$1500 Made in China Jacksons

[Top-L]

I can't be the only one that noticed this. Production of Jackson Pro series moved to China, and not only that, they raised the price of the instruments to around $1500.

This wasn't an incremental move. In the past, Japanese guitar production was moved to Korea, then Indonesia, then China, usually to keep the price similar or lower. But in this case, production moved to China, AND they raised the price.

I'm not saying that Chinese can't build quality guitars, just wondering if no one cares anymore? Maybe the people buying pointy guitars are young and don't care, because they had no problem paying 1K for a MIC iPhone.

Some of the other builders, Ibanez/Schecter/ESP are still building Japanese/Korean guitars at that price point.

 

[Mincer]

I suppose people can vote with their money. I am sure Jackson has done the research and thinks that not enough people are concerned with that kind of thing to make a difference.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Honestly, that's the way guitar manufacturing is going these days. The good Korean LTD's are almost like 1800-2000 dollars now. It's ridiculous.

The "good" Epiphones are also 1000 and up... and they're Chinese too.

Suhr also had a brief time making those Rasmus guitar out of China.


I had a time where I avoided Indonesian guitars because I had bad experiences with lower-end LTD's. Then I got a Premium Ibanez, and I realized it was alright, so I kinda reconsidered my preconceptions.

I have a Chinese Epi right now, and it's alright. It did take some work to get it sounding and playing the best it can, but it's not really all that far behind my actual Gibson.

Honestly, I've had good experiences with LTD's coming from the same factory PRS SE's I've had bad experiences with. I don't know how it really works.

 

[beaubrummels]

Location doesn't decide price point. Location might decide profit margin. The inherent properties of the guitar coupled with cost of manufacture decides what it's worth.

I know for fact that Chinese manufacturers make exactly what you spec. If you spec >25% tolerance, that's what you'll get. If you spec +/-1%, that is exactly what you'll get. And the cost will be reflected in that. The reason people have this false impression that Chinese goods are lower in quality is simply because the companies that hired them allowed them to make products with very wide tolerances. But that has nothing to do with the country and how they manufacture. For example, Apple is one company that doesn't do that and their products, and their prices, reflect that.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Location doesn't decide price point. Location might decide profit margin. The inherent properties of the guitar coupled with cost of manufacture decides what it's worth.

I know for fact that Chinese manufacturers make exactly what you spec. If you spec >25% tolerance, that's what you'll get. If you spec +/-1%, that is exactly what you'll get. And the cost will be reflected in that. The reason people have this false impression that Chinese goods are lower in quality is simply because the companies that hired them allowed them to make products with very wide tolerances. But that has nothing to do with the country and how they manufacture. For example, Apple is one company that doesn't do that and their products, and their prices, reflect that.

Honestly, this.

How many horror stories have we heard about Gibson QC? I own a Gibson, and while I do love it, it does have many flaws. And it's US-made.

Back to me having a Chinese Epiphone, while the Gibson sounds better (probably made of arguably better or at least more expensive woods), and while it did play better out of the box, the Epiphone is finished MUCH better. Like, it's not even funny.

JME.

 

[jeremy]

thats a bit surprising. usually the finishes on the epis are nice but thick poly which i find sticky

 

[Top-L]

I have one Chinese guitar from ten years ago that required alot of work to fix up, but sounds great and has an actual rosewood board, even though the guitar looks terrible and had really soft fretwire.

I have an Indonesian LTD which rivals quality of the Korean LTD, but the Korean has nicer hardware and ebony board. Nothing touches the finish quality I have of some old Japanese Ibbys.

Given the political/environmental issues, I won't be ordering anything from China if at all possible. Its sad that Jackson went bottom of the barrel, regardless of the quality of the instruments.

These are my price tolerances
China 300-500
Indonesia 500-1000
Korea 1000-1500
Anything more than that better be a J guitar.

A 1500 Chinese Jackson is a joke.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

thats a bit surprising. usually the finishes on the epis are nice but thick poly which i find sticky

Mine is one of the 1959's with the "aged" finish which is just satin-ish Poly. Doesn't feel or look too thick. It also has a fancy Flamed Maple veneer which looks pretty nice.

Doesn't really look like a Gibson, but it looks as nice or nicer than your average top-of-the-line LTD Deluxe.

My Gibson is a Tribute with the cheap satin nitro finish.

Neither feel sticky. If anything, the Gibson kinda sorta wanted to get sticky after the finish warmed up a little when it was new. Now it doesn't. Not sure if I've just gotten used to it that I don't notice it anymore. But TBH, I've never had any problem with any finish feeling sticky on me other than maybe the high-gloss nitro on my friend's 120th Anni Flying V, and that's a very minor thing (to me). I do know my sweat is sorta guitar-friendly as strings tend to last me longer than they do my friends.

So top-of-the-line Epi vs. cheapie Gibbo. Still, though, the Gibbo was more expensive. You can tell where the expense went. Much better fretjob from the factory as well as better hardware. And I'd argue better woods as well. But certainly not the finish. The Epi looks much nicer, and if you see them side by side, you'd swear the Epi was more expensive.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I won't be ordering anything from China if at all possible.

That's gonna be REALLY hard, honestly.

Funny story, my wife and me are Mexican. We just moved to Canada. We ordered something for her off a US store because that's the cheapest we found it. It shipped from China. We received it. Apparently, it's made in Mexico, but getting the way we bought it was the cheapest, LOL.

I don't really mean to be controversial. I used to be very quick to pre-judge a guitar based on what country it was made. But honestly, the Chinese guys putting together those Jacksons for pennies a day are more than likely not the ones the one to blame for the political/environmental issues.

I'm not really interested in Jacksons in general, and I guess it's funny that the Charvel I'm looking at is Mexican (although pretty expensive for being Mexican, TBH), but I mean, if I *really* wanted a Jackson, I'd play it before I buy it, but if it's alright and it turns out it's Chinese, I wouldn't have a problem. JMO. The problem nowadays is most of us order stuff online, and it when it gets to us, it turns out kinda underwhelming. I know the feeling.

 

[Top-L]

That's gonna be REALLY hard, honestly.

Funny story, my wife and me are Mexican. We just moved to Canada. We ordered something for her off a US store because that's the cheapest we found it. It shipped from China. We received it. Apparently, it's made in Mexico, but getting the way we bought it was the cheapest, LOL.

I don't really mean to be controversial. I used to be very quick to pre-judge a guitar based on what country it was made. But honestly, the Chinese guys putting together those Jacksons for pennies a day are more than likely not the ones the one to blame for the political/environmental issues.

I'm not really interested in Jacksons in general, and I guess it's funny that the Charvel I'm looking at is Mexican (although pretty expensive for being Mexican, TBH), but I mean, if I *really* wanted a Jackson, I'd play it before I buy it, but if it's alright and it turns out it's Chinese, I wouldn't have a problem. JMO. The problem nowadays is most of us order stuff online, and it when it gets to us, it turns out kinda underwhelming. I know the feeling.

The problem with Chinese products is that the cost of living is artificially depressed so they can pay peanuts and keep manufacturing jobs. This is at the expense of the Chinese people. It is not a capitalist democracy. Their quality of life is not improving, their society is not improving.

Also they don't have an EPA so they can spray whatever finish, use whatever toxic process they need to use, also at the expense of the workers.

Nothing against Chinese people or the quality of the products. I am aware that many/most of the things I use are from China. I just don't want it to be my guitar.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I guess.

I still would try before I buy before I make judgement. I'm not going to defed them, though. My Epiphone was riddled with issues as well. Well, I'm exaggerating, but the fretjob was atrocious from the factory. But Fender and the Fender brands have a better track record than Gibson, IME.

 

[JMP/HBE]

.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

TBH, I'm not really into Jackson. Nothing against them, I just haven't found that really catches my eye other than maybe some Rhoads. For me, Ibanez would have always gotten you a better supesrtat shredder's guitar than Jackson, regardless of country of manufacture. IMO, the only time Jackson is better than Ibanez is a. if you're really want an offset V, or b. if you're going CS because 99,9% of us don't have access to the Ibanez CS.

Or ESP/LTD. 1500 easily gets you a nice M-something from LTD.

JMO, of course.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

TBH, I'm not really into Jackson.

Dude, even this one?

Edit- that's supposed to be the green/black crackle Brandon Ellis Kelly

 

[Top-L]

TBH, I'm not really into Jackson. Nothing against them, I just haven't found that really catches my eye other than maybe some Rhoads. For me, Ibanez would have always gotten you a better supesrtat shredder's guitar than Jackson, regardless of country of manufacture. IMO, the only time Jackson is better than Ibanez is a. if you're really want an offset V, or b. if you're going CS because 99,9% of us don't have access to the Ibanez CS.

Or ESP/LTD. 1500 easily gets you a nice M-something from LTD.

JMO, of course.

Not many options in neck through besides jackson and esp.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Dude, even this one?

Edit- that's supposed to be the green/black crackle Brandon Ellis Kelly

I like it. I like Brandon Ellis. I like The Black Dahlia Murder. But I'm not sure about the reversed headstock on Kellys or Rhoads, personally.

I love reversed headstocks... just not on guitars like that, LOL.

 

[Mincer]

I've owned an Eastman that I paid about 1500 for, and it was made in China, and absolutely worth it. The price of things isn't gonna go down, and country of origin isn't important like it used to be (although USA made will always be more expensive than everywhere else).

 

[jeremy]

that kelly is pretty bad ass!

 

[Aceman]

I have a $250 Jackson JS32. It's freaking awesome.

That said - I think you can find a perfectly reasonable and great playing Chinese Jackson for $800 or so.

 

[beaubrummels]

I'm content with my $600 Indonesian Jackson SL3X. I wouldn't criticize anyone who throws down $1500 on a Jackson that is $1500 nice to them. That may be their main instrument and they need it. I just am satisfied with where I landed. Mine isn't my number one, it's just my "need it for those occasions where I need to play like I'm still in the 80's" guitar.