Ngd - 2003 dk2 bof

[elrrek]

Just opened the box Here's a phone camera picture.



I've not plugged it in or anything as I am no where near an amp but it has arrived intact after a 1200KM journey in a cardboard box and everything seems cool.

I'm pretty sure it's a 2003 model because it's got Duncan Designed pickups in it. I had been looking for a DK2S but they are getting rarer and creeping up price wise so when this turned up on ebay I threw a low(ish) bid in and was somewhat surprised to get it.

So, what can people tell me about this?

p.s. that's the Jackson & Charvel collection up to 5 pieces now and when I snag a Desolation DS-2 ST later this year I guess it will be 6

[DonP]

So, what can people tell me about this?

It's a BOF DK2 and you think it's from 2003. It has Duncan Designed pickups.

I have good reading comprehension?

[elrrek]

I guess I deserved that.

Maybe I should ask, "So, what can people tell me about this that I don't know?".
For example, "put that J90C you've got at home in the bridge because those DD pickups are not cool!".
"The 580LP is *really* meh".
"Other than these 2 things, cool axe bro!".

[Codex]

Things you don't know about it? Let me read your mind and see what you already DO know about it.....

Ok, here's a few things you don't know...

At the age of 3, it's parents were killed and was raised by a pack of wild honey badgers
It peed in the punch bowl at it's junior prom
One of it's first jobs was cleaning the restrooms at McDonald's
It fought off a group of assassin ninjas that came to kidnap it's first born
For fun, it likes to drive around in stolen Chevy Novas, hurling molotov cocktails at unsuspecting pedestrians

[elrrek]

This thread worked out weirder than I expected

[silar]

Beautiful!!!!

[DonP]

I guess I deserved that.

Maybe I should ask, "So, what can people tell me about this that I don't know?".
For example, "put that J90C you've got at home in the bridge because those DD pickups are not cool!".
"The 580LP is *really* meh".
"Other than these 2 things, cool axe bro!".

Ok, I can help you there.

The J90C - if it is covered it is a "big pickup" and will need a big ring and might not fit in the route. If it's uncovered you may like it. A very popular upgrade I remember way back was a Duncan Distortion. I recently put an Invader in mine and it put a smile on my face. It's having nut issues so it's currently out of action.

You have a black trem which puzzles me. The old hardware on DK2's was chrome. In 2005 (I think?) the "upgraded" the hardware - and changed it to black. So I'm wondering if either your guitar is a 2005+ or if it had the hardware "upgraded" already.

The Duncan Designed singles are highly regarded and are not commonly swapped out.

Can't think of anything else.

[Johnnyryche]

You have a black trem which puzzles me. The old hardware on DK2's was chrome. In 2005 (I think?) the "upgraded" the hardware - and changed it to black. So I'm wondering if either your guitar is a 2005+ or if it had the hardware "upgraded" already.

I'm pretty sure the BOF only came with black hardware, unlike the standard DK2 models. I don't think I've seen it with chrome from the factory. Originally these were issued with Duncan Designed pickups. Near the end of their production they were offered with Seymour Duncans. Still kicking myself for not grabbing one of these when MF was selling these for $399 with the Seymour Duncans. One of these days I'd like to pick one up.

[Robert Hendrix]

Yes, the BOF came out with black hardware stock.
I love mine, it playes very well and has been my backup guitar for some time now. It's mainly a backup because I'm a little uncomfortable with the neck because I'm use to something a little chunkier (ie my Charvels) but it is thin and fast.
I've experimented with a couple of different pickups in mine over the last few years and until recently, had a full shred in it which I hated. I just put a Tone Zone in a couple of weeks ago and it sounds AWESOME.

All in all it's a solid rocker and I think you'll be pleased with it once you get those DD pickups out of it. My advice would be either a Tone Zone or a JB and two hot rails!
Here's a shot of mine.

[CHARVEL_strat_81]

I had been looking for a DK2S but they are getting rarer and creeping up price wise so when this turned up on ebay I threw a low(ish) bid in and was somewhat surprised to get it.

bro there is one on ebay right now really cheap and it is a BIN

[CHARVEL_strat_81]

bro there is one on ebay right now really cheap and it is a BIN

WOW nevermind i just went over there to copy the link for ya and it sold already!

[elrrek]

Thanks folks.
I had a blast on it last night and it feels just as comfortable as my other Jacksons, it just feels "right"

The puckups have actually surprised me, they sound quite meaty which is nice. The Duncan Designed singles actually come over as quite balanced with the humbucker and I know form my Charvel Fusion that the J90C is HOT so I don't want to throw the balance out on this one, hmmmm. Thanks for the suggestions anyway, I'll keep them in mind.

There are 2 problems though.

1. the trem, which according to the 2003 catalog is a JT580LP (thanks Henrik), is not returning to pitch, push it down and it comes back flat, pull it up and it comes back sharp. Maybe it needs time to settle since it's road trip but this is not cool. There have been a few clunks with the trem as well, the springs are noisy.
2. there is sometimes a bit of a "creak" when using the trem at the locking nut. I unlocked then and tuned the guitar so that the trem adjusters were all level and locked it up again and it's not done it since but this is also causing me to go "Hmmmm?".

Still, I bagged this for 225 Great British Pounds so if I skip using the trem on this and use my Jap Pro Mod for that sort of thing until I get around to fixing or replacing the trem on this I think I'll be okay.

[Force]

The locking blocks may not have been tight enough but now it works, so you've tightened them correctly.

I rarely have any issues with these bridges, a minor tweak once in a while, but they hold up great.

[Newc]

The BOF came stock with black hardware, but the HRF came with chrome.

The singles aren't bad, IMO, but I'm sure there's always better. Not really a fan of the stock bridge pickup myself. The trem isn't all that bad, but an OFR will go in there just fine.

[DonP]

Make sure the nut is screwed down securely, wrap the trem post with teflon tape, a little lube on the knife edges, many fixes for trem spring noise.

You should be able to get it to work.

Just make sure the trem bushings in the body are in there solid. It may be a hassle, but you could pull them, drip some wood glue in (the wood will absorb and swell) and quickly put the bushings back in before things get too tight.