Newbie with a question on custom and USA Jacksons

[_se_bas]

Hello everyone,

I have been reading some of the board and decided to register to ask you all a question (couldn't find the answer on the boards).
About me: I'm from The Netherlands and I play prog metal. I've played guitar for about 10 years now, and play an Ibanez RG550 with H/S/H - Dimarzio ToneZone / FS1 / Air Norton, with which I'm very happy. However, I want another guitar in addition to my RG and have more to spend now than I did earlier. I'm looking for a guitar with Seymour duncans, as I already have one with Dimarzio's and EMG's are not really my thing.

I checked out quite some guitars with a Floyd and Seymour Duncan's and actually tested an ESP Horizon, Mayones Regius, Bo-el MC6, and two Jacksons. I wanted to check out a charvel san dimas and Vigier Excalibur custom as well, but the latter was nowhere to find and I didn't like the looks on the charvels. Ultimately, I liked the Jacksons and the Bo-El the best, with the Jacksons having a sound differing more from my Ibanez, the Bo-El sounding more similar. Since I already have an Ibanez, I'll go for the Jackson.

I tested two Jacksons, a SL1 and a PS custom shop (specs of a SL2H). Both played and sounded great, with the custom PS feeling and looking just a bit better.
Which leads me to my question: I can go out and buy a SL2H, which is pretty much a guitar with everything I am looking for. Or, I can buy the PS custom that I saw in stead. Although the latter one is a PS (which is the 'cheaper' performer series right?), it is a custom shop jackson and would cost me around 2500 euros.

What would you recommend?

Thank you for your help.
Greetings,
Bas

[coloradoman25]

Performer series are not custom shops? Are you sure its not a PC custom? That would be a Phil Collen. If the sl2h is excatly what you want then I would go there rather than the excess scratch on the other.

You also mentioned an SL1. That is a HSS configuration. so ya kinda lost me there.

What I gather is your looking for a 2hum soloist? I would then get an SL2H and be done. They are fine guitars but I would make sure you can play it before ya buy it. In my experience (I have had a handful of them) they are not all created equal.

[Ward]

I thought all PS Jacksons were foreign made.

Never heard of a custom shop PS. Are you sure it isn't just a 'customized' PS model?

Are the prices similar? Can't imagine a PS being worth as much as an SL2H.


Edit: I see Coloradoman took care of this already...

[JCB RR1]

I don’t really get the PS Custom part. Is it a PS-2 or PS-4 with a custom paint job?? Usually the Custom Shop guitars don’t have a specific model name, except when they belong to a limited series, or when the guitars are ordered by guitars stores where the appoint a name.

If you are looking for a guitar with the same specs as the SL2H then go for it, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from, ie. Body and neck wood type, top wood type, colors, etc.

If the guitar you tried was a real custom shop and you really dig the specs then don’t give it second thoughts, owning a custom shop guitar adds to the whole experience, but only if the specs are right, not just because it is custom made, otherwise you’ll be paying for someone else’s tastes.

Just to be sure, 99% of all the custom made Soloists will have a J0XXXX serial number, and the U.S.A series will have a UXXXXX serial. Just in case the PS Custom model turns out to be just a PS with some aftermarket paint on it.

[DonP]

As everyone else said, there is no PS "custom" so be careful that you aren't getting tricked / fooled / taken.

As far as pickups, the Duncan Custom is very popular on these boards. Lots of love/hate for the JB. I have a Custom Custom in an ESP Horizon (1988 with a Jackson headstock) and it's one of my favorite axes.

Of course what sounds good to me you may hate. And our amps / speakers will be different as well. If you can keep trying, use a rig similar to what you have at home and go with what you like.

[Ward]

99% of all the custom models will have a J0XXXX serial number, and the U.S.A series will have a UXXXXX serial.

Customs are actually Jxxxx, no 0 in there.

[laurens]

Welkom! Do you have a link to pictures of the guitar?

[RacerX]

SL1:



SL2H:
Jackson-SL2H-Custom-USA.jpg


PC1:

JacksonPC1RBBig.jpg

PS1 (this is a bolt-on so technically it's a Dinky):
1320816987_277813978_1-Pictures-of--jackson-ps-1-electric-guitar-for-sale-on-cheapppppp-price.jpg

[murkat]

They are fine guitars but I would make sure you can play it before ya buy it. In my experience (I have had a handful of them) they are not all created equal.

Been there done that. So very true.

[coloradoman25]

The SL2H line has been the issue for me. Like I said I have had a few some are great like the graphic one I sold on here. Some are mediocre and a few just fuckin blew ass

[_se_bas]

Wow, lots of replies, thanks people.

I tried an SL1 simply because I had the opportunity to do so on the guitar road trip I planned in The Netherlands, and I didn't have the opportunity to try an SL2h. I figured: playability should be the same, since only the pups are different, so playing an SL1 would give a fair feeling of an SL2h, though not the same sound.

The Custom is really a PS and really a Custom, or so it was named to me. You can check it out online if you haven't already googled it, it's pretty much the first and probably only PS custom result on google: http://www.guitar-gallery.de/nl/jack...-ps-solo.html#

I haven't asked the people in germany if it's actually a PC, as I didn't know that model yet when I tried it.

So, what would be the better choice, an SL2h, which goes new for about 2300-2500 euro's, or this PS solo custom, for about the same price?

Serial number is J7337 by the way.

Thanks people.

[euronymous]

PS here means Pablo Santana, who is masterbuilder of Jackson guitar. PS normally refers to performance series, which is low-end jackson series.

[micha]

The body seems to be completely different. The usual SL has more of a flat top, this one seems to be carved almost all around.
I really like the colour, but never seen one like this before.
Never heard of a PS Solo as well, but anyone can name his guitar as he pleases I guess.

But choosing a guitar by the PUs that are built in seems weird to me.
If it works for you, that's fine with me, but nothing is swapped out easier than a pickup none the less...

But back OT, I don't think you can go wrong either way.
Just keep in mind a usual soloist comes with a rather flat top like this:



so if you pefer the carved one...

[JCB RR1]

I think I'd go for the CS Solo...I really dig the satin color....

But again, that's just my opinion...

Pick the one you like the most of course.

[_se_bas]

Pablo Santana? Really?

I assume 2500 is a good price by the way? It has been in the shop for 2 years without being sold.