Jackson Electric Guitars

[BassGod]

A query for the guitarists here.

I'm looking into buying an electric guitar, so I figured to get the most for my money, I'd buy used (first time). I decided to rent a guitar, then buy it if I end up liking it.

So I got a Jackson, unknown model. It kind of resembles a Strat, but with a reverse headstock, Duncan Designed pups, and a licensed Floyd Rose.

I really like the tone and such, but how is Jackson's quality control? I don't want this thing to fall apart on me a month after I buy it. Also, I've been having problems with the tremolo. When I do a dive bomb it drops the tuning of the whole guitar ever so slightly. It's in tune to itself and all, but it's just that sometimes it doesn't return to pitch perfectly. I'm assuming this isn't normal, so how can I fix this problem? I hear so many good things about Floyd Rose tremolos, so it's kind of a bummer.

Anyways, Jackson owners discuss.

Graeme

P.S. The guitar is going for $399. It's flawless, no marks or anything. Good deal, or should I look elsewhere? (keep in mind these are Canadian dollars)

[fatbassjazzer]

Thats nearly the same guitar that I have except mine doesn't have the floyd rose. I've had mine for about 7 months and its been perfect. Hasn't malfunctioned at all. As far as the floyd goes, you should probably just get a set up for it. They are lots of fun but they do require some maintenence. Get a jackson.

[tplyons]

If you can't figure out the model number and can't provide a picture, we can't tell you if it's a good deal or not.

Personally, I would recommend staying away from a licenced Floyd Rose. The real deals are bad enough, but most licenced versions are such a pain in the butt to keep in tune.

[BassGod]

This is the guitar, only mine is in blue. X-Series "Dinky" model:



Graeme

[The Eristic]

The DX10D (the model pictured) very rarely brings more than $250 USD (~$280.75 Canadian) on the used market. I'd pass.

There are plenty of great deals to be had on used Jacksons. Always stick with the MIJ models. In particular, "Professional" models (the earliest ones are identical to the USA stuff), X-series (generally thought of as the lowest end before hitting the junk), and ~'85-'91 Charvels (these are often pretty amazing; I've had five or six, still have a couple rare ones, and wish I had more!), though, unless you can up your budget enough for a used USA. You'd be surprised at the deals you can land if you pay close attention to eBay, craigslist, et cetera.

[steve21]

IMO, you don't wanna go for that.

I LOVE floating tremolos, but a LOT of them are REALLY bad. Most Floyds are not somethign you wanna deal with.

For the most part, the only Floyd Rose style bridges I would use or consider using or recommend are:

Original Floyd Rose (OFR)
Floyd Rose Pro (Made by the same people as OFR)
Schaller Floyd Rose
Gotoh Floyd Rose
Ibanez Edge
Ibanez Edge Pro
Ibanez Lo-Pro

However, these aren't the only trems that you can do divebombs with. Most 2 point trems (Like Wilkinsons, found on current USA Strats) will be floating, just not full floating like a Floyd. My USA Strat floats a bit. For these kinds of trems you will want Locking Tuners (My fav brand is Sperzel).

Back to Jacksons... IMO most of their models aren't worth it. The lower end ones come with bad Floyds and bad woods and bad pickups, the middle end ones for the most part aren't, and their USA line is too damn expensive. The only Jackson I'd really consider is a good price for the guitar is the RR5, about 1k for a Tune-O-Matic bridge Randy Rhoads with Seymour Duncan pups.

If you want a Sub-400 dollar guitar, I recommend rondomusic.net, if you want a non-trem guitar, http://www.rondomusic.net/ps1000.html if you want a trem guitar http://www.rondomusic.net/ps924.html.

Both are awesome.

[WillaiMC]

Guitars can be set-up diffrently weather you use a whammy bar or what have ya'

Example, I just put a new set of nickly would ernie ball slinkies on my guitar spent FOREVER tuning it dead nuts (it was, PERFECT) and I slap my whammy bar on it and work it once and I go to play again and WHAM (Minus the pun) My guitar was about half a step otta tune.

Same thing with bends, when you're going past over 3 strings in a bend, expect it to go outta tune.

[Ericman197]

I would watch out for guitars with lower quality vibratos (tremolos). I used to own one of the more expensive Jackson Soloists and wow, it was awesome. Tuning took me a little longer, but once I locked it, it would stay in tune for ages. Unfortunately I sold it ;(((

[Techmonkey]

I have a frankenjackson with a JDR-94 neck (the nicest neck I have EVER seen.... ever!) and a PS2 Concept body. Most of it was spare Jackson parts I had lying over from my brothers old guitar, but I spent little more than £50 on it... and wow. For something I spent £50 on, I've been offered well over £350 for it straight off, and it's a battered guitar. If I went through the effort of refinishing the body I could get a good £450-£500 for it. And that's in playing money - it's a frankenjackson, it's not gonna be worth much to a collector, but to a player, it's really worth that much.

If you're into the whole superstrat thing, Jacksons are the way forward. Not as easy to play as an LP copy or a straight strap copy, and the floys rose style trems can be damn awkward to play, so they wouldn't make a great first guitar for most people - but as an addition to a guitar collection I find mine perfect.

Be sure to put something in the trem cavity to deaden the springs though - that's the one problem with Jacksons imparticular - after hitting a chord or holding a note then muting the strings there's always an annoying harmonic overtone ringing from the trem springs.

EDIT, re going out of tune: Don't use Slinkies on a floyd rose guitar! by nature, slinkies are slightly elastic. they'll take years to get to a constant tension. Go with D'addarios: Once you've tuned and stretched them as long as you keep in standard tuning they hold tuning much better than my jap strat, even when you're using the cravy divebomb techniques.

[jeff_bass28]

My brother picked up a used 80's Jackson Soloist several years ago. Black with a glow-in-the-dark yellow tire track running diagonally across the front. Supposedly it was made for the guitarist from Stryper. That thing is solid! He's never had a problem with any part of it.
Funny thing is, he didn't realize the tire track glowed for almost 2 years!