Import Serial Number / Country of Origin FAQ

[RayTorvalds]

That is after I put an original Floyd on it and some other goodies

[RayTorvalds]

[RayTorvalds]

Not sure if double-posting.. so short recap..

Jackson DKMG, 9840519. Licensed Floyd Pro, all black hardware. Two active EMG's, rosewood 24-fret board with piranha's. Reverse headstock with made in japan sticker on it.
I think I have all the specs there.

What year would that be from ? I read the dating thread and thank you guys a lot for sharing your knowledge. So that would be 2009/2010 ?

Thank you in advance for an answer. Take care all

[jackONE]

Thank you mate. It's graet to hear about exactly build year my Jacks !

[Mudlark]

You didn't say you knew it was Japan, so I told you about the number.
It's '93 Dinky Reverse.

[jackONE]

If 304533 is a bolt on with a 'Professional' headstock logo it'd be 1993, Japan.

A pic would be helpful to tell if it's all original and what model it is.

I know that is Japan but Im wondered which year is exactly.
Link to photo:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lGC...ew?usp=sharing

[Mudlark]

If 304533 is a bolt on with a 'Professional' headstock logo it'd be 1993, Japan.

A pic would be helpful to tell if it's all original and what model it is.

[jackONE]

Hi
Can you tell me about this number: 304533

[jrnj]

You're welcome. I slightly revised my previous reply so that it flows better.

I'm speculating here, but it is possible that while the Gotoh is wider than the OFR, it might still work. The JT580LP route is larger than the equivalent route for an OFR. If you look at the image here http://audiozone.dk/index-filer/Trem...ct.htm#jt580lp you will see the OFR is practically swimming in the JT580LP route. There may be enough additional space for the Gotoh but don't quote me on that.

Ah, so you paid USD$300 with case. Congrats!

We may have a winner!
Thanks, and thanks for all the help and info.

[Number Of The Priest]

You're welcome. I slightly revised my previous reply so that it flows better.

I'm speculating here, but it is possible that while the Gotoh is wider than the OFR, it might still work. The JT580LP route is larger than the equivalent route for an OFR. If you look at the image here http://audiozone.dk/index-filer/Trem...ct.htm#jt580lp you will see the OFR is practically swimming in the JT580LP route. There may be enough additional space for the Gotoh but don't quote me on that.

Ah, so you paid USD$300 with case. Congrats!

[jrnj]

Thanks for the history lesson, I'm going to save this somewhere.

I am comparing the specs; the gotoh overall width is 91.5mm while the OFR is 90mm.
That may be a deal killer or a date with the bench grinder.

I ordered a tremolo stop for now. I was going to make one but for $11. shipped its not worth my time.
Kills me though to pay even that for something I can make!

I will inspect the posts and knife edges more carefully; maybe I'll heat it up, dress them with a file and heat / quench it again.

At this point I dont see springing for an OFR, BUT if this guitar grows on me enough, I might.
(springing > tremolo? Heh heh)

I bought it right, w/HSC and did local pickup so no shipping costs.

[Number Of The Priest]

No matter what the era, the "Pro Series" and "Professional Series" names have always been Jackson's highest quality level of imported Jackson guitars. However, there has been considerable variability in hardware offered through the years. So, the "step down" relative to American Jacksons will vary depending on the era. I'll try to break down the various eras below.

Within the 1990-1995 Professional Series (identified by "Professional" in script on the headstock), there were Std, XL, and Pro variants. This Series comprised the very first Japanese Jacksons and their construction quality was extremely comparable to American Jacksons, and still used real MOP fretboard inlays (whether it be sharkfins or dots). You can read about them here: http://audiozone.dk/index-filer/jack...ries_1990-1995

The Professional Series of the mid-to-late 1990s were still identifiable by "Professional" in script on the headstock, and the Japanese build quality remained high, but they received lesser specifications applied to the general line (MOTO inlays, rosewood fretboards more common, Duncan Designed pickups, JT580LP tremolos, etc.).

The Pro Series of the 2000s (no more "Professional" in script on the headstock) were largely the same as the above paragraph. There was also an MG Series that was parallel in quality, also made in Japan, that offered designs centered around EMG products (passive EMG-HZ pickups paired with active EMG electronics).

From 2006-2011 the Pro Series were upgraded with Seymour Duncan pickups and black hardware. In particular, the Pro Series SL3 Soloist and a few other, rarer Pro Series guitars actually received a tremolo upgrade, receiving a Thousand Series Floyd Rose. The MG Series received active EMG pickups but lost their active EMG electronics. Then in 2011 the Japanese factory closed.

The guitars from the two above paragraphs are some of the best bang-for-the-buck Jackson guitars because they are so common, well-built, and affordable on the used market. A good ballpark figure is USD$300 although it's not difficult to find them cheaper than that.

I don't know when the Indonesian and Mexican production started, but the Pro Series would be made in one of those two countries depending on the neck construction. Bolt-on Pro Series guitars are made by Fender in Mexico, while neck-thru Pro Series guitars are made by Cort in Indonesia.

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You're right, the Gotoh is way more affordable than the OFR. If you get the Gotoh to replace your JT580LP, please document it with details and photos for us. You would be the first to do so and it would hugely benefit our community, as I cannot recall anyone trying this replacement before.

Hmmm I can no longer get the images on the Gotoh website to load properly. I can't advise whether the string lock screws of the Gotoh would clear the back of the JT580LP route, but the OFR one does. If the Gotoh images load properly again it might be worth comparing the dimensions. If the Gotoh screws are too long, I know the screws found on the Schaller tremolo are shorter while the rest of the bridge is "identical" to an OFR. In this case, you might be able to create a "Frankenstein" bridge using the Schaller short screws on the Gotoh. If the screws are indeed compatible, and I have a hunch that they are, THAT hybrid bridge would for certain clear the back of the JT580LP route.

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I consider the JT580LP a decent tremolo. They are made in Japan by Takeuchi and are fitted to mid-range Jacksons (as the JT580LP), mid-range Ibanez guitars (as the Lo-TRS), and mid-range ESP/LTD guitars (I don't know what they label theirs as). I've owned two guitars with these tremolos which were/are in perfect functional condition so they haven't ever given me any problems returning to pitch, but then again I haven't really abused my bridges, nor does my playing style incorporate much crazy pitch-shifting. However, I can see why an OFR or a Gotoh would be considered an upgrade.

[Mudlark]

Pretty clever changing the clamps and tuner pieces to black.
I initially thought a 2006-'11 neck with black hardware was added until I went through the pictures.

Slap a black tremolo, pickup ring and black knobs on it and it'll pass as all black hardware from across the room.

[jrnj]

Thanks Mr. Number of the Priest, you are a Jackson Beast!!
Thanks for that extra info on the hardware too.
I have read the MIJ are overall very good; I was concerned that the 2005 instead of the advertised 1997 put it in India or Korea or where ever, and of lower quality.

Any other comments or consensus regarding pickups, hardware for overall quality, repairing or improving the JT580LP (has it ever been considered a decent trem and just wears out, or meh new out of the box)?
I know these are considered a "PRO" series, but a step down from the USA models - how far is that step down?

Basically I am unsure whether the overall build quality warrants $200+ for an OFR.
Dont get me wrong I'm loving this guitar!!
Thats almost as much as the most I've paid for a guitar to date, mostly less.
The Gotoh is around $100 and gets good review everywhere I saw.

AND - will the longer string lock screws clear the back of the route?

[Number Of The Priest]

Welcome to the forum!

The DK2 was the top Dinky model of the Japanese Pro Series of the 2000s decade. On solid finishes, the body wood is alder. On transparent finishes, the body wood is alder with a flame maple veneer.

The 9xxxxxx serial number format common to Japanese Jacksons of the 2000s makes many sellers erroneously believe they were manufactured in the late-90s.

You've already done more than most people by analyzing the neck heel and neck pocket stamps. The 2005 stamps you identified would be congruent with the hardware seen on your guitar. Prior to 2006, it was chrome hardware and Duncan Designed pickups, like the guitar you bought. Starting in 2006, the DK2 received all black hardware and Seymour Duncan pickups.

Cosmetic changes: Your guitar has a chrome humbucker pickup mounting ring and a creme switch tip. These should be black on the stock DK2. Your guitar has black locknut clamping pressure pads, black tuner buttons, and black tuner shafts. These should be chrome on the stock DK2.

An Original Floyd Rose is a direct replacement for the JT580LP tremolo. It has been done sucessfully, with photographic evidence: http://audiozone.dk/index-filer/Trem...ct.htm#jt580lp. I am unaware if the Gotoh GE1996T will also be a direct replacement since I recall nobody here trying to replace a JT580LP with a GE1996T before. At a quick glance, the GE1996T's dimensions seem to be slightly different than the OFR, as seen in the diagrams below for comparison:

OFR: http://www.warmoth.com/hardware/brid...se_Diagram.pdf

GE1996T: https://g-gotoh.com/international/product/ge1996t.html