Randy Rhoads’ Custom Practice Pedalboard: A Guitarist’s Dream for Ozzy’s Sanity
in late 1979, Ozzy Osbourne struck gold when he recruited Randy Rhoads as his lead guitarist. Rhoads, a musical prodigy, brought a revolutionary flair to osbourne’s early solo projects with his masterful techniques, including two-handed tapping, complex scale sequences, and dramatic whammy-bar effects. These elements were essential for the heavy metal sound that defined the early 1980s.
Though, Rhoads’ relentless dedication to practice frequently enough tested Osbourne’s patience. The former Black Sabbath frontman, who passed away on July 22, 2022, found himself increasingly frustrated by Rhoads’ late-night jam sessions while on tour.
A Tailored Solution for a Unique Talent
As 1982 began, marking the final year of Rhoads’ life, he received a specially crafted pedalboard designed exclusively for his practice sessions. This innovative board was constructed by Jon Graves and Domenic Turlace of Zeus Audio Systems, based in Alhambra, California, known for their line of guitar pedals and compact practice amplifiers. Rhoads was gifted this pedalboard on New Year’s Eve 1981, just two months into the tour for Ozzy’s second solo album, Diary of a Madman.
Fans of Guitar Player magazine got a rare glimpse of this pedalboard in a photograph taken by Neil Zlozower, featured in the November 1982 tribute issue dedicated to Rhoads. The image showcased the guitarist practicing on a couch, surrounded by his beloved instruments: a 1974 Gibson Les Paul Custom, a Jackson Concorde, and a Karl Sandoval Custom Polka Dot Flying V.
Inside the Pedalboard: Features and Functionality
Despite its compact size, Rhoads’ pedalboard was packed with essential gear, including a Boss Dr. Rhythm drum machine, three MXR pedals-a 6-Band graphic equalizer, a Commande time Delay, and a Micro Chorus-and a Zeus 8401 Mini Amp. This vibrant red mini amp, roughly the size of a brick, featured controls for preamp, volume, and tone, along with outputs for both preamp and external speakers. Additionally, a second amp with a 4.5-inch speaker was included for the drum machine.
To address Osbourne’s growing irritation with Rhoads’ constant practicing, the pedalboard incorporated a unique feature known as the “Ozzy Jacks.” As Turlace explained to Guitar Player, these jacks allowed for separate signals from the guitar amp and rhythm machine to be mixed for headphones, effectively silencing the main speaker.
graves also noted that Osbourne had requested a remote switch, enabling him to turn off the pedalboard from the next hotel room, as Rhoads often played late into the night. although this feature was never implemented, it highlighted the humorous tension between the two musicians.
A One-of-a-Kind Creation
The pedalboard was ingeniously housed in an ABS plastic case repurposed from a Casio keyboard, arguably one of the most creative uses for such a device. The lid featured both a battery pack and an AC adapter, with a design that ensured the battery would deactivate when closed.
As a finishing touch, the board was adorned with a gold-plated plaque that read, “Custom made by Zeus audio Systems for Randy Rhoads,” alongside his distinctive Rolls-Royce-style logo featuring two R’s.
in their response to inquiries about the pedalboard, Graves and Turlace made it clear that they had no intention of replicating their work. “Anyone wishing to duplicate the pedalboard,” they stated, “will have to build one themselves.”
Tragically, rhoads would not have the chance to fully utilize this remarkable instrument.He lost his life in a plane crash on March 19, 1982, during a tour stop in Leesburg, Florida, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire guitarists worldwide.
