NGD choice

[Doadman]

I'm wanting to upgrade my guitar and I'm torn between three of them:

1) PRS SE Torero
2) Jackson SL3
3) Jackson SLAT3-6

Try as I might, I simply can't find either an SL3 or a SLAT3-6 locally to try out. The best I've been able to do is try a cheap Jackson (£350) to try and get a feel for the neck and it was certainly comfortable. In comparison the PRS felt wide but I dare say I'd adapt and the PRS did feel well screwed together. Does anyone have any experience of these guitars, or even these makes that might help my decision. The Torero and SL3 are basically the same price and the SLAT3-6 a couple of hundred more. If you have experience of these guitars or brands, which would you go for and why?

[Antag]

I have an SL3, it's a really high quality guitar.  Mine has a fantastic neck on it (as does every MIJ Jackson/Charvel I've ever handled).  That would be my choice every time over the other two, it's one of my "go to" guitars.



PS: If you get one, put a Holy Diver in the bridge... :)

[Doadman]

That's very helpful, thanks. I know so little about these manufacturers that it's proving a difficult choice, and not being able to actually try the Jacksons I'm interested in doesn't help. I know from reputation that PRS make really good quality instruments and certainly the Torero was very impressive when I tried it. In comparison, a couple of the stores I've looked at have told me the reason they stock only a few Jacksons is because the quality isn't the same as PRS or Ibanez. That obviously represents a concern when I'm unable to verify it one way or another myself.

The SLAT3-6 looks really nice but I can't honestly say that I immediately see an extra £200 in it over the PRS. That leaves the SL3. Spec wise it's broadly similar to the PRS and is a very similar price. It has the passive pickups that I prefer as I suspect they'll offer more variety in tone but on the other hand I generally prefer the richer tone you get from mahogany and that's the PRS. Any other thoughts from anyone?

[dave_mc]

i've only tried the sl3, but if you ask me, it was a lot nicer than any PRS SE I've ever tried. MIJ and all that. I'm guessing the slat3-6 is similar quality, but if it's a couple of hundred more, unless it has specs you need...

[Doadman]

It's looking increasingly likely that I should delay making this choice until such time as I can try an SL3 for myself and that will clearly take time as surprisingly few shops in this country seem to stock them!

[Antag]

a couple of the stores I've looked at have told me the reason they stock only a few Jacksons is because the quality isn't the same as PRS or Ibanez.

They must have been talking about the cheaper Jacksons which are made in korea (although at one time I think they were made in India).  They are indeed poorly made vile things that should never have "Jackson" on the headstock.

However, the SL3 is made in Japan & IMHO wipes the floor with just about anything else in that price range.  The MIJ Jacksons are fantasic quality, especially for the price.

That leaves the SL3. Spec wise it's broadly similar to the PRS and is a very similar price. It has the passive pickups that I prefer as I suspect they'll offer more variety in tone but on the other hand I generally prefer the richer tone you get from mahogany and that's the PRS. Any other thoughts from anyone?

Bear in mind that the SL3 is neck-thru body, so it has a different tone than an alder/maple bolt-on (generally speaking, it's mostly noticeable in more low end & sustain).  I certainly don't find mine to be overly bright or lacking in warmth, especially with a Holy Diver in the bridge pickup (trust me, it's a worthwhile upgrade over the stock Duncan JB)

Having thought a bit more about the SL3 versus the PRS (I've never played one, just looked up the specs) here are a few other things to consider over my blind loyalty to Jackson :)

Can you live without fretboard inlays?  (I was surprised how hard I found it to adjust to only side dot markers, so I'd choose the SL3 for this reason alone)

HSS or HH?

CASE: According to PRS the SE comes with a gigbag only.  The SL3 didn't used to come with a case either, although I found at least one place that now offers it with a case.

The Active v Passive pickup is only a factor for me in that one is going to be more expensive to BKP than the other :)

[dave_mc]

However, the SL3 is made in Japan & IMHO wipes the floor with just about anything else in that price range.  The MIJ Jacksons are fantasic quality, especially for the price.

I dunno about that, the MIJ ibanez prestiges are also nice at around that price range (but are a lot more than they used to be :( ), but the sl3 is very nice. a lot is preference regarding the neck shape etc. too. unless that prs se is a lot nicer than the others I've tried, there's no way i'd be buying it over the sl3, that's for sure.

[roland_rat]

Johnathan from Feline guitars has got a number of guitar in his sale.  It is may be worth checking them out,  very nice workmanship and a freindly guy. 


http://www.felineguitars.com/Guitar_sale.html

[Doadman]

Thanks guys, this is all very convincing stuff for the Jackson. I've scoured the internet looking for stores that sell an SL3 and there doesn't appear to be much out there. A number of the stores that were stocking an SL3 are saying that it's discontinued so I'm wondering if that means that the SLAT3-6 is taking over from it. That would be a shame as I really like having a passive pickup option. GAK are still showing them but I can't realistically go to Brighton from here, while Digital Village aren't showing one at all anymore and an old link I found just told me it was discontinued. I think what I'll have to do is delay changing my guitar until such time as I can try out a Soloist for myself and then I can make a more informed decision, even if it turns out it has to be a choice between the PRS and a SLAT3-6. The other advantage of that is that a friend of my son is interested in buying my guitar but doesn't have the funds available as yet. If a buyer comes along for the BKP's in the meantime I'll sell them and live with the original stock items until such time as the guitar is sold.