What do you guys think?

[Drazden]

Hey guys,

I've just been offered a trade for a supposedly 1991 USA SL-1 with lightning bolt graphics. Condition seems to be okay... has the same bridge as my 1989 Custom Soloist, but the guy says there isn't a serial number. Are these guitars regularly faked? If there's no serial for sure, I think I'll pass--probably points to it having been stolen at some point, if not an out and out fake--but are there any other points that would make a fake easy to tell, such as how on the cheap Gibson copies the truss rod covers have three screws instead of two?

As well, what would be a decent price for a used (but not abused) 1991 Soloist SL-1? I've been looking around ebay and craigslist, and they're all over the map. I think these guitars have taken a bit hit with the recession... but I wouldn't expect them to stay low for long.

[zuppermuhle]

The serial number might have been sanded of during a refret.

It seems to me that making fake USA Jacksons isn't worth the trouble because the market is so much smaller than Gibsons. And if it was a fake sure they wouldn't forget putting in a serial number?

[Grandturk]

A 91 would be a Soloist, not an SL-1, right?

[RacerX]

Correct.

Also, the guy may not know where the ser# is...

[DonP]

Price can be all over the place depending on condition. $750 - $1200.

Some guitars left the factory without a serial number. You just got to determine if the number was never there in the first place, or if it was removed.

[Trussrod]

Can anyone post a link to a past discussion on the difference between a soloist and an sl1?

[Axewielder]

There's no valid reason to sand a S/N down, including refret. That puts up red flags for me.

[Drazden]

Well, I've just been sent a few pictures of the guitar. The original finish, Lightning Sky, appears to be in great shape, and a little unusual in that there's 3 lightning bolts across the guitar, but they're all coming from one cloud. I normally see 2 separate sources for the bolts on one of these.

There is definitely no serial stamped into the fretboard. I wonder if the fretboard's been at the very least planed--the grain on the ebony seems very rough and open, rather than the tight, closed, black of my '89.

Looks like an older Hot Rails in the neck, Jackson J-100 or equivalent in the middle and a Duncan-labeled HB, probably a JB, in the bridge position. the bridge itself seems to be really worn, so I think this guitar's been really played--a refret is definitely not out of the question.

I have another question, though--the 'Jackson' logo isn't shaded in, like on my Soloist; rather, it's all white, like the old Professional series, even though it says 'Made in U.S.A.' When, if ever, did they switch to this on the USA models?

I'm definitely getting a weird vibe here; the inlays are much more blue than the ones on my Soloist, and combined with the 'Professional'-style logo and lack of serial, are keeping me from considering this more seriously.

[tomanyjacksons]

Pictures?

[Drazden]

Well, here's mine. I don't know exactly what to call it, but the Jackson logo is shaded--almost a 3D effect to the letters.


Here's his:

[84sups]

You'd have to look at the guitar in person to make a real decision. If the trem is a Schaller made floyd then the lock screws weren't finished and get rusty very easy and look terrible, but that nothing a good soaking in WD-40 wont solve. Post more picks so we can help out.

[rjohnstone]

The logo looks legit.
That's a MOP logo instead of a silk screened logo like the one on your guitar.

[RacerX]

Yeah I agree with Rj the Expert! That logo is nothing but MOP.

[rjohnstone]

Yeah I agree with Rj the Expert! That logo is nothing but MOP.

I'm gettin' better at this ID stuff.