Plz help Identify Jackson Explorer Shape guitar!!

[MasterOfNuggets]

Hey all
I am a long time Jackson player/fan. I was recently in the market for a hardtail guitar. I came across this gem on local classifieds, I picked it up the next day. I've never something like this before. I bought it off a Jackson collector who also couldn't identify it. He bought it off another collector around 2001, who had it "since new". Other collector is now passed away so no chance of getting info from him. The guy I bought it off called it a "pre-Kelly". I hope one of you experts can tell me more about it, as I cant find any info on it anywhere. But it is cool as hell, feels like a decent instrument. Serial number is 01120139. Any info is much appreciated.

https://ibb.co/31r4cVx

https://ibb.co/h2hMfr0

https://ibb.co/hsS3Sq7

[toejam]

That's not a Jackson body at all. Might be a Jackson neck, but might be a fake. Take some better, closer pics of the back of it.

[Johnnyryche]

I agree with Toejam, that's not a Jackson body. Looks like an Epiphone Evolution body from the early 2000's that someone swapped out the neck for a Jackson. Check out this pic of an Evolution.

[toejam]

I was actually thinking it was some kind of Gibson or Epiphone from the early 2000s, as I remembered a weird Explorer shape from them. They also had a weird Rhoads type of Flying V at that time.

[pianoguyy]

the fretboard seems to match the epiphone.
but how do you think they got the jackson reverse headstock on it

[MasterOfNuggets]

Wow thanks for all the replies!
Since it's not some rare, obscure gem, I guess I'll cancel my appearance on Pawn Stars LOL...Good thing it was pretty cheap.
I do believe its a real Jackson neck though, here's a pic of it next to my MIJ RR3 (on the left). I think that's what they call a scarf joint, so the construction seems to match. I compared neck heel width on both of them, 2 1/8" on both.

https://ibb.co/qsC75v5

And heres a pic of the headstock. Doesn't appear to have a paint job done on it, or a Jackson decal applied after the fact. Peculiar logo on the truss rod cover tho..

https://ibb.co/800KMM6

Johnnyryche , You answered my next question. I've never heard of epiphone evolution before, looks like that's what I've got. Even though its not some rare valuable thing, its still a very nice playing guitar, and looks totally badass. I guess I'll keep it! Maybe I'll do something like a custom paint job, or hot rod the electronics on it, since its virtually worthless.

[bombtek]

Yeah epi put out some strange variations of the explorer for a few runs.
https://www.ebay.com/i/303460121962?...hoCGLYQAvD_BwE

[skullfunkerry]

Wow thanks for all the replies!
Since it's not some rare, obscure gem, I guess I'll cancel my appearance on Pawn Stars LOL...Good thing it was pretty cheap.
I do believe its a real Jackson neck though, here's a pic of it next to my MIJ RR3 (on the left). I think that's what they call a scarf joint, so the construction seems to match. I compared neck heel width on both of them, 2 1/8" on both.

https://ibb.co/qsC75v5

And heres a pic of the headstock. Doesn't appear to have a paint job done on it, or a Jackson decal applied after the fact. Peculiar logo on the truss rod cover tho..

https://ibb.co/800KMM6

Johnnyryche , You answered my next question. I've never heard of epiphone evolution before, looks like that's what I've got. Even though its not some rare valuable thing, its still a very nice playing guitar, and looks totally badass. I guess I'll keep it! Maybe I'll do something like a custom paint job, or hot rod the electronics on it, since its virtually worthless.

You can buy aftermarket truss rod covers with pretty much any logo or text you like on them, that's probably what that is