What is ithelp me identify it

[p webb]

Hey,
I got this 17 years ago and I always thought it was a raider but it doesn't look like the raiders in the catalogs on this website. I've played the hell out of it and it's never failed me. The story goes that whatever model this is, it was pulled from the line and painted magenta which is a color reserved for another model so it may be one of a kind. If the picture doesn't come out here you can see it in the picture forum under pwebb.

Thanks for the help! http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/5/1122.jpg

[Ken Jones]

It's a Raider II. Made by ESP in Japan c.1986. It's one of the later models with the "pointier" black headstock. You can see a black one here (third picture from the top):

http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/849.html?1100473574

[p webb]

Thanks Ken,

Are you saying that Robin contracted with ESP to build some of their models? I've always thought of this as a homegrown Texas enterprise. If so, that's a little disappointing...however, that doesn't change the sound I've been enjoying for so long...

[Ken Jones]

RV, RG, RH, 2PU Ranger were made by Tokai (82-84). All 21 fret Robins are Tokai.

Raider, 3PU Ranger, Ranger Bass (medium scale), Freedom Bass, RDN, Octave, Rival were made by ESP (84-88).

Wedge and Artisan were made by Chushin (85-88).

All Robins with a gold logo were MIJ. Any Houston-made Robin will have "Made in the USA" or "Handcrafted in Houston, TX".

Houston production began in 1988 with the TX Medley.

If you look on the Robin website, all the guitars in the old catalogs/brochures up until the time they made the TX Medley were MIJ.

[BCRGreg]

Thanks to Kizanski, all the old catalogs are up and running.

Kiz is KICKING ASS on the site.