I just hope it will arrive in one piece. A guy received his Ran King V last week and there were big chunks of wood cracked off from both of the wings. UPS really screwed up that parcel.

Here's a pic of the KV when it was still at Ran:
http://muusikoiden.net/dyn/users/21005.jpg
http://muusikoiden.net/dyn/users/21007.jpg
http://muusikoiden.net/dyn/users/21006.jpg

He posted pics of the damage but the links don't work at the moment. In any case, it was nasty.

can you post a link to the website where that guy talks about what happened to his ran and where he posted pics?

It's in Finnish so it wouldn't do much good anyway.

I just noticed the links work again.

http://www.fiercemetal.org/ran/

Holy fuck That is why you get shipping insurance. Dude will be able to buy another and have two for the price of one. At least the busted one still plays and can be repaired. It could have been the headstock.

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Yeah, and that KV should be an easy fix since it has a solid paint finish. Mine on the other hand, has transparent top, back and bevels. It would be a bitch to repair so that the damage won't show.

if that happened to my guitar, i would make the shipping company pay for a replacement.

i just wouldnt be happy with a repair job.

As long as you're insured, they will. If not, you'd probably have a hard time making them pay for anything. They will have small print for a reason.

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ohh kool, it seemed just black to me ,

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I must say, the fit of the flightcase on my Ran could have been a little better- i have to leave the top strap-lock connected to stop the tip of the headstock from being able to touch the end of the case. If i didn't, then the headstock would keep bashing into the end. That said, the flightcase is built very well, inside and out

Another thing that would have been nice is either locking butterfly catches, or the anchor points to put a padlock on.

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Thats a beautiful guitar.


That King with the damage is terrible...I believe I would be pretty upset.

Soul is right though.

I'm sure you could still find a luthier to make it pretty much unnoticeable.

Something close to that happened to the headstock on my Ran one night....ssssssshhhh, don't tell anyone.

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My first RAN has aquired 2 or 3 little chips in the 2 years ive had it, but I will get it touched up soon.

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about that KV: OUCH!!! hope he can get that sorted out!!

update about mine:


doesnt sound too bad, eh? not too long now

I asked for 1 or 2 pics in the meantime because it would be nice to see how the axe looks without paint, too (it will get a solid finish)

guys, how are your Ran cases holding out?
Mine is pretty much trashed after a year of gigging, anyone had the same problem? I really prefer the hardshell cases like Ibanez has.

My case is ok but it is starting to show signs of weakening. I need to get a good shell type case for mine too.

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Flightcases ftw...

Assuming you got a car to put it in.

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My cases are good the one I got with the first ran is abit dodgy so I use the new case they gave me with the new one for taking them out and about.

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Just saw Vader, sporting Ran's

dude, can we have some new pictures of you ran?
btw, how does it compare to other highend guitars?

last pic I have is this one: http://a17.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...417766016_l.jpg

posted that before, don't have any new ones but I can take some.

How it compares to high-end guitars is hard to say, it depends on what you're looking for and according to what specs you have your Ran built.
I recently bought an Ibanez RG prestige just to have a guitar with a trem too, I bought it cheap but it does not sustain as good as my Ran, which makes sense since it's no neck-thru and it has a floating trem.
And ofcourse the Ibanez V8 pickup sounds like (thin) shit compared to an EMG 81.

Still, each guitar has it's own charm. The RG prestige neck is great and a bit smoother then my Ran's neck which is not bare wood.
Build quality on my Ran is great though, I have been trashing it live for quite a while now and it's still holding up. Ofcourse it has the obvious battle damage but it still has virtually NO fretwear.

I have had only one problem, the nut got loose and I had to glue it in again, happend after about two months when changing strings.
The case is kinda dying from beeing thrown with around stages, I expected a bit more from it but it's no hardshell case. But I'm sure it will do fine for most people.

For the money, I couldn't have done any better.

All these years, and you still have that blurry madness def?

I'm going to come over and steal your Engl btw.

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Which one of the 3?

The damaged KV is mine...the guitar will be fixed on this week by Ruokangas (http://www.ruokangas.com/) and they can make the damages unnoticeable. The guitar itself is amazing...action, finish and it looks great They even built the same speedneck profile as I have on my Jackson KV-2.

So...after all...everything is fine with the guitar

The guitar will be used to play this -> http://www.myspace.com/fiercemetal

awesome!
so whos picking up the bill? the postal company?

haha, what a cunt

I think the powerball. Maybe if you're lucky you can score the rectum-frier for a bit.

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fuck powerballs and rectum-fiers...its all about my roland cube 30...

It's all about the ENGL SE

What's the word on that one Def? Is it the shit or what?

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hmmm... not getting answers from dariusz again it seems... and thats with my gmail-account... maybe the problem is on his side?

ah, forgett about that, just got an answer. seems there is a problem with my other mail-provider (Dariusz kept getting errors). he says he'll send me pics before painting asap!

seems like asap is in about 2 weeks because he's not at Ran in the moment lol

does that V look like a Ran to you guys? superthin neck!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U63lVAQtuZM

I seen a guitar that had RAN on the headstock.

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I jest seeeen me a Ran too

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very niceeee.... Cephalic Carnage is one of my favourite bands

I seen me one everyday too You and I both own one; you short bus window licking fucker, but did you see the one in the video JeremyCrow posted?

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yep! at least the headstock-logo says "Ran"

Yah...hence my fo pau hick accent....nigger face.

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definitly a Ran

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekTROe9sSdk

has anyone received any emails from Dariusz this week? I mailed him monday and thursday, today its friday and I havent heard ANYTHING. since he usually is pretty fast with answering emails I dunno if something got lost or whatever....

Maybe he's ill or on holiday... I wouldn't worry about it. He's obviously not in the business of screwing people over.

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no totally not! he has been really great so far and lots of other people have similar experience too.

only thing I'm worried about is if there is an email-problem again since he has had problems getting mails to me a few times before

and the reason for my impatience: I'm waiting for PICTURES!!!!!

I can understand your impatience! Guitar porn is so much better when it's your own guitar...

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exactly!

the axe isnt finished yet, but Dariusz said he'd send me pics before painting as it will get a solid paintjob and I'd like to see how it looks "inside"

AAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!! just got an answer from Dariusz, he says he mailed me a week ago, but I didnt get that so it IS email-problems again (dont get whats wrong with that friggin system)

and now he's in spain so I'll have to wait till he's back to poland before he can send me pics or anything

Looking good dude, i was gonna ask when yours was going to be finished-has been ages! Maple fretboard for the win, good call on the Warrior shape too

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wow, really hot stuff!!!! cant believe how shiny that maple board is

looks really good



that other link you posted doesnt work btw

Yah....that's pretty different from the finished product.

what gives?

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I'm assuming the attached image which I can't get (the link) to work is of the Jackson 'nebula' artwork?

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I know it's not what you wanted but... I kinda prefer the way it turned out...

How much did it cost?

Well, my Ran wasn't quite right- was the paint job something that you added in to your spec in an email, or was is in there from the kick-off? The things that weren't what i asked for were not in the initial spec, but he had agreed them in additional emails.

What has D said about it, if anything yet?

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wow, thats really COMPLETELY different! good that you like the result!!!


btw: I think I've once read a post by a guy who had ordered an unfinished neck and got a painted one or something like that, dont remember exactly....

one more reason why I wanna see a pic or two of my axe before painting (there isnt really much about the paintjob they could do wrong, it will just be all satin black)

more RAN PORN!!!!!!!! (not mine btw)

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/...am/DSCF0025.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/...am/DSCF0024.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/...am/DSCF0027.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/...am/DSCF0029.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/...am/DSCF0030.jpg

Ouch...get those points off that concrete floor!

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beautiful guitar....but why in the hell is it sitting on concrete?

fucking retarded I tell you.

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jeez that is probably one of the prettiest guitarsthat I have ever seen man

LIKE THE OTHERS SAID. WHY PUT IT ON THE GROUND?

Oh My Fucking SHIT! V guitar points on glue rock! Mutha Facka nuts!

You sir must want to piss me off. Very very very very sweet guitar, but get it off the concrete. These photos are disgrace. Have you ever owned a guitar before?

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it's not his guitar.

It's indeed a thing of beauty. I don't like the jack input location though...

Yah...he wisely added:

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The gallery on the Ran site is updated with new pictures, here's my guitar:
http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=22
http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=23

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LOTS of cool stuff there!

its nice to see quite a few 7s, too

yep... mine is there too...

http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=84
http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=85
http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=86
http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=87

real nice one! congrats!

and greetings fellow 7-stringer hehe

mine is supposed to finish around mid - late august

thanks

what are the specs on yours?

P.S. - there sure are some beautiful new ones in the gallery section

mine is:
custom shaped 7string V, maple neck through, mahogany wings, X2N7 and AN7, Schaller Floyd, volume pot, 3 way switch, killswitch, 3way-mini for neck-PU series/split/parallel, all satin black, ebony board, no inlays, custom aluminium inlay in 11th-13th fret area (septagram with planet symbols)

thats about it if I didnt forgett anything right now...

what shape did you choose for the headstock?

btw... it sounds pretty sweet... my next one ( in a few years ) should be a 7 string V too

yea, not many of those around unfortunately. I know of ONE production modell and that is dicontinued (Epiphone had a 7-string version of the flying V I think)

headstock will be kinda like the BC Richt Beast headstock (yes, pat o'briens axe was one of the influences for this)

really looking forward to it!!!

EDIT: oh, forgott a detail: 26,5"-scale

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i was looking at the custom thing on the sight and i realized i dont know the difference between

satin finish
metalic finish
solid finish
see thru finish

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yea well... kinda, yes


Arsis: solid finish is the standard, like on this guitar:
http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=48

satin finish is like this:
http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=31

metallic finish has metal flakes in it:
http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=180

see thru is a finish thats partially transparent, like here:
http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=209
(you can see the woods grain through the finish)

LOL

YES YES!

*wanks to those pictures*

Well you guys might find something interesting here....

My Baby

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Most excellent man, that is one sick wicked axe.

Smexy.

Ahh! Another perfect Ran joins the world. Awesome guitar

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woohooo!!!! great axe!!!

Hey. Here are some pics of my new Ran. Sorry, there's a wrong pick-up installed - should be Seymour Duncan TB-6. Will be changed to right one soon. Cheers

mmm, thats a real classy rhoads!!

wrong PU? how did that happen?

How much are you selling if for?

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Thank you! The pick-up on the picture is the one which was originally added on the custom quote - we made a change on the quote and it seems Dariusz just forgot it. Simple human error. Hopefully he'll get the right PU soon so he can send the guitar finally to me after over a year of waiting, heheh

You mean the PU, heh Well, I do not have the PU cos the guitar is still at Ran's - waiting the right PU to arrive and to be installed.

i just got my quote... why is it so much more than everyone elses was?
name: Jesse
e-mail: vashmere@hotmail.com
country: usa
- - -
R or L handed : right handed

Scale length : 25.5
Scale length other :

Body shape : other Body shape other : Jackson Rhoads

Construction : neck thru body Construction other :

Body material : mahogany Body material other :

Top wood options : no Top wood options other :

Body binding : none

Binding material : N/A Binding material other :

Pickup configuration : H-H Pickup configuration other :

Finish : see-thru Finish other : dark blue

Custom finish : none Custom finish other :

Headstock shape : other Headstock shape other : jackson

Neck material : maple 3P Neck material other :

Headstock : reversed

Truss rod cover : plastic (b/w/b) Truss rod cover other :

Headstock finish : black Headstock finish other :

Neck finish : match body finish Neck finish other :

Fingerboard material : indian rosewood Fingerboard material other :

Number of frets : 24 Number of frets other :

Fret size : Gotoh - standard
Fingerboard inlays (MOP) : sharkfins Fingerboard inlays (MOP) other :

Custom inlays : no Custom inlays other :

Inlay at 12th fret (MOP) : none Inlay at 12th fret (MOP) other :

Fingerboard side inlays : plastic dots Fingerboard side inlays other :

Fingerboard binding : white plastic Fingerboard binding other :

Headstock binding : white plastic Headstock binding other :

Nut : locking Nut other :

Width : 1 5/8(42mm)

Hardware color : black

Bridge system : Schaller Floyd Rose Tremolo Bridge system other :

Tuning machines : Schaller M6 Tuning machines other :

Straplocks : Schaller

Pickups : Seymour Duncan
Neck : sh-5
Middle : n/a Bridge : full shred

Pickup rings : plastic (black)

Control knobs : 2 x volume, tone Control knobs other :

Other controls : none Other controls other :

Pickup selector : 3-way toggle Pickup selector other : Flight case : yes - - -
Additional instructions : 3 ply pickguard, 3 ply b/w/b same shape as the jackson

thats like $2000 usd, for that i could just get a les paul or somthing...

thats cause RAN got more expensive, too.

yea you could get a Les Paul maybe, but not a custom one

2000 dollars is like 1400 euros. That's the price I paid for mine one year ago. And she doesn't have a floyd bridge.

hey, did anyone manage to get any pics of their guitar from dariusz before it was finished?
mine is only missing painting it seems and I asked him to send me a few pics before painting cause it will get a solid (not see-thru) paintjob and I'd like to know how it looks "in the wood".
he said he would send me some but has somehow failed to do so for weeks and weeks now (we've exchanged several emails about it during that time).

anyone else had any luck with something like that? cause its really starting to bug me now...

Hi,

2000 USD for this custom RAN is not very expensive, it's also the price
i paid for mine 1 year and a half ago.
If you would get the same features in a standard US series Randy Rhoads Jackson, you would probably pay more than it (about 2200 euros in europe),
so your quote is correct in my opinion.

As for pictures of RAN guitars before painting, i'd also like to see some
if someone has it ! It must be interesting to see how it is under these
beautiful paintings !

Styx

I saw Decapitated at the Summer Slaughter Tour last month, at first glance it appeared he was weilding a Dean Razorback, but with further investigation i found it was in fact a Ran Dimebag Tribute. Ever since then i have been saving for my own Ran. Killer tone for a killer price. (I knew it couldn't of been a Dean. :P)

was supposed to get pics at the end of last week.... still nothing

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

after 3 months of waiting for pics, here they are lol:
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/...374smallkv3.jpghttp://img403.imageshack.us/img403/...375smallgi4.jpg
http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/74...377smallan2.jpg
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/...378smallyn2.jpg
I'm really happy cause I think it turned out really good

That is looking pretty fucking cool. The inlay particularly.

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yes, I love how it turned out!! the body-shape, too!

thanks!

looking good!! congrats!!

one of the V's in the back is a copy of a Neal Moser V design. My Ran was also based on a Moser creation

1,840.00 EUR (2,484.48 USD)
Doesn't seem that bad for a high quality 7-string custom, what do you guys think? If all goes well, I'll be ordering it somewhere near the end of the year, so it would hopefully be finished by next Christmas.

Here's the mail that I got:

Dear Ognjen,
the Invader guitar in your specification will cost 1840 euros.

Best regards
Dariusz Kuczynski

> name: Ognjen
> e-mail: ogisha007@gmail.com
> country: Serbia
> - - -
> R or L handed : right handed
>
> Scale length : other
> Scale length other : 26.5\"
>
> Body shape : Invader
> Body shape other :
>
> Construction : neck thru body
> Construction other :
>
> Body material : mahogany
> Body material other :
>
> Top wood options : no
> Top wood options other :
>
> Body binding : none
>
> Binding material : N/A
> Binding material other :
>
> Pickup configuration : H-H
> Pickup configuration other :
>
> Finish : solid
> Finish other : white
>
> Custom finish : pinstripes
> Custom finish other : black
>
> Headstock shape : other
> Headstock shape other : Jackson
>
> Neck material : maple/mahogany 5P
> Neck material other :
>
> Headstock : regular
>
> Truss rod cover : plastic (b/w/b)
> Truss rod cover other :
>
> Headstock finish : match body finish
> Headstock finish other :
>
> Neck finish : match body finish
> Neck finish other :
>
> Fingerboard material : ebony
> Fingerboard material other :
>
> Number of frets : 24
> Number of frets other :
>
> Fret size : Gotoh - standard
>
> Fingerboard inlays (MOP) : none
> Fingerboard inlays (MOP) other :
>
> Custom inlays : no
> Custom inlays other :
>
> Inlay at 12th fret (MOP) : other
> Inlay at 12th fret (MOP) other : Custom tribal sun inlay 11th-13th fret
>
> Fingerboard side inlays : plastic dots
> Fingerboard side inlays other :
>
> Fingerboard binding : none
> Fingerboard binding other :
>
> Headstock binding : none
> Headstock binding other :
>
> Nut : graphite
> Nut other :
>
> Width : 1 7/8(48mm), 7-string
>
> Hardware color : black
>
> Bridge system : ABM 7-String Fixed Bridge
> Bridge system other :
>
> Tuning machines : Schaller M6 locking
> Tuning machines other :
>
> Straplocks : Schaller
>
> Pickups : EMG
> Neck : 707
> Middle : n/a
> Bridge : 707
>
> Pickup rings : none (direct mounted)
>
> Control knobs : 2 x volume
> Control knobs other :
>
> Other controls : killswitch
> Other controls other :
>
> Pickup selector : 3-way lever
> Pickup selector other :
>
> Flight case : yes
> - - -
> Additional instructions : 7-string guitar.

2,484.48 USD! Virgin ass of Christ! I remember over 3 years ago I ordered my Invader and I was the first US custom order ever for Ran Guitars. Total cost, with shipping, custom specs, plus mailing Ran an old stock Kahler pro bridge 2320 to install ( worth $200 at the time alone ), and U.S. Custom's tax... all totaled = < $1,700. My guitar quoted by Ran was like 980 Euro. I had the first custom Ran guitar made to order this side of the world... It will be cremated with me, I shit you not.

Looks like Ran did in fact begin to charge more the last few years. I knew it would happen. They make some nice guitars. I took a risk with them and am glad I did.

I've been trying to talk Mrs Soul into letting me order more!

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Yeah, although the price seems a bit steep, I'm sure it's totally worth it. After checking out the pics and reviews I'm sure that Ran guitars are top quality instruments.

Hi,

as the title says, i'd like to know how the action is on your RAN(s) ?
Perfect? Too Low? Too High?

because on mine with a fixed bridge, the action is too high... maybe i'm
the only one with this problem. I tried to fix it by setting the bridge correctly
and by changing for lighter strings (which gives less bow to the neck), but
the action remains too high...
Before setting the truss rod, did someone here have a similar problem ?

Styx

Nope... the action was just perfect on my 7-string (fixed bridge too)

well "perfect" action is a matter of personal preference anyways, so the best thing you could probably do is ask for measurements of what other people got

My guitar tech mates would disagree. They set up every guitar that comes through their workshop with the exact same action, or as close as possible depending on the condition and build of the guitar.

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