So what makes USA's "sound" like they do?

[destructin_od]

I just can't see the problem, I wonder why

You hate floyds thats why Norton.

[jtr]

I have both MIJ & USA and the MIJ sit in there cases and the USA get played.

[charvel750]

You guys so don't get it....

[airjamie]

You guys so don't get it....

Totally! How could anybody ever play anything else other than a blackmachine???

[jtr]

If your so blessed why don't you inform us . Yes I get it it's all in the person's hands I agree. I haven't found a better guitar than my 85 soloist and it's not because I haven't looked.

[toejam]

My MIJ Mark Morton Dominion is definitely up there with the quality feel and sound of my USA Charvel Star and RR1T. If I could only keep one, it would probably be the Morton.

[Robert Burns]

Bridge even makes a difference. A TOM sounds way different than a Floyd, IMHO...

** On my Ibanez with hardtail...it has a brass insert into the back of the
body...also a 3/8"s steel rod in the neck.(0 tension) it sustains nearly
as much as my PC-1 because of this! Amazing putting almost all of the
string tension thru the body.

[Rich#6]

It's in the MOP.

[Brooke]

Pure Mojo!

[MEX3]

It's the half assed job done by lazy fat American (Mexican) workers that makes em sound so good.

[Partial @ Marshall]

I have both MIJ & USA and the MIJ sit in there cases and the USA get played.

+1...MIJ Jenna and my dinky (ok theres a joke in there somewhere ) hardly get played when my USAs are out.

[DocNrock]

Now that i got my first USA, all that I can say is wow! My Ibanez JS1000 was a cut above all of my other axes, but the USA Jackson blows the Satch model away. The axe feels solid and well crafted, and has excellent acoustics clairity and sustain unplugged. When plugged in, I can get so many sounds out of it. I've never been a big fan of the JB pickup, but it sounds awesome in this guitar. I would agree that there is something special about these guitars. It must be quality wood and construction that just milks the tone out of the strings.

Someone above said that their tone comes from their fingertips. While that is true, my fingertips between guitars don't change. My tone does.

[tanpsi]

I think its just luck of the draw with guitars and how they sound, some people like bright, some dark, some clear etc. But its the whole package imo

Yeah, It's definitly a mystery, I tried a DXMG like 3 years ago and absolutly loved the sound, cheap trem, passive emg HZs and all, it was why I joined this board. but when I went to buy one, the one I had tried had gone, I didn't really get exited about the ones there, and I have tried some since, and started to think it was my imagination. but I tried one tonight, and loved it, so I think I'm going to buy it tommorrow.

It's fun to try to analysis why electric guitars sound different, but I think it may be a waste of time ha ha!! of course maybe I should say passtime!!!!

[DonP]

Now that i got my first USA, all that I can say is wow! My Ibanez JS1000 was a cut above all of my other axes, but the USA Jackson blows the Satch model away. The axe feels solid and well crafted, and has excellent acoustics clairity and sustain unplugged. When plugged in, I can get so many sounds out of it. I've never been a big fan of the JB pickup, but it sounds awesome in this guitar. I would agree that there is something special about these guitars. It must be quality wood and construction that just milks the tone out of the strings.

I couldn't have said better myself. This SL2H is my first JB loaded guitar, so I'm thinking everyone who bashes the JB must be nuts

[DocNrock]

I couldn't have said better myself. This SL2H is my first JB loaded guitar, so I'm thinking everyone who bashes the JB must be nuts

I even had a Kramer USA Stagemaster neck-thru that I sold 12 years ago (still kicking myself in the ass for selling it). It was arguably just as slick as my SL2H regarding acoustic clarity, playability, and quality of workmanship (not as purty, though). It came stock with a JB. That pickup got replaced within 2 weeks of buying the guitar. I just didn't like the amplified tone that it gave me. I think I still have that old JB sitting in my "pickup graveyard." It had been replaced with a Lynch Screamin' Deamon, which was more of the tone I was looking for.

Not that it sounds BAD, but go to your local store and plug in any MIJ Jackson with a JB. It will NOT sound the same as your SL2H.