Can I get some advice from Jackson fanboys

[Securb]

I was in my Mom & Pop this weekend, and there is a Jackson Dinky Arch Top JS22-7 DKA HT Electric Guitar that has been sitting there for a while. It is marked at $179. I picked it up for poops and giggles and the guitar plays like a dream. I have not plugged it in because I did not feel like a legitimate buyer and didn't want to waste anyone's time. However, I am thinking about going back and giving it a deeper look. It would make for an inexpensive backup for my seven-string, seeing I only have one.

Why is this guitar so inexpensive?
If I wanted to put in a BW rails when they come out, will it mount in this guitar?

 

[Cynical]

The JS series is Jackson's bottom-of-the-line series, which is why it's so cheap.

 

[Seashore]

Standard-size passive 7 string buckers won't fit into EMG-sized routes without modification. The quick and dirty way to do it is just drill out new mounting holes in the tabs, and then cut or grind them down to fit inside the routes. Your other better-looking choices are installing rings, swapping pickups into active housings (probably a real hassle with rails), or custom order active-mount pickups.

 

[NotDemanic]

If you get it, try the stock Jacksons. Usually they're not too bad.

 

[weepingminotaur]

I've never owned one, but by all accounts, the budget JS line is arguably Jackson's best value. Plenty of those guys punch above their price tag.

 

[80's_Metal]

If the frets aren't sharp it will play just like a $600 guitar.

If they are sharp, spend 30 minutes with a file and then play the hell out of it forever. Great guitars for their price points

A pickup change can usually help these out, especially in the years of old.... but these days even those are passable. I think it may be amazing guitar for you.

 

[Mincer]

I think you should try it out, at least. If you do buy it, you can always flip it for the same amount (or more) if it turns out that you don't play it much.

 

[Securb]

Standard-size passive 7 string buckers won't fit into EMG-sized routes without modification. The quick and dirty way to do it is just drill out new mounting holes in the tabs, and then cut or grind them down to fit inside the routes. Your other better-looking choices are installing rings, swapping pickups into active housings (probably a real hassle with rails), or custom order active-mount pickups.

This might be a deal breaker for me. The pickups would have to blow me away for me to buy a guitar where it is that much hassle to change the pickups. I also have my eye on an Ibanez at around $250. No rush like I said this would be a back up or double tracking in the studio.

It is a shame the guitar punched way above its weight as far as playability goes.

 

[Seashore]

This might be a deal breaker for me. The pickups would have to blow me away for me to buy a guitar where it is that much hassle to change the pickups. I also have my eye on an Ibanez at around $250. No rush like I said this would be a back up or double tracking in the studio.

It is a shame the guitar punched way above its weight as far as playability goes.

You can get a Distortion, JB, Nazgul, Invader, or Pegasus in 7 string active mount soapbars if that helps. I think BW is custom shop only though. And I don't even know if they'd be willing to do rails pickups in that format.

 

[AdrianSD]

This might be a deal breaker for me. The pickups would have to blow me away for me to buy a guitar where it is that much hassle to change the pickups. I also have my eye on an Ibanez at around $250. No rush like I said this would be a back up or double tracking in the studio.

It is a shame the guitar punched way above its weight as far as playability goes.

If you really like the way it plays, will a bit of routing get in the way? This, if you really want the BW rails, though I'm guessing the Distortion would kill in there.

 

[Mincer]

If you really like the way it plays, will a bit of routing get in the way? This, if you really want the BW rails, though I'm guessing the Distortion would kill in there.

If they would fit, the BW Rails would also look amazing in this guitar.

 

[AdrianSD]

If they would fit, the BW Rails would also look amazing in this guitar.

100%, worth the effort. Looks? Check. Tone? Check. X-factor? Throw a black and white "Private Property, Keep Out!" sticker. Check.

 

[Seashore]

You can either permanently alter the pickups, or permanently alter the guitar... your choice! Looking at it closer, that guitar isn't a good candidate for mounting rings. There's no room for the ring at the top of the neck pickup. That means you'll either be cutting the mounting tabs down on the pickups, or drilling/routing notches into the existing routs for the ends of the tabs.

Here's what it looked like when I cut the tabs on a couple of standard-sized 7 string pickups to get them into my Schecter:



It's not the worst looking thing in the world, but there's not much you can do about that gap along the sides.

You can hopefully see how the standard ring mount and EMG-sized "active mount" holes differ in these pics below:





I think a custom order of BW rails in an active mount size (if they'll do it) would be your best bet. They'll cost more than the guitar, but you can always put them in something else that takes this size. Every other solution is kludgy and will mess up the resale value of something, if that matters.

 

[Securb]

It seems like too much work for a sub-$200 guitar. I also really like the Ibanez Rodstar 7, and there is no immediate rush. I want a second 7 for backup and in the studio, which gives me until August. My Omen sounds great in the split position, so I could simply use it for both tracks if I need a second sound.

 

[Mincer]

100%, worth the effort. Looks? Check. Tone? Check. X-factor? Throw a black and white "Private Property, Keep Out!" sticker. Check.

Although...the pickups would be more expensive than the guitar...and would require some work to make them fit.

 

[Securb]

Although...the pickups would be more expensive than the guitar...and would require some work to make them fit.

This would be a lot easier to work with and very similar.