USA Soloist - Older vs Newer?

[roodyrocker]

Hey-
I have an '85 Soloist w/ factory Floyd. LOVE the guitar and would never sell it. The neck just feels perfect, and the guitar reminds me of everything I loved about guitars in the mid 80's!

That said, I have owned stock SL-1s from the late 90's, and have to say the quality on these was equal or better than my old '85. Beautiful paint, fretwork, inlays, etc. And they were/are built by some of the same workers from the original San Dimas factory. I just HATED the recessed Floyd and strange neck angle.

When the Shannon Soloist came out, I jumped on one. Sounded DEAD to me, and I wound up selling it. Looked really authentic though.

Back in the day, having a Charvel was cool, having a custom Jackson was IT! I miss those days!

I have two Shannon Soloists myself. Probably sounded dead to you because of the stock pickup in it which was a Duncan Pearly Gates The Pearly Gates is very weak for a bridge pickup and one of my Shannons' Pearly Gates has been swapped out to a Dimarzio Super II The Pearly Gates seems like an o.k neck pickup to me but terrible for a bridge pickup.

[AndyK]

I have two Shannon Soloists myself. Probably sounded dead to you because of the stock pickup in it which was a Duncan Pearly Gates The Pearly Gates is very weak for a bridge pickup and one of my Shannons' Pearly Gates has been swapped out to a Dimarzio Super II The Pearly Gates seems like an o.k neck pickup to me but terrible for a bridge pickup.

Actually, the Shannon I had was a custom order in Pearl White. Problem is when I got it, it was actually just a Slime Green guitar with Pearl White on top of the green! Hence the dead sound. I was really annoyed that Jackson did that, so I complained to Tim in the custom shop, and he found another Shannon that was ready for paint, so he did that one in Pearl White, and exchanged mine. Second one also sounded kinda dead too.

So, there are officially two Pearl White Shannons out there (both owned by me) out of all the Shannon Soloists made.

[roodyrocker]

Actually, the Shannon I had was a custom order in Pearl White. Problem is when I got it, it was actually just a Slime Green guitar with Pearl White on top of the green! Hence the dead sound. I was really annoyed that Jackson did that, so I complained to Tim in the custom shop, and he found another Shannon that was ready for paint, so he did that one in Pearl White, and exchanged mine. Second one also sounded kinda dead too.

So, there are officially two Pearl White Shannons out there (both owned by me) out of all the Shannon Soloists made.

Hmm, interesting. Did both of yours have the Pearly Gates in them? I have a Slime Green which is stock and a Blue Ghost Flames Shannon which has a Dimarzio Super II. The difference in those pickups is huge! I think they made 6 slime greens, 2 white ones which you had plus the rest which were black or BGF. I have also heard of orange sherbert but never seen one.

[85 San Dimas]

I have also heard of orange sherbert but never seen one.

If I knew it was a good guitar I'd try to track down that orange.

BTW. Nice new axe! Always fun to get another guitar no matter what it is (at least until you sober up). Then its just always fun to get another GOOD guitar.

[AndyK]

Hmm, interesting. Did both of yours have the Pearly Gates in them? I have a Slime Green which is stock and a Blue Ghost Flames Shannon which has a Dimarzio Super II. The difference in those pickups is huge! I think they made 6 slime greens, 2 white ones which you had plus the rest which were black or BGF. I have also heard of orange sherbert but never seen one.

Since they were custom painted for me, Tim let me choose my pickups. I had a Duncan Custom in them. Believe me, these guitars were dead sounding even unplugged. Dense wood maybe? Not sure.

It was shortly after selling the Shannon that I bought my current '85 version. Night and day as far as better tone compared to the two Shannons!