Members UberNova Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 I was thinking of getting one possibly as my next guitar. Any thoughts or experiences that people could share would be a big help. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sharkfin Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 It depends on what specific model or price range you're looking at. Generally, anything above the JS series are solid guitars, the MIJ ones like the X series or the Pro series are decent guitars for the money, especially used. If acquired used for the right price they are excellent guitars for the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 I've just bought two of their mid priced guitars, the DK2M and the DK2S (one HH one Sustain SH) I think they play excellent, but they haven't been faves of mine for tone. I'm more into clean and classic rock tones. I think as long as you like to play with some over drive or distortion, there's no reason to hold back. Playablility is excellent and both of mine have gobs of natural sustain. If that's the type of guitar your guitar heroes play, then I'm sure they'll work for you. I've been tempted to upgrade to one of the MIA Charvels that are available these days but it would probably be a waste on me just because of my musical style. You can get them, MIA, for around $850 with some haggling. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/manufacturer/Charvel I like the fact that both of my Jacksons are MIJ, but I'm just speculating that the tone wood might possibly be a hair better (and maybe the quality of the Floyd Rose) on the Charvels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members asb Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 I personally love my USA Soloist SL2. Here's a demo of some of the tones I can get out of it clean and dirty: http://pod.ath.cx/guitars/soloist/asb-SL2.mp3 Here's the tribute I recorded for Leopardstar; http://pod.ath.cx/leopardstar/aliensporebomb-cweal.mp3 I've had it 11 years. It's a great guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danhan1113 Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 They are some of the finest guitars you can play. Their high end products are glorious instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jtr654 Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 The SD Jackson' are the best Guitars I've ever owned. I have a 85 & 86 Soloist and a Pair of 86 Schon guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members V-man Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 I have had 3 USA and one 1990 MIJ. All have been phenominal. The MIJ was built as well as the USA and they down-graded them to keep the USAs competitive. Today I would buy nothing but MIA Jacksons. If it came to a $750-$1,000 ceiling, I would go used MIA Before new MAE (made anywhere else). USA Jacksons are as fine a factory instrument as you are going to get. If you're a $400-$600 bargain hunter, then I have nothing constructive for you other than, do your homework thoroughly because different locations of origin or different dates of manufacture in the same location can be a completely different guitar. And other than late 80s/early-90s MIJs, what you will be getting (good or bad) is a Jackson import, not a Jackson... similar form but different animal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Orange Jackson Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 I have a MIJ 08 DK2m, solid guitar, I recommend it, they are a lot of fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AzCat Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 The MIA stuff is killer, I've owned dozens. The SD era (80s) Jacksons are great but IMHO the early 90s stuff is at least as good, *maybe* [dons flame suit) a bit more consistent, and usually a bit cheaper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TornadoOfSouls Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 Jackson USA is pretty fuckin' pristine. My favorite big production guitar company. They had a few bad runs a couple of years ago that made me turn away but I recently picked up another and it looks like they got their shit back together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RandallRM1004ME Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 Great guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members smorgdonkey Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Burgess Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 I've had a SL-1 for 'round about 10 years now. It really doesn't get much better. I didn't care for the stock Duncan Stack singles but that's subjective. Build, materials and playability are second to none. After 10 years or so it still plays just like it did the day I got it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members truckdub Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 I have a MIJ 08 DK2m, solid guitar, I recommend it, they are a lot of fun. +1000. I have a white MIJ DK2m that I got as a blem/return from MF. Got for sub $500. Very solid. The SD JB/Jazz pu combo is a nice fit for this guitar. The neck is very comfortable and fast. The Jackson FLoyd trem is right on, smooth and holds tuning well(I don't go crazy with it though). For the money I can't recommend it enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vinchester Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 Earlier in 2008 I went on a guitar shopping trip. OF all the brands I've tried in the I strongly recommend them MIJ Jacksons. Excellent build quality and bang for the buck. I mean the QC (consistency) is probably way better than MIA guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UberNova Posted January 2, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 Well it looks like Jackson has a helluva reputation around here on the forums (thus far) Thank you guys for all your input (ASB, that demo was really good too). I'll be sure to go try out a bunch of them over at the local Long & McQuade. They don't carry a lot of variety in brands there but they have a lot of Jacksons. Just for the record the options I'm considering at the moment are between Jackson, Dean, and Schecter (mainly anyway - I'm open to more ideas). Ironically, I'm a huge fan of the Jackson Soloists and that's what I'm seeing a lot of pics of. And as for Schecter I like all the C-1, Devil and Tempest models as well as all the Hellraiser series. I haven't heard much about that brand so I'm always mildly skeptical lol, plus you can't get them anywhere really local Also, I am on a $1000 limit but I'm sure there's lots of quality in that price range from any brand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jtr654 Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 Buy used if possible. I don't know the market now but you used to be able to buy a USA Soloist for a $1000 if you can't try to find a early 90's Professional or a Charvel model 6 or 650xl.The Charvels were in the 80's and in the early 90's became the Jackson Professional series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ExiledCrow Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 I love my MIJ Kelly. I got it cheap ($217 IIRC), because the bolt on neck had been replaced and they hadn't done that good a job. Took it to a local shop and they reset the neck, and now it plays great. Thin, unfinished neck, smooth and fast, or it would be if I were fast. Obviously the MIA stuff will be superior, but the MIJ stuff is good quality and fairly cheap used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mockchoi Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 What model is this, Smorgdonkey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UberNova Posted January 2, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 Oh I almost forgot! Here's a question for you guys: How is the Jackson Custom Shop? At the Local L&M here you can submit custom orders for Jackson but I've yet to look into it really. I was wondering if maybe anyone has had any experience with them. Like are they expensive? Good craftsmanship opposed to the standard factory guitars? Do they take a long time? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Metalbaswee Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 My DK2 arrived a few days ago, and i love it. It looks great and sounds awesome. Only downside was that the the tone knob was missing. But hey, that was easy to fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TornadoOfSouls Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 Oh I almost forgot! Here's a question for you guys: How is the Jackson Custom Shop? At the Local L&M here you can submit custom orders for Jackson but I've yet to look into it really. I was wondering if maybe anyone has had any experience with them. Like are they expensive? Good craftsmanship opposed to the standard factory guitars? Do they take a long time? Thanks You're looking at about $3,000 just to take something off the production line and put it in the custom shop. If you want a cool color with pretty standard options, it'll be around $3,000 flat. Takes them from 8-16 months as of late. Here's a custom shop Death Kelly I had; I've got a custom shop KV that's been in production for about a year now. I ordered a custom shop guitar from Bernie Rico Jr. 3 months ago and it will be ready in 2 weeks. I prefer BRJ guitars for custom shop work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members asb Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 Expensive, but really great. You know you want one. Another view of mine.. Another track, a wide range of tones from clean and jazzy to full on distortion: http://pod.ath.cx/asbtunes/old/asb-with-the-jam-lab-EtaCarinaeExcerpt.mp3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jtr654 Posted January 2, 2010 Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 When I got my 85 Soloist all the guitars from Jackson were Custom Shop guitars.They were like that until they moved from S.D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UberNova Posted January 2, 2010 Author Members Share Posted January 2, 2010 TornadoOfSouls that is one awesome looking guitar man, seriously amazing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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