Robin Medley I think

[Eric Bohn]

I know nothing about Robin guitars, except that I knew I used to have one. I came across this guitar again just about a week ago, I was asked by my parents if I wanted any of the old junk that had been left in my bedroom closet. So, when going through, what was mostly junk, I camme across two guitars. This Robin and a Ameg Stud. I knew as a teenager I had many guitars, most were sold when in need of money, as I thought were the fate of these. I now own a Samick that I've had for at least 15 years, and enjoy very much, but this Robin is a very well playing guitar. I would like to find out more information on this. Such as, where it was made, what kind of pick- up's, year it was made, original sale price and if anyone knows how to get the glue off the body. I would like to restore it, if it is worth it, if not I'll play it as is. I'm sorry for my rambleing, just wanted to introduce myself to the group and ask my question all at once. http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2261.jpghttp://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2262.jpghttp://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2263.jpg

[Lil' Chucky Conrad]

Kahler trem eh? Looks like a great player...
Some of the experts around here should be able to
tell you exactly what it is...
Looks like a Medley but it looks older
& is probably Made in Japan ...
So it may go by a name I'm not familiar with.
Deffinately a closet classic with that Kahler..

I loved those tailpieces...

[Ken Jones]

MIJ Medley IV.

Look at these catalogs on the Robin website for more info:
http://www.robinguitars.com/1988.html

Try rubbing the guitar with a soft rag with small amount of Naptha or "Goo Gone" to remove the glue.

[Eric Bohn]

The medley IV does look close but, it has a Floyd Rose trem. system. Mine has a Kahler, if they were offered at the same time I'm not sure.

[Lil' Chucky Conrad]

The Kahler Pro's are apparently available again.

www.nealmoser.com/kahlerbridges.htm (http://www.nealmoser.com/kahlerbridges.htm)

I had one on a Hamer prototype back in the late
80's & I always preferred it to the modern Floyd.
Especially for Whammy Flutters & sheer
responsiveness... I'm glad you posted that... I'm
going to order one of these son's of a guns..

Great Trem...

I wonder what they would act like with a
tradionional graphite nut, a set of good locking
tuners (which weren't real hip back then) & some
Big Bend's Nut sauce ... I bet nothing else would
touch them ... I'm sure of it ...

Heck it would be easier than a Strat to change
strings...
http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2266.jpg

[Ken Jones]

A few came out of the factory with Kahlers. It was a custom order option. I think you could also get a Medley with stop tailpiece and tuneomatic.

[Chris Baker]

Kahlers are available again and are available at www.kahlerusa.com (http://www.kahlerusa.com)! Also, they're selling them direct on e-bay; just do a search on "Kahler" and you can buy one straight from the factory at a decent discount.
I have a Raider II with a Kahler and I love it!

[Eric Bohn]

Can anyone be more specific about what year this was made? And where it was made. The only numbers I can find on it are # 1091 stamped on the neck plate.

[John Williams]

These were made in the 80's by ESP primarily.I would guess your to be mid to late 80's,but Ken Jones will probably shed light on it for you.Thanks

[Ken Jones]

There is no way to exactly date a MIJ Robin. The serial numbers are arbitrary (just like serial numbers on early Fenders). Your Medley IV was made in Japan by ESP sometime between 1986 and 1988.

Robin would receive a shipment of dozens of guitars at a time. The guitars would arrive in large crates, be inspected and set up, and then sold one or two at a time. They would order more from Japan as needed. Cases came directly from G&G case of California and did not have a Robin logo on them.

Houston production started in 1988. They made new guitars and continued to sell the MIJ stock until they sold them all. I do not know when they sold the last of the MIJ guitars, but I would bet that it was probably in the 90's. I actually have a mint, metallic blue, two-pickup Tokai Ranger that has a warranty card dated 1987 - the last of the two-pickup Tokai Rangers were made in 1984.

http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2274.jpghttp://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2275.jpg

[Eric Bohn]

I just want to say thank you, to all of you for the information provided. This seems to be not an easy line of guitars to do a background check on. If anyone has any other web sites that are Robin based, please leave a link or address. Once again thank you all.

[Ken Jones]

Hey look - there's another one like yours on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Robin-Medley-IV-Made-in-Japan-Electric-Guitar-MIJ-NR_W0QQite mZ7375522950QQcategoryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1 QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/Robin-Medley-IV-Made-in-Japan-Electric-Guitar-MIJ-NR_W0QQitemZ7375522950QQcategoryZ2384QQssPageNameZ WDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[metalaxe]

huh! why didn't n e 1 buy it?

if i was a us citizen i wouldn't have hesitated for a second!!

what a great deal!

[Brian Presley]

You mean this one? #1138 Just delivered today and doesn't look like it got much use at all. The Kahler looks stock. The routing for a standard tremolo spring are was done pre-paint and the holes were drilled for the spring claw, except it was never installed. Routing for the Kahler done post paint. The setup on this guitar is poor and will take some tweaking. The neck is dead on however with about .011" relief. I had a trem arm to fit the Kahler and it works great. Electronics are solid with good components (even the push/pull tone pot is functional), but there is ZERO shielding. Also, somebody flipped the humbucker mounting ring (and maybe the pup itself) around so it slants toward the bridge (?). Wouldn't that cause you to play backwards?

The humbucker is a Dimarzio-USA

http://robinlovers.com/discus/messages/6/2378.jpg

[Brian Presley]

Here's an update for you Eric.

Humbucker is a Dimarzio, 2-wire. It has the 12 adjustable (allen wrench style) pole pieces. I couldn't make out yours from the photo.

Neck pickup is a heavy, dark copper wire (or coated wire) that has no wrap or shield (inside the bobbin cover). It has no markings.

Middle pickup is a little lighter in weight, with bright copper wire, also with no wrap or shield (looks like a different manufacturer). It has the following markings:
016730 molded into the bottom of the plastic base.
56206 written in white marker on the bottom.

The neck had the number 1138 (which matches the plate serial number), written in red felt-tip pen on the heel. Oddly enough, the neck pocket was clean of paint which is unusual if the guitar was stock. No other markings were found.

Can you believe it? Only had the thing for a few hours and already took it all apart.....