Bad Jacksons?

[Snoogans]

Yes, we all know they're the best - that's why we're here! [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] However I was wondering if any of us have ever owned Jacksons that were just "wrong-uns". I've had a couple of expensive and well-respected brand guitars that turned out to be planks, anyone ever had this problem? Are there any particular "rogues" we should know about?

[xenophobe]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

I've only really had one bad one. It was one that wasn't as described or pictured. I bought it as original in collectible condition, it was paintbrush refinished 3 times. The neck had cracks in the ebony, and the headstock logo was fucked.... the frets were so corroded there were blobs of metal on them, almost as if someone took soldier to them to try to build them back up... damn, I ended up completely parting that guitar out, and made half my money back.

That's the only real "lemon" I've ever had. Some have played a lot better than others, but I can't say I've ever purchased a Jackson or Charvel in nice condition that wasn't at least a decent solid guitar.

[Newc]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

I played a Concept RR once and thought it was shit, but then it did need a setup and new strings, as the old ones were crusted and the action was waaaay too high. The frets felt like crap too (coulda been the strings), and it weighed like 3 ounces [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
I denounced it as a turd [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Newc

[VanOsbourne]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

I've played alot of Jacksons that really played poorly. But all they really needed was a good setup. I'm pretty confident in the jackson necks. Unless there is a warp(twist) in the neck, you can get it to play however you like. I bought a used DK-1 off ebay a few days ago and the neck had a bad bow in it that needed 2 1/2 turns on the truss. You can imagine how bad it played before setup. But it plays like a dream now.

[diablomozart]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

an ols custom reverse head, gray snakeskin soloist (with matching headstock [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] )...the neck on it had to have been custom ordered...thick as a baseball bat...not a bad guitar...just not to my taste for neck shape... [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] ...d.m.

[Jim Shine]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

I have had a couple that were very dull sounding. No matter what I used for pickups they still sounded lifeless. Very little body resonance.

[Chameleonfong]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

Originally posted by Jim Shine:
I have had a couple that were very dull sounding. No matter what I used for pickups they still sounded lifeless. Very little body resonance.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Maybe because your hands smells like fender. hahaha [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
Fong

[scotty]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

I have a Jap Jackson I bought off EBAY that is AFU. At the nut the strings are fine but when you get down near 24th frets you realize that the strings almost fall off the top on the fret board and you have too much fretboard down on the high E string. Sure makes playing it a little funky. I havent taken it apart yet, But I dought there is much I can do about it. This was a disappointing purchase.

[Sephiroth]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

I used to own a PS-4 that was a POS with a neck that wouldn't stay straight for anything. I hated it, but luckily it's the only Jackson I've owned and didn't like.

[jeff300]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

Well... I think the Fusion Special is "ruined" by its crummy tremolo and terrible pickups. If you replace those its great.

Also, on my DR10 the tremolo looks terrible, even though its functional. The metal's texture is inconsistent and has an odd bumpy finish. I'm sure mine might have been a reject, I don't think they were all like that.

[Genebaby]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

Originally posted by Sephiroth:
I used to own a PS-4 that was a POS with a neck that wouldn't stay straight for anything. I hated it, but luckily it's the only Jackson I've owned and didn't like.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">That PS4 was probably a Korean made one, do you remember if the 12th fret dots were quite far apart? I saw a Korean PS? at a pawn shop where the scarf joint was lifting, not good.....

Most all Jacksons are fine, it depends what you are looking for. We can't stop someone misrepresnting a guitar or keeping it in crap condition though. I've had nice ones that needed a really good clean to get up to snuff, but that's usually all it takes.

Vic

[RacerX]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

Originally posted by scotty:
I dought

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] That's a good one!

[Newc]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

dought - drought - shought - pought - drunken lought - get the funk ought [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Werks fur me [img]graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Newc

[YetAnotherOne]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

I can't speak to the imports as I've never owned one but the USA Jacksons I've had have typically been very good guitars. A few were average and stayed that way no matter how good the setup but I've never had one with a real defect that made it firewood.

The worst thing about any Jackson I've owned has been either the Jackson licensed trem or Jackson pups. Not that either is terrible but I just don't care for them.

[zeegler]

Re: Bad Jacksons?

I had a purple quilt Dinky Reverse, and the bridge post inserts were pulling through the wood towards the neck. Needless to say, it was replaced under warranty.