Tell me about each Jackson “level”...

[PFDarkside]

JS series
X Series
Pro Series
USA and up

I think there are the series available in the Jackson lineup. What are the differences in each? Is playing a Pro series going to give a good feel for a USA? How about X Series?

Whats the hardware breakdown, pickups, tuners, Floyd, etc.?

Who’s got what?

[larryguitar]

Since they're owned by Fender; if Jackson's were strats, it would be:
JS-Squier
X-Squier Pro/Limited Editions
Pro-Mexican Strat
USA-American strat all the way to US Custom Shop strat

Not a perfect analogy, but that's how I read it.

Larry

[PFDarkside]

I was wondering if X was like MIM and Pro was like the Classic Player/Signatures out of Mexico. Or is X Indonesian/Chinese as well?

[weepingminotaur]

You won't get actual Duncans on anything X or below, just Duncan Designed or generic house pickups. IMO the Pro Series is really where you get consistent quality and appointments. The X Jacksons I've tried have not been great, or great value for the dollar. I'd say Schecter, for example, gives you better bang for the buck in the X-type price range.

EDIT: I'm wrong about Duncan Designed on X series. Some X series guitars have DD, some have actual Duncans. Certainly you'll see DD on JS.

[Hsb]

You won't get actual Duncans on anything X or below, just Duncan Designed or generic house pickups. IMO the Pro Series is really where you get consistent quality and appointments. The X Jacksons I've tried have not been great, or great value for the dollar. I'd say Schecter, for example, gives you better bang for the buck in the X-type price range.

My 7 string X series came with Nazgul/Sentient from the factory.

[weepingminotaur]

My 7 string X series came with Nazgul/Sentient from the factory.

Hmm. I stand corrected. Thanks for sharing!

[Hsb]

Welcome, Ive seen some that come with the Duncan Design and Ive seen some come with Duncans in them. So tech we are both correct

[alex1fly]

Can you play them in person? Or is it this mostly an online-research-based venture?

I almost bought a X Soloist last year. Played great and had tons of vibe! Tried some Pros as well but didn't dig them as much. I wouldn't buy a Jackson sight unseen, but mostly because of my lack of familiarity with their instruments. Nothing wrong with Duncan Designed pickups or other imports, IMO. The bridge hardware is where I'd be more picky on. Like the different levels of Floyd bridges which are on some Jacksons, seems like the lower end Floyds have more problems than regular Floyds. That could just be internet gossip/poor setups though. I ended up getting an axe with a Floyd Standard and have had no problems with tuning other than the learning curve.

[beaubrummels]

I did some light 'research' before I bought my Jackson. This is the list I made for myself. (There are exceptions because of specific models, but I was generalizing on what seemed most common just to help myself choose one.)

Note: my list is scoped to just 6-string strat-types with a vibrato, because that's all I was shopping for


JS series
Poplar body
Archtop
Maple neck
Rosewood fretboard
12-16" radius
22 or 24 fret
25.5 scale (JS32 26.5 scale)
Bolt-on
Licensed Floyd or 2-point strat bridge
Jackson ceramic pickups

X series
Poplar or Basswood body
Flat top
Maple neck
Laurel fretboard
12-16" radius
24 fret
25.5 scale
DK bolt-on, SL Neck-through
DK Licensed Floyd, SL Floyd Rose Special
DK Jackson ceramic pickups, SL Duncan Designed Distortion/Hot Rail pickups

DK (Dinky)
Alder body
Flat top
Maple neck
Maple or Ebony fretboard
12-16" radius
24 fret
25.5 scale
Bolt-on
Floyd Rose 1000
Seymour Duncan JB/59 pickups

Pro series
Mahogany body (certain models Basswood, Alder or Ash)
Flat top
Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
12-16" radius
24 fret
25.5 scale
Neck through
Floyd Rose 1000
Seymour Duncan Distortion/SSL-6 pickups (San Dimas has DiMarzio Super Distortion/PAF Pro)

MJ series
Alder or Mahogany body
Flat top
Maple/Walnut 5-piece neck
Maple or Ebony fretboard
12-16" radius
24 fret
25.5 scale
Bolt-on
Gotoh GE1996T recessed bridge
Seymour Duncan JB/Jazz or DiMarzio Super Distortion/PAF Pro pickups

USA Series is all custom/sig models and all over the map

[nexion218]

JS is what you'd expect it to be - entry level instrument on the cheap
X Series - I had a Soloist, sold it. Nothing really wrong with it, but it had a looser, rather rock sound which I personally did not like. On the objective side: Floyd Special, kinda ugly routing, under the neck pickup the spring claw screws protuded into the pickup cavity, the routings were generally swimming pool sized for both the control cavity and the bridge (I guess accounting for less precision). In my opinion this is the worst bang for buck in their lineup. If my experience is any indication of the general quality, it is way too overpriced. Also, some come with better specs, usually the ones that don't have a Pro Series equivalent (at least this is my opbservation).
Pro Series - Spec and build quality wise these are great instruments. For a few hundred extra, you get (supposedly) better woods, unfinished neck, more precise routings, USA Duncans, 1000 Series Floyd(same materials as the Germans, but made somewhere in Asia only for OEM). Minor aesthetic flaws and cut corners, like the clearcoat of the body covering the binding until the neck joint. Of course still no setup from factory. But my absolute No.1 is a Pro King V playability and sound wise I'd take it over my Japanese E-II any day.
USA - well, you know that.

Most Pro Series are Indonesian. As I observed the ones with Floyd are built by Samick, fixed bridge by Cort (Monarkh for example or the Mick Thomson sig) , bolt-on (Dinky) in Mexico. The X Series I had was Cort, dunno about the others By the way if you catch a serial ISJ= Indonesia Samick Jackson, ICJ= Indonesia Cort Jackson.

The rest is mixed bag, from India to China. They have an overpriced mini-series named the Wild Card series. Excellent specs (German Floyd, Fishmans, what have you), probably made in Korea, but EXTREMELY overpriced. Like 1800 USD...

Also, on a sad note I recently saw a Pro Series Soloist on their website and they forgot tot photoshop the serial from one of the pictures. "Crafted in China". Ouch. For 1400 USD. OUCH!

So in short, X has the looks and can find a great player. Pro Series has everything you need from an instrument, the finishing touches and minor details can be off, no hindrance to performance though. Obviously USA is their best offering. Unfortunately it looks like Fender is getting greedy and driving up the prices while moving manufacture to cheaper places... Oh yeah, I almost forgot they are re-introducing a Made in Japan series, for ridiculous prices...

[NegativeEase]

Here are the Jackson levels.

Level 1 ENTRY Andrew Jackson. Pretty Terrible at everything, but cheap so very good with money (hates banks)

Level 2 MID RANGE Michael Jackson Shreds, but no good for beginners or children

Level 3 MID RANGE Tito Jackson. Doesn't shred but also doesn't touch children so it's a long term keeper

Level 4 MID RANGE Peter Jackson for the most creative out of the box styles especial very very long songs with no ending in site.

Level 5 EXPERT Bo Jackson -the do it all Axe -the most versatile of the Jacksons

Level 6 EXPERT Samuel Jackson -does one thing ;literally one thing -but damn it will have you cursing with delight from that one thing.

[PFDarkside]

Here are the Jackson levels.

Level 1 ENTRY Andrew Jackson. Pretty Terrible at everything, but cheap so very good with money (hates banks)

Level 2 MID RANGE Michael Jackson Shreds, but no good for beginners or children

Level 3 MID RANGE Tito Jackson. Doesn't shred but also doesn't touch children so it's a long term keeper

Level 4 MID RANGE Peter Jackson for the most creative out of the box styles especial very very long songs with no ending in site.

Level 5 EXPERT Bo Jackson -the do it all Axe -the most versatile of the Jacksons

Level 6 EXPERT Samuel Jackson -does one thing ;literally one thing -but dam it will have you cursing with delight from that one thing.

Hi quality ****post, I have to recognize. Well done.

[PFDarkside]

Can you play them in person? Or is it this mostly an online-research-based venture?

I almost bought a X Soloist last year. Played great and had tons of vibe! Tried some Pros as well but didn't dig them as much. I wouldn't buy a Jackson sight unseen, but mostly because of my lack of familiarity with their instruments. Nothing wrong with Duncan Designed pickups or other imports, IMO. The bridge hardware is where I'd be more picky on. Like the different levels of Floyd bridges which are on some Jacksons, seems like the lower end Floyds have more problems than regular Floyds. That could just be internet gossip/poor setups though. I ended up getting an axe with a Floyd Standard and have had no problems with tuning other than the learning curve.

Thank you for the info. Depending on what level it could be either. There are couple really cool X series available, like the SL4 with the quasi retro cool look and DD Hotrails
(especially pink) and the KEX in black/gold. I figure if you dropped in a real floyd and maybe did a little fret work they could be really cool guitars. On the other hand I’ve been wanting a DK2M for almost 15 years (whenever that came out) so maybe I just pull the trigger. I’ve always loved the Kelly shape, but at the X series level I’d the neck is a little thin for me it’s just a fun guitar. At Pro or above pricing I’d need to really like it.

I did some light 'research' before I bought my Jackson. This is the list I made for myself. (There are exceptions because of specific models, but I was generalizing on what seemed most common just to help myself choose one.)

Note: my list is scoped to just 6-string strat-types with a vibrato, because that's all I was shopping for


JS series
Poplar body
Archtop
Maple neck
Rosewood fretboard
12-16" radius
22 or 24 fret
25.5 scale (JS32 26.5 scale)
Bolt-on
Licensed Floyd or 2-point strat bridge
Jackson ceramic pickups

X series
Poplar or Basswood body
Flat top
Maple neck
Laurel fretboard
12-16" radius
24 fret
25.5 scale
DK bolt-on, SL Neck-through
DK Licensed Floyd, SL Floyd Rose Special
DK Jackson ceramic pickups, SL Duncan Designed Distortion/Hot Rail pickups

DK (Dinky)
Alder body
Flat top
Maple neck
Maple or Ebony fretboard
12-16" radius
24 fret
25.5 scale
Bolt-on
Floyd Rose 1000
Seymour Duncan JB/59 pickups

Pro series
Mahogany body (certain models Basswood, Alder or Ash)
Flat top
Maple neck
Ebony fretboard
12-16" radius
24 fret
25.5 scale
Neck through
Floyd Rose 1000
Seymour Duncan Distortion/SSL-6 pickups (San Dimas has DiMarzio Super Distortion/PAF Pro)

MJ series
Alder or Mahogany body
Flat top
Maple/Walnut 5-piece neck
Maple or Ebony fretboard
12-16" radius
24 fret
25.5 scale
Bolt-on
Gotoh GE1996T recessed bridge
Seymour Duncan JB/Jazz or DiMarzio Super Distortion/PAF Pro pickups

USA Series is all custom/sig models and all over the map

Thanks for the info, that’s what I’d have had to sit down and compile myself! Very helpful. What did you end up with?

JS is what you'd expect it to be - entry level instrument on the cheap
X Series - I had a Soloist, sold it. Nothing really wrong with it, but it had a looser, rather rock sound which I personally did not like. On the objective side: Floyd Special, kinda ugly routing, under the neck pickup the spring claw screws protuded into the pickup cavity, the routings were generally swimming pool sized for both the control cavity and the bridge (I guess accounting for less precision). In my opinion this is the worst bang for buck in their lineup. If my experience is any indication of the general quality, it is way too overpriced. Also, some come with better specs, usually the ones that don't have a Pro Series equivalent (at least this is my opbservation).
Pro Series - Spec and build quality wise these are great instruments. For a few hundred extra, you get (supposedly) better woods, unfinished neck, more precise routings, USA Duncans, 1000 Series Floyd(same materials as the Germans, but made somewhere in Asia only for OEM). Minor aesthetic flaws and cut corners, like the clearcoat of the body covering the binding until the neck joint. Of course still no setup from factory. But my absolute No.1 is a Pro King V playability and sound wise I'd take it over my Japanese E-II any day.
USA - well, you know that.

Most Pro Series are Indonesian. As I observed the ones with Floyd are built by Samick, fixed bridge by Cort (Monarkh for example or the Mick Thomson sig) , bolt-on (Dinky) in Mexico. The X Series I had was Cort, dunno about the others By the way if you catch a serial ISJ= Indonesia Samick Jackson, ICJ= Indonesia Cort Jackson.

The rest is mixed bag, from India to China. They have an overpriced mini-series named the Wild Card series. Excellent specs (German Floyd, Fishmans, what have you), probably made in Korea, but EXTREMELY overpriced. Like 1800 USD...

Also, on a sad note I recently saw a Pro Series Soloist on their website and they forgot tot photoshop the serial from one of the pictures. "Crafted in China". Ouch. For 1400 USD. OUCH!

So in short, X has the looks and can find a great player. Pro Series has everything you need from an instrument, the finishing touches and minor details can be off, no hindrance to performance though. Obviously USA is their best offering. Unfortunately it looks like Fender is getting greedy and driving up the prices while moving manufacture to cheaper places... Oh yeah, I almost forgot they are re-introducing a Made in Japan series, for ridiculous prices...

Thank you for the info! I agree Fender is getting a bit out of hand. Once the COVID is over and the demand receeds, I wonder if they’ll regret the recent price hikes?

[PFDarkside]

SL4X

[PFDarkside]

KEX - super cool looking