your choice for a spokesperson...

[RandyRhoads]

They need to find the next generation Phil Collin. He was a great addition to the Jackson brand... mainstream, recognisable to many people, talented and loyal (after all, he's still with them now).

the question is.... who's the new Phil Collin?....

[hippietim]

with all the buzz about artist deals, signings, endorsements... if you had to choose ONE person that does or could capture what jackson is all about... who would it be?

i'll ask first... tell my pick later.

First, I would want to know what Jackson is all about.

[horns666]

First, I would want to know what Jackson is all about.

Exactly, when I think of Jackson.. I think of the 80's and early 90's. Alot of of the heavy hitters of that time played nothing but Jackson/Charvel...for the most part.

Many dedicated Jackson players have steadily jumped ship..the list is endless. Mustaine, Drover, Laiho, ect. When I first met Jeff Loomis he always played his black RR. Jackson is starting to show it age to the point of nostalgia, this is sad to me.

ESP, Dean and IBZ has been VERY aggressive in promoting / recruiting the very players that Jackson should have..somehow, that connection was lost..with the exception of Mark Morton's Sig..that was a good step IMO!

I don't know the actual politics of this matter but something got lost in that "connection", but in my unique wisdom that usually means money!

I would like to see Jackson be what it one was, and I support them fully. I say these words in that support.

your thoughts...

Respectfully,

Bill Z Bub

[hippietim]

Exactly, when I think of Jackson I think of the 80's and early 90's..alot of great players used nothing but Jackson/Charvel...

That's it in a nutshell. Jackson is NOT current.

[horns666]

Don't go what's popular. Have the forsight to know what's going to be popular. If you talk to Mark Morton and just about any upcoming metal player today..Jeff Loomis will always mentioned..

If you build it, they will come..Jeff Loomis is going to break thru..mark my words!

When he does break thru, let it be a new Jackson in his hands. The herds will stampede..I guarantee.

He certainly helped sell ESPs and Kranks..and he doesn't even care about Krank...he prolly would rather have his own Jackson than his ESPee..

Just my thoughts..I forcasted to where metal was going before it got here. I kept my finger on that pulse and I know I'm right about this one.

Don't keep Jackson frozen in time with with aging '91 era MTV rockers, think for the now and future.

my 5 bucks..

Bill Z Bub

[VitaminG]

They need to find the next generation Phil Collin. He was a great addition to the Jackson brand... mainstream, recognisable to many people, talented and loyal (after all, he's still with them now).

the question is.... who's the new Phil Collin?....

yea, but where is Jackson going to find another balding prog-rock drummer turned pop star?

[VitaminG]

He certainly helped sell ESPs and Kranks..and he doesn't even care about Krank...he prolly would rather have his own Jackson than his ESPee..

he's not much of an endorser then - his signature model is made by Schecter

[AfterForever]

They need another porn star- Jenna is too old now.

Any suggestions, gents?

Jenna Haze

[toejam]

he's not much of an endorser then - his signature model is made by Schecter

LOL He did have at least one ESP... though, if I remember, it was a modified 7-string LTD. :ROTF:

[horns666]

he's not much of an endorser then - his signature model is made by Schecter

My bad Gary..Schecter / ESP..same thing..

[horns666]

LOL He did have at least one ESP... though, if I remember, it was a modified 7-string LTD. :ROTF:

Joe, Jeff LOVED his black RR..but he only plays 7 strings for the last several years..Make him his own 7 string RR..I'll buy one..but I get one at a discount for sugessting the biggest step forward Jackson can possibly make at this time.

Yeah, Pour some sugar on me...NOT!

But you can make a guitar for a gifted player that paid his dues, and could make us ALL blush like little girls!!!

[ABSOLUT CHARVEL]

Morton and that whole metal crowd are all fabulous players, but their influence is very limited. What J/C needs is a big time player that's more mainstream. Someone that's in a commercially succesfull hard rock band...if such a thing even exists anymore.

Jackson is just way too one dimensional with association to metal. They have been too stagnating with the market that making ground on other companies is not going to happen. Even the rebirth of Charvel is just a blip on the radar screen. It reminds me of a Camaro where it once was the car to get the hot chicks.

Jackson allowed it’s self to be a fad, and like in the world of fashion, fads will fade away. I’m sorry, but adding 2 frets to a RR is not going to put them back in the game. The lack of aggression, budget, or arrogance with endorsees has cost them. They did not keep up with the times, nor do they have a guitar and image that offers diversity. Gibson’s LP can be seen on stage at a metal, or country show. Same thing can be said with Fenders.

Look at PRS and their success. They don’t have the history as Gibson & Fender, but they manage to be a main player. Their guitar can be seen from Santana to Navarro. They did it with out skulls on the guitars too, which may indicate graphics are not timeless, rather a time stamp for a period that no longer is the rage (80’s).

With the association with Fender, I wish they would shit or get off the pot. The one guitar that really gave me wood from the pictures of the NAMM show was the Scorpion Telecaster. Even though it had graphics, they were unique and the fact it was on a tele was exciting to see. That guitar could be played at any venue by any artist.

Reissue the Charvel 750 XL with the flame maple top, and screw the EVH look alike. Right there is your set neck that may have stood the test of time. It is the one Charvel that most here have, or wish they did.

[horns666]

Some good points. But, I disagree on one topic. Jackson/Charvel was built on the foundation of metal and shredders and catered to that market like nobody's biz back in the day. It's what put Jackson on the map.

Interest in that market has resurrected in the mainstream, and never went away to many that never strayed from that form of playing and music. Jackson wasn't your "daddy's guitar" and that's what set them apart from Gibson/Fender..They still have that in strides, but they do not agressively campaign like they once did. When all the "legends" were sporting their Jacksons on MTV '1987...everyone had to have one..well most of us here right??.

Kids are still buying what they see their heroes shred with on MTV..whether they could play or not. Dean, Schecter, ESP and Ibanez is doing quite well and their roster continues to grow which snowballs to the masses...Dime did wonder for Dean..they were dead not that long ago.

Something weird happened with Gibson. You could buy mint LP's in the 80's all day long for under $400-500..now they're prices are fuggin' ridiculous.

On the flipside Fender lost their luster by putting out way too much cheap crap during that same time..cheapies that feel like entry level crap.

PRS is doing has been doing quite well from day one..even with the cheapies their putting out for the last few years..but they don't look, sound or feel cheap..so your getting some quality at afforable prices.

If Jacksons were in the hands of such bands as Megadeth, Nevermore, Arch Enemy, Dragonforce, Trivium, Mastodon, Opeth, and some of these popular screamo bands that MTV promote heavily on Saturday nights..the floodgates would burst and Jackson would be on the map..it's what put them there in the first place..

I have two very beautiful strat head '95 San Dimas Charvels.. a SD 1 Koa w/ gold and a SD III with a highly flamed maple top over walnut, both with birdseye necks..definitely NOT your ordinary "metal" guitars to 80's standards, but to today's standards they are more metal than ever..because there is alot of flamed veneer , binding and bevels on alot of guitars played by shredders these days..much more than skulls and crap..

I have ONE "throwback" pointy..my lightning sky RR1..

I'd say put out both styles and just recruite some "modern" heavy hitters..especially the ones that always played Jacksons like Glen Drover, Alexi Laiho, Jeff Loomis...ect. If they see it on MTV and Guitar World ..ect ..kids will lap it up again.

People are sheep, it's not rocket science..give the sheep what they want!

[surfreak]

I must say I disagree with all of you with regards to hiring young guns as endorsers. Charvel/Jackson was bought by the biggest name in the guitar business, so the corporation should use its money and power to push the brand, if they believe in it.

Jeff Loomis? Mark Morton? Say what you want, but nobody knows them, and nobody will. They are great players, but they are not stars.

If Jackson wants an endorser who will truly carry the brand for the next 20 years, they must buy out VAI!!!!

And it doesn't even need to be an exclusive endorsement. The man is a true household name, a phenomenal player, and an even better business man, and I am 100% sure he can effectively promote both Jackson and Ibanez.

He can do a gig happily playing EVO for all the "regular" stuff, then break out his new official Charvel Grean Meanie replica with artificial aging ($ 25,000 list, MZ bought 777 pieces...) for Shy Boy and the older stuff, then use his Jack Butler replica for a Crossroad guitar duel with Tony Macalpine....

And, of course, come out with a brand new model with some weird features, a Jackson with leds, an RMC polydrive, whatever...

[Endrik]

I agree with surfreak but I'm 99% sure that Vai never leaves Ibanez.
Jackson needs a rock icon...someone who is as big as Slash or EVH.
Why should the spokespersons be some underground metal guitarist, it would be involution, Jackson was the guitar for rock stars since day one.