Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Jonny on March 05, 2008, 07:40:59 PM
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How's the Floyd Rose on them? If I get a cheap enough Jackson I'll probably buy a OFR and smack it in there (with BKPs too, of course)
I'm looking @ Dinkys and MGs, are the MGs good?
http://www.thomann.de/gb/jackson_dk2m_dinky_cs.htm
http://www.thomann.de/gb/jackson_dkmg_bf_egitarre_dinkymg.htm
Or even those SLSMGs?
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The DK 2 has a screw collar arm, which has an annoying tendency to work itself loose.
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The DK 2 has a screw collar arm, which has an annoying tendency to work itself loose.
Yeah, my DK2 does that as well. The FR itself is OK, stays in tune fine after divebombs etc. However, I rarely, if ever need the FR for anything, so I'm thinking of blocking the trem completely.
The Dinky's gonna get a ceramic nailbomb along with Trilogy Suites any day now, ordered last week :)
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The DK 2 has a screw collar arm, which has an annoying tendency to work itself loose.
My Charvel has that. I quite like it though, seems practical.
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Both my DK2 and my DKMG have the same screw collar arm, the floyd rose itself does the job nicely enough though so Im not complaining.
My DK2 is good, but I adore my DKMG, it's done me proud. However they're all I've played and they don't do 7 strings that I like that are easy to find, and that aren't a hefty custom price, so I'm looking to get something different (got my heart set on Ran guitars at the moment)
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Both my DK2 and my DKMG have the same screw collar arm, the floyd rose itself does the job nicely enough though so Im not complaining.
My DK2 is good, but I adore my DKMG, it's done me proud. However they're all I've played and they don't do 7 strings that I like that are easy to find, and that aren't a hefty custom price, so I'm looking to get something different (got my heart set on Ran guitars at the moment)
Are Jackson Customs really expensive?
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I tried some Jacksons when I was thinking about an RR model sometime ago. In my opinion avoid their cheapest model tier.. all the other ranges were cool I thought :)
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Are Jackson Customs really expensive?
Depends on the exchange rate, the dealer you buy from & the specs you choose (some of the graphic finishes & inlay options add a LOT to the price).
IIRC my custom Kelly (see the pics thread, pg 43) was around £1600 after shipping, import duty & VAT were added.
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I love my Jackson RR3 (I think that's in the pro series) my floyd goes slightly sharp or slightly flat after using it but that might be my fault for adjust action without loosening the strings first, doh!!!
I've played on an RR1 and it had a slightly more playable neck, that might be because it was painted, but I'm still happy with my RR3
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Are Jackson Customs really expensive?
Depends on the exchange rate, the dealer you buy from & the specs you choose (some of the graphic finishes & inlay options add a LOT to the price).
IIRC my custom Kelly (see the pics thread, pg 43) was around £1600 after shipping, import duty & VAT were added.
That is a nice custom. IMO.
I was looking @ a Soloist (is it already expensive being a Soloist than a Dinky?) with Piranha inlays, neck-thru, binding, OFR, H-H and a red snake skin paintjob.
I'm guessing that's a ridiculous sub total, WITHOUT import duty, shipping and VAT.
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PLENTY of used Soloists over this side of pond at good prices.
I got my Japan soloist SL3 for about $600.
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What's the difference between a Soloist and a Soloist SLS?
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SL3 are HIGH quality Japan made Jacksons.
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That is a nice custom. IMO.
I was looking @ a Soloist (is it already expensive being a Soloist than a Dinky?) with Piranha inlays, neck-thru, binding, OFR, H-H and a red snake skin paintjob.
I'm guessing that's a ridiculous sub total, WITHOUT import duty, shipping and VAT.
Well, the difference between the Soloist & Dinky is basically the neck-thru vs bolt-on construction (OK, a few other details, but the thing that makes a soloist a soloist is the thru neck :)). The price diffference between them (all other things being equal) seems to be around $200.
Binding, OFR, HH pickups are all "standard" features. If by "piranha" inlays you mean the "piranha teeth" inlays (little triangle-like inlays), then AFAIK they're the same price as Sharkfins - so you're not looking at anything spec-wise to push the price over a stock SL2H
Check out this (http://www.themusiczoo.com/jackson/JacksonUSASelectSL2HSoloist_CopperSnake_U20128.html) SL2H - it's basically the spec you want minus the inlays.
Note the difference between their sale price & retail. Nobody (well, nobody with an ounce of sense :)) pays retail.
Good luck in your search, I went through my teens & much of my 20s believing that a US Jackson would never be within my reach. Discovering that in fact they were within my reach ranks alongside whisky & sex with older women as the happiest discovery of my life :)
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http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Jackson-SL3-Soloist-natural-flame-neckthru-guitar_W0QQitemZ160213793022QQihZ006QQcategoryZ33044QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
thats basically what I had but with two buckers
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What's the difference between a Soloist and a Soloist SLS?
SLS' are carved (arch) top, with 3+3 headstock.
As Dakine points out, the SLSMG is made in the Japanese factory (The SL1 & SL2H are made in the same US facility as the custom orders), but don't let that put you off.
I think that the Japan factory is the same one that made the mid-late 80s Charvel models, which as anyone who has/had one can testify, are seriously good pieces of kit. The "Pro" series represent very good value IMO - I played an RR24 from the same factory & it's a quality guitar for the money.
It's only the really cheap stuff from the India factory that I'd avoid - IMO there are other guitars of at least as good quality at that price.
Sorry to be an anorak. I LOVE Jackson guitars... :)
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said nothing about the MG
Soloist SL3 is a Japan made Soloist, every bit as good as the SL1 and USA customs.
MG is a different beast altogether, NOT bad but very different
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1,157.72 doesn't sound too bad for that!
OK, well I did a little think-tweaking and this would be my final decision:
Jackson Soloist,
Mahoghany Body & Neck with Standard Headstock,
Ebony Fingerboard with Sharkfin Inlay
Nut width 1 5/8" (Isn't 1 11/16" suitable as well?)
25.5" Scale Length, 24 Jumbo frets
Binding on Neck & Headstock - Ivoroid
SL-1 Neck Shape
Recessed Floyd Rose Pro Bridge
Grover Tuners
Rear Routing,
Humbucker-Humbucker layout
1x Volume, 1x Tone, 3-way selector
Color/Paintjob: Adrenalize
Painted Neck
SKB-66 Case
And smacked up with Dimarzio PAF Pro (N) and a Super 3 (B) just to fill the space, which I'll then take out and put it in my Ibanez and replace the Jackson with BKPs
And that's all if I even get the guitar. lol..
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Sorry to be an anorak. I LOVE Jackson guitars... :)
Your Jackson fetish is most helpful. :D
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said nothing about the MG
Soloist SL3 is a Japan made Soloist, every bit as good as the SL1 and USA customs.
MG is a different beast altogether, NOT bad but very different
Nevermind, he asked about the SLS & I misread your reply :)
I think we're basically agreeing though - the Japanese Jacksons are mighty fine guitars...
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yeah no worries, just did'nt want to confoose him with all the letters/numbers etc.
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I had an SLSMG. 'Twas nice for sure. Not my thing in the end though. Had a really AWESOME neck though. The profile + satin feel + through neck was a beautiful combination.
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the SLS stands for Super Light Soloist
it's basically a thin bodied (like an S series ibanez) neck through soloist.
ebony board etc etc ..
kickass guitar!
IMO, a better buy as an SL3, if you're looking for a hardtail that is. it just has better features.
and yes, the japan jackson factory is the same one that produced the late 80's charvels. they peaked in the early 90's with the import jackson line. now they're starting to get kickass again. lots of new models incoming (RR24M .. and just when i'm dead broke ... )
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I never thought Jacksons would be this good! :o
I'm definately getting more interested.
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i haven't tried any jacksons for about a year or so... the quality may have changed since then.
My take:
US ones are nice, but extremely expensive this side of the pond. if you had more money than you know what to do with, fair enough, but if not, i'm not that great a fan. They're good guitars, but I'm not a fan of the price.
The SL3 is very nice. A pro bit of kit. though prices can vary widely (i've seen them between about £600 and £900). Definitely pays to shop around.
I'm not all that fussed on the pro series ones... they're decent guitars, but a bit expensive. Not as nice as the SL3 i tried, not by a long shot.
Based on the ones I've tried; of course it's possible I tried a lemon, or an inordinately good one (or several). and personal preference too. :)
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I have an SLSMG and it's becoming my favorite guitar to play. Largly due to the Warpigs I just put in ;) Here's the thread for pics:
http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11720
Ebony fretboard, mahogany body, neck-through, string-through body, etc. etc. It just plays so smooth! I'd recommend it but it all depends on what you want.
-Thicker strat-like body, thinner Ibanez S-like body, arched Ibanez RG-like body
-Alder or Mahogany
-Maple, Rosewood, or Ebony fretboard
-Floyd or Tune-O-Matic
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Bottom and low mid range jacksons are cr@p.
I've played a lot and worked on a few and the trems in particular are a low point. A cheap jackson trem is the only L/FR I've ever actually stripped the thread off a screw on (with less force than I normally apply to lock a string in the saddle: though how it was treated before that I dont know. When I told my customer about it, all apologetic and basically explaining that I'll replace it, he said "Not again! Dont worry about it, I'll get a new saddle"). Soft metal. Very bad.
You get up to the DK2 and co end of the scale (stuff around 600 and up) and they compete with the best of them. I have a 98 DX1 and its a great guitar; still one of my top 3 (and was my main axe for a really long time), topped out by dean and legra customs shops.
I think the top end stuff, dk1's, soloists and co, are good guitars, but overpriced (new at least).
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I agree that the US Jacksons are usually overpriced in UK shops, I've only bought one of my Jacksons in the UK (my recent KV2 - a steal at £1299 IMO)
If you can find a US dealer that will ship to the UK, then even with $200 added for UPS & HMRC charging import duty & VAT, you can import one for a lot less than you'd buy here.
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I agree that the US Jacksons are usually overpriced in UK shops, I've only bought one of my Jacksons in the UK (my recent KV2 - a steal at £1299 IMO)
If you can find a US dealer that will ship to the UK, then even with $200 added for UPS & HMRC charging import duty & VAT, you can import one for a lot less than you'd buy here.
Any links on a US dealer which does that? :D
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Like I said, I haven't imported one for a while & the place I used to use no longer carries Jacksons, but try places like Guitar Asylum, The Music Zoo (the soloist I linked to on the 1st page is now sold! :(), Matts Music, Fullers Guitar etc
Failing that, go to Jackson's website & go through the list of custom shop dealers...
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Like I said, I haven't imported one for a while & the place I used to use no longer carries Jacksons, but try places like Guitar Asylum, The Music Zoo (the soloist I linked to on the 1st page is now sold! :(), Matts Music, Fullers Guitar etc
Failing that, go to Jackson's website & go through the list of custom shop dealers...
Having gone through some shops I think it's that the prices will level out either way.
Unless I go there directly and bring it back home. I think.