Jackson American Series

[JimF]

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/jackson-american-series-soloist-sl3-platinum-pearl

The Tech Spec​

Features	Specification
Body Type	Solidbody
Body Shape	Soloist
Body Material	Alder
Body Finish	Gloss
Colour	Platinum Pearl
Neck Material	3-Piece Maple
Neck Joint	Neck-Through-Body with Graphite Reinforcement
Radius	12"-16" compound
Fingerboard Material	Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay	Inverted Mother of Pearl Sharkfin
Number of Frets	24, Jumbo
Scale Length	25.5"
Nut Width	1.6875"
Nut Material	Floyd Rose® R3 Locking
Bridge/Tailpiece	Floyd Rose® 1500 Series Double-Locking Tremolo
Tuners	Gotoh® MG-T Locking
Pickups	Bridge: Seymour Duncan® JB™ TB-4 Middle: Seymour Duncan® Flat Strat® SSL-6 RWRP Single-Coil Neck: Seymour Duncan® Flat Strat® SSL-6 Single-Coil
Controls	1 x master volume, 1 x master tone
Switching	5-position blade switch

 

[JimF]

I am curious where these are actually made. It says American Series but not made in America.

A serial number that starts with J is usually custom shop but not with that many digits. Maybe an extension of the Japan line?

Ah I understand you now, you're meaning that whilst it says "Corona California" its missing the crucial "made in" bit, and it could just be Jackson choosing to list an address on the back of the headstock, like the old neck plates.

 

[Giest]

From the product overview image above "(...)marking the first made-in-Corona flagship product line for the brand."

 

[CapinCripes]

Would have preferred the gotoh like on the mj line. Confused about there not being made in America anywhere on it. Are they started in Mexico and finished in corona California? I was under the assumption that all usa production has been in corona since shortly after the fender acquisition.

 

[eaeolian]

I'm guessing they added line capacity to the Corona facility, maybe sharing the line with Fender? Either way, might be interesting.

 

[Adieu]

Maybe Fender should just stick to making things in Mexico.

Having BEEN to Corona, CA, I cannot say that it inspires any confidence

 

[CapinCripes]

Having BEEN to Corona, CA, I cannot say that it inspires any confidence

Is it like the Oakland of socal or something? Genuinely curious.

 

[mastapimp]

Descriptions on these keep saying "inverted shark fin inlays"

These look like the typical Jackson shark fins. Am I missing something?

 

[Tree]

Descriptions on these keep saying "inverted shark fin inlays"

These look like the typical Jackson shark fins. Am I missing something?

They’re upside down.

 

[mastapimp]

They’re upside down.

I know what you mean, but they've always been advertised as just shark fins. When i bought my KE3 back in the mid-90s, it came with "reverse shark fins" on the fingerboard, which do in fact, look like the correct orientation of a dorsal fin breaking the surface.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Descriptions on these keep saying "inverted shark fin inlays"

These look like the typical Jackson shark fins. Am I missing something?

They're "backwards".

 

[mastapimp]

They're "backwards".

Ahh, I see that now....mirror imaged. Thanks.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

Jackson always has to make it known you cheaped out. Whether it's no binding, an oversized headstock, or flipped inlay, etc.

 

[CapinCripes]

So what I'm gathering its probably going to be a step down in quality from previous usa production. Probably made next to the fender American series if pricing is to be believed. American ultra strats are 2k so a neck through at 2.6 sounds about right.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Is this their answer to ESP USA? Looks like it has mother of pearl inlays. I love that! Like the 90's MIJ old school Professional models.

Also probably just a way to get USA-made Jacksons out there again at a decent price. There was a huge backlog of USA jacksons from the standard factory, plus they weren't getting any cheaper.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

So what I'm gathering its probably going to be a step down in quality from previous usa production. Probably made next to the fender American series if pricing is to be believed. American ultra strats are 2k so a neck through at 2.6 sounds about right.

I don't think they'll be much of a difference compared to current JCS quality if they're just Fender American level.

That's why they had to make it a little weird. Binding would have been perfectly doable, same with regular inlays and USA on the front of the headstock.

Sort of like how PRS will never do a full carve on anything but a Core or above.

It's all about upholding the idea of the quality ladder.

 

[cardinal]

I dig it. Wish the fretboard was bound of course but great to have Jackson able to actually pump out some US made guitars again. The wheel adjust truss rod and graphite rods are a nice touch (it seems most of my fav guitars have some sort of reinforcement in the neck, so now I look for it in a guitar).

 

[Celtic Frosted Flakes]

This looks interesting. I do hope they also will release a string thru version as well.

 

[Dumple Stilzkin]

If I buy a Jackson it has better have neck binding and a MOP logo and fins. I’m not interested, but I can see these doing well.

 

[maliciousteve]

Yeah.....no thanks.