Robin Ranger Custom For Sale

[Brandon Lardie]

Someone give her a good home! =)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7318783255&rd=1&sspage name=ST RK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7318783255&rd=1&sspage name=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1)

Thanks,
Brandon

[Brandon Lardie]

Trying again. Relisted here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=73254441 26&rd=1 &ssPageName=WDVW (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=2384&item=73254441 26&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

Thanks,
Brandon

[Ken Jones]

Are you sure that the serial # you list in the auction is correct? It does not appear to be a USA serial #. A USA Ranger serial # from 1990 would be more like this: 901609. USA serial numbers are on the back of the headstock. MIJ serial numbers are on the neck plate.

[DCWalters]

I wondered that myself, I was thinking about buying it a while back but was not comfortable with the serial number location. I have always been under the impression that the S/N on a USA Robin was on the back of the headstock rather than the neckplate. Glad to see I am not the only one that thought this.

[Brandon Lardie]

Hi guys,

Ken has already heard the story via email but I'll type it here for Darren and whoever else.

I am positive it's an American Ranger Custom. I'm the original owner and bought it from Napier Music in Owosso, MI. He was a dealer for a very short time. I believe it's a '90 bevause it came with the 1990 catalog. I have been a customer of Napier Music since 1984 and know he didn't have Robins until about 1990. Bill Napier doesn't remember the exact date he started carrying them. He does have a Ranger 6/4 doubleneck that the same type serial number location. The 6/4 was made between '88-'90. I'll double check the serial number on the doubleneck tomorrow.

Thanks,
Brandon

[Ken Jones]

My thoughts.

Robin started making guitars in Houston in 1988. The first Houston guitars were Medleys. They continued to sell any left over MIJ guitars for a few years until they had sold the remaining stock. They also had a small supply of MIJ parts, such as tuners, neck plates, and pickups. They used some of these parts on Houston-made guitars, including Rangers.

I'm about 95% sure that this guitar's neck and body were made in Houston. The neck is flamey - MIJ necks never had any figuring. The body binding appears to be the thicker binding of a Houston made body.

I am 100% positive that if the pickups are original, they are definitely not Rio Grande. Rio started production in 1994. If the pickups are original and are unmarked, they are MIJ. The neck plate is from an ESP-made Ranger Custom. The tuners are from a Tokai-made Robin.

In summary, the guitar is from 1990 (or maybe made '88 or '89 and shipped in '90), the neck and body were made in Houston, and the hardware and electronics are MIJ.

[Brandon Lardie]

For Reference here are the Ranger Custom photos:
http://home.comcast.net/~blardie/Robin.html

I think Ken has it. They must have been using some MIJ on the early Americans. Here are some photos of the double neck:
http://home.comcast.net/~blardie/DoubleNeck.html
It looks like a Import Bass Neck with an American Ranger neck. Plus it has the serial number on the plate. Robin represented all guitars sold to Bill Napier as American made guitars. Bill didn't even know they had imported guitars. Bill only ordered about 10 guitars as he was not a dealer very long.

Rock On,
Brandon

BTW The doubleneck is $1000 and is New Old Stock. If anyones interested I can post Napier Musics contact info.

[Ken Jones]

Is a Toyota manufactured or assembled in Ohio still a MIJ automobile?

I would venture to say that almost all guitars (regardless of country of origin) are going to have some non-USA parts. Do any guitar manufacturers actually make all their own parts? I would assume that Fender and Gibson bridges and tuners are made by some other manufacturer. I'm sure they would have the parts made to their specifications, but it is possible that they don't make everything that goes on or inside their guitars.

If I'm not mistaken, most of the stuff available from All Parts is MIJ.

[John Williams]

I think a strong 80% of the Allparts stuff is MIJ.

[G Griffin]

I just stumbled upon this forum...what a trip!
I worked at Robin back in the mid '80s.

I built Rangers, Ranger Customs,etc...
When I say built, I mean taking the guitars apart, dressing the necks and routing for trems...

[G Griffin]

Part 2...

I was there when the first two Medley Custom prototypes came over from Japan.
One in Blue, and one Magenta.
I owned the blue one for several years and traded it to Bart for another guitar.
I believe he owned the magenta one from the get-go.
I also built a white Raider with a single black humbucker and Kahler trem.
I had a gold single-pickup RH that was stolen from my rehearsal space and never recovered.
I was there when the first Wedge and Artisan came in.
I remember a few Pepto-Bismol colored "Wadges"
The Japanese would label the cartons containing Wedges, with the word "Wadge"...
I enjoyed my experience at Robin and actually liked and learned a lot from ol' Dave, even though he was hard to work for at times.
I remember him telling me one time that the shop would get so cold in winter that the packing tape wouldn't work.
Enjoy.
G.