This guitar is in excellent condition and only moderate signs of wear from use. The gold plated hardware has fading/wear common with this model over time. There are no significant scratches or dings, and all components are original and in perfect working order. This listing includes the original hard case (custom shaped to this guitar).

Before 1990, Japanese Jacksons were often viewed as entry-level. By 2000, Jackson had shifted its high-end Pro Series production to the Chushin Gakki factory in Japan. The RR5 was the "flagship" of this move, designed to be a high-performance alternative to the USA Select series.

The "Neck-Through" Milestone: Most imports were bolt-on. The RR5 was one of the first widely available Japanese models to feature Neck-Through-Body construction, a spec previously reserved for $3,000+ American customs.

While the Rhoads shape has existed since 1980, the specific RR5 model designation (Gold hardware, fixed bridge, Ivory/Pinstripe) was launched at the turn of the millennium.

This model was specifically intended as a tribute to Randy’s original 1980 "Concorde" prototype. By using a fixed bridge and a gold "V" tailpiece instead of a Floyd Rose tremolo, Jackson captured the look and sustain of Randy's favorite personal guitar.

Collectors often prefer these "pre-Fender" Japanese Jacksons because they were built using the original 1990s templates and specialized Japanese hardware that some feel changed once Fender standardized the production lines.

In the year 2000, "Nu-Metal" was dominant, and many guitar brands were moving toward 7-strings and de-tuned baritones. The RR5 was a defiant return to classic 80s Shred aesthetics. It helped keep the "Randy Rhoads" legacy alive for a new generation of players who were rediscovering technical lead guitar.