I bought this guitar in 1990, I think, from the Fret Mill music store here in Roanoke. I paid approximately $1300 for it including a very nice hard-shell case. This is a beautiful guitar with a variety of sounds. The three pickups are EMG. I'm not sure what brand the locking tremolo is.

I've lost whatever documentation came with the guitar. It has a s/n embossed on the back of the headstock which I believe is "1133". I've been told by people who should know that it is a maple-top "Radicaster", which Zion has been making since 1980 and continues to make today. They are located in North Carolina.

I've scoured the internet for pictures and info about this guitar, but I have never been able to find a single picture of one like mine, with the three pickups, the volume and tone controls, and, most importantly, the three pickup selector switches BEHIND the knobs. I even have a four-page catalog which I got when I bought the guitar, which has nine pictures of Zion guitars, none of which looks like mine.

So the guitar's specs are somewhat of a mystery to me. Be that as it may, this is a wonderful guitar, with a great sound, and very playable.

Okay, later information. Dale Brown of Zion Guitars graciously did some research for me, and here's what he said.

I believe what you have there is a Radicaster. It's a little confusing because typically the Rad is solid-body, but this one has the maple top on it. First one I've seen like this so it's probably on the rare side.

The neck is bolt-on, btw. Thanks for the picture of the back plate. The reason I asked if it was bolt-on was due to the back of the neck being painted. I don't recall having seen this on another bolt-on neck. Once again this points to a fairly rare beast.

Attached is an estimate for your guitar if it was purchased new today. I think I got everything except for the model numbers for the EMGs - can't tell that without taking them out.

The estimate he gave was $3579.


Zion Electric