How are the Jackson Professionals compared to the USA models?

[Slashaxl]

I currently own 3 USA Jacksons, but I see very cool Jackson Professionals all the time, and allways wondering about picking some of them up, but I've never tried a professional before, so maybe you guys can fill me in

I also want to know about the Performer series..? How are those compared to the USA and Professional series?

[RacerX]

Read Henrik's great page about the Professional series:

http://www.audiozone.dk/index-filer/jackson-pro-professional.htm

[straycat]

I have a 93 fusion H-H (mahogony) and will not part with it.Very high quality.

[Sunbane]

I also want to know about the Performer series..? How are those compared to the USA and Professional series?

The performers were low-end models, with cheap pups and cheap hardware.

The "Pro" models of the very earliest imports, 1990-1991 or so, were on par with the USA instruments. Later production quality and features were purposely dumped, so they wouldn't cut into the sales of the USA made ones.

[RacerX]

The "Pro" models of the very earliest imports, 1990-1991 or so, were on par with the USA instruments.

Only those 2 years, Sunbane??

I'd say at least to '93, and possibly to '95, as that's when the last of the high-end PRO models were finally discontinued.

[jackson1]

Yes, I'd like to hear what separates the 90-91 Pro's from the later ones 92-95. I know one thing, but that's a + for the later ones: the JT-590 got hardened inserts for the intonation screws.

I firmly believe that guitar designer Itaru Kanno was a major factor in the high build quality of the original Pro models. And he was with the company till end of '94, where he started the Caparison guitar company (early 1995).

[joshulator]

My experience is with two Pro SL3s from around 2000, and a USA SL1 from 2005. IMHO, the SL3s were on par with the SL1 from a build perspective, playability perspective, and a sound perspective. But the hardware on the SL1 just made it a much nicer guitar, especially visually.

USA-ebony fretboard
Pro-rosewood

USA-bound fretboard and headstock
Pro-not

USA-mother of pearl fretboard inlays and Jackson logo
Pro-plastic inlays and painted logo

USA-metal plate covers and pickup ring
Pro-plastic

USA-original Floyd Rose
Pro-not (although current SL3s do have an actual Floyd, and I've heard that it is the original Floyd Rose)

Right now I just have the SL1, and realistically I will not likely be purchasing another guitar for a long time, if ever. However, if I were to purchase one right now, it would be the Pro RR24.

[Sunbane]

Yeah, I think I had a brain fart or something. It's good to have you knowledgable folks around to set me straight.

I don't know if I mixed it up with the demise of the toothpaste series Charvels?

[jackson1]

I don't know if I mixed it up with the demise of the toothpaste series Charvels?

Drop it, JJ. Just put your keyboard down and step back

[Sunbane]

Screw you guys, I'm going home!

[Inazone]

I have a `90 Soloist Pro and `93 (I think) Dinky XL Professional, and they are great guitars. The hardware is solid, the construction is as good as any USA I've played, and the *real* MOP inlays are a nice touch in this age of plastic-cluttered fretboards. However, aside from the inlays and the love-or-hate licensed JT580LP trem, my 2006 DK2M is every bit as good.

I own two USAs, an SL2 and DR2 from the short period when they used licensed trems and blank ebony fretboards, and although they are great guitars, they don't have the features that most people think of when comparing USAs to MIJs. I used to have a 2001 KV2, and I just couldn't bond with it.

[Nazgul]

joshulator-
You have mixed up early PRO(fessional) series with the new series. I think Slashaxl was thinking of the early '90-'95 which were indeed on par with USA ones.

[straycat]

90-95 professional series are fantastic guitars.The PROs are a notch above the professional series.Two very different lines of guitars and people get them confused all the time.

[Rich#6]

We all know the professional PROS are on par with the usas, but I think the original question is just about the professional series not just the PRO pros. Including the ones with rosewood fretboards.

[Sinistas]

My SLSMG is fantastic, and I don't really feel the need to get a USA anytime soon. (I've played and recorded with a few USAs as well)