Any model lineup change in 06?

[neilli]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

Newc, that's true, but (unfortunately) is that necessarily what sells guitars?

For me, the biggest put off with any lower end guitar is a cheap nasty Floyd - pickups are a relatively easy replacement, but how many people will want to swap a bridge on a brand new, low end guitar?

[Carbophos]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

Wood, construction, etc - is something that appeal to skilled player, who can feel the inner tonal qualities even in case of shitty pups and hardware but for the vast majority of buyers, Ibanez and ESP are just better value guitars. Wether you like it or not.

There can't be any sales boost unless some marketing (endorsement) and "value" improvement happens. Wether we like it or not (I don't), that's how the industry works. Most of buyers are novice players who don't know shit about the guitars and rely on look, specs and - ah - endorsement...

[Newc]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

By the same token, I fail to see how a beginner will care if the guitar has EMGs or HZs, a JB or HB102, etc etc.
I also don't see where a beginner knows the difference between an OFR and a JT580.

If it's simply a case of "monkey see, monkey want" - they see their hero of the day in an ad for EMGs or whatever and want the same thing - those are pretty much 'here today gone tomorrow' buyers that cannot sustain a brand much less a market.

There's no sense in Jackson putting the money for real pickups and trems into the majority of the imports. Period. It's a waste of money.
You want better pickups, buy better. You will not get USA quality for import prices off the shelf again, and that's pretty much the gist of the hardware/pickups issue.
If Jackson puts OFRs or Schallers and real pickups on imports (again) then the price goes up. Then who is going to buy them?
No one, because they can get what they THINK is the same quality for less money.
When the accessories are given to Jackson for free, then they'll be included on the guitars at no extra cost.

[Carbophos]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

I'd just say about the guitar buyers in general:

1) Yes, they don't know shit, but there's enough resourses, (including a lot of forums) to learn that OFR, SD or EMG 81 are "cooler" than their budget counterparts.

2) ANY buyer on a CONSUMER MARKET (and most guitar buyers are not musicians, they are regular consumers) will be pissed by the idea that he has to upgrade his brand new purchase. People want INSTANT "COOL".

3) People in general prefer to beleive in what they would like to, rather than in what is real. A lot of players convince themselves that imports and USA differ mostly in specs and cost difference is because of taxes and labour unions. Go to the Import section of JCF an look at any "Import vs USA" thread.

So if we consider that Jackson targets to "THINKING" players, we have to admit that the sales will ALWAYS be low compared to ESP or Ibanez, just because thinking people are minority in general and percentage of "thinkers" among players is even less.

[neilli]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

I agree that you can't expect to pay peanuts and get a fantastic top-spec guitar, but while the cheaper Jacksons may be structurally better than some of the competition (which have brand name pickups and bridges), which products are selling more?

I guess my feeling is that Jackson should ditch the cheaper range of guitars (i.e everything below the MG series) as I don't think that they will really catch a younger player for life, and the quality concerns cheapen the brand identity (and may in fact put buyers off the brand)….

Having said that, I guess it depends how much money FMIC make from the bottom end of the market [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Zerberus]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

[ QUOTE ]
.....Now - what we need is a couple of you guys, our diehard Jackson brethren, to get famous & fly your colors! [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]

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I´m workin´ on it, I´m workin´ on it... enough pressure already [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/toast.gif[/img]

[Carbophos]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

FMIC makes a lot of money from Squier and MIM Fender.

As for "low to the lowest end" Jackson I'd say that there will be always a demand for cheapo RR, KV, KE and WR. Just both X and JS series should be fixed bridge strings-thrus. No tremolo = les pain in the ass and string-thru = better tone.(Notice that there's very few trem equipped guitars in LTD series). And JS Jacksons sell amazingly well.

[Chrisb]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

I don't think they should ditch the S series at all, believe it or not those sell pretty well from what I've seen. Hell I have an old JS kelly (back when it had sharkies) and I love it. Modded the hell out of it, but its still a great player.

Anyways I think they just need to trim some of the fat on existing lines like multiple similar versions of the same axe, differentiate options a little more (ie maple board with black sharky option). And maybe add 2 or 3 models that are pricer imports, the thing about those guitars like the C-1 classic and the Hellraiser is they aren't that cheap yet they are popular anyways because they look sharp and they play pretty well. The quality of jackson is never in question, but moto inlays, and the lack of binding on some models make them look very plain. This doesn't catch the eye of the walk in buyer that doesn't know alot about the quality of construction. Jackson has started to move that direction with the signature models which are nice high end import models. And I have no idea on the numbers but I suspect the bond rhoads probably sells pretty well. Thats all the proof you need that price isn't necessarily what matters to the intermediate level buyer. But as some here have already said the bond rhoads is somewhat "specific" in its look so a more generic but still nice import can fill that gap. And all you need to do is go with the trademark jackson models. The Soloist, the Kelly, the Rhoads and the KV. Rather than quartersawn maple with black plastic inlays perhaps a birdseye maple with ebony for a nice bolt on import. On neck thru models MOP or Abalone. Look maybe thats not the road they want to go down but thats the way the industry has been moving lately and for me, I don't really care either way the only import I'd probably buy from Jackson now is a Death Angel sig model if they ever made one. I do however want to see Jackson become a bigger more widely acknowledged company, for me personally I am perfectly happy with Jackson, but for their sake I'm making these suggestions.

Endorsement wise, Lamb of God has been around awhile and is pretty well respected. Trivium while newer (I think) is a band I've heard mentioned alot lately so I think they are quickly building a big name for themselves. And TSO is always in the top 5 for concert revenue every year. Last year (or the year before) they were #2 behind The Eagles. Nile is IMO the best pure death metal band out there. So they have a very good lineup of endorsees but they are not big flashy names like Kerry King or James Hetfield or Dave Mustaine. If they could get a Jeff Loomis or a John Schaffer then they would have a lineup for the future.

[Zerberus]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

[ QUOTE ]
I don't think they should ditch the S series at all, believe it or not those sell pretty well from what I've seen. Hell I have an old JS kelly (back when it had sharkies) and I love it. Modded the hell out of it, but its still a great player. .....

[/ QUOTE ]

???? THe Kelly was just introduced to the JS series last year, and had dots from the beginning on [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

You sure you´re not talking about an old Pro? [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Carbophos]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

...and more attention to European bands as well. As long as Jackson are still connected to "traditional" metal, European scene is more in this vein than in US. And it is a pretty big market.

[Chrisb]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

[ QUOTE ]
You sure you´re not talking about an old Pro?

[/ QUOTE ]
Well it was designated as model JK-20. Its not a pro, at least not with professional on the headstock anyways. Its uh..6 years old? I thought it was odd that is was JK instead of JS but there ya go. Maybe it was a pro model back before it was called a KE3 like they are now.

[pro-fusion]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

Jackson is, in a sense, fighting a losing battle by making almost all of its imports in Japan, where they will never be able to match prices with all of the various guitars (LTD, Schecter etc.) that the Samick factory in Korea spits out. I have to think that is the primary factor in why a Bonds Rhoads sells for almost $1000, while the top of the line Schecter C-1 Exotic goes for about $300 less.

Makes me wonder if FMIC isn't considering whether to shift some of the import Jackson stuff to Mexico. I'm not saying I want that to happen, but it would seem a pretty logical move for the company to make, speaking strictly as an uninformed outsider.

[toddstaples]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

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and yeah, the DV8 outsells em all...


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Somehow, I doubt this...... [img]/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[Chrisb]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

[ QUOTE ]
Somehow, I doubt this......

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Why would he lie? It makes sense, its a awesome looking guitar at a pretty good price, it probably has little to do with Mustaine that it sells so well.

[ QUOTE ]
while the top of the line Schecter C-1 Exotic goes for about $300 less.


[/ QUOTE ]
C-1 Exotic retail for 700 or so...

[Jacksonite]

Re: Any model lineup change in 06?

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
and yeah, the DV8 outsells em all...


[/ QUOTE ]

Somehow, I doubt this...... [img]/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

you can doubt all you want... the DV8 outsells the KH602, the JH606, and the truckster, combined... hands down.. I am pretty good friends with a ESP rep, and that is their third best selling guitar, next to the Soloist copy and the LP copy (which BTW from what I understand smokes any LP out there)