Jackson Legend Series brings back Rhoads, Friedman and Scott Ian designs
Jackson unveils its 2026 Legend Series. Compare the Randy Rhoads CD1, Marty Friedman KE-1, Scott Ian RR22 NOT and David Ellefson CB V.
Jackson has launched a four-instrument Legend Series built around signature designs associated with Randy Rhoads, Marty Friedman, Scott Ian and David Ellefson. Announced on October 14, the limited-edition collection pairs three electric guitars with Ellefson’s five-string Concert Bass. The guitar models take noticeably different approaches to pickups, controls and bridges. Jackson’s announcement describes them as recreations of instruments originally built for the artists.
Rhoads CD1: two pickups, four controls
The Randy Rhoads CD1 combines a pinstriped white finish and gold hardware with an alder body, maple neck-through construction and an ebony fingerboard. Its 22 jumbo frets sit on a 12–16-inch compound radius. A Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup and ’59 neck pickup have individual volume and tone controls, with a three-way selector and six-saddle vintage-style tremolo. Jackson’s US listing is $2,499.99.
Friedman KE-1 and Ian RR22: single-pickup alternatives
The Marty Friedman Kelly KE-1 keeps a single Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup, one volume control and a Kahler 7330 fixed bridge. Gloss Black, the white “1” marking on the body’s side and sharkfin inlays carry the visual identity. The maple-through-alder construction has an ebony fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets; the listed US price is $2,299.99.
Scott Ian’s Rhoads RR22 NOT also uses a single JB and one volume control, but adds a Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo. Pearl White, the “NOT” graphics, 22 jumbo frets and a 25.5-inch scale complete the outline. Its US listing is $2,199.99. For players comparing the two, the fixed-versus-locking-tremolo choice is a more useful starting point than the shared pickup name.
A five-string completes the collection
The David Ellefson CB V Concert Bass is listed at $2,499.99. It combines EMG 40DC/40CS pickups with three-band EQ, a blend control, a HiMass bridge and a 34-inch scale.
These are the newly announced production models. Their specifications should not be read as a parts inventory for every historic recording made by the four artists. US prices were checked on October 14; local taxes, pricing and availability can differ.
Related: explore the different Jackson X Series Kelly KEX in our existing gear guide.
Image: AI-assisted editorial illustration based on official Jackson product references, courtesy of Jackson / Fender Musical Instruments Corporation.