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one of the finest of the San Dimas Soloists - I present J1051

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  • one of the finest of the San Dimas Soloists - I present J1051

    I have been seeking a classic San Dimas Soloist from the first thousand made for a few years now. Missed a couple nice ones that I could not afford. And finally the stars aligned and I got one of the best playing and sounding Soloists I have had BAR NONE.

    This is J1051 - an all original 3 TITE soloist custom with factory kahler trem, weighing in at a svelte 7.5 pounds. She is in excellent plus condition. The binding over the nibs and the fretwork is beyond words. I have had hundreds of these guitars in my hands over the years, and this is truly one of the best. Her owner over the past 25 years is a session/gigging musician in Austin TX, and he used this guitar for - wait for it - tuned to Open G for Rolling Stones songs

    The lock nut has been removed, it's in the case - I have a new lock nut that will be installed soon, but that's some top secret news I will be making a post about with the manufacturer soon - let's just say the best locking nut ever created is back, and I think many of you will dig it.

    Unfortunately, she did not come with the old school Jackson badged tolex case - I have always liked those. However, my girl bought me a brand new Jackson/SKB flight case with the TSA locks, and that case ROCKS! loving it.

    This guitar has all the features, tone, and vibe that made me fall in love with the Jackson Soloist to begin with. I just hit 50 years old, and have been a working musician for 35 fucking years so far. there are more boutique guitars amps and effects out there it's mind-boggling. But even with all the gear that has emanated from the boutique asscrack of an industry rapidly climbing up its own ass, the Jackson Soloist still maintains a level of superiority and respect.

    No other guitar design shook up the entire industry like the Soloist did. For the younger of you out there, Charvel was the initial hotrod guitar. Grover only used his last name on the Jackson guitars because he was scared to fuck with his cash cow Charvel. But once Randy played the Rhoads Custom, all of a sudden JACKSON was the "upmarket" and high-class guitar from San Dimas. The Jackson Soloist Custom was THE guitar to have, and literally overnight Charvel started lose their appeal. And this is what lead to the Model Series and Charvel production going to Japan - because everyone wanted JACKSON.

    The Soloist Custom was almost an entirely new instrument. 24 frets, completely NECK THRU body construction with poplar wings, those sexy sharkfin inlays in pearl, binding on the neck and headstock, really FINE choice ebony boards, precision fretwork, and playability better than damn near ANYTHING else on the market. When Jeff Beck busted out with the guitar instrumental album that brought him back in front of a whole new legion of fans on MTV, Guitar Shop, he was flaunting several Jackson Soloists. Matching pink converse high tops with a platinum pearl pink Soloist Custom? Nobody was as cool as Beck.

    Oh yes, there were new guitars on the horizon. Little Stevie Vai was poised to whip us into a frenzy with his eventide H3000 and Ibanez JEM guitars. It was the beginning of a new era of shred - but the Jackson Soloist had fired the initial volleys, and there was no other guitar that inspired EVERY other manufacturer to at least take a stab at making their version of it.

    TL;DR - the Jackson Soloist Custom still rules







    And DIG this unusual switching arrangement - I have never been a huge fan of the three mini-switch arrangement. But this tech removed the tone knob, installed a Gibson style three way toggle, and gives the Soloist 27 tone combinations instead of 9. GENIUS!




    Yeah. After 32 years, I still love the Soloist Custom just as much as I did in 1985. It's an icon, and deserves just as much respect as a Telecaster or a Les Paul. Grover got this one RIGHT

  • #2
    Very nice find.
    Is the high E string as perilously close to the board's edge as it appears?
    96xxxxx, 97xxxxx and 98xxxxx serials oftentimes don't indicate '96, '97 and '98.

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Mudlark View Post
      Very nice find.
      Is the high E string as perilously close to the board's edge as it appears?
      No, it's just the angle of the photograph. This is one of the only guitars I have bought in years that was set up just fine right out of the case

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      • #4
        That's good. I've been fooled by pic angles more than once.
        The toggle in place of the tone was a great idea.
        96xxxxx, 97xxxxx and 98xxxxx serials oftentimes don't indicate '96, '97 and '98.

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        • #5
          Congrats. Awesome write up!
          I can relate to what you are saying.
          GOtta grab em while you can.

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          • #6
            Thanks guys. I just honestly think that the Soloist deserves some respect (outside of our little circle), and finally getting myself a good one again lit that fire within me.

            After the 80s, I went thru tens of thousands of dollars buying really nice "boutique" guitars, only to come full circle back to The Soloist

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            • #7
              Cool. What pickup in the bridge?
              I feel my soul go cold... only the dead are smiling.

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              • #8
                Hard to beat a great Soloist. The design was revolutionary then, timeless now. 30 plus years later, its about time people recognize it for the huge lap forward that it was and remains.

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                • #9
                  Holy smokes! THAT's a guitar! Happy for ya.

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                  • #10
                    Awesome. 3tite aka strat killer. I like that set up, but w singles I do like having a tone.

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                    • #11
                      Congrats, great grab!

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                      • #12
                        Beauty!

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by toejam View Post
                          Cool. What pickup in the bridge?
                          it's a hot rails of some variety - my guess is seymour duncan - but since i still manage to hold onto my DiMarzio endorsement, even though I haven't released an album in a decade (lol) i am getting a set of Injectors with an Area 67 in the middle - that's what they recommended based on the guitar and the sound I am seeking....

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                          • #14
                            it really makes me laugh, and cry, and the same time. all during the 2000s.....i went thru boutique guitars, spending way too much money......anderson, suhr, tyler, all the usual suspects......$3500 guitars......

                            and i came full circle back to Jackson. i don't care if i am a dinosaur, old rocker, whatever. there is still nothing as good to me in my hands as a Jackson or a Charvel. and i have been lucky to have owned between 40-50 of them over the years.....

                            The Jackson Soloist Custom is one of the most significant guitar designs of the late 20th century. and they are still the hot rods they were back then. I drove a friend of mine's 1980 Formula Firebird the other day, and it reminded me of the Jackson Soloist - perhaps i'm "that guy" - stuck in the 80s, wearing acid washed jeans, and driving a old 82 Z-28 playing Judas Priest covers with a couple of 4x12s and Marshalls with my Jackson Soloists......and I DONT GIVE A FUCK!

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                            • #15
                              Nice one Bobby..love it

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