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View Full Version : What about the RH Series

JD Jones
12-23-2004, 01:23 PM
The first "good" guitar I ever got was a metallic red (don't know the official color name, if there was one) RH-1, bought from Rockin Robin in late 1982 or early 1983. I love that there is an online community dedicated to these fine instruments. But I have been all over these posts, and find hardly anything about the RH Series. Why is this? Can anyone give me any info about the history of this series - was it good or bad quality, well or poorly received, etc.? It's like they're the "forgotten" Robin guitars.
John Williams
12-23-2004, 02:54 PM
Oh Kenny.......do tell.
Ken Jones
12-23-2004, 03:00 PM
You mean, these?

http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/5/1254.jpg

RH-2, RH-2 (matching headstock), RH-1, RH-2, RV-1, RV-2
BCRGreg
12-24-2004, 09:42 AM
Showoff BASTID!!!!!
JD Jones
12-24-2004, 10:13 AM
Right, those. Does anyone know the story behind them? About the only thing I saw on them on these boards was the above pic in the "MIJ part 1" post,and then of course they show up in those great old catalogs (wow those bring back memories). My red one has the matching headstock, like the blue one above, but with one humbucker (out of a Les Paul). I also put a Floyd on it. I'll have to get it out and look fot the S# - how many were made?

Thanks for this cool board.
Smitty
12-24-2004, 10:25 AM
I think Ken personally owns all but two of 'em. Yours and one other are still on the loose, and I hear Ken has been loaning that guy money against it so he can repo it later....

<grin>

Welcome to Robinlovers!

Smitty
Ken Jones
12-24-2004, 02:55 PM
The RH, RV, and RG series were made by Tokai. In fact, any Robin with 21 frets is a Tokai, and any Robin with a gold logo was MIJ.

These were made between 1982-84. I actually do not know how many were made. The other Tokai made guitar was the original two-pickup Ranger.

RH-1 indicates one pickup, RH-2 is a two-pickup. I've always assumed that:

RH = "Robin Humbucker"
RV = "Robin Vintage"
RG = "Robin Guitar"

If you look at Tokai catalogs from the same era, the Tokai ST series are the same guitars as the Robin RG series - but with a different headstock. (ST-50, ST-80, ST-100)

Serial numbers on MIJ Robins are random - just like the serial numbers on early Fenders. American made Robins serial numbers indicate the year the guitar was made and are sequential for that year.