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jackson basses

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#721
I worked at the largest Jackson dealer in San Diego when they were at their peak of popularity, so I had the chance to play many of their top of the line basses.

I found them to be well built but dull. Jackson really was a guitar company who made wildly popular guitars (at least for a while there) and appeared to feel forced to build basses. The basses were neck-through PJs with pointy ends. I found them to have too much finish and so-so electronics. They lacked all the "modern" innovations that the guitars had at the time - in part because there really just wasn't much to innovate in a bass (there still isn't, really). I found them to be over-priced, as well.

But if you like pointy neck-thru PJs, you might well dig a Jackson.
 
#722
well built? yes. overpriced? yes.

dull boring and passive p/j --ewww
P1010083.jpg


not any more :)
P1010319.jpg


ya, ya it's a Charvel...shutup :spit:

and Harry, don't forget the SanDimasHeadstocks.

P1010148.jpg

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#724
Hey all!

I'm a huge van of Jackson because I've always been a huge fan of Megadeth, I just love those headstocks and models.

Anyway, I'd really like to get one of those Jackson CMG's like David Ellefson used, his signature model is like 3000 dollars and there are only 100 made in the world or something, so thats way out of the question. However, I can order a regular bolt on one with EMG-HZs here in europe for 790 euro's. Do you guys think its worth it?

I also looked around on ebay because I heard that CMG's from the 90's were better, but I cant find any nice black one close to me (Netherlands).

I really like the punchy sound David Ellefson once had with his EMG 35DC's, or whatever he had in there back in the 90's. You can hear what I mean if you look for bass tracks from songs like Lucretia or Holy Wars.

So, is it worth the 790 euro's? I can always put EMG 35DC's in it afaik... Or do I need to turn the whole bass inside-out then?
 
#726
amimbari said:
the CMG's are cheap over here..more like 300-500 depending on the condition.
Jackson used 35p4 and 35j in the 94 Ellefson I have. super quiet singlecoils in soapbar covers for sure. f*** 35DC's

and BTW, I like the sound of my model4 p/j when playing Lucretia :spit:
YouTube - Megadeth - Lucretia - bass playalong for the gang at the BTF
Click to expand...

AWESOME cover bro!
So thats a Charvel from 94 :eek: DO WANT!
But to get the real David Ellefson punch sound (I dont know if you intended to get that, but that's not the point) you should play it with a pick. Then you get the sound this guy has, he totally sucks at playing tho but the sound is awesome: .
Are the 35DC's crap in your opinion? Why?
 
#727
no rattle that is a model4 from 1988. the Ellefson I was talking about is a different unit, but since you said Lucretia, I had already done that song and the tone is snappy with my fingers. No need for a pick. I never play the rightys live, but have quite a few so they get used.

rattle, that kid's tone is not even close to mine, but remember he is not playing out of my rig and I have no idea what he uses to record with. I am stuck using my camcorder live....I am not judging his playing...typical CMG EMG-HZ sound...

believe me I don't need a pick to get twangy and clicky, just turn the treble on the preamp all the way up :D

my Ellefson bass I have is from the days when he used a P-P JacksonBird. And although I had a C5 for a long time, it is gone and replaced with a Charvel E5.
 
#728
So here is the MIJ CMG Concert I won on eBay. I set it up tonight and it's just fine. I only paid $200 for it so I am pretty satisfied with this purchase. It goes well with my white 87 USA Custom Shop Concert. I was pretty suprised how small the headstock is compared to the USA but it plays suprisingly well and I set a nice low action. It will make an excellent back up. I posted a couple of pictures of the two basses.
 
#729
I like the white one better...lol
well I'm partial to white :cool:

and yes your 87 was still using the larger headstock until they changed it in the early 90's. are the control covers the same size? between the 2 the white one looks like it has larger horns which means something and I'll explain why if it does if your curious.


Jackson or Charvel. all my 90's basses have the small head and all the 80's basses have the larger one.
 
#732
sure... old USA's were made with a full size soloist body and when the MIJ bass units came out, they also used the same body in the model 1+2, the model 3+4 were the newer dinky body which was shaped differently.

so yes my model 1+2 look like your custom with a small control cover, and my model 3+4 look like the CMG. in this pic you can also see the differences in the body shape:

also if you look where the middle knob lines up with the j pickup you can see the knob spacing is different to match the larger control rout. ( the switch placement also defined the years of MIJ and USA's )
P1010194.jpg

.
 
#734
oh ya i saw it I love to get ****** and do stuff like that :)
I love distortion/kahler abuse and speedmetal on a rock bass when it is appropriate to do so.

there is a lot of hiss in the background from the ganiac on 125%, overloading the hell out of the 12ax7 in it but what can ya do. it's for fun, not for real.
YouTube - A Good example of a fast neck?
Even at my age :hiding:

p.s. although I still have a model 1-4 that pic is so old I don't have 3 of those 4 in that pic and were replaced..lot changes in a few years ;)
 
#735
Cool clip I like it ! I guess I have to tweak this bass some more. I made the action too low and there were dead spots in the upper register, I may have to face the fact that it will never ride as low as the custom and still be playable...damn it !
 
#739
I checked out the BC Rich Thunderbird at Rumble Seat...... WOW! That is one Mighty machine! Turns out it was custom made for Kelly Chaisson of Keel. great score on the Jacksons CrankinYankee! All three are very cool basses. I love each one for their respective individuality. Your a lucky man! Uglystick
 
#740
Believe it or not that place was a club!...It's closed now...It was called the Dalton Depot because it was an old train stop in the 1800's and every night the trains still rumbled by there. It was in Dalton Mass. ( Footnote :That's where they make all the paper for the money in america) Just goes to show you what smallville clubs can be !
 
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