Cheap Jackson Tiers?

[Top-L]

I've got an itch for a cheap Jackson.

Jackson Dinky JS32 DKA Arch Top Electric Guitar Pavo Purple: Chinese Bolt on, Jackson branded FRS, not rosewood(?)
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...37446000005000
Is the fretboard material any good. Some places same Amaranth, is it a cheap soft wood that will deteriorate?




Jackson X Series Soloist SL5X FSR Electric Guitar Purple Burst: Indo neck through, FRS, Laurel fretboard
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...lectric-guitar
Is the back of the neck gloss finish or satin? Laurel fretboard, never heard of it. Duncan pickups, or duncan designed?





Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2P MAH Transparent Black Burst: Indo neck through, FR1000, ebony, direct mount pickups.
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guit...l2p-mah/l81230



Two years ago I bought a couple LTD guitars. An M400 (indo) and an M1000 (korean). The M400 is better playing guitar stock, came with real Duncan pickups, was properly leveled from factory, and has good construction quality. But only a FRS and I don't really like the Pau Ferro fingerboard. The M1000 is prettier and with binding, the ebony fretboard is nicer, but it needs/needed fretwork to play well. FRS1000. I am more likely to grab the M400, and the fact it didn't need any fretwork and that there aren't any defects or issues makes it a better guitar, even though it was half the price. I do like the M1000 neck through heel alot though, and when I finally get around to doing a full level it should play as well or better.

So, applying same logic to Jackson, is there a sweet spot in their lineup? My guess is the Chinese guitar isn't leveled, its luck of the draw how well it plays. The X series, probably gets a level and rudimentary setup, and the Pro Soloist, has nicer fretboard material and trem, but probably same fretwork as the X series.

I level my own guitar necks, and my thinking is that if I can live with an Amaranth fretboard on the JS32, it will be a better long term value. OTH, I would like another neck through and the X seems to check some boxes, although its no longer a cheap guitar and unsure about Laurel... might as well get the Pro?


Anyone have experience with the Cheap Jacksons?

 

[Top-L]

One Two Three..

 

[beaubrummels]

Yes! I was on an HSS hunt to scratch my 'revisit the 80's' itch, and landed on a SL3X Soloist. The Indonesian guitars are nicely cut, seem like nice woods, comfortable, set up well and play well. The only negative for me is the finishes seem quite fragile. But otherwise, really great guitars.

 

[Top-L]

I am intrigued by the SL3X, notably that the graphic finish on each is different.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...oloist-sl3x-dx-electric-guitar-yellow-crackle

 

[Top-L]

Yes! I was on an HSS hunt to scratch my 'revisit the 80's' itch, and landed on a SL3X Soloist. The Indonesian guitars are nicely cut, seem like nice woods, comfortable, set up well and play well. The only negative for me is the finishes seem quite fragile. But otherwise, really great guitars.

What fingerboard material? How does it compare to rosewood?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

My Epiphone has a Laurel fretboard and it looks and feels pretty good. Sometimes you get pieces that are super pale and sickly, though.

And the jackson JS series are kinda trashy, TBH. At least the ones I've tried.

 

[beaubrummels]

What fingerboard material? How does it compare to rosewood?

Fingerboard on mine is Laurel. Rosewood feels the softest to me to the touch. Laurel is similar but harder.

The rest of the guitar is basswood body with neck-through maple neck. Came with a Floyd Rose Special and Duncan Designed Distortion / Hot Rails.

It's not my #1 player, but it's very comfortable and scratches that shred itch just fine for me.

 

[Artie]

I don't know much about Jackson's, but the SL5X does come with the Duncan Designed Distortion set with the DD Hot Rails in the middle. I have, or have had, all those and they sound great. The Purple Burst is sweet too.

Beau beat me to it.

 

[Top-L]

Ok so my thought process...

Js32 doesnt have true 24 fret cutout. And unknown what amaranth is. Isnt a neck through which is imo the reason to get a jackson.

X series is neck through. My only reervations are laurel fretboard, and painted neck may not have fast satin feel. Maybe 700 is too much to pay for a frs trem, maybe spend 400 more for a pro with fr1000, ebony board, and direct mount pickups....

But then i realize the js32 is only 350$ and it is built like 90% of the guitars i have owned over the years. Once touched by my leveling beam it will play as well as the rest. Why spend 1100 for something when 350 will get the job done just as well?

 

[micah_jm550]

I have a JS32 Randy Rhoads Flying V. I paid 350$ for it. Previous owner swapped in Duncan pickups (I think they're Distortions, but idk could also be a JB/Jazz set) which really help get the most out of the guitar. Also came with a licensed Floyd Rose which isn't terrible. I abuse it pretty hard and it stays in tune, not the smoothest thing in the world but by no means bad. The best thing about it is the neck. It's super fast and easy, satin finish, imo it's better suited with 9 gauge strings instead of 10s. Fingerboard is Amaranth, it's pretty soft but it feels pretty good.

The only real problem with it is it that there are some minor fit and finish issues. The locking nut doesn't sit entirely flush, it's sort of hanging off to the right ever so slightly, and where the neck bolts up to the body, there's slightly more space in between the neck and body on the right than on the left. There's also some tiny paint chips in the tremolo cavity. It's all very minuscule and hardly noticeable though, and for the price I don't really care, and none of it affects the playability. It's made in China so I guess that's to be expected. For 350$ it's a pretty damn good deal.

 

[Top-L]

Yes! I was on an HSS hunt to scratch my 'revisit the 80's' itch, and landed on a SL3X Soloist. The Indonesian guitars are nicely cut, seem like nice woods, comfortable, set up well and play well. The only negative for me is the finishes seem quite fragile. But otherwise, really great guitars.

I've been looking at each tier, and I think I prefer the X series because they have the sharkfin inlays. They look the most like American made Jacksons; the sharkfin is the Jackson "trademark" and the X series also has neck through. Only things I would prefer is direct mount pickups and ebony board.

I have one guitar with offset/small fret markers and I don't think I would ever warm up to the "Pro" tier edge markers. Seems that to get everything (sharkfin, neck through, direct mount, OFR) you have to go to the American series.

 

[larryguitar]

I've had about 12 Jacksons, and still have four; all are MIJ from the '90's, and all are *exceptionally* well-built instruments. The only guitars I've never had to do any fretwork on (I'm nutty about fretwork... )

Larry

 

[FuelGTRX]

I have the orange version of the solid purple Jackson Dinky and it's a great guitar. When I got it setup it rivaled my high end Gibson Les Pauls. The neck is super comfortable, the fret work is exceptional, the licensed Floyd Rose bridge is very stable, and the stock pickups are actually decent sounding. I swapped them for a JB/Jazz set and it wasn't much of an improvement. These cheaper Jacksons are just great guitars.

 

[beaubrummels]

I've been looking at each tier, and I think I prefer the X series because they have the sharkfin inlays. They look the most like American made Jacksons; the sharkfin is the Jackson "trademark" and the X series also has neck through. Only things I would prefer is direct mount pickups and ebony board.

I have one guitar with offset/small fret markers and I don't think I would ever warm up to the "Pro" tier edge markers. Seems that to get everything (sharkfin, neck through, direct mount, OFR) you have to go to the American series.

Same reasons I bought mine. Liked the shark inlays, was neck through, very fast comfortable neck. I'm more flexible on fretboard material - I'll play anything and make it work, doesn't slow me down.

The singles are direct mounted, and you could direct mount the humbucker, you'd just have four open holes where the ring was. It's routed nice and all painted under there, so you could do what you want.

 

[zizyphus]

Jackson's have surprisingly good build quality, not just "for the money"

I own 5 "high end guitars" (>$2k new), and I've modded all of my guitars extensively and put in a lot of work to make them play as well as possible. That said, one of the few "cheap" guitars I have, a Jackson Randy Rhoads V I bought for $150 (!!!) actually stands up to the rest of them in terms of playability.

I used to flip guitars a lot on reverb, and I bought the V to see if I could use it as a dedicated metal machine (one of my only axes with high output, ceramic pups), and man oh man does it deliver. I just needed to drop the bridge a little and tweak the truss rod - no fret sanding necessary. Since you have the know how to level your own guitars, I'd bet you'll be very happy picking up a Jackson import

I think (not sure) that my fretboard is amaranth. It looks like rosewood, but with a tighter pore. Definitely not laurel. I like it - does the job!__PRESENT

 

[Top-L]

Jackson's have surprisingly good build quality, not just "for the money"

I own 5 "high end guitars" (>$2k new), and I've modded all of my guitars extensively and put in a lot of work to make them play as well as possible. That said, one of the few "cheap" guitars I have, a Jackson Randy Rhoads V I bought for $150 (!!!) actually stands up to the rest of them in terms of playability.

The only reason I've disqualified the JS series for my next is because I already have a handful of bolt-on guitars, and the upper fret access on soloist shape is not as good. But otherwise I'm sure they are great guitars.

Does anyone know if there is another brand of guitar that focuses on neck through construction in the mid-range instruments (like Jackson?). afaict, that is their thing.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The only reason I've disqualified the JS series for my next is because I already have a handful of bolt-on guitars, and the upper fret access on soloist shape is not as good. But otherwise I'm sure they are great guitars.

Does anyone know if there is another brand of guitar that focuses on neck through construction in the mid-range instruments (like Jackson?). afaict, that is their thing.

Solar have plenty of neck-thru models.

 

[Aceman]

So, I bought this...It was $250 on sale. It feels great, it sounds great, and I play the hell out of it. I'm not a Floyd guy, but have a few. This one works as well as any I have.
I also have another JS32 King V...another great guitar. The Floyd is a little more finicky on that one. Again, I play them out, and not a problem with either.

Honestly, there isn't anything I can think of that a good setup wouldn't correct, if it was wrong. The Fretboard wearing out??? I have had the V for 5 years and no signs of "wearing out." Whatever. How many hours a day are you playing this thing anyway???

I have played the neck through ones also. Wouldn't hesitate to grab one off the rack.

Honestly, if you are that particular, either buy new online and return if it doesn't meet your needs or buy hands-on in a shop.

 

[Top-L]

^ A finnnicky floyd... Usaully one of three things.. 1) Loose neck screws (crank them down) 2) Loose nut (glue and/or drill new retention holes) 3) Loose posts (pull them out and wood glue them back in)


Those fretboards look like Rosewood!

 

[Demanic]

I picked this one up from a pawn shop for~$140. Japanese DXMG. It's got one of the better licensed Floyd's. Currently sporting a Jazz/JB combo with a 3 way switch.

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