Help identifying this San Dimas

[louie088]

Here are some pictures. My friend purchased this guitar used from guitar center, I was with him when he go it . I could tell the neck did not appear to be the original neck. The only thing that made me believe that was the neck was mounted at a slight angle where it made the trem/bridge really high off the body. He had the body neck pocket adjusted by a luthier allowing the neck to sit more flush and the trem to be at a normal hight from the body. I plays excellent! OFR and locking nut. Neck plate has a 4 digit serial 356X. Here are some pictures. Let me know what you guys think. Any help would be appreciated. If this thing is worth it I may trade him for a 08 les paul Studio

[walshula]

Minus the body, I believe the neck, plate, tuners, OFR and pick-up is worth more than any Studio. Studios are a dime a dozen with the value not holding well on the used market. You could find an original body one day and build a sweet ass guitar, not saying that this one isn't sweet by no means. I really like the looks of her and would swap a Studio for it in a minute.

Do the trade already!

[neilli]

the neck was mounted at a slight angle where it made the trem/bridge really high off the body.

Unless I'm missing something, that was probably original - the floyd is supposed to have been a decent way off the face of the body.

[louie088]

Unless I'm missing something, that was probably original - the floyd is supposed to have been a decent way off the face of the body.

That sucks then. lol I mean dont get me wrong the guitar plays way better since it was adjusted. The gentleman who worked on it even said he thought the trem was about as high as you would want it or else it could cause to much tension on the trem posts. So you guys thinking this is a real custom shop San Dimes?

[neilli]

The serial puts it as Ontario not San Dimas, but of course plates can be swapped around easily enough. Without more pics it's difficult to tell..

[rjohnstone]

It's not a San Dimas. The last San Dimas Jackson was serial #1505

It's an Ontario era Strat. (Well the neck and plate are anyway). Headstock logo is Ontario era as well.
It probably came with a JT-6 and was converted to a Floyd. The JT-6 sat higher than a Floyd would, which would explain the neck angle issue.
Pull the truss rod cover off and see if the old screw holes are still there from the old string lock plates.
If not, could be a parts mutt.
Either way.. it's still worth more than the LP Studio.

[louie088]

It's not a San Dimas. The last San Dimas Jackson was serial #1505

It's an Ontario era Strat. (Well the neck and plate are anyway). Headstock logo is Ontario era as well.
It probably came with a JT-6 and was converted to a Floyd. The JT-6 sat higher than a Floyd would, which would explain the neck angle issue.
Pull the truss rod cover off and see if the old screw holes are still there from the old string lock plates.
If not, could be a parts mutt.
Either way.. it's still worth more than the LP Studio.

Did the Ontario neck plates still say San Dimes? Also since its a four digit serial does that mean it could have been a custom shop? Ill have to check under the truss rod cover for the string lock holes.
Thanks

[rjohnstone]

Did the Ontario neck plates still say San Dimes? Also since its a four digit serial does that mean it could have been a custom shop? Ill have to check under the truss rod cover for the string lock holes.
Thanks

San Dimas plates were used all the way up until 1989. (Serial #1506-7303 were made between 1987 and 1989 in Ontario)
They had a lot left over after the move. 6 digit serials on USA guitars didn't exist before 1990.
Technically speaking anything made before 1990 is "Custom" since Jackson didn't have any standard production models until then.
That said, a lot of guitars were built with common specs and sent to guitar stores without being specifically built for any one customer.

[louie088]

I wonder if there is a way to identify the body? It's either original, or a Model 2 jap body. Which would have to be 87 w/jt6 cause in 86 the model 2 trem was a Kahler and the posts for mounting the trem are closer together than the FR or JT6. The pick up that was in was a DD. But there is a JB in it now. Getting excited about this one!

[rjohnstone]

Look in the trem cavity for any stamps or writing.
The neck pocket may also reveal info, but you said that was modified, so any data there wold be gone.
The electronics cover plate and trem cover plate should also be metal, not plastic.

[neilli]

Is the pickup ring oversize?

[louie088]

I don't believe so. Looks normal to me.

[straycat]

Take a pic of the back of the body so we can see the belly cut.
If the trem cavity plate is counter sunk in the body its a 87-88 model 2 body 86 had a top mounted cover plate.

[xenophobe]

Need a better picture of the trem studs, and as ^ a picture of the back would be beneficial as well.

I'm inclined to believe it's a factory Jackson strat. Might be a model 2 body, but without clearer pictures, it's hard to tell.

[Axewielder]

Yeah crack that neck off and take pics of the cavities.