Guitars
Jackson King V Double Neck Korina Dave Mustaine
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Dave Mustaine, the one and only boss in Megadeth, started using the Jackson King V as early as 1986, when his band was just starting to get noticed. The biggest albums by that thrash metal monster were recorded using that model, a Jackson creation as sharp as the Randy Rhoads but with horns of equal length, like a Flying V.
In 1988, for songs like “Mary Jane” and “In My Darkest Hour” from the album So Far, So Good, So What, Mustaine opened the sound of his band to new sounds using an electric 12 string. In order to play those songs on stage, Mustaine needed a double neck, therefore Jackson made him the first double King V ever, a beautiful black model with a single pickup on the 12 string side and half the tuners beyond the bridge, a smart way not to make the headstock too heavy, inspired by the B.C. Rich Perfect 10 that Mustaine used when he started out.
This sublime double neck was built in 1994, and the amber color of its super flamed maple top makes it instantly recognizable. Its Korina body makes it all the more desirable and gives it a vintage flavor that the black version didn’t have. Mustaine has made heavy use of that King V on stage for the Cryptic Writings tour, especially for the single “Trust”. The double-necked beauty can be seen on videos for shows like Monsters Of Rock 98 and Woodstock 99.
To make it even cooler, Mustaine has signed it on the side (even if the serial number starting with DM would have been enough to identify an instrument custom made for the singer), and he also signed the certificate of authenticity that comes with it.
Dave Mustaine
(1961)
Band: Megadeth
Main guitar: Jackson King V
Compulsory listening: Hangar 18
Dave Mustaine’s career started with a fall from the garden of Eden, an original trauma that would condition many of his decisions to come. In 1981, the amazing california guitarist joined James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich as the soloist in Metallica, a small Los Angeles band trying to mix the speed of Motorhead with the aggression of British heavy metal and the attitude of punk. This blend gave birth to thrash metal, but Mustaine wrote the history of that genre in his own band since he got fired in 1983 because of his addictions, just before the recording of debut album Kill ‘Em All. Since then, he never stopped comparing his former band to his newer band, the hugely successful Megadeth.
The Mustaine-fronted band is an incredibly potent outfit, a true war machine whose albums are at least as good as anything released by the other thrash metal greats. Dave is unrivalled as a rhythm player, his songwriting can be pure genius, his singing voice is highly personal and he evens holds his own as a solo player. On top of all this, Mustaine has a knack for surrounding himself with the best musicians around, especially guitar players, starting with Chris Poland whose fluid playing shines on Peace Sells in 1986. Marty Friedman’s arrival in 1990 brought the band to a new level, and each of his contributions to the classic album Rust In Peace is a jewel of exotic scales and tasty high speed runs.
Countdown To Extinction in 1992 is the album that met the biggest success with more than two millions sold. The guitar sounds on that album are cold and sharp as can be. Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings brought the band in a heavier and warmer direction, before Mustaine ended the band in 2002 after an arm injury that prevented him from playing.
After months of re-learning, Mustaine brought Megadeth back to life in 2004 with the great album The System Has Failed. To this day, the band keeps touring the world, currently with former Angra soloist Kiko Loureiro on shredding guitar duties.
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