Question: Are the USAs worth the extra $ over Imports?

[Trem]

I'm just curious. Let's say, for the sake of argument, you are comparing a DK1 to a DKMG with 81/85s, and you are talking roughly twice the cost.

This is NOT to say the USA's aren't better quality, the question is about paying 2-3X the price of the imports.

Is it worth it?

It's worth it if you like it better, and not worth it if you don't?

typically overall USA's are a better instrument.

Had a few imports 2 of which were 90's pro's, and sold em all for 1 USA RR1 and it's more guitar than all of those combined to me. Cost less too.
So for me the only Jackson is a USA.

[straycat]

Being built like a tank is why its the USA's for me.
That being said my 92 import fusion H-H has been abused to no end and its still a great guitar.
Been knocked off stage, dropped on the floor beer soaked a few times,stepped on and re-fretted 3 times so yeah its just as good IMO.
Its had everything from EMG's to Duncans,WCR,Rolph as far as pick ups go and from a JT580 to a OFR lo pro which it has in it now.I went back to an old J-50 alnico in the neck and a J-90C in the bridge and with the mahogony body it sounds just right as it is.
Nice fat tone withe neck pick up and screaming mids and highs with the bridge.
rsguitarworks pot kit of course.
You can see in the second pic where my thumbnail cut a groove by the vol knob.
Its been a work horse for sure still kicks ass too.

[RJF]

There is two main things to remember.....

1. bolt on vs Neck thru. Generally with Jackson you are going to get a bolt on when you buy an import, very few models are neck thru. Same thing with the USA's, except most all of them are neck thru..... I'll play an import neck thru over a USA bolt on pile any day.......

2. You are paying a fortune for USA guitars because of the labor, not necessarily just because materials are sometimes better. It's the unions, social security, fed and local taxes, etc that force people to require a large check to start with to pay for all of this stuff and still make a decent living. That is just at the employee level, not to mention all the rules and regulations the company is bound to that adds to the "cost of doing business." Someone has to pay for all this as the end user....right?

WHen you buy a USA, sure... you're getting a German OFR instead of a Korean OFR, you're likely getting better ebony, etc.... but on a $600 import, it would probably cost you (ball park) $900 to get a USA "grade" guitar that is made by the same guy over seas. The rest of the $1100 that you pay when you buy that USA soloist is all added because of the cost of doing business in the USA, not necessarily because a guy can sand wood here better than a guy over in Korea.

Don't get me wrong, USA Jackson are the shiznit... but still.......... Jackson is really behind when it comes to the imports IMHO. I personally buy used pre fender USA jacksons for 60% of new or less, and I buy LTD's and have a BC Rich, of which are imports but still neck thru and play damn near as nice as my older USA Jacksons.

[wildrat666]

Ive got a USA RR1 and a 90s Professional RR. the japanese RR have much better tone and better frets(more even) and the binding´is flawless. the new imports are ok but the USA models are better.wood hardware osv...

[Rich#6]

Just to be clear, I already own an SL2H trans green w/reverse headstock, that thing is gorgeous and built like a tank. I'm curious about a DKMG with 81/85s. I've never owned an import Jackson.

Awesome guitars! I just bought a mint flame top black one for $375.

[RockinJim]

There is two main things to remember.....

1. bolt on vs Neck thru. Generally with Jackson you are going to get a bolt on when you buy an import, very few models are neck thru. Same thing with the USA's, except most all of them are neck thru..... I'll play an import neck thru over a USA bolt on pile any day.......

2. You are paying a fortune for USA guitars because of the labor, not necessarily just because materials are sometimes better. It's the unions, social security, fed and local taxes, etc that force people to require a large check to start with to pay for all of this stuff and still make a decent living. That is just at the employee level, not to mention all the rules and regulations the company is bound to that adds to the "cost of doing business." Someone has to pay for all this as the end user....right?

WHen you buy a USA, sure... you're getting a German OFR instead of a Korean OFR, you're likely getting better ebony, etc.... but on a $600 import, it would probably cost you (ball park) $900 to get a USA "grade" guitar that is made by the same guy over seas. The rest of the $1100 that you pay when you buy that USA soloist is all added because of the cost of doing business in the USA, not necessarily because a guy can sand wood here better than a guy over in Korea.

Don't get me wrong, USA Jackson are the shiznit... but still.......... Jackson is really behind when it comes to the imports IMHO. I personally buy used pre fender USA jacksons for 60% of new or less, and I buy LTD's and have a BC Rich, of which are imports but still neck thru and play damn near as nice as my older USA Jacksons.

Absolutely true - I think in general you are looking at two dramatic cost upgrades USA versus MIJ - labor costs and material costs. Within material you have higher quality standard material with higher relative costs. The point being the 2X-3X cost function of the USAs is due to labor and better material but also higher costs for the same material in Japan.

[P I K A]

2 or 3 times the money ,Id say no. Ive gigged for years with my dk2ms and all I did was put an ofr in there. To me its the same as my dk1 as far as playability is concerned and thats why I buy Jacksons cause of their feel. I actually prefer the import necks better cause they are flatter in the back ,at least my 2 dk2ms are. The USA'a are built with better
stuff on them but for me Id rather have 3 dk2ms for the price of 1 dk1. No brainer really .

[Sukkoi19]

I have noticed that with the necks. My rhythm guitar player has a 08-09 SL2H and the neck seems just a tad fatter or (maybe wider?) than my SL3. Also the heel is slightly larger. Subtle difference I guess.

[charvel750]

Wow, the JCF has changed a lot since the beginning. Almost everyone who says the guitars are the same is a newb. What a world we live in today compared to yesterday.

[Sukkoi19]

Who said they were the same? I just wanted someone to quantify the statement that the Imports would somehow fall apart more quickly compared to the USAs. I don't think anyone contests the fact that the USA guitars are a nicer more attention to detail instrument. I just don't see how something SL3 vs SL1 for example that at its core is the same construction I.E. neck-through maple slug with alder wings is going to last longer because it has nicer binding and ebony fingerboard and MOP inlays. The bridge I will accept as being better on the USA versus the older Import bridges but I have both FRT2000 and made in Germany OFR and I can't really tell any quality difference between the two. Other than that they share identical pickups and construction.

Is an SL1 a nicer guitar and worth the extra cost? Certainly but I don't think its going to last you any longer than an SL3. I may be new to this site but I am hardly new to the guitar or Jacksons. I don't think membership years on this site is in any way indicative of knowledge about guitars in general or Jacksons for that matter.

[Musician78]

They is absolutely no difference. They are the same.

Honestly though, USA's play far better in my opinion. I have had my KV2 for 8 or 9 years and it still plays as beautifully today as it did when I got it.

As far as imports not taking the abuse on stage, I don't buy that. As long as you do some preventative maintenance every so often (goes for ALL guitars), and don't beat them (goes for all guitars), I don't see whay they couldn't last as long as a USA, You might have to replace pots and shit sooner, but just replace with better parts.

[RJF]

Wow, the JCF has changed a lot since the beginning. Almost everyone who says the guitars are the same is a newb. What a world we live in today compared to yesterday.

I definitely never said that they were the same, my point was just that USA's cost so much more because of labor and the cost of doing business under US regulations. I'm sure they could make them just as good overseas if they had the same build process and materials as they do here in the US, except they would be much cheaper.

[Nightbat]

except they would be much cheaper.

Somehow I doubt that

MIJ neckthru's already aren't that much cheaper than USA's
this is due to the sum of all parts:
materials/craftsmanship/labour

if anything MI3rdworld manufacturers usualy skimps on Everything

Yes I think they would be cheaper than MIJ, but not by much (MIC Rasmus/Suhr for $1k anyone?)

[Scream And Fly]

I think a lot of it comes down to how the individual guitar feels and sounds. I have and had many high end guitars and many imports that I've used as rehearsal guitars and usually the USA guitars are better.

However...

I have a DK2M here that sounds and plays absolutely incredible, and it sure as heck sounds better than my KE2, and both have the same exact pickups.

[Grandturk]

Here's the difference for me - I would never even touch a non-USA Jackson.