Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

[atquinn]

Hello all. I'm new to the world of Jackson guitars and I've got a question for you more experienced folks.

I'm in the market for a shredder to round out my electric collection (which currently consists of a vaguely Gibsonish Hamer and a vaguely Fendery Hamer). I would get a Hamer shredder, but I can't stand bolt on necks (they just aren't as comfy for me to play on when I'm reaching for the high notes). So, I'm looking at getting an SL2H. I thought that Soloists were neck-through guitars in the same way that Carvins are: a central strip of wood with 2 wings glued onto the sides. However, this picture from the 2003 catalog:

http://www.jcfonline.com/resources/c...ize/Page14.jpg

makes it look like they might be constructed differently, like maybe bottom surface of the neck (as opposed to the side surfaces) is attached to the body. Are my eyes playing tricks on me or are Jackson neck-throughs contructed in some unconventional way?

Thanks in advance for the info.

-Austin

[nonamemx]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

Ever looked at one of the old Hamer Californians? You know, the ones with the 27 fret boards? those are cool. . .and neck through.

[wulfe13]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

I believe that is the neck joint, I think, that everyone talks about.

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

The Jackson neckthrough is constructed with the maple neck running up until the neck pickup. It's not really a true neckthrough... more of a "very deep set-in neck". Besides, you've got the Floyd and its huge cavity on there too, along with the other pickups. Then you stick on the alder/poplar/whatever wings and you have your Jackson neckthrough.

Correct me if my facts are wrong, brothers!

[atquinn]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

[ QUOTE ]
Ever looked at one of the old Hamer Californians? You know, the ones with the 27 fret boards? those are cool. . .and neck through.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is one model of Californian that is a set neck with a pretty seamless neck joint. Unfortunately, those are the rarest Californians out there (in more than a year of checking eBay, I don't think I can recall one coming up), so I don't think I'd be able to get one.

There's also the Hamer Virtuoso (a 36 fret guitar). One of those would be cool, but they're even more rare than the set neck Cali's and I don't have enough money to buy a new one from Hamer (from what I've heard, the WILL still build them if you can come up with the dough).

-Austin

[atquinn]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

[ QUOTE ]
The Jackson neckthrough is constructed with the maple neck running up until the neck pickup. It's not really a true neckthrough... more of a "very deep set-in neck". Besides, you've got the Floyd and its huge cavity on there too, along with the other pickups. Then you stick on the alder/poplar/whatever wings and you have your Jackson neckthrough.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, if I understand you correctly, for something like the SL2H, the neck (maple) is set into a center piece (maple) and then wings (alder) are glued on? Based on my somewhat limited experience with them, I think I like set-necks more than neck-throughs tone-wise. So, this definitely puts the Soloist ahead of a Carvin (the other brand I'm looking at).

-Austin

[nonamemx]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Ever looked at one of the old Hamer Californians? You know, the ones with the 27 fret boards? those are cool. . .and neck through.

[/ QUOTE ]

There is one model of Californian that is a set neck with a pretty seamless neck joint. Unfortunately, those are the rarest Californians out there (in more than a year of checking eBay, I don't think I can recall one coming up), so I don't think I'd be able to get one.

There's also the Hamer Virtuoso (a 36 fret guitar). One of those would be cool, but they're even more rare than the set neck Cali's and I don't have enough money to buy a new one from Hamer (from what I've heard, the WILL still build them if you can come up with the dough).

-Austin

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh. I didn't really look over the neck carefully, I just knew it wasn't bolt-on.

The only reason I know about them, is because there is a nice black on in my local store, with gold hardware. Its quite pretty.

I remember seeing 2 similar ones on the ebay when I got home that day I first saw the Californian.

I would buy the californian (BTW, $700 if i remember. . .), but I am now strickly a Maple Fretboard person. I just hate Rosewood. I guess Im just wierd.

[xenophobe]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

[ QUOTE ]
The Jackson neckthrough is constructed with the maple neck running up until the neck pickup. It's not really a true neckthrough... more of a "very deep set-in neck". Besides, you've got the Floyd and its huge cavity on there too, along with the other pickups. Then you stick on the alder/poplar/whatever wings and you have your Jackson neckthrough.

Correct me if my facts are wrong, brothers!

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, you're wrong. Jackson neck-thru guitars ARE neck-thru and not set-neck guitars. You can argue semantics as much as you want but here are the facts:

1) The wood used for the neck is the full length of the guitar, and approximately half the depth. Another piece is bonded to the back of the neck where the body wings would be attached.

2) Until the pickup routes are cut, the main piece of wood that comprises the neck runs the FULL length of the body.

3) The body is not 2 halves that are glued together with a neck "set in". The body is comprised of two "wings" that are attached to the full extension of the neck.

4) It is true that the pickup routes are wider and deeper than the extension of the neck, the neck is never set-in. It is integral to the body.

5) Also, a set-neck guitar body is generally already shaped when the neck is put into place, while with a Jackson neck through, the body is cut and shaped with the neck already installed... (it HAS to be installed first, because the extension of the neck wood still comprises part of the body of the guitar even though that extension is interruped when pickup routes are cut.

This discussion has taken place a number of times, and like I said, you can argue any facts you wish, but Jackson neck through guitars are indeed neck-thru and not set in a shaped and formed body like a Gibson or PRS.

[86mod5]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

That's the way I've always understood the construction method to be as well xeno.

[lefty]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction



1) The wood used for the neck is the full length of the guitar, and approximately half the depth. Another piece is bonded to the back of the neck where the body wings would be attached.

This is easily seen on transparent finish gtrs. Looks to be about 1/2" thick?




3) The body is not 2 halves that are glued together with a neck "set in". The body is comprised of two "wings" that are attached to the full extension of the neck.

How are flame tops built? Seems like it would have to
be a somewhat dif. technique?


theo

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

Ahh, thanks xeno!! [img]/images/graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img] Alright, so the maple DOES run all the way through the guitar, although it's "interrupted" by the pickup/trem routes. Yeah, it does make sense to glue on the body wings and THEN route the sucker. [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

[-=RkR=-]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

Here's a (crappy) pic of the back of my Kelly, even though it's blurry you can still see that it's a true neck-thru (all the way to the bottom edge):

[Jim Shine]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

"How are flame tops built? Seems like it would have to
be a somewhat dif. technique?"

They do them the same way. The face is capped with the maple top. The only difference I have seen is on my old achtop Soloist (that may be very different than todays) is the neck wood isn't a solid rail of one piece of wood. Around the neck heel area the wood is grafted on like a scarf joint, likely to get the extra angle without wasting so much wood.

[pro-fusion]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

It's that extra piece of wood on the back of the guitar that makes modern Soloists look like setnecks rather than thrunecks. I wonder how long Jackson has been doing it that way? Certainly, older Soloists were 'regular' neckthrus with the entire neck/center body section being a single piece of wood.

[Number Of The Priest]

Re: Jackson Soloist (USA) Construction

Slightly off-topic, yet still slightly on-topic, but there's a thread in the Efraid of Ebay section about Hamers on Ebay just posted. Take a look!