No Longer MIJ?

[Guitarkid8]

Found some threads from 2011/2012 talking about the end of MIJ, did they rebound or is this still true?

[Aso]

Found some threads from 2011/2012 talking about the end of MIJ, did they rebound or is this still true?

This is still true. All the imports are made in Indonesia now.

[shreddermon]

Some are made in Mexico.

[Aso]

Some are made in Mexico.

I seem to always forget about the shop in Mexico. Maybe that is because I am usually buying neck-thrus

[xenophobe]

Some are made in China and they've made some in India as well.

[VoiceX3]

Yeah, they're building all over the place now. My last 3 import purchases were JS22-7M bolt on - China, KVXT Neck thru - India, JS22-7 bolt on - China. All are fairly good quality. The KV needed a setup and the 2 7 strings needed a little fret end work and setup but I do like and play them all often. It seems Jackson has made guitars sporatically off and on in India for a LOOOONG time. I had one of the oddball Performer PS3T built in India with a "9" serial number. ( usually meant Japan, and they were building in Japan at the time, but it was indeed from India.

[Guitarkid8]

What has happened to the quality of the DK2 series? Are they still worth the price? I've been out of playing for a while, almost picked up a DK2 at my local shop because of my last guitar ('08 DK2M). Not going to lie I would probably be upset if I bought it and it was made in China.

[Hellbat]

Bolt ons are generally Mexico IIRC.

[xenophobe]

What has happened to the quality of the DK2 series? Are they still worth the price? I've been out of playing for a while, almost picked up a DK2 at my local shop because of my last guitar ('08 DK2M). Not going to lie I would probably be upset if I bought it and it was made in China.

I'd honestly suggest sticking with the used USA and Custom market. I don't like overpaying for products with an exceptionally high markup, most import Jacksons these days are only about profit margins.

[AAEA]

Yea the factory closed in Japan. It was having serious cash flow issues and after the earthquakes/tsunamis it was a disaster zone and has been pretty much closed ever since. A friend of mine said that he saw some work going on there but mostly removing damaged stuff, nothing new has shown up.

also to note, this may also the end of jackson stars / grover jackson guitars as well

[xenophobe]

Yea the factory closed in Japan. It was having serious cash flow issues and after the earthquakes/tsunamis it was a disaster zone and has been pretty much closed ever since. A friend of mine said that he saw some work going on there but mostly removing damaged stuff, nothing new has shown up.

also to note, this may also the end of jackson stars / grover jackson guitars as well

The factory closed because they went bankrupt due to a bad contract with Fender who chose not to renew their contract once it lapsed.

[Mudlark]

Japan closed late 2011, Indian Jacksons stopped 2012ish.

Generally, today it's...Pro neck thrus and X series are Indonesia, Pro bolt ons (including DK2's) Mexico, and JS series China.

When USA selects are selling in the $1000 range, I think I'd go that route over a $1000+ import.

The STARS models also ended to my knowledge, but I don't recall where I read that, or the authenticity.

[VoiceX3]

I'd honestly suggest sticking with the used USA and Custom market. I don't like overpaying for products with an exceptionally high markup, most import Jacksons these days are only about profit margins.

I don't know if I agree with you here. Obviously, if you're used to USA and Custom Shop pieces, you're always going to find "something" to nitpick about. I don't see any real issue about the new imports and their price point. I owned a ton of Japanese imports over the years and I have to tell you that my Indian neck thru KVXT build quality is on par with the Japanese RR5 I used to have. The pots and switch in the RR5 were crap and I had to change them within a couple months of buying it brand new. It was $1000, had no binding and needed a setup before I could play it at a show. It did come with real Duncans. The KVXT from India had all good pots and switch, has binding and Dunlop strap locks. I did set it up before playing it out, but it wasn't far off. The only thing not at least on par with the RR5 is that it came with shitty EMG-HZ pickups.....but the price was just over $400 new.....do pickups represent $600 mark up especially without binding? No, I don't think so. And an RR5 is much more than $1000 new now.

As for the bolt on's I had from Japan, I had a KE3, DKMG, DK2S....all came with shitty pickups, Duncan Designed in the KE3 and DK2S while the DKMG had EMG HZ's. I played a couple Mexican DK2 guitars and they felt about the same as the Japs, but the Mexicans have better hardware and pickups. The imports are not overblown pricewise when you compare to the rest of the market out there......

[AAEA]

The golden era of japan imports was Charvel 1986-1992 and jacksons 1990-1995. everything else got real hit and miss.

[Aso]

I'd honestly suggest sticking with the used USA and Custom market. I don't like overpaying for products with an exceptionally high markup, most import Jacksons these days are only about profit margins.

I have a couple custom shops and recently bought a RRXT Gojira. For the money it's a great guitar and I haven't found any issues with it. The only problem I have with it is I can't get used to the weight of the guitar. It feels way too light compared to my mahogany King V CS or the 94 Rhoads Pro I have.