General consensus on Mexican Jacksons?

[algeriet]

Been considering a Mark Morton Dominion Pro lately, specifically the Les Paul Custom style ones that are Mexican-made. Haven't had a chance to try a Mexico in a long time and can't seem to find any NGDs on the latest Dominions either.

Anyone here have any experience with either?

Thanks
algeriet

[billbixby]

LOL, funny I come in here and there's this thread. Guess what? I've been waiting MONTHS for a Dominon PRO in Black. First MIJ, then MIM, well guess what? MII now.

WTF?

Jackson does not want to seem to sell these guitars. I mean wouldn't you know where you're going to build them and if they had the capacity to build them? So basically they're gonna be made in Indonesia, where the other Domion DX2's are made, but you're gonna pay a lot more for the same guitar basically. Yeah I'm exaggerating slightly. But you get my point. So I still have the Dom Pro on order and I have a used DX2 in Trans Black coming. I'm surprised these guitars aren't more popular, but everyone just wants the pointy headstock strat shapes. YAWN.

"I wish I had an easy response to this, but production had been delayed on this so much so that it was moved from Mexico to Indonesia as the Mexican facility was not properly equipped to produce neck-through guitars. The facility in Indonesia actually does a great job at this and many other Pro Series neck-through models are produced here. I've heard that they make great instruments and the necks feel wonderful.Unfortunately this has pushed expected delivery of these instruments into late fall. We are doing our best to get these out and I hope you're able to get one of these!
Thanks,
Brett Leasure
Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
17600 N. Perimeter Drive, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85255"

[Mudlark]

Interesting.

[wrldeatr7]

Makes sense that they're moving it to Indonesia where they've already been making neck-throughs for a while.
Do I read this right and they're trying to convert the Mexican plant to neck-throughs? Or is something they tried and gave up on?
It would be interesting if they started making their own neck-throughs in Mexico some day though. Jackson/Fender sure has the habit of constantly moving production around. I'd hate to get one the early ones though.

[algeriet]

Wow, Bill. I can't believe this. Its like Jackson is going downhill more and more. The Japanese Pro Mods to me was bringing the company back to the Model/Professional Series heyday, and now slowly but slowly its losing it's prestige. I do recall playing one of those three bolt Mexico Dinkys thinking it was great (hate non-recessed though) but I wasn't sure how they'd cope with neck thru. I got a Fender Baja Telecaster 60's in Sonic Blue which is a fantastic guitar, got me optimistic to the idea of a Mexico Dominion, but now after reading what you wrote both here and in your thread I'm a little spooked. If I'm gonna be dumping that kind of money I want a real nice instrument without much to wish for. Pearloid I'm fine with but the handywork I've seen on the Indo Pros? I dunno bro. This has maybe got me thinking of getting the Dave Murray California Strat instead.

[wrldeatr7]

Some guys have very good things to say about the Indonesian pros. As with guitars from everywhere else, some are great, some not so great.

[billbixby]

Makes sense that they're moving it to Indonesia where they've already been making neck-throughs for a while.
Do I read this right and they're trying to convert the Mexican plant to neck-throughs? Or is something they tried and gave up on?
It would be interesting if they started making their own neck-throughs in Mexico some day though. Jackson/Fender sure has the habit of constantly moving production around. I'd hate to get one the early ones though.

That will be me. It better be good, or it's going back. Sounds to me like they don't have the capability in Mehico to make neck thrus. I don't know what is so difficult, but I'm not a guitar builder. I'm assuming they will be made at the Fender plant, since Fender owns Jackson. I've had a couple MIM Fenders and they were top notch. To me, and maybe I'm wrong, but a Jackson nowadays (not a USA pro) seems like it's a Fender with a Jackson logo on it. Jackson, as a name doesn't mean jack shit any longer.

[Mudlark]

All guitars need to be judged individually.

[wrldeatr7]

That will be me. It better be good, or it's going back. Sounds to me like they don't have the capability in Mehico to make neck thrus. I don't know what is so difficult, but I'm not a guitar builder. I'm assuming they will be made at the Fender plant, since Fender owns Jackson. I've had a couple MIM Fenders and they were top notch. To me, and maybe I'm wrong, but a Jackson nowadays (not a USA pro) seems like it's a Fender with a Jackson logo on it. Jackson, as a name doesn't mean jack shit any longer.

I was referring to prospective early MIM neck-thrus. To get a one from guys who've never made them would be scary. But it doesn't look like they're going through with the Mexico plan anyway.

Looks like making neck-thrus is a whole different deal. Especially the "set-thru" way that Jackson does it. One figures it takes a whole lot more precision to get everything lined up properly.

As with any Asian product, you're getting as US concept and design made with foreign components and labor. How much Apple are you getting in an iphone? Not a whole lot. I'm surprised guitar brands aren't doing the whole "designed in the US, manufactured in Indonesia/China" thing yet. That's the way they're doing it in other industries to make you feel good about spending hundreds on something that cost a few bucks to make. Are there Fender's made in Indonesia or China? In any case I wouldn't say you're getting a Fender with a Jackson sticker. You're getting a Cort/Samick/Wildwood with a Jackson sticker.

[billbixby]

Yeah I got you man with the Cort/Samick..... comment. It would be Fender with a Jackson sticker if it was MIM.

I don't feel any better about the designed in USA marketing scam. It's all bullshit to me. I have to buy the same shit products over and over and over that are made in China. But I'm not talking guitars. I have had shitloads of Korean guitars and some Chinese guitars that are pretty damn good and even better than the shit that Gibson is pumping out these days.

What do you mean about the "set thru" method? I know Gibsons are set neck and Carvins are neck through, meaning the neck goes from headstock all the way to the tail. Curious as to what you mean. What I got from the guys email is that they are use to making this style of guitar in Indonesia, so it shouldn't be an issue. It's the QC part that scares me. You either get a good one, or a shit one. But on the other hand, every single MIJ dominion has some sort of weirdness with the headstock point, which on mind had to be sanded. You can tell it was made like that. Like they couldn't spend an extra 5 minutes to make the thing correct. That's the shit that drives me nuts. But I'm in the minority. I expect too much for a $1500 guitar (what I paid new for my MIJ Dominion). Seems a lot of people just either don't give a shit or don't have the eyeball I have.

I expect perfection or near perfection for anything close to 2k. I don't want to have to work on stuff I buy new. That said, I put my own dents in them and it doesn't bother me one bit. So I guess I'm the guinea pig with the new Dominion pro's

In another 8 months, I'll let you guys know how it is.

[wrldeatr7]

I know what you're saying. I also have an eye for detail but I've never purchased a $2k guitar, so my standards are slightly lower as I don't expect perfection from Korea, India, Indonesia, etc. That's not to say they couldn't or shouldn't make a perfect guitar. I'm sure on occasion one of their guys manages to make one and it remains intact after spending months on a ship.

Regarding the "set-through" neck, it's something I learned here actually not long ago. Jackson's necks aren't as thick as the body once they join the body, they're only about half as thick. Below the neck it looks like they glue another piece of wood, perhaps the same kind as the body, definitely not maple or maybe the wings have that extra side sticking out, not sure. Seems overly complicated instead of just running a thick piece of maple through. But that's how they do it. So yes, it's neck-through but not entirely the way Carvin does it.

These pics are from the US factory. Presumably they use the same method at the Indonesia companies.

[Newc]

Stop with this "set-thru" nonsense.

Yes, the neck tenons are generally multi-piece assemblies rather than one long continuous piece of wood from the tip of the head to the end of the body. Yes, there's holes cut into the tenon for a Floyd and pickups. It's still classified as neck-through.

[algeriet]

I don't doubt that an Indonasian guitar builder couldn't make a great guitar, its about them not being instructed to make them better than a certain standard due to $$. Heck I tried an Indo Rhoads last year and it actually played great. But it was the aesthetical details that weren't up to my standards. And since the Dominiom ain't a USA and I'd NEVER order a full blown CS with these pathetic wait times I'm kind of stuck with one choice. The Mexico Dominion I was alright with but Indonasia? I think I'll pass until I maybe find an MIJ Dominion second hand here in Sweden. Very small chance of that though.

[Newc]

I don't doubt that an Indonasian guitar builder couldn't make a great guitar, its about them not being instructed to make them better than a certain standard due to $$.

Just shut the fuck up already.

[pianoguyy]

it was moved from Mexico to Indonesia as the Mexican facility was not properly equipped to produce neck-through guitars.

1. It's the fender plant. fender doesn't make anything but bolt-ons. I can see why they have no ability to make them.
2. I guess that means there aren't any Soloists coming out of Mexico either.

What do you mean about the "set thru" method?

Jackson's necks aren't as thick as the body once they join the body,

But since we aren't working in or spying on the factory, we don't know if they are all like that or if it is only some of the models that are like that. I have plenty of units that are actual neck thrus - but they are all older units. I don't own any newer ones to check.