Jackson DK-7 COW Model

Features:

The DK7 is a pretty straight-forward setup, but has great features where it counts. Mahogany makes up both the body and neck. The fretboard is slick ebony with no inlays (just how I like it). It has a single EMG 707 pickup in the bridge. Hard-Tail. Reverse headstock. Single volume knob, no tone (!). The only thing that could be better here, would be better tuners. The tuners are nice, but I like Sperzels/Schallers. But, for $699 for an instrument of this quality, there's no room for complaints. Also, this guitar is flat out sexy. The pictures online really don't do it justice, seeing it at angles is especially flattering, which the pics below should show somewhat (although my digicam blows).

Rating: ...

About three grand from the Jackson Custom Shop.

I don't really think it's really worth it anymore. I've always liked neck-thrus, and have owned dozens of them, but my recent adventures with Ibanez, Music Mans, a Custom Shop Schecter and this Jackson have made me realize its not really a big deal. If I was building a custom guitar would I have it neck-thru? Of course. But it's definitely not something I miss. I still get all the punch and sustain I ever got, and in the case of the Ibanez and MM the upper fret access is the same. Bottom line is, neck-thrus are of course cooler, but the neck-thru version of this DCGL charges for $4,000 is not worth it over $699 just because its neck-thru (yes it's made in the USA, but Japanese luthiers are no slouches).

As for the mods you speak of, thanks for the info about the pickup rings, I may do that at some point. I don't want a tone knob or neck pickup though. I like it the way it is, very cool and simple. I have my other guitars for neck pickups. This won't be my main axe or anything.

After another week or so of playing this, I'd like to add that this guitar balances very well. Not quite as well as the Ibanez or Petrucci, but close. Also the little contours that are hard to see in pics because it's all black are very sexy looking and add to its playability. I also really dig the headstock. I've NEVER been a fan of reverse headstocks but now my tune has definitely changed.

And for hell of it, here's a pic when the flash failed to go off. Looks kinda cool anyways:

Actually, the one at DCGL is $3100, last I asked.

Is there a difference? I guarantee it. Is it worth the price difference? Only the player can decide. The black COW is not as overpriced as it was originally - the prices I saw when it came out were about $100 higher - but the camo one's ridiculous. I wish they offered the red that his USA one is...

Yeah, that "camo" is lame. Simple red like the one you said would rule the school. I've been wanting a 6 string of this guitar for a while myself. Luckily, it's cheap too so I should have it by mid next month.

I wish that I could just make money and not have to pay rent, bills, and food.

I've had USA Jacksons and played Custom Shop ones as well, there is not enough difference to justify $699 to $4100. I'm sorry that's just crazy.




I'm sure that one is a bit nicer, but for $4099? Give me a break. They have the same exact specs, woods, everything. The only difference is one is bolt-on, and one has sperzels. Not even the biggest Custom Shop Jackson fan can say the difference in quality is worth that kind of discrepancy in price. I'm sure the USA handmade one is made a little better, but from having many handmade Customs and having this DK7, I can say for sure the difference is MINUTE.

$4099
$3100
I dont care! For a 1 hum, 1 vol., no inlay, solid colour = NEVER!

LTD could make that and sell it for $600. Then you'd have to get a fret job, but still make out like a bandit.

You know what? I just noticed that the carvings are a tad deeper on the USA. USA Price justified!

I stand by what I said - it's up to the player to decide if the difference is worth it. I play a USA CS Jackson 7 every day, so my opinion is obviously different than yours.

Nah it's pretty much the same. Anyways this isnt about whether you'd want one or not, it's just comparing two nearly identical guitars by two quality craftman... not a Custom Shop to Koreans or anything.

No, your opinion is the same as mine. No one would take those two guitars, and buy the Custom Shop one, unless they were just so rich that it didn't matter. I understand often the USA CS ones are superior to even standard USA models, but in this case the quality is so similar, all the features basically identical, that no sane person would pay an extra $3300 just because it was a CS piece instead of made in Japan. You could just put on your own sperzels and save yourself $3200.

It's a moot point anyways, because for well below those prices you could have Jackson (or anyone else) build your own Cusom Shop anyways.

For that price, you could order anything (within reason, abalone flames down the fretboard would make it more) you wanted from the Jackson CS, wait 18 months for it, and own a guitar you'd probably never sell - provided you knew yourself well enough to spec out exactly what you wanted. As true "custom" guitars go, that's really not bad, price-wise.

Someday, someone who's a big enough FF fan - or just wants a one-hum 7 string Soloist without the CS wait - will buy it.

I already put the "unless someone's rich" disclaimer there. Unless money is of no consequence to someone, no one would buy those. It doesn't make sense. Thats why DCGL has had those for years and years. If they lower the price SIGNIFICANTLY, perhaps someone would buy it, but when you can get something almost identical for $699, it doesn't quite make a lot of sense.... especially when like you said, for half that money you could order your own custom with much better specs. Plus the guy overseeing the production of the higher end Japanese models is no slouch, theyre extremely well made, with superb attention to detail.