No Longer MIJ?

[Mudlark]

I'd choose the used $1000 USA Select over the new $1000 import for the German Floyd, ivoroid binding, MOP inlays/logo, quarter sawn neck and CTS/Switchcraft electronics. I never discriminate because of series/country of manufacture.

Hell, my 6 year old $300 Indian JS3 bass still works as new, but both my '08 USA Soloist and '11 MIJ Dinky have needed small repairs.

[xenophobe]

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.

I care about overall quality and supporting the countries I feel are worth supporting and do place a bit of extra disdain for countries with bad labor practice. They produce price point guitars, not quality standard guitars. Look at any of the post 90's non-market Charvels and the high end Jacksons they produced in Japan, all of those are comparable to USA quality.

The Chinese, Indian and Indonesian stuff are cheaper builds. Put nicer parts on them but the guitars still cost less, they're based on price points and markup, not on build quality. I can tell the difference. I'll take a WMI Korea build over anything made in China, India or Indonesia, and if you don't understand or can't tell the difference, that's nice. Ignorance is bliss.

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......

I'm fine with JT590s and genuine Gotohs. I hate Jackson's standard pickup choices anyways, so that's of no concern to me because I would change them out regardless. The only good pickups Jackson used were their handmade pickups in the 80's.

Fact is you can get a used USA for less than $1k if you look around. Unless you're buying sub $400 guitars, you're still better off looking at the used market than paying $1k for a Chinese Soloist. And those import AS strats kinda suck bad.

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.

That's good but I'd rather have a MIJ or USA Jackson. I personally prefer the feel of a hand shaped neck.

[AAEA]

I would say that most imports do not tempt me. I liked the made in japan stuff as these are a free people and they really cared about the music and the guitars; they still do. india and china however are not what I would call "jackson country." I don't get the image of big in india or big in china when I think music. To the workers these are just a job and when they aren't making cheapo jacksons they are making coffee tables for pier 1 imports.

[Aso]

That's good but I'd rather have a MIJ or USA Jackson. I personally prefer the feel of a hand shaped neck.

I have to agree with you on this because I don't see me buying another import Jackson again after the RRXT. Rather save up the cash and get one great custom select than have 3-4 imports with how their built now days.

[xenophobe]

That's why a number of us are really hot on WMI Korea builds. They're not price point guitars, they're quality standard guitars. They're also mostly handmade and they're a free people who enjoy and love their jobs. Watching the Chapman vids only drives this home further for me.

[VoiceX3]

I care about overall quality and supporting the countries I feel are worth supporting and do place a bit of extra disdain for countries with bad labor practice. They produce price point guitars, not quality standard guitars. Look at any of the post 90's non-market Charvels and the high end Jacksons they produced in Japan, all of those are comparable to USA quality.

The Chinese, Indian and Indonesian stuff are cheaper builds. Put nicer parts on them but the guitars still cost less, they're based on price points and markup, not on build quality. I can tell the difference. I'll take a WMI Korea build over anything made in China, India or Indonesia, and if you don't understand or can't tell the difference, that's nice. Ignorance is bliss.




I'm fine with JT590s and genuine Gotohs. I hate Jackson's standard pickup choices anyways, so that's of no concern to me because I would change them out regardless. The only good pickups Jackson used were their handmade pickups in the 80's.

Fact is you can get a used USA for less than $1k if you look around. Unless you're buying sub $400 guitars, you're still better off looking at the used market than paying $1k for a Chinese Soloist. And those import AS strats kinda suck bad.




That's good but I'd rather have a MIJ or USA Jackson. I personally prefer the feel of a hand shaped neck.

Xeno, if it's about not supporting the import countries, you absolutely make a valid point. When I'm talking about the imports though, I'm looking at it from a financial standpoint for the casual buyer. I play my imports on a daily basis because the USA stuff, the early pros and my fake King Kelly only come out for shows and if anyone comes by to jam. And yes there is quite obviously a noticeable difference between them. The new imports are a great price point for intermediate guitars. The new pro neck-thru models I do not own yet, but have played a Monarkh (lusting for one of these) and a KV Pro Quilt (I do not like that they are direct mount pickups with out trim rings.) and they seem really nice, but do agree they are a little pricey.

It's really not fair to compare todays imports with the legendary original Pro Line because those guitars were so high quality they took a serious bite out of USA Sales and that will never happen under the Fender banner.

[xenophobe]

Xeno, if it's about not supporting the import countries, you absolutely make a valid point. When I'm talking about the imports though, I'm looking at it from a financial standpoint for the casual buyer. I play my imports on a daily basis because the USA stuff, the early pros and my fake King Kelly only come out for shows and if anyone comes by to jam. And yes there is quite obviously a noticeable difference between them. The new imports are a great price point for intermediate guitars. The new pro neck-thru models I do not own yet, but have played a Monarkh (lusting for one of these) and a KV Pro Quilt (I do not like that they are direct mount pickups with out trim rings.) and they seem really nice, but do agree they are a little pricey.

It's really not fair to compare todays imports with the legendary original Pro Line because those guitars were so high quality they took a serious bite out of USA Sales and that will never happen under the Fender banner.

I'm also talking about financial standpoint. I'd much rather spend $600-$1000 on a used USA or MIJ Jackson than $1000 on a new SL3 or whatever.

I've handled and played a number of the cheap AS sigs and a number of the newer Jacksons and I just don't feel it. The AS sigs are probably worth the $300 or so they're selling for but I think the new Pro series is overpriced for what they are, IMO.

I'd much rather spend that money on a used CJ or some other random WMI build.

[VoiceX3]

I'm also talking about financial standpoint. I'd much rather spend $600-$1000 on a used USA or MIJ Jackson than $1000 on a new SL3 or whatever.

I've handled and played a number of the cheap AS sigs and a number of the newer Jacksons and I just don't feel it. The AS sigs are probably worth the $300 or so they're selling for but I think the new Pro series is overpriced for what they are, IMO.

I'd much rather spend that money on a used CJ or some other random WMI build.

I agree that the pros are a little overpriced, but do think for the younger player with miles of talent and not so much bank account, the X series is great bang for the buck.

[xenophobe]

I agree that the pros are a little overpriced, but do think for the younger player with miles of talent and not so much bank account, the X series is great bang for the buck.

You can get a nice used USA Jackson or Charvel for new X series pricing if you're patient. Unless your primary concern is looks, go with the used USA, IMO.

Maybe you haven't seen that a number of older USAs in the $600-$800 range right now.

[AAEA]

Thats another thing. The 1990 - 1995 MIJ are starting to explode in price, I'm seeing a shift from a $350 - $750 to a $600 - $1200 range for the PROs. These are good but in my opinion they have a lot of hit and miss that the USA guitars in the same price point dont have.

[Nightbat]

You can get a nice used USA Jackson or Charvel for new X series pricing if you're patient. Unless your primary concern is looks, go with the used USA, IMO.

Maybe you haven't seen that a number of older USAs in the $600-$800 range right now.

No offense, but it's always been like that, even here in Europe, buying a new lower grade model will not be far off the price of a 2nd hand US upper grade
But I will give you that the profit margin for today's Jackson imports is much higher than when they were MiJ

[VoiceX3]

No I haven't, but really haven't been looking for anything aside from a Y2KV (all ridiculously priced) or Jackson Stars a neckthru Kellystar. (Nobody sells them)

A USA for $600-800 would be the way to go for sure.

You can get a nice used USA Jackson or Charvel for new X series pricing if you're patient. Unless your primary concern is looks, go with the used USA, IMO.

Maybe you haven't seen that a number of older USAs in the $600-$800 range right now.

[VoiceX3]

Spent the better part of today looking for those elusive $600-800 older USA Jacksons and came up empty.

[Mudlark]

Craigslist seems to be the honeypot for sweet deals.

[xenophobe]

Spent the better part of today looking for those elusive $600-800 older USA Jacksons and came up empty.

There were 2 or 3 that recently sold on the JCF FB Classifieds page...