Question on the JS Series

[CharvelRocker]

How are these? I was looking to buy one after selling off my olp and fender amp, coupled with my xmas money and gift cards. So how do these hold up? They seem as well built as my CX391 and OLP. I would get either a King V, a Rhoads, or a Kelly (the warrior is too extreme for me), as I dont have an unsual shaped guitars.

[severblckndfaith]

i have a js30 king v....and even tho its cheap it plays really well...i recently played a usa select randy rhoads, ltd alex lahio and dave mustane and i actually could play faster on my cheap js one that ive had for 2 years...im sure this is because im used to it and cause i have it tuned to d standard and the ones at the store were all in e standard...but either way for the price you cant beat it

[Szostak]

Like severblckndfaith said, great axes for the price you're paying. Despite the Kelly and Rhoads series having a major nose-diving problem, they can play. Even though saying this, I would not play these live, as the jack has some buzzing problems every now and then and the volume and tone knobs aren't exactly dependable. If you're planning on playing live with 'em, don't. Save up the cash and maybe a few more bucks and try to pick up a used RR3/KV3/KE3. If you do buy it, be sure to give the bridge pickup a thorough run-through, I changed mine after realizing it wasn't as good as i thought it was when i was praising it =P

If you have any more Q's, just ask.
-Paul

[jrnic]

For someone like me, I am not a pro, just a hobbiest, the JS series has appealed to me too. I agree, that it would not be as good as the mid range priced series like the RR3 etc. But, to just fool around with, why not. I especially like picking up a moderate priced (spelled....CHEAP!) guitar and making it into something better. I have done it a few times. For a small up cost after the initial purchase, it's actually fun taking a guitar like the JS series and modding it. You don't have to go crazy with high priced pickups, etc. Go for something like the GFS pickups, some are amazing sounding for the money, and get it to sound like what you want.

To give you an example, I have a single p/u Epiphone LP junior and made it into a monster sounding guitar. Overall, the playability for this $99 cheapo was very good already. I changed the pickup to a $29 Duncan Detonator, put in new pots (1 meg vol and 500K tone) and a new set of Grover tuners I had lying around. The thing cranks better than other guitars I have that cost 4-5 times as much.

Unless "you're going to be playing the Garden" go for it and have fun. My next purchase I plan on making will probably be the JS series Kelly, I can't wait to get my hands on it!

[CharvelRocker]

Thanks. I'm really eyeing a red kelly they have. I'll have to try it to test for head dive. I'm a freak when it comes to balanced guitars. I can't stand any tilt eitherway

[Newc]

The JS30WR I had was as good as the WRMG and WRXTs I've had - the pickups and hardware are the major differences, but the neck, body, fretwork, and construction quality were as good as the Pro series, just fewer/less expensive options, which are easily replaced.

[soc_monki]

my brother recently got back into guitar, and cursed himself for not doing so earlier (8 years ago when he started actually LOL). when i got my Jacksons he was so jealous, and wanted one for himself. he looked at the JS series, and specifically the JS20 Dinky, and for the price (200 bucks or so) i didnt think it was that bad. we bought it, it arrived, i checked it out, checked the setup, played around on it. and actually was VERY impressed. i have an RR3 and a DX10, both of which are great guitars and i play them daily, and the JS, while not as nice feeling due to the body wood (much heavier), was certainly very playable, and very upgradable. the pickups arent my thing, but with some good Duncans or EMGs or something similar it could compete easily.

it also stays in tune rather well...after i made sure the strings were settled in and the nut slots had some graphite in them (which is a must for any normal nut IMO). my brother has me tune the guitar every once in a while, because he hasnt got the routine down yet, but i never have to tune it much really. great guitars for the money!

[CharvelRocker]

I decided to wait as he said they're getting in some Yamaha electrics, as well as some new Jacksons due their stock being low.

[evolutionised]

in fact the js rhoads is the rare 24 fret neck rhoads. it's a good guitar, change the crappy stock electronics and it'll be good.

a yamaha is also good. i have a pacifica and it's good for a beginner's guitar. great neck imo. but make sure if you're getting a pacifica get the alder one. it looks the same as the agathis one, but the price is just around 50 bucks more.

[Sunbane]

Are the cedro bodies that heavy?
Then I might just get myself one!

If they are as well built as you guys say, just a good quality pickup and some new electronics would make it into a kickass guitar!

How is the fret dressing on these? No uneven frets I hope?

[RacerX]

If you don't mind a low line MII Jackson with cheap electronics & hardware, go for it. Read my JS30 review from a couple years ago. http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4552
__________________


Also, cedro bodies on the JS30 series are fairly light

[BenoA]

Bought three (3) JS serie guitars this year.

One for me in April. It is a JS30 Kelly. It's now my main axe. I will change the tuners for locking ones, but except that, for the 300$canadian it cost me, it's a fine instrument. Even the PUs are not that bad to my ears (we play in DropB flat!).

Bought 2 JS20 for Xmas for my 2 oldest sons.

One is a very nice guitar, the other will need some work in the electronic as the tone acts as a volume. Weird. I should have tried it first but they only had it in a box in the back of the store, it was brand new and had never been out of its box. It will also need some work on the neck as it has some major buzzing on the low E and A string. But the other one plays as good as my Charvel Model 4... Go figure? Got both of them for 400$canadian.

For the price, I tried a bunch of guitars, Yamaha, Ibanez, Squier, Epiphone, and the Jacksons were beating them all. And, 200$ for a pointy guitar!!! That rocks!!!

[wilkinsi]

the only thing that puts me off getting a JS-Series Jackson is the availability of Pro Series necks. i just don't like dot inlays and lack of binding on the neck + h/s.

[VEGETATHEPUPPET]

Yeah... Sharkfin's rule... Dot are... well... so strat-type...

[Szostak]

Is there a way to get sharkies onto the fretboard without making any major changes? As in, are there such thing as adhesive inlays that dont peel off?