The 'original factory' never made an SL2 --- hell, it never made an SL1.
But was the guy saying original factory, meaning USA or did he intentionally mislead you.
Or could he be even more confused than the typical person because it is an SL2.

SL2 is an import, but the SL2H is made in the USA. SL2H is (simplified description) an SL1 with two humbuckers (2H). It is very confusing.





*****but really, are the USA models even at J15xxx yet?
Anything can be faked or altered, but in general, if it says Made in the USA, it is a USA model. If it doesn't, it isn't.

USA production models aren't J pre-fixed, they're U (and J serials aren't even close to 15k yet - they're in the high 8000s right now). And there was a USA made SL2 in the mid/late 90s - ebony board, no inlays or binding, cheap floyd and Armstrong pickups (and actually there was a rarer version with sharkfins. And there was also an RR2. And DR2. But I digress)

So IF it's a USA it would be a poorly stamped 'U'. However, the Japanese neck thru guitars were (are?) stamped with J prefixes, with a 6 digit serial. So it could well be one of those - does it say 'Made In USA' on the headstock? Is it a rosewood board?

While the model designation SL1, SL2, etc did not exist until about the mid/late-90s, they did make guitars that looked just like them. Back before 1990, they would have been known as "Soloist Custom" if ebony board with sharkfins, or "Soloist Student" if rosewood with dots.

From 1990 to the mid-late 90s, they were known as Soloist USA.

Today, most stores will refer to a Soloist Custom or Soloist USA as whatever current offering it most resembles, i.e. SL1, SL2H.

While the current SL2 (no "H) is an import, there was a USA-made-with-import-hardware SL2. It had an ebony board with no inlays.

It has the Made in USA inlay in it. It also is an ebony board. It is almost identical in build to my 89 RR1.

I'll try and post pics.Good thing is that it is not a crappy Guitar the thing plays amazing.

Thanks again!

At at my age I really need reading glasses. Poorly stamped U indeed. Paid $1150 and it is mint.

There ya go!

That serial would indeed be 2005.

From Vancouver too. Cheers

$1150 Canadian Pesos? That's like $5K USD, right? Or am I thinking the other Mexico?

Yeah, that's pretty much it Matt LOL