is this a fatal injury or is it just cosmetic (opinions)

[Weatherby]

Looking at an SL2 ON EBAY and I was wondering how serious the flaws it shows are before making an offer.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...535265&alt=web

The injury in question is the crack in the paint at the neck. The seller is claiming it's just a crack in the paint.... But a soloist doesn't have a joint there to flex and crack the finish....so I'm wondering if far more is wrong with it?

Thoughts?

[rjohnstone]

Looks cosmetic.
I've seen finish cracks like that on neck through guitars before.
Wood flexes and bends... paint doesn't

[pianoguyy]

Plus, if you want to get technical, they do have a neck joint.
They are no longer a true neck thru. They are now... Long Set? Set Thru?

They used to have a neck that ran the length of the body, which was also as thick as the body, and then you glued "wings" on.
Instead, today, the 'neck thru' is only the top half of the guitar's body. There are no wings, there is a groove carved out of the top for the neck to fit in.


**To answer the question:
I feel totally secure in it being the standard crack in the paint that a good portion of guitars have. I would not worry about any kind of structural damage.

[warlok]

the 'neck thru' is only the top half of the guitar's body.

Then they cut the pickup hole and then it's not even that far.. lol

[wrldeatr7]

They used to have a neck that ran the length of the body, which was also as thick as the body, and then you glued "wings" on.
Instead, today, the 'neck thru' is only the top half of the guitar's body. There are no wings, there is a groove carved out of the top for the neck to fit in.

But the body is still two parts that are glued together, or is it one piece?

[wrldeatr7]

This type of damage isn't uncommon. Still, I don't like it. And you can't really assess the true extent of the damage. The offer should be considerably lower I think. Btw, Sweetwater has a demo SL2 that costs a bit more but is in much better shape.

[xenophobe]

I would never pay that much for one of those... Add a few hundred and get a solid USA.

[Weatherby]

I did not know that about the change in the manufacturing methods.... My SL3 has a notable center section with the wings, but then it is older.... As for the SL2, I was thinking of offering signifigantly less but wanted to see if it was salvagable at all. However, I found on Reverb one for sale much cheaper and in apparent new condition... So not sure.

As for the SL2 in general, no I wouldn't pay $800+ for one, which is why I'm looking at used ones. I'd love to be able to afford an SL1 but .. well the wife would kill me!

[Newc]

So kill her first :P

[LaoWai]

Not Fatal, but waaaayy to expensive, I paid less for mine new! nice guitars though

[SylentCommando]

That's expensive for a used Indonesia guitar. You can find a MIJ Jackson used far cheaper then $725.00.Way Over Priced.

[AdRock]

Just for kicks I took a look through Guitar Centers used gear. If you really like the SL2's then here's a great looking SL2Q for $499. I would rather have this one.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Jackson/SL2Q-Pro-Series-Soloist-Solid-Body-Electric-Guitar.gc

[pianoguyy]

Then they cut the pickup hole and then it's not even that far.. lol

Right. But, if you follow the wood, it does go until the end, even though it offers no "through" benefit beyond the pickup closest the neck.

But the body is still two parts that are glued together, or is it one piece?

This I do not know for sure. I believe that it is one piece for the body. I believe that it is a one piece body that has been routed 3 inches wide and one inch deep (not exact measurements) the length of the body.
The old ones were 3 pieces. The neck and the two parts that got glued onto the sides.

I did not know that about the change in the manufacturing methods.... My SL3 has a notable center section with the wings, but then it is older....

But was that noticeable center on the top or was it on the bottom as well. And then, next question, was it the actual wood you saw or was it a photo flame that looked like wood.

[wrldeatr7]

This I do not know for sure. I believe that it is one piece for the body. I believe that it is a one piece body that has been routed 3 inches wide and one inch deep (not exact measurements) the length of the body.
The old ones were 3 pieces. The neck and the two parts that got glued onto the sides.

Hard to tell but it looks like the body is two piece.





While this long set/set-thru method of construction, or whatever it's called, is used for US models I wonder though about the import ones. After all, if you have cheaper but less competent labor, why use such an odd method. What complicates things more is that Jackson has worked with every company out there and different plants seem to have different preferred methods of construction, unless Jackson changes specs constantly on them. The new Pros from Samick are one piece neck + scarf joint, while the older ones from Wildwood were three-piece necks, and based on pics like these, looks like they were true neck-throughs.

[pianoguyy]

That, if you look real close, looks like the a 3 piece body. Two wings, with a 3rd body piece underneath the neck. Like a double neck --- but not a double neck.


Hey, at least they are attempting a neck-thru - whether it is or isn't. There are too many people doing a set neck, but then smoothing out the heel, for my tastes.