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2 years in the making! My new Jackson Kelly MasterBuild (s/n: J9066) has arrived.
Thanks to Matt's Music for hooking me up!
Built by Mike Shannon & Joe Williams. <- Thanks guys!
1-EMG 81 & 1-Volume knob & a floating Floyd. No recessed cavity. Ebony fingerboard. Pearl inlays, Pearl logo & white neck binding.
This had to be a Masterbuild because I wanted 22 frets. I guess the standard is 24 frets. Go figure!
I scrutinized every inch of this guitar and the craftsmanship is remarkable! There are absolutely no flaws- the paint & finish is smooth and consistent, the inlays are perfect, the string action is low and the neck is fast, as expected.
Here it is (on the left) next to my 1991 Jackson Kelly Custom (s/n: J5883) which I bought through Musician's Friend via the late Steve Read.
The Two Towers
Comparisons:
- Craftsmanship of the new Kelly definitely win over 91 Kelly Custom. The Custom did have paint shrinkage lines, some imperfections in the paint and especially the "Made In USA" was put on crooked.
- My new warmer sounding Kelly is made of Alder and I believe that the 91 Kelly is Poplar(?). Sustain-wise, both Kelly's sounds the same though the new Kelly sounds warmer.
- The body of the Kelly appears to be slightly thinner than the 91.
- The neck of the 91 feels thicker than the new Kelly, oddly enough. It's as if the 91 feels like a Les Paul neck while the new Kelly feels like a strat.
Cons… Yes, are a few though superficial.
- The original Floyd Rose. The OFR base plate is about ½ the thickness *thinner* than the Schaller. My 91 Kelly had the JT580 which I easily changed to the German made, Schaller. Upon closer look, replacing the OFR with a Schaller may not be a possible. The knife edges on the OFR looks to be almost flush with the base plate while the Schaller knife edges has more material and so the bridge will be pushed back to the point of the block rubbing against the body.
- Finally- the case. I like the 91's park-bench style of case. It's heavier but feels more solid than the high impact plastic though the new case has the better handle being made of rubber.
- Since the new case is actually smaller, space is very limited. There is a small cavity for small items such and that's it.
Thanks.
Thanks to Matt's Music for hooking me up!
Built by Mike Shannon & Joe Williams. <- Thanks guys!
1-EMG 81 & 1-Volume knob & a floating Floyd. No recessed cavity. Ebony fingerboard. Pearl inlays, Pearl logo & white neck binding.
This had to be a Masterbuild because I wanted 22 frets. I guess the standard is 24 frets. Go figure!
I scrutinized every inch of this guitar and the craftsmanship is remarkable! There are absolutely no flaws- the paint & finish is smooth and consistent, the inlays are perfect, the string action is low and the neck is fast, as expected.
Here it is (on the left) next to my 1991 Jackson Kelly Custom (s/n: J5883) which I bought through Musician's Friend via the late Steve Read.
The Two Towers
Comparisons:
- Craftsmanship of the new Kelly definitely win over 91 Kelly Custom. The Custom did have paint shrinkage lines, some imperfections in the paint and especially the "Made In USA" was put on crooked.
- My new warmer sounding Kelly is made of Alder and I believe that the 91 Kelly is Poplar(?). Sustain-wise, both Kelly's sounds the same though the new Kelly sounds warmer.
- The body of the Kelly appears to be slightly thinner than the 91.
- The neck of the 91 feels thicker than the new Kelly, oddly enough. It's as if the 91 feels like a Les Paul neck while the new Kelly feels like a strat.
Cons… Yes, are a few though superficial.
- The original Floyd Rose. The OFR base plate is about ½ the thickness *thinner* than the Schaller. My 91 Kelly had the JT580 which I easily changed to the German made, Schaller. Upon closer look, replacing the OFR with a Schaller may not be a possible. The knife edges on the OFR looks to be almost flush with the base plate while the Schaller knife edges has more material and so the bridge will be pushed back to the point of the block rubbing against the body.
- Finally- the case. I like the 91's park-bench style of case. It's heavier but feels more solid than the high impact plastic though the new case has the better handle being made of rubber.
- Since the new case is actually smaller, space is very limited. There is a small cavity for small items such and that's it.
Thanks.
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