Jackson Honors Four Metal Legends With The Legend Series: Signature Models Inspired By Their Iconic Jackson Instruments
Featuring Randy Rhoads, Scott Ian, David Ellefson and Marty Friedman, the Limited-Edition Collection Brings Four Iconic Designs to a New Generation
Today, Jackson pays tribute to the players who helped define heavy metal with four new signature models inspired by iconic instruments originally built for the artists: Limited Edition Legend Series Signature David Ellefson CB V Concert™ Bass, Limited Edition Legend Series Signature Marty Friedman Kelly™ KE-1, Limited Edition Legend Series Randy Rhoads CD1andLegend Series Limited Edition Signature Scott Ian Rhoads RR22.
Faithfully recreated from iconic instruments originally built for each artist, these vintage-inspired designs are being offered as signature models, bringing four defining instruments from Jackson’s history to players at a moment when the sound, style and influence of heavy music continue to reach across generations and genres. More than recreations, the collection celebrates the artists who helped establish Jackson as one of metal’s defining guitar brands — and gives a new generation the opportunity to make these instruments their own.
“My Jackson Concert basses have always been the sleek, high-octane version of what I consider to be a great bass,” said David Ellefson. “Their slightly smaller body and fast action made them perfect for my aggressive playing style. My original 1987 Concert bass gave me the freedom to fully develop my playing without limitations from the instrument. Jackson basses have become an integral part of who I am and the music I’m known for.”
“The KE-1 represents living the dream to me,” said Marty Friedman. “When I had the opportunity to create my own signature guitar, I went all out with Jackson to build the ultimate heavy metal guitar. No expense was spared, from the pickup and bridge to every detail and dimension. After thousands of concerts and countless recordings, the KE-1 remains a huge part of my journey and an iconic instrument that people associate with me.”
“The Rhoads family is so pleased to see this new Randy Rhoads CD1 model from Jackson,” said Kathy Rhoads D’Argenzio, Randy Rhoads’ sister. “Randy’s historic legacy has remained in the spotlight for over 40 years. There is no doubt Randy would be so honored to know the impact he has had on Jackson Guitars and on the world of rock and metal guitar.”
“My Not Rhoads was such an important part of my journey,” said Scott Ian. “I discovered my tone with it. It’s been used on every Anthrax record — it was the main guitar on those first five albums in the ’80s. It’s the guitar that kind of made my life. I love that people connect with it.”
For over 45 years, Jackson has crafted instruments that have shaped the sound of heavy metal. Randy Rhoads, Scott Ian, David Ellefson and Marty Friedman brought that sound to life on their original Jackson guitars and basses. From Ozzy Osbourne and Anthrax to Megadeth, these artists have pushed the boundaries of music and inspired generations of players who followed. Rhoads fused classical technique with hard rock fire and helped birth the pointy-guitar look itself; Ian’s rhythm work became a blueprint for thrash riffing; Ellefson turned bass into a melodic lead voice and Friedman’s exotic scales redefined what a metal solo could sound like. Together, their fingerprints are on nearly every riff, run and record that followed, cementing Jackson as the instrument of choice for the players who built metal from the ground up.
Their influence extends well beyond the eras in which these instruments were first created. The sounds, techniques and visual language these artists helped establish continue to shape heavy music today. In 2025, heavy rock shows increased 14%, with metal accounting for 13% of all arena and stadium shows¹ — momentum being driven by both a new generation of heavy artists and the legacy acts that helped build the genre. The Legend Series connects that history to what’s happening now, putting defining instruments from Jackson’s past into the hands of musicians shaping what comes next.
“Randy, Scott, David and Marty didn’t just play Jackson instruments — they helped define what Jackson became and pushed heavy music forward in the process,” said Jon Romanowski, VP of Product, Jackson. “You can hear and see their influence in heavy music today, across generations of artists and increasingly across genres. Making these instruments available to players isn’t simply about recreating the past; it’s about putting them into the hands of the players who will take that influence somewhere new.”
Signature Key Features include:
Limited Edition Legend Series Signature David Ellefson CB V Concert™ Bass:
- Alder Body and Three-Piece Through-Body Quartersawn Maple Neck with Graphite Reinforcement Rods – The stable, reinforced maple neck lets David dig in hard without losing tuning, while the alder body keeps his bass lines clear through a heavy mix.
- EMG® 40DC and CS Pickups with 3-Band EQ – The pickups provide a noise-free signal that cuts through distorted guitars while 3-band EQ lets David shape his riffs on the fly without losing volume.
- Jackson HiMass™ 5-String Bridge – For David’s fast and percussive bass drive, this bridge adds extra mass which boosts sustain and tightens low end.
- Open-Gear Hipshot® Tuners – The precise tuning adjustments and strong stability let David’s five string stay locked in through aggressive playing and touring.
Limited Edition Legend Series Signature Marty Friedman Kelly™ KE-1:
- Alder Body with Three-Piece Maple Neck-Through Construction – For Marty’s fast and technical leads, the body and construction provide balanced tone, stability and excellent sustain.
- Seymour Duncan® JB Pickup – Ideal for Marty’s precise, melodic shred style, this pickup delivers a tight, articulate punch with enough output to drive lead tones clearly.
- Kahler® 7330 Fixed Bridge – Marty’s aggressive picking and bends stay locked due to this bridge’s rock-solid tuning stability.
Limited Edition Legend Series Randy Rhoads CD1:
- Alder Body bound Ebony Fingerboard with 22 Jumbo Frets and 12″-16″ Compound Radius – Suited to Rhoad’s expressive bends and effortless soloing, the body and ebony fingerboard provide balanced tone while the compound radius keeps chords comfortable near the nut while flattening out.
- Seymour Duncan® JB/59′ Humbuckers – For clean arpeggios to aggressive high-gain riffing, a hallmark of Randy’s playing, the JB (bridge) delivers punchy high output drive for leads, while the ’59 (neck) offers warmer, vintage-voiced cleans.
- A Vintage-Accurate Six Saddle Tremolo – Classic to Rhoad’s dive-bombs, this tremolo allows expressive pitch bends and vibrato while maintaining reliable tuning.
Legend Series Limited Edition Signature Scott Ian Rhoads RR22:
- The Bold “Not” Body Graphics – This design was central to the band’s 1980s recording and touring era image.
- Neck-Through Construction – For Scott Ian’s aggressive, fast rhythm playing, this construction maximizes sustain and resonance transfer since the neck and body are one continuous piece, giving heavy riffs and power chords a tight, sustained punch. Plus, the graphite reinforcement keeps the neck rock-stable.
- Top-Mount Floyd Rose® 1000 Tremolo – Critical for Anthrax’s high-intensity live sets, this tremolo locks the strings at both the nut and bridge, so even with hard strumming, dive bombs or pitch dips, the guitar snaps right back in tune.
The Legend Series connects Jackson’s history to the future of heavy music, honoring the artists and instruments that helped define the brand while giving today’s players the tools to push that sound forward. From Rhoads’ groundbreaking approach to guitar to the unmistakable styles of Ellefson, Friedman and Ian, these instruments represent more than moments in Jackson’s past — they are part of a musical language that continues to evolve.
Watch the guitar legends in intimate interviews, set against the backdrop of Jackson’s Japan showroom, as they reflect on the stories behind their iconic original instruments. The artists also come together to share the inspiration they’ve drawn from Randy Rhoads.
High-resolution product and lifestyle images can be found HERE. Full product description and specifications of the Legend Series can be found HERE.
For technical specs, additional information on new Jackson products and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.jacksonguitars.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @OfficialJacksonGuitars on Instagram, Threads, X and @JacksonGuitarsUSA on YouTube and Facebook.
Limited Edition Legend Series Signature David Ellefson CB V Concert™ Bass (MSRP: $2,499.99 USD, £1,899 GBP, €2,249 EUR, $4,499 AUD, ¥434,500 JPY) The Jackson Legend Series Limited Edition Signature David Ellefson Concert™ Bass CB V reproduces the first-ever Jackson five-string — built for the 1990 tour and the foundation of Ellefson’s signature lineup. Alder body, three-piece through-body quartersawn maple neck with graphite reinforcement rods, 12″–16″ compound radius ebony fingerboard, EMG® 40DC and CS pickups with 3-band EQ, Jackson HiMass™ 5-string bridge, open-gear Hipshot tuners, pearloid sharkfin inlays, Gloss Black finish, all-black hardware, and Ellefson’s signature on the truss rod cover and headstock.
Limited Edition Legend Series Signature Marty Friedman Kelly™ KE-1 (MSRP: $2,299.99 USD, £1,849 GBP, €2,199 EUR, $4,299 AUD, ¥385,000 JPY) The Jackson Legend Series KE-1 Kelly™ is a faithful reproduction of Marty Friedman’s iconic late-’90s signature — originally a limited, highly sought-after collector’s piece, now accessible at an attainable price. Built from the original sample, it features an alder body with three-piece maple neck-through construction, ebony fingerboard with 12″–16″ compound radius, 24 jumbo frets, and pearloid sharkfin inlays. The Seymour Duncan® JB pickup delivers a tight, articulate punch, while the Kahler® 7330 Fixed bridge ensures rock-solid stability. Every detail is intact — including Marty’s signature white “1” body marking.
Legend Series Limited Edition Signature Scott Ian Rhoads RR22 (MSRP: $2,199.99 USD, £1,849 GBP, €2,199 EUR, $4,399 AUD, ¥396,000 JPY) As Anthrax® co-founder and rhythm guitarist, Scott Ian helped define thrash metal. His iconic “NOT” Rhoads — a custom Jackson built in the early 1980s — earned its name from the bold “NOT” body graphics and was central to the band’s 1980s recording and touring era. The Jackson Legend Series Limited Edition Scott Ian Signature RR22 NOT faithfully recreates this legendary instrument with neck-through construction, an alder body for exceptional sustain and a three-piece maple neck with graphite reinforcement for fast, comfortable playability.
Limited Edition Legend Series Randy Rhoads CD1 (MSRP: $2,499.99 USD, £1,899 GBP, €2,249 EUR, $4,499 AUD, ¥407,000 JPY) The Jackson Limited Edition Legend Series Randy Rhoads CD1 revives a classic V-shape previously exclusive to the custom shop. Finished in Ivory with black pinstripes and vintage-style gold hardware — including the iconic black headstock with gold lettering — it features an alder body, graphite-reinforced maple neck, and bound ebony fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets and 12″–16″ compound radius. A pair of Seymour Duncan® JB/59′ humbuckers deliver balanced, flexible tone from clean to high-gain, backed by two volume and tone controls, three-way toggle, and a vintage-accurate six-saddle tremolo.
ABOUT JACKSON:
Jackson® was built for heavy music. Born in Southern California as a new generation of players pushed guitar playing faster, heavier and further, Jackson created high-performance instruments designed to keep up. With radical shapes, unmistakable style and uncompromising performance, Jackson helped define the sound and look of metal and became synonymous with shred. For more than four decades, the brand has worked alongside some of heavy music’s most influential players, creating instruments that have evolved with the genre while continuing to push it forward. Today, as heavy music reaches new artists, audiences and generations, Jackson remains at the forefront — advancing high-performance guitar through bold design, innovation and a relentless commitment to players who refuse to stand still. Jackson is an owned brand of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC). For more information, visit www.jacksonguitars.com.
