Help to Identify Jackson Guitar

[Newc]

That black headstock (regardless of it pointing in the wrong direction or not) instead of it being the same color as the body, is definitely not a plus. Not really a minus, but it isn't getting you any brownie points - especially in that era.


It may make more sense for you to pay the $10 membership fee and sell your unit here.
Than it would be to pay all of the fees associated with ebay.

Especially since it will most likely be once of us buying it.

Actually Ebay plays to a much larger buying market than the JCF does, and you're likely to get a bunch of lowball offers and "the economy" excuses. Put it on Ebay.

[neilli]

Unless it were black

Good point Matt LOL

[jkonto]

Appreciate the advice. What ball park would you think this is in? $500, $800, $1000, $1500?

And what exactly is it? 1986 Soloist? What else would be key things to identify it as?

[neilli]

The J2152 serial puts it as a 1986 Soloist Custom, from sometime in the middle of the year (given the range J1540-J2799).

However, the control layout and oversize pickup would indicate later in the year, and/or transition to Ontario (factory and specs). I'm wondering if the '1' actually might be a '7'. J2752 is obviously right near the top end of the 1986 guitars - based on serials, there are some late SD serial guitars with Ontario specs, and some early Ontario guitars with SD specs, so it would seem that some SD Soloist 'carcasses' were completed, serial numbers stamped and then were finished in Ontario with the later specs.

I'd want to see more detailed pics, and does it have the original case, hang-tag or whatever. But I'd say $1200 or so..

[toejam]

Does it stay in tune? The locking nut pads are the wrong way. They should be vertical and not horizontal.

[Newc]

Given the nature of Jackson at the time, being a "Custom Shop", I'm sure they did quite a few matching headstocks (other than black) on request. IIRC, Kurt's Jailhouse Soloist has a matching head (though admittedly it's an Artist guitar and a graphic). It's uncommon, but not a sure-fire indicator of a refinish.

[pianoguyy]

I had a deal with a different brand, so I did not live through the Jackson heyday as a participant.
I was under the impression (especially with what I own via the 2nd hand market) that color matched headstocks started to be phased out in Ontario because it was more expedient to use a black plastic cap instead of hand painting to match.
Every Jackson TM that I own is color matched. Every (non-CS) Jackson R that I own is black.

But I will defer to your first hand knowledge on that one.


However, regardless of the headstock issue:
It still doesn't answer the question as to why the mounting stud inserts are painted.

[Catharpin]

5 o'clock tuners, do they appear on very late SDs?

[Newc]

I had a deal with a different brand, so I did not live through the Jackson heyday as a participant.
I was under the impression (especially with what I own via the 2nd hand market) that color matched headstocks started to be phased out in Ontario because it was more expedient to use a black plastic cap instead of hand painting to match.
Every Jackson TM that I own is color matched. Every (non-CS) Jackson R that I own is black.

But I will defer to your first hand knowledge on that one.


However, regardless of the headstock issue:
It still doesn't answer the question as to why the mounting stud inserts are painted.

True. Also the pickup cavities appear to be painted, where they should have black shielding paint. It could be a factory refinish. Perhaps there was some flaw in the original color and it was sent back for service, in which case they wouldn't remove the inserts or mask off the cavities.
I had one that was converted from a TOM to a hardtail, and you could see where the inserts were filled in as the paint had shrunk over the years.

[jkonto]

Think I am more confused than when I started, lol. But really, thanks for all of your help!

Pick-up cavities are black, must just be the pic.

S/N is J2152, not J27

It has the original case, but of the 3 latches, only one is working. No tags, but do have the whammy bar and some of the tools.

[pianoguyy]

No reason to be confused.
It is a neck-thru, so it is a Soloist.
Serial says 1986.

Most likely completed after the move.
If you don't want to spend the $10 to support the site so that you can sell it here ---- post it to eBay starting at $1. Let the bidding begin.

[ps43203]

Is the serial stamped on the fretboard? Couldn't tell from the pics, or am I late to the game, lol.