The return of the student series

[Ward]

jackson is a premium brand. personally, i'd like to see them eliminate the JS garbage and focus their money on a better dealer network. the USA jackson is a respectable guitar and very much the equal to PRS and other high-end production guitars.

That's how I see it too. I have never liked the idea of cheaper Jacksons. Growing up playing guitar, I always wanted a Jackson. I couldn't afford one, so I saved my money until I could. There were no imports back then, just USA made. Jacksons were almost mythical, and if you saw that name on a headstock, it was always attached to something incredible. The fact that there wasn't a lesser Jackson for less money made perfect sense. If you want a top of the line amazingly well built guitar, buy a Jackson. If you want a cheaper version, buy something else.

I cannot tell you how much it pains me nowadays to hear people say that they didn't know Jackson made nice guitars because all they know are the cheap imports. From my experience Jackson is now known as a cheap import guitar maker. Not from people in the know like on this board, but in general. If they had to dilute their brand cache I think they at least should have gone the route that most do and badged it under a different name (for example Epiphone for Gibson).

[xenophobe]

Imagine a $1000 MSRP USA Soloist.... body made from MDF or basswood, cheap import tuners, cheap import pickups, cheap cast trem... That would be a huge hit!

[Chad]

Fail

[Force]

What we need is something like a DK2 but 1 step up. As for the JS series you're ragging on, they are bringing players to Jackson who will then discover how amazing a Jackson can be. Sure they would feel iffy after playing a USA, but they are quality at that price.

[ralph]

What we need is something like a DK2 but 1 step up.

What, like a DK1?

[Larz]

What, like a DK1?

[markD]

What we need is something like a DK2 but 1 step up. As for the JS series you're ragging on, they are bringing players to Jackson who will then discover how amazing a Jackson can be. Sure they would feel iffy after playing a USA, but they are quality at that price.

not totally true. i see more JS series jacksons at pawn shops than any other guitar. they must not be too great.

[xenophobe]

What, like a DK1?

You are my hero.

[Force]

If that's what a DK1 is, then my apologies. I'll make clearer where i'm coming from. I'm not familiar with the student line. We aussies are seriously lacking options, it's JS, overpriced black DXMG's etc or internet frustration. I have a JS30DK & it's a great axe at that level. Those of you who are use to high end stuff are obviously not gonna be interested in the JS, I can understand that. I'm just jealous cause I can't afford something top shelf (not yet anyway)

[guitarnut1980]

Imagine a $1000 MSRP USA Soloist.... body made from MDF or basswood, cheap import tuners, cheap import pickups, cheap cast trem... That would be a huge hit!

Or hey how about this an alder bodied dinky with chrome hardware Floyd , maple fingerboard with dots, 24 frets, Duncan pickups, gotoh tuners that would be totally possible , but oh wait that would be like the production model charvels before they became the Japanese pro-mod series right?

[VitaminG]

Yeah, I wish I could see how they could make a $1000 USA Soloist... It would do more to harm the brand name than get you what you want at half the price.

I swear, the entitlement generation is rubbing off on everyone these days.

I want to own a US Soloist too, and I demand that it be made available cheaply enough that my summer paper route will let me buy one.

[xenophobe]

Or hey how about this an alder bodied dinky with chrome hardware Floyd , maple fingerboard with dots, 24 frets, Duncan pickups, gotoh tuners that would be totally possible , but oh wait that would be like the production model charvels before they became the Japanese pro-mod series right?

I'm confused... but that's probably because I'm really stoned.

I know they stopped making the import stratheads. If you look at used prices for both the USA and MIJ, it was only a couple hundred difference, but the USA models are selling for under a grand used. And even when you could get the MIJ for around $600, they were as good or better than the comparable USA models, at least from everyone I've actually talked to about them. So that was a case of the MIJ outselling the USA because it was a better product for cheaper... which would probably happen again if a USA Student model was re-introduced. The imports would be better and cheaper so the USA models wouldn't sell.

Sorry if I completely didn't understand what you said. lol

[neilli]

You mean the Made In Mexico guitars right?

[guitarnut1980]

I'm confused... but that's probably because I'm really stoned.

I know they stopped making the import stratheads. If you look at used prices for both the USA and MIJ, it was only a couple hundred difference, but the USA models are selling for under a grand used. And even when you could get the MIJ for around $600, they were as good or better than the comparable USA models, at least from everyone I've actually talked to about them. So that was a case of the MIJ outselling the USA because it was a better product for cheaper... which would probably happen again if a USA Student model was re-introduced. The imports would be better and cheaper so the USA models wouldn't sell.

Sorry if I completely didn't understand what you said. lol

No Prob! I had kind of a brain fart, I just think it would be a temporary way to make up for ( what i'm hearing lately ) the lack of MIJ Jacksons plus I just thought it would be kinda nice, I kinda thought the RR2 and the SL2 were kinda blah, weren't they both only around for like 2 yrs 96-97 or something like that both had really cheap components if they could take the Charvel production models add two extra frets and a pointy Jackson logo head stock I think that would kick butt and fill the void for the time being especially if they could sell them for 1000 dollars

[canadian bacon]

[QUOTE=Ward;1494782]That's how I see it too. I have never liked the idea of cheaper Jacksons. Growing up playing guitar, I always wanted a Jackson. I couldn't afford one, so I saved my money until I could. There were no imports back then, just USA made. Jacksons were almost mythical, and if you saw that name on a headstock, it was always attached to something incredible. The fact that there wasn't a lesser Jackson for less money made perfect sense. If you want a top of the line amazingly well built guitar, buy a Jackson. If you want a cheaper version, buy something else.]


Completely agree. Over 20 years playing before buying my first USA Jackson. Should be something to aspire to, not to be compared to cheap imports. Maybe Charvel is becoming the "epiphone"?