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I'm planning to order a Jackson Custom Shop Soloist, and I am not sure of a few items, so I thought I would request some help, particularly from those of you lucky devils who have ordered Custom Shop guitars in the past. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I am planning to get an archtop Soloist with 22 frets, ebony fretboard, OFR, 1H arrangement (EMG 85) w/1 volume knob. I have a few questions though, so here goes:
Spalted maple top vs. flame maple top
I love the look of spalted (or "spalt") maple. Also, I'm frankly worried about what a flame top might look like, as I have seen some Jackson flame tops that barely qualify as flame tops in my opinion (I own an SL4 with a rather mild flame, and our local music store has a new SL2H that has to be held at an angle in the light to see that it even has a flame top). I want a wild, aggressively figured top, and all of the spalted tops I have seen have been VERY noticeable, so that seems like a safer bet than a flame top. But it's still kinda scary putting your order in and then just hoping for the best, so anyone have experience with spalted tops?
(Also, I have no idea what spalted maple would sound like, or whether it would make much difference in the sound. Either way, the top is 1/8", and I'm planning to get the body done in Ash, though I would spend the extra $ for Mahogany if I thought it would sound noticeably better. I expect this guitar will sound kind of bright with the one bridge pickup and no tone control, OFR, etc., though I'm trying to tone it down a bit with an EMG 85 instead of an 81.)
Colors
I want a trans finish that looks basically like natural, but more yellowish and glowing, if you know what I mean. The closest I can think of is Trans Amber, which, oddly, does not appear as a color choice in the list on Jackson's Custom Shop quote form. Here's a gorgeous guitar with the color that I want:
Anyone know how to request this (color name, etc.)? Incidentally, if I knew the flame would be as beautiful as the one in that pic, I'd just order a flame top, too.
Neck
The form offers "Standard" "Oiled" or "Painted." I don't like the feel of glossy painted necks. I have never felt an oiled neck. I do like the feel of satin finished necks, like those found on new Stratocasters and most other bolt-on guitars. Should I get an oiled neck or a painted one and plan to steel wool it, or would a "standard" neck be satin finished (I'm guessing it would be painted on a neck-through)? Do oiled necks require special maintenance? And if so, what? Are they less protected from humidity changes, etc., than painted necks? I love the stability of my SL4 necks, which are factory-painted, then steel-wooled by me, and never seem to need adjustment to maintain very low actions, so I don't want to lose that, but if I would get all of that with an oiled neck, I'd go that route.
Heel
I want a scooped out heel like my SL4s have. I think early 90s SL1s had these heels, too, but the new ones don't. Is that the "scalloped" heel listed in Jackson's form? I don't have a pic of this handy; I hope you know what I mean.
Headstock
I'm not crazy about the normal "Custom Shop" script. I like the "Custom Shop" writing used on the headstock of this guitar from an '04 NAMM pic much better:
Can something like that be requested, and if so, how?
I also have a couple more odd requests, e.g., I'd like the output jack to be done like a Hamer Californian (Strat-style jack mounted on the back edge of the guitar pointing up, near the rear strap button), and possibly some unique inlays. I guess you ask for these things of your dealer, who acts as an intermediary and tells you what Jackson will/won't do, and how much? Or do you get to talk to someone at Jackson once your order is placed? I'm probably only to get to do this once, so I want to get it right.
Thanks for any help you can give! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
I am planning to get an archtop Soloist with 22 frets, ebony fretboard, OFR, 1H arrangement (EMG 85) w/1 volume knob. I have a few questions though, so here goes:
Spalted maple top vs. flame maple top
I love the look of spalted (or "spalt") maple. Also, I'm frankly worried about what a flame top might look like, as I have seen some Jackson flame tops that barely qualify as flame tops in my opinion (I own an SL4 with a rather mild flame, and our local music store has a new SL2H that has to be held at an angle in the light to see that it even has a flame top). I want a wild, aggressively figured top, and all of the spalted tops I have seen have been VERY noticeable, so that seems like a safer bet than a flame top. But it's still kinda scary putting your order in and then just hoping for the best, so anyone have experience with spalted tops?
(Also, I have no idea what spalted maple would sound like, or whether it would make much difference in the sound. Either way, the top is 1/8", and I'm planning to get the body done in Ash, though I would spend the extra $ for Mahogany if I thought it would sound noticeably better. I expect this guitar will sound kind of bright with the one bridge pickup and no tone control, OFR, etc., though I'm trying to tone it down a bit with an EMG 85 instead of an 81.)
Colors
I want a trans finish that looks basically like natural, but more yellowish and glowing, if you know what I mean. The closest I can think of is Trans Amber, which, oddly, does not appear as a color choice in the list on Jackson's Custom Shop quote form. Here's a gorgeous guitar with the color that I want:
Anyone know how to request this (color name, etc.)? Incidentally, if I knew the flame would be as beautiful as the one in that pic, I'd just order a flame top, too.
Neck
The form offers "Standard" "Oiled" or "Painted." I don't like the feel of glossy painted necks. I have never felt an oiled neck. I do like the feel of satin finished necks, like those found on new Stratocasters and most other bolt-on guitars. Should I get an oiled neck or a painted one and plan to steel wool it, or would a "standard" neck be satin finished (I'm guessing it would be painted on a neck-through)? Do oiled necks require special maintenance? And if so, what? Are they less protected from humidity changes, etc., than painted necks? I love the stability of my SL4 necks, which are factory-painted, then steel-wooled by me, and never seem to need adjustment to maintain very low actions, so I don't want to lose that, but if I would get all of that with an oiled neck, I'd go that route.
Heel
I want a scooped out heel like my SL4s have. I think early 90s SL1s had these heels, too, but the new ones don't. Is that the "scalloped" heel listed in Jackson's form? I don't have a pic of this handy; I hope you know what I mean.
Headstock
I'm not crazy about the normal "Custom Shop" script. I like the "Custom Shop" writing used on the headstock of this guitar from an '04 NAMM pic much better:
Can something like that be requested, and if so, how?
I also have a couple more odd requests, e.g., I'd like the output jack to be done like a Hamer Californian (Strat-style jack mounted on the back edge of the guitar pointing up, near the rear strap button), and possibly some unique inlays. I guess you ask for these things of your dealer, who acts as an intermediary and tells you what Jackson will/won't do, and how much? Or do you get to talk to someone at Jackson once your order is placed? I'm probably only to get to do this once, so I want to get it right.
Thanks for any help you can give! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]
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