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Hi guys,
Kinda new to Jacksons. Been an Ibanez player for about 15 years now (and whatever I could afford for about 13 years before that) but recently was hankering for a change. About 15 years ago a buddy of mine got a Jackson Kelly and I really liked it at the time. He'd moved the rear strap button to the back (where Kelly Bradford originally meant it to be) and I remember it feeling very comfy at the time. So when the need for change hit me I first thought of an Ibanez Destroyer then remembered how much I liked the Kelly.
Long story short, I went on the Bay and found an XLR that I instantly fell in love with. I probably paid too much for it but at the same time, when I did some research, I saw them going for a couple hundred more, too. I got it for $500US shipped. It wasn't in perfect condition, there is some small cosmetic wear like a couple small paint chips missing on the point of the rear wing and a pinhole dent on the body, but the neck is true and the trem seems in good shape. Honestly, for as old as this guitar is, it's in amazing shape. Somebody loved her. I know I already do.
As soon as I got her this afternoon I took her into my lab (the man cave/computer room) and got to work on her. The action was really low, which I love, but the upper octave of the higher strings were dead due to the neck needing a touch of adjustment. A couple of minutes with a truss rod wrench and 3/4 turn on the high side of the trem did the trick and all was well again. I moved the rear strap button to the back of the guitar like I remembered and the balance problem was taken care of, too. A couple more tweaks here and there and I had quite a player on my hands.
The neck is a bit wider than I'm used to but I found after a few minutes of noodling I actually began to prefer it over the custom Wizard II neck on my Jem7DBK. I've been playing the Jem for close to 10 years now so I have to get used to not having the upper body to lean my hand on. All small hurdles I am already getting used to.
Now, my quest becomes finding the perfect bridge pickup. Some have said the stock pickups in these imports are pretty good and some say they're shit. I won't know until I play it this weekend but I'm pretty sure I'll end up replacing at least the bridge PU just because I'm weird like that.
I mostly play rock, blues and power metal and have a playing style reminescent of George Lynch with a heavy dash of James Hetfield thrown in for taste. I presently have a Dimarzio Steve's Special in the bridge of my Jem7DBK that I love. Nice chunk and she screams like a banshee. The problem I've found is that it doesn't clean up very well and sounds a bit thin/sterile. I'm looking for basically the same thing but with a touch more mid range to give the tone a bit more body. I really favor that old Metallica Black Album sound with a little stereo chorus for sweetening, breadth and articulation. I need something very active but warm at the same time.
A couple pickups I've been looking at are the Dimarzio Evolution Bridge and the Bill Lawrence L-500XL. I'm almost afraid the Evo will be too mid heavy and the Bill Lawrence may sound as sterile as my Steve's Special. I love EMGs for the activity but a set is a bit out of my price range, now. So what is a guy to do?
Any suggestions?
I'm also going to be adding one of these for "flavah" soon: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=250728221988
He he he - I think I'll call her "The Punisher" to match when all is said and done.
If anyone's interested in pics of the new acquisition let me know and I'll take some this weekend.
LJ
Kinda new to Jacksons. Been an Ibanez player for about 15 years now (and whatever I could afford for about 13 years before that) but recently was hankering for a change. About 15 years ago a buddy of mine got a Jackson Kelly and I really liked it at the time. He'd moved the rear strap button to the back (where Kelly Bradford originally meant it to be) and I remember it feeling very comfy at the time. So when the need for change hit me I first thought of an Ibanez Destroyer then remembered how much I liked the Kelly.
Long story short, I went on the Bay and found an XLR that I instantly fell in love with. I probably paid too much for it but at the same time, when I did some research, I saw them going for a couple hundred more, too. I got it for $500US shipped. It wasn't in perfect condition, there is some small cosmetic wear like a couple small paint chips missing on the point of the rear wing and a pinhole dent on the body, but the neck is true and the trem seems in good shape. Honestly, for as old as this guitar is, it's in amazing shape. Somebody loved her. I know I already do.
As soon as I got her this afternoon I took her into my lab (the man cave/computer room) and got to work on her. The action was really low, which I love, but the upper octave of the higher strings were dead due to the neck needing a touch of adjustment. A couple of minutes with a truss rod wrench and 3/4 turn on the high side of the trem did the trick and all was well again. I moved the rear strap button to the back of the guitar like I remembered and the balance problem was taken care of, too. A couple more tweaks here and there and I had quite a player on my hands.
The neck is a bit wider than I'm used to but I found after a few minutes of noodling I actually began to prefer it over the custom Wizard II neck on my Jem7DBK. I've been playing the Jem for close to 10 years now so I have to get used to not having the upper body to lean my hand on. All small hurdles I am already getting used to.
Now, my quest becomes finding the perfect bridge pickup. Some have said the stock pickups in these imports are pretty good and some say they're shit. I won't know until I play it this weekend but I'm pretty sure I'll end up replacing at least the bridge PU just because I'm weird like that.
I mostly play rock, blues and power metal and have a playing style reminescent of George Lynch with a heavy dash of James Hetfield thrown in for taste. I presently have a Dimarzio Steve's Special in the bridge of my Jem7DBK that I love. Nice chunk and she screams like a banshee. The problem I've found is that it doesn't clean up very well and sounds a bit thin/sterile. I'm looking for basically the same thing but with a touch more mid range to give the tone a bit more body. I really favor that old Metallica Black Album sound with a little stereo chorus for sweetening, breadth and articulation. I need something very active but warm at the same time.
A couple pickups I've been looking at are the Dimarzio Evolution Bridge and the Bill Lawrence L-500XL. I'm almost afraid the Evo will be too mid heavy and the Bill Lawrence may sound as sterile as my Steve's Special. I love EMGs for the activity but a set is a bit out of my price range, now. So what is a guy to do?
Any suggestions?
I'm also going to be adding one of these for "flavah" soon: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=250728221988
He he he - I think I'll call her "The Punisher" to match when all is said and done.If anyone's interested in pics of the new acquisition let me know and I'll take some this weekend.
LJ
Now if you're replacing the KellyXLR truss cover and arent gonna do anything with it please let me know as I also own a Kelly STD which i put a DKMG neck on and would love to have it look almost like my XLR(probably walkin the line on classified rules with that sentance)
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sold for 449 and $50 shipping? edit-
maybe i should read slower. ha ha
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