Oops, what did I just buy?

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rsm

rsm

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So last night, after a few glasses of chilled Russian Standard vodka, I was taking a break, listening to Holdsworth, live Kiss reunion '96, etc., and started browsing Reverb.

I found an interesting guitar, and brand I'd never heard of, from the early 2000s, they still have a website but I can't find anyone selling these new. Did a little research and learned they had a high end line and a budget line; used examples of the budget line (Wave series) are under $1K, and used high-end line guitars start at around $1500 and go up to $7K with many in the $2.5K to $4K range.

Well I found one I liked, and made a low ball offer that I expected to be countered, rejected or ignored; it wasn't, it was accepted. So I'll be getting a new guitar that I never heard of before for Christmas.

RKS Black Diamond:

RKS-Black-Diamond-body.png



Anyone familiar with these guitars?


https://rksdesign.com/rks-guitars/
 
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The center body, neck and head core, are one piece, composite; neck-thru, with all the electronics and hardware; the body surround can be removed and replaced with other shapes; looks like I can add a strap button to the core guitar, and make it look like a Steinberger L derivative. Looks like Lace pickups, some pricier high-end models had Lace Alumitones, which may be a good choice; I have a spare new Alumitone pickup, may get another?
 
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Yeah these are very cool. You used to be able to buy different colored plastic "wings" for them
 
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The GC by me has something similar, it’s all carbon fibre. I played it this weekend and then laughed my ass off at the pricetag because I’ve played unbranded generic Strats they give away at Dave And Busters that felt better than that thing. Action was just an inch off the fingerboard and tapping it left this hollow plastic sound, it very much felt like a toy.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/I...de-Carbon-Fiber-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar.gc
 
rsm said:
So last night, after a few glasses of chilled Russian Standard vodka, I was taking a break, listening to Holdsworth, live Kiss reunion '96, etc., and started browsing Reverb.

I found an interesting guitar, and brand I'd never heard of, from the early 2000s, they still have a website but I can't find anyone selling these new. Did a little research and learned they had a high end line and a budget line; used examples of the budget line (Wave series) are under $1K, and used high-end line guitars start at around $1500 and go up to $7K with many in the $2.5K to $4K range.

Well I found one I liked, and made a low ball offer that I expected to be countered, rejected or ignored; it wasn't, it was accepted. So I'll be getting a new guitar that I never heard of before for Christmas.

RKS Black Diamond:

View attachment 273279


Anyone familiar with these guitars?


https://rksdesign.com/rks-guitars/
Click to expand...
As an unapologetic KISS fan myself l, we both know you got that based on the name (Black Diamond).....?

Nice snag!
 
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RevDrucifer said:
The GC by me has something similar, it’s all carbon fibre. I played it this weekend and then laughed my ass off at the pricetag because I’ve played unbranded generic Strats they give away at Dave And Busters that felt better than that thing. Action was just an inch off the fingerboard and tapping it left this hollow plastic sound, it very much felt like a toy.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/I...de-Carbon-Fiber-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar.gc
Click to expand...

These were originally made near where I live (in Lafayette LA); in fact the owner of Composite Acoustics at the time personally brought me one of the first prototypes to demo and give feedback.

I thought it was fairly good personally but gave him some suggestions on things to improve. Didn't matter because the company got bought out by Peavey shortly after if I remember right.

I doubt they ever made more than like 20 of these. They were originally like $800ish if I remember right
 
Looks cool!
I can't stand the dean stuff its too much...
Yours is much cooler
 
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JTyson said:
Looks cool!
I can't stand the dean stuff its too much...
Yours is much cooler
Click to expand...
Thanks, same about the Dean...it's like BC Rich said none more pointy with the draco, and Dean said, "hold my beer..."

Looks like that Dean is based on the Gibson reverse V and BC Rich Draco :D

FWIW I do have/like BC Rich Stealth, Jackson Rhoads and Warrior, but that's as pointy as I'd go.
 
We need a group shot with the green space guitar..
 
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RevDrucifer said:
Similar look, but Dev’s using a Framus that is basically a LP Custom construction in a different shape-

1666FXXX14BPMFT6XZ_02C6Rvdg6k8ODJL.jpg


I’d love to play one of these but they’re like $5k.
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A-ha! Thank you Drew.

I remembered the look from a vid I saw years ago that he made at home; that's what got me - that similar, rare look.
 
guitar delivered yesterday, finally had time to play it today.

sounds very good, Lace pickups are very good, well balanced like alnico / PAF classic humbuckers, vintage not high output which is fine

The pickup toggle lever is large and clunky which is my only complaint, the travel of the arm is long.

The composite neck, fretboard and body are solid, neck is slim D-shape; the small body surround is actually plastic that's mostly hollow and curves as seen in the pic above, saving some weight as it's heavier than I expected.

Unfortunately, adding a strap button near the heal of the neck isn't going to be an option as the body surround actually surrounds the body core on all sides with a tight fit.

I like different guitars e.g., my Gittler titanium, Eastwood Backlund Model 400, Steinberger,..

probably a keeper.
 
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