfatriffs]

This is so cool! Grover is a legend! I could spend the whole day listening to him.

[@paulr.4968]

I interviewed with Grover Jackson when he was production manager at Rickenbacker. Nice guy!

[@Barnstorm757]

Can’t believe Vai did that 😂 awesome story. Thank you for sharing 🎸

[@erictripton]

Thanks for posting this, Mark!

[@tone-talk]

My pleasure!

[@sld67869801]

Need another full Grover episode with even more stories and info!

[@thebomontellano4996]

I used to work for Grover Jackson in 1997 at the Rickenbacker factory as a guitar and bass player painter in the city of Santa Ana California. I used to love talking to him at lunchtime.

[@kelseydimattei6662]

Mr Jackson is a humble legend and a wonderful person as well as he speaks of the musicians he met throughout these years!

[@jeshely]

Just love these conversations!

[@robertjose6086]

This is so awesome hearing these stories from the past 😃

[@disseminationnetwork]

Wow, what a musical legacy...amazing!

[@daievans2637]

Dweezil thinks that the neck on the Rasta/Circle guitar might be the original Bumblebee neck ? or at least a neck that was on it , would be nice to get his thoughts on this

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

No the original Charvel neck from the bee went onto the guitar thats body was carved out to look like a dragon biting a snake. here is ed playing it, kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXfKimannJtgg9U That Charvel neck was unique because not only was the headstock painted black but so was the back of the neck. it is a 21 fret 1-3/4" birdseye maple neck with a real thin C shape.

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

Here is another pic of that neck on the same guitar, images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71yOVPNv1%2BL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

[@MrNumber1gator]

So awesome!!!!!!!

[@stevemineer2857]

Ed already had that guitar on the first tour in 78. There’s a photo of Karl Sandoval giving it to him and numerous photos of him playing it on tour.

[@rjankvalvik4149]

I've seen those photos also. The story is that he got it on The Day On The Green. I would love to hear Sandolval's take on it. Maybe there were two twin guitars?

[@stevemineer2857]

@@rjankvalvik4149 Yep, he did. It originally had the back of the neck painted black and Ed played it that way on the first tour. By the second tour he sanded all the paint off and attached it to the red Frankie. Karl has already weighed in on it. He said he painted it. Even Ed said he painted and slapped it together just before the VH II photo shoot. I think he said that to take attention away from Jackson because he was making copies of that guitar and selling them. Don’t know who put it together but I’d take everything Grover says with a grain of salt.

[@tone-talk]

When that guitar was being used on tour it already had the early floyd prototype on it. Are there photos of EVH using it live with the fender bridge? I haven’t seen it. And yes Karl Sandoval is in a picture with EVH. Could that be later because the pickup in it is black and the one for the album cover is a mighty mite clear bobbin. Just curious, thanks!

[@stevemineer2857]

@@tone-talk There are a lot of photos of him playing it on the first tour. It had the Fender trem, the black pickup and neck painted black. The same state it was in when Karl gave it to him. Sometime before the second tour he sanded the paint off the neck and put a Mighty Mite pickup in it. The Floyd Rose was installed sometime during the second tour. In fact, in the early part of the second tour he wasn’t playing the Frankie or the Bumblebee. He was messing with both guitars. Painting, switching necks, installing different pickups, etc. There are a few photos of Frankie early on after he painted it red. It still had the large fender headstock neck on it. He ruined that neck trying to install the Floyd locknut on it. That’s why he put the Bumblebee neck on later in the tour. He put a Boogie Bodies neck on the Bee with the Floyd. The photo of Ed and Karl is the Day On The Green. The day Karl gave him the guitar. www.vhlinks.com/vbforums/threads/51955-The-Charvel-VH-II-An-Appreciation

[@tone-talk]

@UCZgu-0bSz6f_9hshChs2zwA thanks for your input. Do you know why the pickup in the picture with Karl is a black pickup but on the cover of VH2 it’s a mighty mite? Ed took it out just for the shoot and put in the clear bobbin mighty mite? I would suspect the might mite pickup came from Charvel and Grover as they were doing work for them. It’s just a guess. There may also be a reason Grover said he had to bring the guitar to warner for the photo shoot. Perhaps the guitar was being worked on after ed had already owned it? Possible.

[@Ibaneddie76]

You can tell Grover is still a little pissed about that guitar, at least he knows he contributed to Rock history (yet again)!

[@joqu6971]

Gold pure Gold.

[@QwikVidz]

Great video. Thanks

[@Ambra_Audra_Bella]

I Absolutely Love Grover Jackson, I met him half dozen times back at the Sam Dimas Charvel Jackson Factory (1983-1986) when I was a 16-18 year old local San Dimas Teenage Guitar Player who had relocated to San Dimas from Tujunga who at first only liked Ibanez Destroyers, Hamer Standard & Dean Z Explorer type Guitars, so after Transferring to San Dimas High School, it wasn't long before I was Cool with, got to know a few of the Other Good Hard Rock Metal Guitar Playing Classmates at San Dimas High, and I kept hearing about this Charvel Guitar Factory right up Lone Hill Ave at Gladstone Street my Guitar Buddies kept telling me about, that had this Guitar Making Genius named Grover Jackson who had become Fairly Famous having made Randy Rhoads White Jackson V Guitar and later the more Sleek Black 2nd Version Rhoads V, so I was Intrigued, so I ditching Class one day and went up to the Charvel Jackson Guitar Factory and Went into the Office and Met Grover, his Wife Joanne, her Secretary Buddy Darla, and a Guy named David Williams, and although they were Busy, they were So Friendly to me a 15 year old Teenager, and I told them I had a Gibson Acoustic and I Really Loved Hard Rock and Metal, and I told them i had been wanting to get an Electric Guitar and was really into the Hamer's Ibanez and Dean Explorer type Guitars i had recently tried out at Nearby Hanich Music in West Covina, knowing Absolutely Nothing to very little Really about Charvel and or Jackson Guitars, although the Walls of the San Dimas Factory were very Impressive with About 40 Framed Pictures featuring Charvel Jackson Players Famous and Not as famous, Grover was Really Nice and Spoke with me a little, and then Grover asked me if id like to see Guitars being Made, etc on a impromptu Factory Tour, and Artist Relations Guy Dave Williams took me on my first of about 25 San Dimas Factory tours that would last until about March 1986, I was Blown Away, Seeing many Iconic Guitars In Person, I would a year or two later see in Pictures in the Hands of Warren DeMartini, Vinnie Vincent, Amir Derakh, Original King Kelly Guitars with the Inward Cuts, The VH Shaped Guitar 2nd Neck Thru Body Version with Jackson Headstock that they said was a Gift from Grover to Edward Van Halen congratulations for the Massive Success of the then New 1984 album, I have Never Seen this Neck Thru VH Guitar pop up anywhere afterward, just Awesome Memories from Meeting Mr Grover Jackson, I will Definitely be Sad ,Crying if I hear that Grover Jackson has Died, he's Definitely a Hero of Mine❤

[@MrUltraworld]

"The Little Italian Virtuoso" is Warren Cuccurullo. Steve Vai was "Impossible Guitar Sounds"

[@joqu6971]

Grover is a gem, these are great

[@valuedcustomer5022]

I had to go watch Mister mister, to see that other guitar. it sounded really good. All this started before my time but i have followed these guitars forever. I finally got to hear Grover say what he said about the concord in his own words.

[@murfmurphy6212]

That was great - thanks for posting! Guitar History at its finest.

[@extrememike]

What are the chances that one luthier can fabricate instruments for 3 of the greatest guitar virtuosos of all times. Grover has definitely one of kind talent 🙏🏻

[@scottwaszak698]

Correct...EVH THE most influential rock guitar player. Period.

[@corneliuscrewe8165]

I got the opportunity to ask Grover a question on the Seymour Duncan forum, and I commented that the neck on my ‘84 Rhoads felt really similar to the neck on my ‘77 Les Paul, he told me that all those early Rhoads guitars from San Dimas had neck profiles patterned after Randy’s Les Paul Custom. Was never a fan of the Rhoads design until I got that guitar.

[@mattias3226]

I guess that the closest thing today to a 80:ies Charvel is to buy a Friedman Cali

[@tone-talk]

I wouldn’t wait if you want a Grover Jackson built Friedman.

[@kensmith5108]

@@tone-talk I just bought a Cali, but why do you say that we shouldn’t wait? Is he leaving Friedman?

[@tone-talk]

@@kensmith5108 not at all. But we aren’t getting any younger. :). Congrats on the Cali! I love mine

[@nickh1933]

Very true, I have 2 Cali models. Both great. Since Grover is building them it’s only natural for them to have a true lineage to the originals. The current Charvels are actually just Fenders.

[@nickm.9474]

@@nickh1933 Made by Fender but they are much different than a Fender.

[@AbnormalDissection]

I really enjoyed this bit of history 👌 I'm a Jackson fan through & through, i own a few Jackson Kelly's & have a JS32 Rhoads which i love very much 👌

[@mikewatkins3533]

Wisdom from Grover😎🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@siggmundfloyd1858]

3:48 WE LOVE YOU RANDY!

[@jarodreddig63]

Never send your guitar 🎸 out on tour with someone lol. Damn this ended waaaay to soon!!

[@luizdejesus6240]

That first show with Grover was killer. I have watched it twice, may watch it again after this...

[@joqu6971]

So cool

[@grandmasterplank]

Grover, your service to metal and guitarists the world over is insurmountable and will live on forever. Thank you.

[@dragannestorovic01]

Diehard Grover\Jackson\Charvel fan here. 🤘

[@robg8784]

Loved this Interview ,I remember ordering a T shirt from Jackson guitars in the mid 80's...Still love jacksons from that era!

[@TheTactical6string]

ive been a Charvel owner since 1985. Bought a Pointy headstock, single PU (jackson PU in there, later I put an EMG in it) Gun metal Grey with a black Kahler off the wall of my local Friendly River Music shop (i could see the shop from my bedroom window) for $999 and a Crate G40C combo. Had that till 2007 and traded it for a USA RR1 which I stupidly sold off. Now own a USA San Dimas and 2 DK24 HH FR, one is the white with gold hardware and its really nice (the custom shred PU in them are a bit different but in a good way). Im determined to buy a Jackson next but I dont think theyre as good as the MIM Charvels. I do like the Jeff loomis kelly's and think thats the one to go for.

[@Greg-rd8qr]

Cool!!

[@NoNotMe0000]

I know for a fact Ed's Bumblebee was made and delivered by Karl Sandoval. The same guy who built Randy's polka dot V. Please feel free to fact check!

[@jacksonmarshallkramer5087]

If you like this, you have to watch THE ORIGINAL CHARVEL GANG. It's the same as this but in documentary form told by the staff and all of tge Charvel artists and its an hour and a half long. It is fantastic. For any guitar player that is into 80s hair metal and the guitars they used, it is pornography.

[@michael4591]

I love Grover

[@atomicpete]

Always loved the white RR Jackson. Definitely a bucket list gtr. LOL at the Green Meanie story. Cheers guys!

[@DadionLester]

I have a Jackson San Dimas serial number 1001. It's white, one pickup one knob, maple fretboard, Kahler. I got it second hand in '86. Is it particularly rare or special as a collector peice?

[@shable1436]

Only to collectors who know what it is

[@paulr.4968]

Is this David Friedman of Friedman amps & guitars?!

[@tone-talk]

Yes

[@slappywag7210]

Steve hijacked your axe🤣🤣🤣🤣 I’ve heard the story, hilarious! I believe Steve ripped the tremolo out of it on stage while pulling up on the whammy bar

[@cbeserra]

Epic!!! Grover is so incredible.

[@humanactivated1017]

The first real guitar I got was a real Rhoads Jackson which the neck and body was one piece . You could see the hand carved neck . I wish still had it

[@angusorvid8840]

If Eddie, Randy and Steve changed the way guitar is played forever, Grover changed the way guitars are built. He brought Rolls Royce standards with zero compromise. I remember the first time I played a Soloist and almost cried at the price tag.

[@smartervilleonroute66]

Randy double-handedly saved the Charvel brand with a competitor. And it’s all in the music. You can’t kill Rock-n-Roll! Edit: Ozzy’s dysfunction indirectly saved Charvel. Not so “As Above, So Below” or is it?

[@malamuteaerospace6333]

Comsat Angels

[@pigpog2307]

That’s pretty shitty for Vai to paint Grover’s guitar that was on loan .. he was nice enough to lend it to him then takes advantage smh .

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

This will be a great show! 😎🤘🎸

[@MadMax_1984]

It says it's a rerun, already was a show

[@tone-talk]

Yes it’s a flashback to our first show. A shorter edited version.

[@MusicTherapyLaz]

@@tone-talk Ah. cool... either way... I'll enjoy this one... and will then watch the other one too! 🎸🤘

[@nickh1933]

The Friedman Guitars that Grover builds are sooo good! If you haven’t tried one, please go and do it, you won’t regret it!

[@DougThacker]

I have watched this interview a few times and love it! Keep this up Marc and thank you guys for what you do...My absolute favorite channel!

[@tone-talk]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@massttrshrdrharmonicminor2002]

I thank my Dad RIP, got me into rock music, all this history, imo Jackson is no longer jackson, I almost got a new one, but I believe it is better to get ahold of an actual Jackson from the past

[@robg8784]

if you can get a hold of early 80's you got a Gem

[@tone-talk]

Get a new Friedman guitar made by Grover Jackson! They are amazing

[@frostyriffs]

I watched that episode live. Great stuff! I’m going to get me one of those Calis from Friedman and Mr Jackson himself. Good to see great builders still building quality guitars. Worth the money!!!

[@phillippitts6294]

I have 2 Jackson’s, a hardtail and a double locking Floyd. Both soloists. Made in Indonesia models. Amazing guitars .

[@Tnevels]

I’ve been watching this show since this very episode and remember Mark doing the EVH shows with the Canadian guy with the handlebar mustache. Thanks so much guys! Hope you and your family’s have a happy holidays!

[@tone-talk]

Thank you! Happy holidays to you and your family!

[@jarodreddig63]

Great little interview. Super interesting. Grover is a legend. I always wondered tons of this stuff with Charvel and Jackson.

[@Swanlord05]

My first guitar was a 1990 Jackson Fusion.... Loved it

[@glassGPT]

Fascinating story!

[@alexanderholden82]

Okay so now I'm confused... almost every article or documentation I have ever read including a article that is found on DiMarzio's website concerning the green meanie says that the body of that guitar was made of Basswood... but hearing it straight from Grover's mouth saying that it was made of Ash blows my mind.

[@davewielhouwer11]

Big balls for Steve Vai to paint a guitar he borrowed. That shocks me. He isn't a drug guy. Can't figure how he thought that was cool.

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

Very cool. Great stories..Had my first Charvel model 2 in the early 80s and man did I learn some licks on that axe..

[@KENCODOOR]

Kenny Likey Flashbacks! That was fun!

[@RalphMercuroMusic]

Karl Sandoval (Who worked at Charvel at the time) said he did most of the work on Eddie's Bumble Bee guitar. He said he cut the body/neck, and took it all the way to paint. So I'd guess the painter painted it and Grover assembled and set it up.

[@justinbeech2681]

This just shows how important Grover was to the shape of hard rock/ metal and the beginning of the Shredder generation!! He built Randy’s V , Eddie’s Bee , and Via’s meany !!! What else is there ??? 🎸🤘🏼

[@Barry_Poe]

Really cool stories!

[@lifeinlondon144]

my 3 favourite guitarists

[@chrisjohnstone6164]

Wow

[@philipbowley8374]

Can't wait!!

[@alwilliams1997]

Jackson Guitars rule - best ever

[@rockyhenson4551]

awesome!

[@BrianSGuitars]

Awesome!

[@RCstrats]

Amazing stories!!

[@mathewreichardt3832]

I heard karl Sandoval made the bumblebee guitar, he also made the rr polka dot v

[@xpicklepie]

I read a similar thing back in 1980/81 in a guitar magazine. Karl was named in the article as the polka-dot builder. Not sure about the bumble-bee.

[@jafstraycat]

That Charvel/Jackson tone from about '79 through the mid '80s (especially) is THE tone of tones for electric guitars in my mind. There is a certain chimey, bell-like, ringiness to it that is intrinsic to its unique nature that I find incomparable to any other guitar maker.

[@thebomontellano4996]

7:07

[@michaelsullivan1262]

Fantastic! I saw Zappa way back in Worcester MA. I wasn’t a huge fan but went because friends had an extra ticket. I recognized Chad Wackerman on drums, pretty cool because there’s a chance John Good of dw drums may have been his tech at that point, now I’m wondering if I saw Vai play with him. This was early to mid 80’s perhaps.

[@jarrettfinney4882]

Wait wait wait.... In regards to the green meanie. He said that Steve Vai had a tech named Elwood paint that guitar. Was Elwood Francis, the new bass player for zz top, Steve's guitar tech back then? Is he the one that painted that guitar?? Because that makes it so much cooler if it was. Just more to the story.

[@tone-talk]

That seems to make sense...

[@GonzaCordo]

My Thumps Up it’s ready!...

[@JaniceLalla]

Good summary

[@raymondlugo9960]

I always wondered if it was a Karl S. guitar because of the pictures with Karl dropping it off for Ed. Now we know. Next, I'm hoping Grover can tell us what pickup was in it when it was delivered.

[@CS_Murphy_R9]

Karl was involved with that Charvel. It was his idea to paint the neck and headstock. Many do not know it and grover never mentions it but there were several "Bee's" made. Right after the original was delivered to Ed , Grover and the Charvel crew made 5 more for eddie that were supposed to be for endorsement deal that fell through. On of these 5 Charvel "Bee's" was seen with eddie playing it on a entertainment tonight segment of him and valerie, Years later in 2016 that same Charvel was auctioned for 65K!!! www.liveauctioneers.com/item/43671362_eddie-van-halen-s-1982-charvel-guitar No clue to where the other four are?

[@cecilmusick8629]

Grover seems like a good guy!

[@LuisMorales-xr1gm]

I have a rare 1988 Charvel Jackson, made in Japan, model 5fx. This guitar is all original and in mint condition. I've had it since 1990. I would love to hear what Grover knows about my guitar as they're isn't too much information on some of the imports from 1986-1991. I had reached out to Wayne Charvel and he didn't have any information on this guitar as Grover had taken over the Charvel brand by then. I'd love to hear if Grover knows anything on my guitar.

[@tone-talk]

Sorry we dont know

[@LuisMorales-xr1gm]

@@tone-talk thanks anyway

[@allthewaylive8665]

@@LuisMorales-xr1gm kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXjWlYaij9qUpck this episode and its sequel detail some of that history.

[@MrUltraworld]

Eddie said that the Bumblebee was nothing but trouble. It would not stay in tune. He buried it with Dime Bag.

[@user-qr7ee2cp4y]

Sad fact is ed was never crazy about that guitar.

[@donsmith5385]

Lol even though Karl Sandoval is photographed with the bumble bee guitar, with EVH, it is well known Grover Jackson made a lot of striped guitars without EVH’s permission

[@tone-talk]

It said Charvel on it. Not Sandoval. Was made by Grover.

[@donsmith5385]

@@tone-talk ? You guys didn’t know that Karl Sandoval worked at Charvel too? You guys really need to get it right.

[@tone-talk]

@@donsmith5385 of course we know Sandoval worked at Charvel. He was not there long after Grover took over. Karl started his own company in 1979. Karl also claims he built the Bumblebee. The picture of him with Ed is a famous picture. It doesn’t mean he made the guitar...we just don’t know. At that time, Grover was the owner of Charvel. 👍

[@victorkoropeckyj2771]

The story behind the RR and the birth of Jackson is very interesting

[@truescotsman4103]

what was the scale length of the original rhoads v. who painted the bumblebee.

[@headstockharem4]

Bring on the Shredders!

[@rikjones5924]

Ontario factory wasn't until 86..time frames a bit off but man he can design guitars!

[@warrenstemphly5756]

I don’t know, I think the pictures are shown a few frames too long.

[@tone-talk]

Ok thanks. Is that really worth pointing out? Lol 😂

[@warrenstemphly5756]

@@tone-talk One should never miss an opportunity to point out the obvious.

[@tone-talk]

@@warrenstemphly5756 the obvious that only you pointed out in several years of the video. Perhaps you are the one with the issue. 😆

[@georgepelekoudis]

Hi guys!

[@tone-talk]

Hey there!

[@dudehuh5491]

the man who created some of the greatest music and didnt play a note!

[@tone-talk]

Who is that? Grover plays guitar

[@dudehuh5491]

@@tone-talk did play a note on the great music

[@LadyValdezRNCCRN-df5hj]

❤❤😂🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@batmandeltaforce]

Only guitar I have ever had that stays in tune, is a 1990 Carvin, short scale, of course. I'm still playing it:) Just had it refretted. I practice on Jacksons and Charvels, but when it's time to set my hair on fire and rok the house... it's the Carvin:)