Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

[Greg Crowe]

For discussion among multiple USA Jackson owners. Here are my views:

1984 to early 90's neck-thru USA Jackson's have the most amazingly perfect fretwork. Mid to late 90's still have decent fretwork but not up the quality of the early guitars. When Mike Shannon left(approx. 2000), the quality further declined thru the end of the AMIC era in 2002. 2000-2002 being probably the low point in Jackson USA quality.

While the 84-early 90's neck-thru guitars all seem to be amazing consistent in fretwork perfection, the bolt-on guitars tend to vary in quality of fretwork.

A guy in the early 90's with the initials "MG"(usually with a circle around them on the hangtag, under "Neck Dress") was the GOD! of fretwork perfection.

I have no point of reference for current quality of fretwork from Fender Jacksons. JCF02 will be my first exposure. Fender customer service seems to really suck, hopefully their fretwork won't.

[Newc]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

You mean THIS "MG"?

http://autumn-frost.com/Ebay/BigSale/83star-butt.jpg

Anyone know whose initials those are? Mickey Gilley? Mad German? Mark Goodman? Magic Garbanzos? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Newc

[Zerberus]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

I can´t comment on the Pre-Ontario axes, but I must admit that the fretwork on my ´88 Soloist and Model 6 was better than on my `97 DK-1 or AT-1. My ´88 CS Charvel Strathead and ´96 CS Dinky Reverse both had astounding fretwork, though, notably better than all aforementioned. Which brings me to my question / Conclusion...

Is there maybe a separate Guy /team doing the fretwork on Custom Shop Axes? [img]/images/graemlins/scratchhead.gif[/img]

[Newc]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

I'd assume Custom Shop models are done by the "production" guys, but the level of individual attention Custom models receive is pargely what makes them more expensive - even if you order what amounts to an SL-1 but with one minor difference, the extra "labor" involved in making sure that one minor difference is in the finished product - from hardware color to fret size.

That said, as production increases, staff size usually does not, they just make the same people work faster, which leads to cutting corners. That's when you end up with poor finished products.

Newc

[markD]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

i find that the best fret work on any Jackson i have is my on my 89 custom strat. i don't know who did it because i never thought to keep pape work or hang tags, etc. the fret work on my 2002 PC-1 is next...it is pretty phenominal. the worst is probably the SL-1 i just got. it has glue around the fret edges, and just overall they don't feel as good as the others.

i have this old USA bolt on neck that i'm using on a jackson parts mutt that has great fret work...you know, i never really thought about it, but maybe that's why i like to buy used jacksons (even though lately i've been buying new).

[shredmonster]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

I have a PC1 with spectacular fretwork. As good as any Tom Anderson I have ever played.

[Dave L]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

The best fretwork I´ve ever played is on my ´88 Soloist, so I´m with you Greg. My other two american Jacksons (2001 Soloist, 1993 Collen) have great, great fretwork but the one from 1988 is even better.

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

I agree Greg, with one exception: the fretwork on my '03 Jazz'R is exceptional but then again I got it from a collector who has a bunch of high end Gibson & PRS stuff and bought it as a player so who knows whether he worked it over before I got it.

I also agree with Dave L - the fretwork on my newer Jacksons are still very good (far beter than average as compared to other manufacturers) but just not at good as the late 80s stuff I've had.

[Jim Shine]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

One of the worst fret dressing jobs I had ever seen was on an '88 Soloist Custom I had. But, that was an exception as the rest have all been really good. The best job so far was done to my '88 Soloist archtop.

Here is one thing I have noticed in the old days. The fret nibs changed in how they were dressed out. From what I see in my guitars, the pre mid 1985 models have a nicely shaped nib rounded in a coulpe directions. By late 1985 they look less finished and are often just rounded down and have a sqaured off look along the sides of the nib. This also could be due to the fact the binding looks a little thicker by this era so more nib had to be shaped. My 1984's had really thin binding on the neck compared to the 1985's.

[shreddermon]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

I can't really say I've ever had a J/C with bad fretwork from any era. They've all been at least very, very good. Most were excellent.

The "worst" - if you can call it that - was an Ontario Dinky with a couple of frets that had just a bit of a sharp angle to the edge. Hardly noticable and no big deal, IMHO.

[Zerberus]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

I have to agree with Shredder, I can´t remember EVER holding a Jackson and complaining about the frets, with teh possible exception of an few old indian JS´s. IMO they´ve always been above par, the question is usually just how much [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Jim Shine]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

Here is a USA Jackson fret question for you all. Chucksplatter and I have talked about this a bit in the past. Have you guys ever found that if a fret issue developed in your neckthrough (as does on some guitars over the years) that they tend to happen in the same general area? I have had 3 or 4 that have developed a high fret between the 17th and 20th fret on the treble side. Chucksplatter says he has seen this on other Jackson neckthroughs as well as his last Soloist. It isn't a defect, but it sure is interesting how they tend to happen in the same area.

[Greg Crowe]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

[ QUOTE ]
Here is a USA Jackson fret question for you all. Chucksplatter and I have talked about this a bit in the past. Have you guys ever found that if a fret issue developed in your neckthrough (as does on some guitars over the years) that they tend to happen in the same general area? I have had 3 or 4 that have developed a high fret between the 17th and 20th fret on the treble side. Chucksplatter says he has seen this on other Jackson neckthroughs as well as his last Soloist. It isn't a defect, but it sure is interesting how they tend to happen in the same area.

[/ QUOTE ]

Anytime I've seen that, they can be easily tapped right back into place. Don't file !!!

Hell, my 1999 Custom Shop King Kelly had 2 frets like that when I got it in 2000!

[Jim Shine]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

That did work on one, but I had to level another as it was well seated. I still have two I have to fix, so I will see if that does the trick on them.

[hippietim]

Re: Jackson USA Fretwork Over the Years

[ QUOTE ]
Here is a USA Jackson fret question for you all. Chucksplatter and I have talked about this a bit in the past. Have you guys ever found that if a fret issue developed in your neckthrough (as does on some guitars over the years) that they tend to happen in the same general area? I have had 3 or 4 that have developed a high fret between the 17th and 20th fret on the treble side. Chucksplatter says he has seen this on other Jackson neckthroughs as well as his last Soloist. It isn't a defect, but it sure is interesting how they tend to happen in the same area.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is Mojo. Bad Mojo. Your guitar is telling you to slide your fingers up and tickle the upper frets more. You obviously aren't giving it all the meedley, meedley, meedley it needs. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]