Help identifying Jackson SL2H ?

[Hakkapeliitta]

Hi JCFonline!

Just bought a new-used guitar.
Jackson SL2H.
Serial number U155xx, picture attached.

Does it date somewhere around 2005? I am hoping it would, because then it would be pre-Fender...

[toejam]

Fender bought Jackson in 2002.

[Number Of The Priest]

Congratulations!

Looks like a DiMarzio Crunch Lab pickup in the bridge.

Pre-Fender versus Post-Fender is irrelevant to me.

The top on that is very nice, and rather distinct from the usual transparent-finished Soloists which have "straight" flametop grain. Example(s) below.

https://www.google.com/search?newwindow=1&site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=934&q=transparent+jackson+sl2h&oq=transparent+jackson+sl2h&gs_l=img.3...885.7639.0.7810.42.20.9.12.14.0.133.1545.15j4.19.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..2.27.1506...0j0i30k1j0i8i30k1.QblZ9bORZng

[Johnnyryche]

There is another flame top SL2H in my log that is only a couple numbers away from yours and it was completed May 20, 2005. So your SL2H should also have a production date very close to that.

[Hakkapeliitta]

Oh yeah, it really was in 2002, my bad. I remembered wrong.

and yes, DiMarzio at on the bridge. And I think the neck could be maybe Transition, DP254?

sounds really nice nevertheless. Alot different than my gibson LP standard.

[Hakkapeliitta]

There is another flame top SL2H in my log that is only a couple numbers away from yours and it was completed May 20, 2005. So your SL2H should also have a production date very close to that.

Thanks!

I could not tell the age just by lookin the guitar. It looks like it has not been played at all...

[Catharpin]

Nice guitar, congrats.
The pre-post Fender thing is a myth.
It should really be pre-post IMC.

[toejam]

Nice guitar, congrats.
The pre-post Fender thing is a myth.
It should really be pre-post IMC.

Exactly. Before Fender bought Jackson, AMIC was running Jackson into the ground and some guitars weren't that great. Fender's helped bring them back, but still sometimes QC can be lacking and some bad guitars get out, and it can happen with just about any company.

[toejam]

Forgot to say welcome to the forum! That really is a gorgeous top on that one. Congrats.

[Mudlark]

So, how's the quality on that Fender Jackson?

Just kidding. All my Jacksons are Fender era and they're all perfect.
Fender has made significant upgrades and introduced some cool models since their acquisition.

[DonP]

Sell that POS Fender Jackson! Get yourself a high quality pre-Fender Jackson.

[hopkinsWFG]

Sell that POS Fender Jackson! Get yourself a high quality pre-Fender Jackson.

With that i wonder how much better is a charvel vs jackson in any degree of debate...

[Hakkapeliitta]

Sell that POS Fender Jackson! Get yourself a high quality pre-Fender Jackson.

It's not that. Where I come from and where my market is, some people hold pre-Fender era in higher value. I think many here know the history with that prejudice.

I have been setting up the guitar for maybe 3-4 hours now, and it is starting to feel really good. When I got it, the action was really high and the tremolo was in a 20 degree angle towards the neck.

Thank you for your opinions, btw.

I have one previous Jackson, an older version of El-Cheapo Rhoads (just for messing with tuning and strings) and I've had Kelly KE3, back in the late 90's.
SL2H is something else. I do not have the Rhoads with me and can't wait to compare them in the flesh.

[PowerTube]

It's not that. Where I come from and where my market is, some people hold pre-Fender era in higher value.

That's for one simple reason: they're clueless. The whole "pre-Fender" thing started shortly after the buyout and it's a myth that just won't die. If anything at all, Jacksons are better than they were under Akai, the previous owner.