Are you looking for the Best Metal Guitar Brands? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Choosing the Best Metal Guitar Brands can be difficult as there are so many considerations, such as Best Choice Products, Glarry, Fender, Ibanez, Jackson, Yamaha, ESP. We have done a lot of research to find the top 20 Best Metal Guitar Brands available.
The average cost is $966.77. Sold comparable range in price from a low of $179.99 to a high of $2149.99.
Based on the research we did, we think Jackson x Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle Electric Guitar Silver is the best overall. Read on for the rest of the great options and our buying guide, where you can find all the information you need to know before making an informed purchase.
20 Best Metal Guitar Brands (20 Sellers)
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$949.99
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Durability . Good sound quality . Well made . Weight
Features:
- Basswood body
- Through-body maple neck with graphite reinforcement and scarf joint
- 12 -16 compound radius bound laurel fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and pearloid sharkfin inlays
$1399.00
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- Used jackson pro series signature jeff loomis soloist sl7 guitar.
- I just bought it a few weeks ago and unfortunately i have to sell it to pay for an unexpected bill.
- I only played it a few times in my smoke free room so it is practically new.
$999.99
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- This item is in excellent condition.
- This item has been tested and is 100% functional.
- Please message us with any questions.
$1149.99
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- Unleash your creativity with the innovative jackson pro soloist sl2m mah.
- Fast and streamlined, this ergonomic instrument opens up new horizons of playability, resetting the bar of what s possible in guitar design.
- This is a pre-loved instrument in great condition.
$1299.99
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Durability . Good sound quality . Well made . Weight
Features:
- Excellent condition.
- No damage or nicks and dings.
- No fret ware to speak of.
$1179.99
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Durability . Visual appeal . Weight
Features:
- Comfortable body carve feels great during extended play
- Basswood body adds balanced resonance
- Color-matched neck feels great and plays effortlessly
$999.00
4.9
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Visual appeal
Features:
- Plays great, sounds great
- Action is low, smooth, and fluid
- Any questions please ask
$1099.00
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Durable . Lightweight . Well made
Features:
- I gotta unload this beast of a guitar to fund another one, you know how it goes.
- Its in perfect condition with no cosmetic or functional / playability issues at all.
- I'm also including an actual esp hard case that's an exact perfect fit for the m.
$1049.00
5.0
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Durable . Lightweight . Well made
Features:
- Specialty traders is an authorized esp dealer!
- Esp ltd ex black metal guitar & bag lexbkmblks demo #1265.
- 7.00 lbs, 13.44 oz.
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Durable . Well made . Weight
Features:
- Iconic fender stratocaster in high quality
- Quality components and wood
- Flexible hss pickup configuration
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Lacks durability . Well made . Lightweight
Features:
- The wizard iii maple neck, std-dl locking tremolo, and triple quantum humbucker action make this axe a shredder's delight.
- Shred-friendly features — with a soft side.
- Super-fast neck, super-comfortable body.
$2095.00
4.9
Reviewers Noted:
Lightweight . Attractive . Well made . Durable . Good sound quality
Features:
- Had her for under a year (2021 model) but have picked up a 7 string version.
- Perfect condition, light finger smoothing where your fingers come down between pickups.
- A really beautiful guitar for the best price you'll find!
Reviewers Noted:
Sound quality . Lightweight . Attractive . Well made . Durability
Features:
- 100% designed by fender
- Dual humbucking pickups
- Thin and lightweight body
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Durable . Lightweight
Features:
- Great condition.
- No scratch or visible damage.
- Flat wound strings installed for great jazz tone.
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durability . Lightweight
Features:
- The guitar features the mahogany body
- This guitar is the part of the steve vai signature model
- The guitar features the wizard iii maple neck
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Lightweight
Features:
- American ultra is our most advanced series of guitars and basses for discerning players who demand the ultimate in precision, performance and tone.
- This versatile, state-of-the-art instrument will inspire you to push your playing to new heights.
- The american ultra stratocaster features a unique “modern d” neck profile with rolled fingerboard edges for hours of playing comfort, and the t…
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durability . Lightweight
Features:
- This item is in very good condition.
- This item has been tested and is 100% functional.
- Please message us with any questions.
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durability . Lightweight
Features:
- High-output humbucking pickups with ceramic magnets deliver a powerful tone
- Gives you that classic jackson tone, looks and playability without breaking the bank
- Amaranth fingerboard creates the ideal playing surface for fat riffs
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Lightweight . Durable . Well made
Features:
- High-output humbucking pickups with ceramic magnets deliver a powerful tone
- Gives you that classic jackson tone, looks and playability without breaking the bank
- Amaranth fingerboard creates the ideal playing surface for fat riffs
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Heavy
Features:
- Pure jet power
- Chambered mahogany bodies loud and clear
- Black top filter'tron pickups quintessential power and clarity
1. Jackson X Series Soloist Sl3x Dx Crackle Electric Guitar Silver
Product Details:
The jackson name has always been synonymous with state-of-the-art guitar technology, and the company continues to lead the way in crafting instruments that exceed the demands of today鈥檚 most discerning players. melding modern materials and construction with molten metal style, the jackson x series soloist sl3x dx crackle features brand-new explosive gold crackle and silver crackle finishes. a sleekly contoured basswood body and pure jackson neck-through-body construction ensure ergonomic comfort during long sets, along with monstrous sustain and smooth playing all the way up to the 24th jumbo fret. graphite-reinforcement rods run through the maple neck, protecting it against environmental depredations, while the ultra-fast 12"-16" compound radius bound laurel fingerboard is built from the get-go for easy chording and riffing near the nut and rapid, fret-out-free leads as you move up the neck. the sl3x dx crackle comes loaded with a select power trio of jackson pickups; high-output mini rail humbucking pickups in the middle and neck positions are matched to a high-output humbucking bridge pickup for complementary harmonics and highly dynamic responsiveness. single volume and tone controls along with a five-way blade switch shape the formidable pickups鈥? output, making their power yours to command. the recessed floyd rose special double-locking tremolo bridge system is fluidly easy to use, ensuring that your axe precisely returns to its original tuning after every dive-bomb. yet another bold step in the world of high-tech guitars, the sl3x dx crackle also bears jackson鈥檚 traditional appointments鈥攂lack hardware, dome-style control knobs, durable finish that easily shakes off sweat and other grime, pearloid sharkfin fingerboard inlays and the famous jackson pointed 6-in-line headstock.
Specifications:
| Body Finish | Gloss |
| Control Knobs | Dome-Style |
| Fingerboard | Laurel |
| Hardware Finish | Black |
| Neck Finish | Gloss Color Matched |
| Position Inlays | Pearloid Sharkfin |
| Body Shape | Soloist |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Scale Length | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard Radius | 12" to 16" Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm) |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Fret Size | Jumbo |
| String Nut | Floyd Rose Special Locking |
| Nut Width | 1.6875" (42.86 mm) |
| Truss Rod | Dual-Action Head Adjust |
| Truss Rod Wrench | Yes |
| Bridge Pickup | Jackson High-Output Humbucking |
| Middle Pickup | Jackson High-Output Mini Rail Humbucking |
| Neck Pickup | Jackson High-Output Mini Rail Humbucking |
| Controls | Volume, Tone |
| Pickup Configuration | HSS |
| Tuning Machines | Jackson Sealed Die-Cast |
| Strings | Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges) |
Reviews:
Overall: I recently purchased $179 minion Jackson v which I tuned like a ukulele for a performance. As soon as I played it, I remembered how much I loved my Charvel Jackson from my college days. So I ordered the soloist 🙂 what a great guitar. It’s the only guitar I own that isn’t made in the United States. (Beside the minion)But it’s a keeper. Absolutely love the neck. All the little things too. Such as coming with strap locks. Matched paint and binding on the neck. All in all a great purchase.
I bought it for the neck thru construction and the finish which is quite stunning and very well done. The "Duncan Design" pick-ups are crappy, muddy and middy. Replaced them with "REAL" Seymour Duncan "Pearly Gates" and it sounds great now. The Floyd sits too low in the pocket (unlike my Charvel's do) poor engineering on Jackson's behalf. You can't get to the allen heads when you change strings because they sit so low in the pocket. You actually have to change one string at a time or insert the whammy bar and physically push it down to raise the rear of the Floyd so you can access the allen heads that hold the strings to the bridge. I have 17 guitars and this one is hands down the hardest guitar to change strings on I have ever owned. If Jackson would put better pick-ups in this model, and re-engineer how the Floyd Rose is mounted, it would be a lot more popular, but like most Jackson guitars priced under $1,500 they opt for the cheap electronics which in my opinion has been the case with every Jackson I have owned, you need to change the pick-ups and pots. The guitar itself is quite nicely made, balanced well and sounds awesome with real pick-ups in it.dtvamigo
This is a sweet guitar. The sustain is excellent, quite a difference from any bolt on neck guitar. I have a 1991 Ibanez 540SLTD, it is an excellent guitar. Been playing that for nearly 3 decades and its still my main guitar. This Jackson SL3X Soloist is just as playable. The neck is very comfortable from top to bottom. The Duncan designed pickups are very good too. Make no mistake, this is a shred guitar through and through. Can it do evreything else in between, like classic rock, jazz, country? Absolutely. You can dial in just about any sound needed. The pickups seem to have good output, but not insane, which i like. I also own a late model Ibanez RG350DX, with the infinity pickups. Those pickups, especially the bridge, are really loud, and overly distorted. I find that i have to roll the volume back to keep clarity. These pickups in the Jackson have good clarity. The neck and middle hot rails pickups are sweet. Artificial harmonics sing everywhere. The Floyd Rose special seems to stay in tune good as well. The fine tuners are a little gritty feeling, not anything wrong with em, but not silky smooth. They probably will get smoother as time and use allows them to break in. The hardware seems good. Solid tuning heads. Nice adjustment of knobs and pickup selector switch. The finish, neon orange, is flawless. Binding on neck and headstock is nicely done as well. The only issue i had with mine was fretbuzz on the first fret, 5th and 4th strings. Quick turn of the truss rod nut to add a little relief and reset the bridge height took care of that. This is a very fast neck to riff and shred with. Of course its great for slow playing, open chords etc… but, if Klingons are around, Warp Factor Five! Neck through Jackson Soloist, its a spaceship in disguise as an electric guitar. My Ibanez 540SLTD has an amazingly fast and thin neck, this Jackson is without a doubt on par with that, plus 2 more frets/ Jackson has better sustain and there is no sub 4 a thruneck.Freddy F
2. Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist Sl7 7-String Guitar, Ebony Fretboard, Satin Black
Product Details:
Whether with his solo efforts, his time with prog-metal band nevermore or swedish powerhouse arch enemy, or guest appearances on countless projects with the metal elite, jeff loomis is known as one of the most respected technical guitarists in the game. jackson proudly collaborated with loomis on an addition to his signature lineup in the form of the pro series signature jeff loomis soloist sl7. with an extended sonic palette that allows for extended expression all along the fretboard, this 7-string guitar features a 26.5" scale length, resonant basswood body with sandblasted ash top and through-body three-piece maple neck with graphite reinforcement for rock-solid stability and enhanced sustain. designed for highly technical, lightspeed playing, the 12"-16" compound radius bound ebony fingerboard hosts 24 jumbo frets and pearloid sharkfin inlays. for touring musicians, luminlay side dots provide fret guidance even on the darkest of stages, while a conveniently-placed heel-mount truss rod adjustment wheel makes neck relief tweaks a breeze. a pair of active seymour duncan jeff loomis signature blackouts humbucking pickups creates a versatile voice with dynamic range, articulation and note attack. the neck pickup delivers smooth, glassy leads, while the bridge pickup sinks its teeth into more aggressive tones and sustain while maintaining its legato. three-way toggle switching allows you to explore different pickup combinations, while a single volume control allows you to dial up the intensity on a whim. dive and soar expressively with the floyd rose 1500 series double-locking tremolo system, recessed for pick hand comfort, laser-accurate intonation and ultra-stable tuning. keeping with his tradition of developing guitars with menacing metal style, the pro series signature jeff loomis soloist sl7 is cloaked in satin black with a matching jackson pointed 7-in-line headstock and black hardware.
Specifications:
| Body Finish | Satin |
| Body Shape | Soloist |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose 1500 Series Double-Locking Tremolo |
| Configuration | HH |
| Control Knobs | Dome-Style |
| Controls | Volume |
| Fingerboard Material | Ebony |
| Fingerboard Radius | 12"-16" Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm) |
| Fret Size | Jumbo |
| Hardware Finish | Black |
| Headstock | Jackson Pointed 7-In-Line |
| Neck Finish | Satin Color Matched |
| Neck Material | 3-Piece Maple |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Nut Material | Floyd Rose 1500 Series Locking |
| Nut Width | 1.875" (47.6 mm) |
| Orientation | Right-Hand |
| Position Inlays | Pearloid Sharkfin |
| Special Electronics | Active Electronics |
| Strings | Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.054 Gauges) |
| Tremolo Arm | Floyd Rose 1500 Series Locking |
| Truss Rod Nut | Heel-Mount Truss Rod Adjustment Wheel |
| Tuning Machines | Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking |
Reviews:
I had played one of these in a store and liked the feel. After having one for a few weeks, I like it even more. I'm slightly taller than the average guy. Hence my fingers are a bit longer than the average guy. Maybe it is just because the neck seems to get thinner as you get up to the higher notes, but it seems like the neck is a little wider than the rest of my guitars up around the 15th to 24th frets. ("rest of my guitars" include Les Paul, Strat, Ibanez RG550, EVH Wolfgang, and others for reference). Aside from how great the paint job LOOKS, it does not have a gloss coat on it. This is a good thing since the paint job extends up the back of the neck allowing your hand to slide quite freely on the back of the neck. The bridge humbucker is fantastic. It screams the notes clearly with ZERO noise or hum when not playing. I'm not that impressed with the neck humbucker, but that's comparing it to the neck hum on my Les Paul, Carvin, and PRS Custom. AND, for about 90% of the 80s hair band songs you are never using that pickup anyway. The Floyd Rose is great! I got tired of waiting for it to need minor tuning adjustments naturally, so I'm to the point of TRYING to make it go out of tune even slightly and it STILL stays locked in tune. Overall, this guitar is now my GO TO for anything 80s (the biggest chunk of my playing preference).Steve
Having tried playing MANY of these in my hands, it seems that the quality control out of the Jackson Indonesia factory is hit-or-miss. If you get a good unit without problems, it is a great guitar with a great sound for a great price! And the looks are so nice as well. The neck thru body construction is so smooth and sweet. However, you might get a dud that sounds horrible. Or it might have severe defects in the neck or locking nut. In my experience, about 50% are of poor quality.
I was keen to find a 6 string that had a fixed bridge that I could use for covers and so I can retune to alternate tunings easily without having to get the screwdrivers and spending a lot of time retuning like a Locking Tremolo guitar. Thankfully the guitar already had Seymour Duncan pick ups in which are essential to having a aggressive tone but as well allow good expression so this meant it would be a case of getting the guitar out the box and playing rather than buying separate pick ups having to fit them in and so on. As I wanted a guitar that wasn't black or brightly colored the desert sand finish on the guitar really stood out and attracted me. Most of the SLP2's have a great selection of finish's. As for the neck and wood finish it is very smoothly and allows you to get quick access from from end of the neck to the other. Behind each the tuners on the headstock, there is this interesting circular turning device to help lock in the strings. This may help keep it in tune more but I also just attribute it staying in tune due to the general quality of the guitar. I bend the strings a lot for my lead playing and I play very aggressively with thick picks and rhythmically so once I put some heavier strings on (my preference) and configured the bridge saddles with a very small L shaped Allen/hex key the guitar stayed in tune.Tom H.
3. Jackson Pro Series Signature Mick Thomson Soloist Sl2 – Black
Product Details:
Slipknot lead guitarist mick thomson is one of metal’s most successful and revered players. his game changing, take-no-prisoners approach to metal guitar has influenced countless musicians worldwide, while his black hole-heavy de-tuned guitar sound has been an integral part of slipknot for more than two decades. used, very good condition, a few minor scratches, no cracks. gigbag or case not included. designed to withstand his acclaimed aggressive technique and tone, the pro series signature mick thomson soloist sl2 is a sinister axe loaded with high-quality features including a bound mahogany body coupled with a graphite reinforced through-body one-piece maple neck—carved to a custom super-thin profile for maximum comfort and high-speed playability, and a 12”-16” compound radius ebony fingerboard with 24 frets and block side dots. this signature soloist is powered by a pair of mick thomson signature seymour duncan blackouts to complement the complex, crushing riffs thomson plays in dropped tunings. the emty bridge pickup offers the energy and output of the original blackouts but with thomson’s custom voicing to emphasize the percussive chunk of palm-muted notes. designed for crystal clear clean tones, the emty neck pickup can also produce more aggressive mids and increased sustain for high-speed solos and ominous melodic interludes when you crank up the gain. other features include a jackson mtb ht6 hardtail bridge and locking nut for laser-accurate intonation and ultra-stable tuning, a single volume control, three-way blade switch and a recessed barrel jack.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Mahogany |
| Body finish | Satin |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Ultrathin |
| Neck wood | Maple |
| Joint | Neck-through |
| Scale length | 25.5 in. |
| Neck finish | Gloss |
| Radius | Compound |
| Fret size | Jumbo |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Inlays | Side position markers |
| Nut width | 1.687 in. (42.8 mm) |
| Configuration | HH |
| Neck | Blackouts EMTY |
| Bridge | Blackouts EMTY |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Piezo | Yes |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Master volume |
| Pickup switch | 3-way |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Fixed |
| Bridge design | Jackson MTB HT6 hardtail bridge |
| Tuning machines | Die-cast sealed |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | United States |
Reviews:
I had played one of these in a store and liked the feel. After having one for a few weeks, I like it even more. I'm slightly taller than the average guy. Hence my fingers are a bit longer than the average guy. Maybe it is just because the neck seems to get thinner as you get up to the higher notes, but it seems like the neck is a little wider than the rest of my guitars up around the 15th to 24th frets. ("rest of my guitars" include Les Paul, Strat, Ibanez RG550, EVH Wolfgang, and others for reference). Aside from how great the paint job LOOKS, it does not have a gloss coat on it. This is a good thing since the paint job extends up the back of the neck allowing your hand to slide quite freely on the back of the neck. The bridge humbucker is fantastic. It screams the notes clearly with ZERO noise or hum when not playing. I'm not that impressed with the neck humbucker, but that's comparing it to the neck hum on my Les Paul, Carvin, and PRS Custom. AND, for about 90% of the 80s hair band songs you are never using that pickup anyway. The Floyd Rose is great! I got tired of waiting for it to need minor tuning adjustments naturally, so I'm to the point of TRYING to make it go out of tune even slightly and it STILL stays locked in tune. Overall, this guitar is now my GO TO for anything 80s (the biggest chunk of my playing preference).Steve
Having tried playing MANY of these in my hands, it seems that the quality control out of the Jackson Indonesia factory is hit-or-miss. If you get a good unit without problems, it is a great guitar with a great sound for a great price! And the looks are so nice as well. The neck thru body construction is so smooth and sweet. However, you might get a dud that sounds horrible. Or it might have severe defects in the neck or locking nut. In my experience, about 50% are of poor quality.
I was keen to find a 6 string that had a fixed bridge that I could use for covers and so I can retune to alternate tunings easily without having to get the screwdrivers and spending a lot of time retuning like a Locking Tremolo guitar. Thankfully the guitar already had Seymour Duncan pick ups in which are essential to having a aggressive tone but as well allow good expression so this meant it would be a case of getting the guitar out the box and playing rather than buying separate pick ups having to fit them in and so on. As I wanted a guitar that wasn't black or brightly colored the desert sand finish on the guitar really stood out and attracted me. Most of the SLP2's have a great selection of finish's. As for the neck and wood finish it is very smoothly and allows you to get quick access from from end of the neck to the other. Behind each the tuners on the headstock, there is this interesting circular turning device to help lock in the strings. This may help keep it in tune more but I also just attribute it staying in tune due to the general quality of the guitar. I bend the strings a lot for my lead playing and I play very aggressively with thick picks and rhythmically so once I put some heavier strings on (my preference) and configured the bridge saddles with a very small L shaped Allen/hex key the guitar stayed in tune.Tom H.
4. Jackson Pro Series Sl2m Mah Soloist Magenta
Product Details:
You're not an average guitarist. so why settle for an average guitar? play with style and versatility thanks to the jackson pro sl2m mah soloist. this premium axe has been designed with flexibility in mind, going from snarling crunch to pristine high end with pick attack alone. explore an iconic sonic palate from two seymore duncan humbuckers. whether you're riffing up high or laying down chords, you'll always get a warm tone with plenty of prowess and punch. all on a neck that was built to be played at lightning speed. jackson are no ordinary brand. their legacy of unique design, solid build quality, and modern style has redefined the game for metal, rock, and blues guitarists. the pro sl2m mah soloist lets you become a part of the history.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Mahogany |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Soloist |
| Neck wood | 1-piece Maple |
| Joint | Neck-through |
| Scale length | 25.5 in. |
| Truss rod | Standard |
| Neck finish | Oiled |
| Radius | Compound |
| Fret size | Jumbo |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Inlays | Piranha tooth |
| Nut width | 1.68 in. (42.67 mm) Locking |
| Configuration | HH |
| Neck | SH-6N Distortion |
| Bridge | TB-6 Distortion |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Parallel |
| Control layout | Master volume, tone |
| Pickup switch | 3-way |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Bridge design | 1000 Series Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) |
| Tuning machines | Die-cast |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | Indonesia |
Reviews:
I had played one of these in a store and liked the feel. After having one for a few weeks, I like it even more. I'm slightly taller than the average guy. Hence my fingers are a bit longer than the average guy. Maybe it is just because the neck seems to get thinner as you get up to the higher notes, but it seems like the neck is a little wider than the rest of my guitars up around the 15th to 24th frets. ("rest of my guitars" include Les Paul, Strat, Ibanez RG550, EVH Wolfgang, and others for reference). Aside from how great the paint job LOOKS, it does not have a gloss coat on it. This is a good thing since the paint job extends up the back of the neck allowing your hand to slide quite freely on the back of the neck. The bridge humbucker is fantastic. It screams the notes clearly with ZERO noise or hum when not playing. I'm not that impressed with the neck humbucker, but that's comparing it to the neck hum on my Les Paul, Carvin, and PRS Custom. AND, for about 90% of the 80s hair band songs you are never using that pickup anyway. The Floyd Rose is great! I got tired of waiting for it to need minor tuning adjustments naturally, so I'm to the point of TRYING to make it go out of tune even slightly and it STILL stays locked in tune. Overall, this guitar is now my GO TO for anything 80s (the biggest chunk of my playing preference).Steve
Having tried playing MANY of these in my hands, it seems that the quality control out of the Jackson Indonesia factory is hit-or-miss. If you get a good unit without problems, it is a great guitar with a great sound for a great price! And the looks are so nice as well. The neck thru body construction is so smooth and sweet. However, you might get a dud that sounds horrible. Or it might have severe defects in the neck or locking nut. In my experience, about 50% are of poor quality.
I was keen to find a 6 string that had a fixed bridge that I could use for covers and so I can retune to alternate tunings easily without having to get the screwdrivers and spending a lot of time retuning like a Locking Tremolo guitar. Thankfully the guitar already had Seymour Duncan pick ups in which are essential to having a aggressive tone but as well allow good expression so this meant it would be a case of getting the guitar out the box and playing rather than buying separate pick ups having to fit them in and so on. As I wanted a guitar that wasn't black or brightly colored the desert sand finish on the guitar really stood out and attracted me. Most of the SLP2's have a great selection of finish's. As for the neck and wood finish it is very smoothly and allows you to get quick access from from end of the neck to the other. Behind each the tuners on the headstock, there is this interesting circular turning device to help lock in the strings. This may help keep it in tune more but I also just attribute it staying in tune due to the general quality of the guitar. I bend the strings a lot for my lead playing and I play very aggressively with thick picks and rhythmically so once I put some heavier strings on (my preference) and configured the bridge saddles with a very small L shaped Allen/hex key the guitar stayed in tune.Tom H.
5. Jackson Pro Series Soloist Sl3m – Rainbow Crackle Guitar
Product Details:
You're not an average guitarist. so why settle for an average guitar? play with style and versatility thanks to the jackson pro sl3m soloist. this premium axe has been designed with flexibility in mind, going from powerful bite to glassy high end with pick attack alone. explore an iconic sonic palate from a triple threat of seymour duncan pickups. whether you're riffing up high or laying down chords, you'll always get expressive tones with plenty of crunch and clarity. all on a neck that was built to be played at lightning speed. jackson are no ordinary brand. their legacy of unique design, solid build quality, and modern style has redefined the game for metal, rock, and blues guitarists. the pro sl3m soloist lets you become a part of the history.
Specifications:
| Body Finish | Gloss |
| Control Knobs | Dome-Style |
| Fingerboard | Maple |
| Hardware Finish | Black |
| Neck Finish | Gloss Color Matched |
| Position Inlays | Black Piranha Tooth (Small Sharkfin) |
| Body Shape | Soloist |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Scale Length | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard Radius | 12" to 16" Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm) |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Fret Size | Jumbo |
| String Nut | Floyd Rose 1000 Series Locking |
| Nut Width | 1.6875" (42.86 mm) |
| Truss Rod | Dual-Action Head Adjust |
| Truss Rod Wrench | Yes |
| Bridge Pickup | Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 |
| Neck Pickup | Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 Single-Coil |
| Controls | Volume, Tone |
| Pickup Configuration | HSS |
| Tuning Machines | Jackson Sealed Die-Cast |
| Strings | Nickel Plated Steel (.009-.042 Gauges) |
Reviews:
Overall: I recently purchased $179 minion Jackson v which I tuned like a ukulele for a performance. As soon as I played it, I remembered how much I loved my Charvel Jackson from my college days. So I ordered the soloist 🙂 what a great guitar. It’s the only guitar I own that isn’t made in the United States. (Beside the minion)But it’s a keeper. Absolutely love the neck. All the little things too. Such as coming with strap locks. Matched paint and binding on the neck. All in all a great purchase.
I bought it for the neck thru construction and the finish which is quite stunning and very well done. The "Duncan Design" pick-ups are crappy, muddy and middy. Replaced them with "REAL" Seymour Duncan "Pearly Gates" and it sounds great now. The Floyd sits too low in the pocket (unlike my Charvel's do) poor engineering on Jackson's behalf. You can't get to the allen heads when you change strings because they sit so low in the pocket. You actually have to change one string at a time or insert the whammy bar and physically push it down to raise the rear of the Floyd so you can access the allen heads that hold the strings to the bridge. I have 17 guitars and this one is hands down the hardest guitar to change strings on I have ever owned. If Jackson would put better pick-ups in this model, and re-engineer how the Floyd Rose is mounted, it would be a lot more popular, but like most Jackson guitars priced under $1,500 they opt for the cheap electronics which in my opinion has been the case with every Jackson I have owned, you need to change the pick-ups and pots. The guitar itself is quite nicely made, balanced well and sounds awesome with real pick-ups in it.dtvamigo
This is a sweet guitar. The sustain is excellent, quite a difference from any bolt on neck guitar. I have a 1991 Ibanez 540SLTD, it is an excellent guitar. Been playing that for nearly 3 decades and its still my main guitar. This Jackson SL3X Soloist is just as playable. The neck is very comfortable from top to bottom. The Duncan designed pickups are very good too. Make no mistake, this is a shred guitar through and through. Can it do evreything else in between, like classic rock, jazz, country? Absolutely. You can dial in just about any sound needed. The pickups seem to have good output, but not insane, which i like. I also own a late model Ibanez RG350DX, with the infinity pickups. Those pickups, especially the bridge, are really loud, and overly distorted. I find that i have to roll the volume back to keep clarity. These pickups in the Jackson have good clarity. The neck and middle hot rails pickups are sweet. Artificial harmonics sing everywhere. The Floyd Rose special seems to stay in tune good as well. The fine tuners are a little gritty feeling, not anything wrong with em, but not silky smooth. They probably will get smoother as time and use allows them to break in. The hardware seems good. Solid tuning heads. Nice adjustment of knobs and pickup selector switch. The finish, neon orange, is flawless. Binding on neck and headstock is nicely done as well. The only issue i had with mine was fretbuzz on the first fret, 5th and 4th strings. Quick turn of the truss rod nut to add a little relief and reset the bridge height took care of that. This is a very fast neck to riff and shred with. Of course its great for slow playing, open chords etc… but, if Klingons are around, Warp Factor Five! Neck through Jackson Soloist, its a spaceship in disguise as an electric guitar. My Ibanez 540SLTD has an amazingly fast and thin neck, this Jackson is without a doubt on par with that, plus 2 more frets/ Jackson has better sustain and there is no sub 4 a thruneck.Freddy F
6. Jackson Pro Series Soloist Sl2 – Red Mercury Guitar
Product Details:
You're not an average guitarist. so why settle for an average guitar? play with style and versatility thanks to the jackson pro sl2 soloist. this premium axe has been designed with flexibility in mind, going from snarling crunch to pristine high end with pick attack alone. explore an iconic sonic palate from two seymore duncan humbuckers. whether you're riffing up high or laying down chords, you'll always get a warm tone with plenty of prowess and punch. all on a neck that was built to be played at lightning speed. jackson are no ordinary brand. their legacy of unique design, solid build quality, and modern style has redefined the game for metal, rock, and blues guitarists. the pro sl2 soloist lets you become a part of the history.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Nato |
| Body finish | Gloss or satin dependent on model |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Speed neck |
| Neck wood | Maple with graphite reinforcement |
| Joint | Neck-through |
| Scale length | 25.5" |
| Truss rod | Standard |
| Neck finish | Oiled |
| Radius | Compound |
| Fret size | Jumbo |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Inlays | Alumiloid Piranha |
| Nut width | 1.687" (42.8mm) |
| Configuration | HH |
| Neck | '59 SH1N direct-mount |
| Bridge | JB TB4 |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Series |
| Piezo | No |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Master volume, tone |
| Pickup switch | 3-way |
| Coil tap or split | No |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Tuning machines | Die-cast |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | Indonesia |
Reviews:
Wasn’t a big fan of Jackson guitars until this elegantly evil lady showed up at my door step! Excellent build quality ( minus the snapped headstock from shipping – they really need to package them better from the factory ) neck through with hot sd pickups. A carved neck awfully close to a wizard 3 or even closer to an esp ell mll! Purchased 2 of these! I highly recommend!Ford
I'm a better guitar player than I thought! Love the Action on this guitar. Good right out of the box, and the tech at guitar center offered to check it out for me before leaving with it. He made a couple small adjustments, but it seemed pretty much ready to go before that. He was very impressed with my pick of the SL2.25 year beginner
Pros- Great looking paint scheme! The ebony fret board is smooth. Nice low action out of the box. The Seymour Duncan Distortion pickups sound great. The Floyd Rose tremolo keeps the guitar in tune during dive bombs! Cons- The back of the neck is glossy, would have preferred a satin finish. Would have like to see a larger inlay at the 12th fret, one that goes across the whole width of the neck. Would like the neck to be thinner too.George
7. Esp Ltd Ec Black Metal Electric Guitar Black Satin
Product Details:
Esp's eclipse model, one of hard rock and metal's favourite guitar choices, gets some added darkness and extremity in this special ltd black metal edition! esp have long since proven their dominance of the modern metal world. more top name metal players use their guitars than any other brand. for this limited edition range, esp visit the cold extremities of scandinavia's black metal scene to provide stylistic inspiration. the results are beautiful and brutal.the ltd eclipse black metal is simple and devastatingly effective. this is made with mahogany and features set neck construction with an ebony fingerboard(no fingerboard inlays either, naturally). the finish and hardware are all black: this guitar is darker than a norwegian winter's night! the single pickup is an extremely powerful seymour duncan blackened black winter humbucker. this is a bright, extremely high output, overwound pickup which is chock full of aggression and sustain. this blackened' version of the pickup is actually not available to buy. it's highly heavy sounding and more than lives up to both it's name and the guitar's modus operandi.one pickup, a single volume and a hard tail bridge is all you need to make the hugest, sickest riffs known to man or beast.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Single cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Mahogany |
| Body finish | Satin |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Thin U |
| Neck wood | 3-piece Mahogany |
| Joint | Set-through |
| Scale length | 24.75 in. |
| Truss rod | Standard |
| Neck finish | Satin |
| Radius | 13.78 in. (350mm) |
| Fret size | Extra-jumbo |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Inlays | Glow-in-the-dark side dots |
| Nut width | 1.65 in. (42 mm) Molded |
| Configuration | H |
| Bridge | Blackened Black Winter |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Parallel |
| Piezo | No |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Master volume |
| Coil tap or split | No |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Fixed |
| Bridge design | TonePros locking tune-o-matic |
| Tailpiece | Stopbar |
| Tuning machines | LTD locking |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
Reviews:
Overall: Where to even start with this beautiful top quality instrument? Right out of the box, it's worth noting just how black it really is. It almost reminds me of the old grey monotone Les Paul just, black. The macassar ebony isn't true ebony but it's still pretty in its own way. My fretboard is dark enough though so don't worry about it not being traditional ebony. The neck shape is not a thin U shape. The EC1000 is a thin U. While the build quality certainly is the same as the EC1000, the Black Metal's neck is more of a D shape. Trust me, I don't hate it, it's actually a good different, nice and comfortable. The tuning I play in is A# F A# D# G C with 13-56 gauge strings and this guitar took that extremely well without much adjustment. The Black Winter Duncan is very hot. Handles high gain death metal very well. Sounds nice and wet, perfect pickup for this guitar. If even for a second you've contemplated getting a this guitar but didnt, just do it. I too was on the fence about it since it was teased like a year ago but I'm definitely glad I got it. The I only thing I'm still trying to get used to is not having the pickup ring to anchor onto when I'm picking. Other than that, buy it. Also, the clean tones are a bit cleaner than I had expected. Really let's you dig in to your tubes for some crunch when you want it.Max
Fell in love with this guitar 5 minutes in. Perhaps the most comfortable guitar I've ever played. Neck is slim and fast, action came pretty low on the guitar with almost zero feet buzz. Weighty enough but not super light. The Black Winter pickup is pretty brutal but also super clear at high gain. However, I replaced mine with a Dimarzio X2N and now I have a pseudo-Chuck Schuldiner guitar.El Mariachi
I just got my ESP/LTD Black Metal and I've been waiting for this guitar since NAMM 2018! I'd been wanting a simple guitar with non EMG pickups. This fits the bill one knob volume only, and a Seymour Duncan Black Winter pickup! Super sleek look and different than anything else I have in my collection. If you're thinking about this one GO FOR IT!
8. Esp Ltd M-Black Metal Black Satin Electric Guitar
Product Details:
The esp ltd m-bkm black metal in black satin is a no-compromise guitar built to meet the technical demands and powerful sounds of metal music performance. the m-bkm's sleek and menacing black satin finish gives a strong hint at what this guitar is capable of, with a no-nonsense approach to providing excellent playability. a single seymour duncan black winter humbucker, mounted in the bridge-position, provides a savagely high output sound for articulate riffing and thick saturation. the neck is designed with a fast playing feel with its 24 extra jumbo frets, 350mm flat fingerboard radius, neck through design, and thin "u" profile – you'll notice hardy any resistance under your left hand as you traverse the fingerboard. the guitar is made from alder with a maple neck for a bright tonality that brings out all the detail of your riffing, no matter how fast or technical it becomes. if you're seeking the ultimate metal guitar, the esp black metal delivers the playability and sound for the heaviest of musical styles.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Alder |
| Body finish | Satin |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Thin U |
| Neck wood | 3-piece Maple |
| Joint | Neck-through |
| Scale length | 25.5 in. |
| Truss rod | Standard |
| Neck finish | Satin |
| Radius | 13.78 in. (350mm) |
| Fret size | Extra-jumbo |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Inlays | Glow-in-the-dark side dots |
| Nut width | 1.69 in. (43 mm) Floyd Rose locking |
| Configuration | H |
| Bridge | Blackened Black Winter |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Parallel |
| Piezo | No |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Master volume |
| Coil tap or split | No |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Bridge design | Floyd Rose 1000 |
| Tuning machines | Grover |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
Reviews:
Overall: I was feeling totally Corona bummed out. Uninspired, depressed, just a big pile of blahhhh. I had been wanting an esp for a minute and popped on zZounds and ended up checking this ltd out. So stoked I did! Had to do a couple adjustments, trem spring tension adjustment (slight) and then tune up , with grover, radical (non locking tuners!! These just are rock solid tuners.. with this setup, after your strings are broken in of course– it will stay in tune Fer dayyyyzzz) so I plugged into my hot Rodded 6505+ with biased jj tubes,,, and this is just a beast of a guitar . Finish is flawless, cannot tell the difference between this and my buddies Japanese ESP. Knobs are rad and solid, push/pull pot on one–which adds a killer flavor. Then there's the emgs, just pure metal and I can get killer, rich, warm tones on the cleans too. Basically, I'm a changed man. I was jamming with my door open and a hot chicken walked by and smiled. Yep. Music is the universal language and I am happy. All kidding aside, this is a great guitar and has my full approval. I'm an esp fan big time now!! Thank you zZounds for trusting me again !! I have soo many rad guitars and amps from you guys!!
this is the best guitar I've ever had. I thought my best guitar had been Japanise Jackson with two hot rails and a humbucker in the bridge. The second one was LTD EC-1000 I bought in Music Store as well. But I must admit that my new ESP LTD Black Metal Satin is far better in my opinion than both my guitars with SD and EMG pickups. I think the name of the guitar "Black metal" is just a kind of a stereotype and may put someone off buying it if you are not a Black metal head. I do like various metal genres , however, I'm not a fan of death and black metal, but I had been 100 per cent sure that this guitar would satisfy my metal taste anyway. I It looks agressive and it is definitely prone to metal but not only for "Black" or "Death". If you like Steel Panther or Gus G, you would be pleased with this monstrous axe! The sound provided by SD Blackened winter pickup is just what you really need to get the best metal sound ever. String separation in every chord you play is both clean and powerful simultaneously. If you want to shred, you won't regret it as well. This metal masterpice will be my favourite guitar for years! And yes, I 've immediately taken to one H pickup and a Floyd rose-no more you need for creating a great sound. Thank you Music Store and ESP for letting me have such a great instrument!
Sound: The 'Blackened' Black Winter pickup is very bright. Not shrill, but definitely will cut through a mix. It's incredibly clear, and touch sensitive. Very high output, which is appropriate for a guitar called the Black Metal! Features: This guitar has an alder body, which is amazing for almost all tonal aims. The raised LTD logo on the headstock is an incredibly nice touch! The Grovers are smooth, and stable, and the OFR is also stable and reliable. Ease of Use: This is where this, and just about every other LTD I've purchased shines. The fretwork is immaculate. I have the action at .75mm, and it doesn't buzz, for those who aren't familiarwith action measurements, this is incredibly low. The pickup height was perfect right out of the box. The only thing I needed to adjust was the truss rod, it had a bit too much relief. But once that was done, it plays like butter and sounds brutal! Quality: This guitar has absolutely no quality control issues, and feels extremely well made. As stated above, it has all high end appointments, such as a Seymour Duncan pickup, OFR, and grover tuners. It functions amazingly. Value: Absolutely. I'm a Jackson fanboy 90% of the time, but I can say (and zZounds can verify) I've had to return multiple Jackson products and never a single LTD. The Jacksons cost more, and have less. Manufacturer Support: I haven't needed to deal with ESP, as I've never had an issue with their products. The Wow Factor: When you're playing this guitar, if feels metal. The guitar is so easy to play, and sounds so brutal. I can't recommend it enough if you like to play extreme genres of music. Overall: LTD never disappoints. This guitar is metal as it gets, and plays fantastically.Matheau
9. Esp Ltd Ex Black Metal Electric Guitar – Black Satin
Product Details:
Frightening, fierce, fearless. the esp ltd ex black metal is monstrous in shape and truly decimating in sound. showcasing a mahogany body and maple neck, the design is sleek enough for sumptuous playability and strong enough to handle any aggressive performance. fret effortlessly on a thin neck with 'u' contour and soar seamlessly across an exquisite ebony fingerboard. a tonepros locking tune-o-matic bridge and tailpiece then provide incredible sturdiness and tuning stability. the ltd ex black metal is loaded with an emg 81 pickup for a tone that encompasses incredible crunch and gloriously crisp highs. it is the ultimate pickup for a powerful, wall-trembling tone. but this guitar is not just menacing in sound, it also has a striking aesthetic to match. high-quality components such as stainless steel frets, glow-in-the-dark side markers, and a black metal ltd logo on the headstock make the guitar both endearing and dramatic.
Specifications:
| Body Type | Offset Solid Body |
| Body wood | Mahogany |
| Body finish | Satin |
| Neck shape | Thin U |
| Neck wood | Maple |
| Joint | Set-in |
| Scale length | 24.75" |
| Truss rod | Standard |
| Neck finish | Satin |
| Fret size | Extra-jumbo |
| Number of frets | 22 |
| Nut width | 1.65" |
| Configuration | H |
| Bridge | EMG Humbucker |
| Control layout | Master volume |
| Bridge type | Fixed Bridge |
| Bridge design | TonePros Locking TOM |
| Tuning machines | Locking |
| Number of strings | 6 String |
| Orientation | Right-Handed |
| Country of Origin | Indonesia |
Reviews:
Overall: I was feeling totally Corona bummed out. Uninspired, depressed, just a big pile of blahhhh. I had been wanting an esp for a minute and popped on zZounds and ended up checking this ltd out. So stoked I did! Had to do a couple adjustments, trem spring tension adjustment (slight) and then tune up , with grover, radical (non locking tuners!! These just are rock solid tuners.. with this setup, after your strings are broken in of course– it will stay in tune Fer dayyyyzzz) so I plugged into my hot Rodded 6505+ with biased jj tubes,,, and this is just a beast of a guitar . Finish is flawless, cannot tell the difference between this and my buddies Japanese ESP. Knobs are rad and solid, push/pull pot on one–which adds a killer flavor. Then there's the emgs, just pure metal and I can get killer, rich, warm tones on the cleans too. Basically, I'm a changed man. I was jamming with my door open and a hot chicken walked by and smiled. Yep. Music is the universal language and I am happy. All kidding aside, this is a great guitar and has my full approval. I'm an esp fan big time now!! Thank you zZounds for trusting me again !! I have soo many rad guitars and amps from you guys!!
this is the best guitar I've ever had. I thought my best guitar had been Japanise Jackson with two hot rails and a humbucker in the bridge. The second one was LTD EC-1000 I bought in Music Store as well. But I must admit that my new ESP LTD Black Metal Satin is far better in my opinion than both my guitars with SD and EMG pickups. I think the name of the guitar "Black metal" is just a kind of a stereotype and may put someone off buying it if you are not a Black metal head. I do like various metal genres , however, I'm not a fan of death and black metal, but I had been 100 per cent sure that this guitar would satisfy my metal taste anyway. I It looks agressive and it is definitely prone to metal but not only for "Black" or "Death". If you like Steel Panther or Gus G, you would be pleased with this monstrous axe! The sound provided by SD Blackened winter pickup is just what you really need to get the best metal sound ever. String separation in every chord you play is both clean and powerful simultaneously. If you want to shred, you won't regret it as well. This metal masterpice will be my favourite guitar for years! And yes, I 've immediately taken to one H pickup and a Floyd rose-no more you need for creating a great sound. Thank you Music Store and ESP for letting me have such a great instrument!
Sound: The 'Blackened' Black Winter pickup is very bright. Not shrill, but definitely will cut through a mix. It's incredibly clear, and touch sensitive. Very high output, which is appropriate for a guitar called the Black Metal! Features: This guitar has an alder body, which is amazing for almost all tonal aims. The raised LTD logo on the headstock is an incredibly nice touch! The Grovers are smooth, and stable, and the OFR is also stable and reliable. Ease of Use: This is where this, and just about every other LTD I've purchased shines. The fretwork is immaculate. I have the action at .75mm, and it doesn't buzz, for those who aren't familiarwith action measurements, this is incredibly low. The pickup height was perfect right out of the box. The only thing I needed to adjust was the truss rod, it had a bit too much relief. But once that was done, it plays like butter and sounds brutal! Quality: This guitar has absolutely no quality control issues, and feels extremely well made. As stated above, it has all high end appointments, such as a Seymour Duncan pickup, OFR, and grover tuners. It functions amazingly. Value: Absolutely. I'm a Jackson fanboy 90% of the time, but I can say (and zZounds can verify) I've had to return multiple Jackson products and never a single LTD. The Jacksons cost more, and have less. Manufacturer Support: I haven't needed to deal with ESP, as I've never had an issue with their products. The Wow Factor: When you're playing this guitar, if feels metal. The guitar is so easy to play, and sounds so brutal. I can't recommend it enough if you like to play extreme genres of music. Overall: LTD never disappoints. This guitar is metal as it gets, and plays fantastically.Matheau
10. Fender American Performer Stratocaster Hss, Maple – Black
Product Details:
Delivers the exceptional tone and feel you expect from an authentic fender. doubletap humbucking pickup, that make it even more inspiring to play. flat-staggered pole pieces to increase output and a shellac coating that lets the coil breathe while controlling feedback. born in corona, california, the american performer stratocaster hss delivers the exceptional tone and feel you expect from an authentic fender—with new enhancements, like the doubletap humbucking pickup, that make it even more inspiring to play. the american performer stratocaster hss includes the yosemite single-coil pickups—designed for rich, expressive tones—and a doubletap humbucking bridge pickup. this unique, patent-applied-for design combines humbucking and single-coil voices, while eliminating volume loss in single-coil mode. with flat-staggered pole pieces to increase output and the single-coil pickups’ shellac coating and humbucking pickup’s wax potting that lets the coil breathe while controlling feedback, yosemite & doubletap pickups produce dynamic sounds ideal for any musical situation. the american performer stratocaster hss also features greasebucket tone circuitry, along with a push-pull tone control to control the doubletap humbucking pickup. the “modern c”-shaped neck sports a 9.5”-radius fingerboard that’s comfortable for almost any playing style, along with 22 jumbo frets for effortless and accurate bending.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Alder |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | C modern |
| Neck wood | Maple |
| Joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale length | 25.5 in. |
| Truss rod | Dual-action |
| Neck finish | Satin |
| Radius | 9.5 in. |
| Fret size | Jumbo |
| Number of frets | 22 |
| Inlays | Dot |
| Nut width | 1.65 in. (42 mm) |
| Configuration | HSS |
| Neck | Yosemite single-coil |
| Middle | Yosemite single-coil |
| Bridge | DoubleTap humbucker |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Parallel |
| Special electronics | Push/Pull coil-tap |
| Control layout | Master volume, tone 1, tone 2 |
| Pickup switch | 5-way |
| Coil tap or split | Coil tap |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Bridge design | 6-point synchronized |
| Tuning machines | Fender ClassicGear |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | United States |
Reviews:
I bought the Honey Burst because I didn't have a burst and honestly not a big fan of "bursts." But when I saw this honey, and it lacking a really dark edge like most bursts do I decided to play it. Sounded fantastic, played so sweetly, just as fine as my Miami Blue American Pro II, and my American Showcase. Don't spend the extra money on one of those if you're on a budget, tryin to save some money, but want USA made, this performer stacks right up with them, you won't be missing much if anything. I uploaded a YT vid, its my American Showcase, In the process of making a vid of this Performer, like sub and stay tuned! If you mention this review and leave a link to on of your vids I will reciprocate!CHARLES
Manufacturer Support: Did not contact manufacturer. Overall: I just got done demoing the floor model at my local big box store and I have to same I'm really impressed. For comparison, my main Strat is an American Special with three single coil Texas Special pickups and the new Yosemite pickups and the Doubletap humbucker have a lot more output. I used a floor model Boss Katana amp (distortion) as well as a Marshall amp (clean). The Doubletap humbucker sounds great with light to heavy distortion. Even with max distortion, it is very clear and pronounced and I was able to distinguish all the notes being played without it sounding muddy (first position and coil split off.) The second position (coil split off) sounds amazing. Even with heavy distortion, I was able to get some great sounding blues solos with the first and second position. With positions three, four and five, I was able to get those classic Strat tones that everyone loves. Going from humbucker to the single coil via coil split, the pickup still seemed to have a higher output than the Texas Specials. Just to make sure it wasn't the coil split, I also demoed the traditional three single coil setup and still, they seemed very hot. I played the opening riff and the solo to Paranoid and was very happy by the sounds the guitar made but the clean sounds are what really sold me. I played various chords (major, minor, 7th, different positions, coil split on/off, etc.) and was not disappointed at all by what I heard. To me, it sounds very different from any other Strat I've played. I use my current Strat as an all round guitar but that's soon to change. The finish is satin and for those who haven't played a guitar with a satin finish, the finish may feel a little rough as if it needs to be sanded but it doesn't. I prefer a gloss finish myself but that aspect can be easily overlooked if you want an amazing sounding guitar.Russell
Tim Shaw double tap humbucker with yosemite pickups great combo! Covers a wide range. The humbucker in the bridge gives you that fat extra distortion. And when you want that single coil sound pull up on the tone knob and split the coils. Well balanced. Plus you can still get that Sweet Home Alabama sound in position 2 with the HB in single coil mode ! Yosemite Pu's have classic Strat tone in clean channel. The rosewood neck plays and feels good. Came set up out of the box. Fender did a nice job on their Performer Series. Definitely worthy. Kudos!Mikeb
11. Ibanez Rg450dxb Electric Guitar White
Product Details:
The rg is the most recognizable and distinctive guitar in the ibanez line. three decades of metal have forged this high-performance machine, honing it for both speed and strength. this rg450dx model has a basswood body and a wizard iii neck shape that offers maximum comfort and speed. its fingerboard is rosewood with 24 jumbo frets for bigger note bends and it also comes with triple ibanez inf pickups that are wired to a 5-way switch for a variety of coil combinations and sounds. an edge-zero tremolo bridge and cosmo black hardware complete the list of hard-rockin' appointments. – wizard iii maple neck – ibanez's thin, flat, and fast, yet strong and sturdy, wizard neck offers unlimited playability for demanding players, and features a two-octave 24-fret fretboard for wide tonal range. – quantum pickups – the quantum pickups provide accelerated bass response for exceptionally fast tracking of high-speed staccato riffing with crushing mid range and precise high-end articulation. – edge-zero ii tremolo – lower profile designed tremolo for playing comfort, and stud lock function for stable tuning. – case sold separately. – neck type: wizard iii maple neck – body: mahogany body – fretboard: bound rosewood fretboard w/sharktooth inlay – fret: jumbo frets – bridge: std. dl tremolo bridge – neck pickup: quantum (h) neck pickup (passive/ceramic)middle pickup: quantum (s) mid pickup (passive/alnico)bridge pickup: quantum (h) bridge pickup (passive/ceramic)hardware color: cosmo black – case sold separately
Specifications:
| Neck type | Wizard III maple neck |
| Top/back/body | Meranti body |
| Fretboard | Bound jatoba fretboard and sharktooth inlay |
| Fret | Jumbo frets |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Bridge | F106 bridge |
| String space | 10.5mm |
| Neck pickup | Quantum (H) neck pickup (Passive/Ceramic) |
| Middle pickup | Quantum (S) middle pickup (Passive/Alnico |
| Bridge pickup | Quantum (H) bridge pickup (Passive/Ceramic) |
| Factory tuning | 1E,2B,3G,4D,5A,6E |
| Strings | D'Addario EXL120 |
| String gauge | .009/.011/.016/.024/.032/.042 |
| Nut | Locking nut |
| Hardware color | Black |
| Scale | 648mm (25.5 inch) |
| a. Width | 43mm at NUT |
| b. Width | 58mm at 24F |
| c. Thickness | 19mm at 1F |
| d. Thickness | 21mm at 12F |
| Radius | 400mmR |
| Recommended case | M300C |
Reviews:
There is plenty to like about this guitar, and I got it for the features I was looking for: locking tremelo, 24 frets, fast neck, 5 way pickup selector, and nice looks. My first impressions of the guitar was slight disappointment with how sloppy Ibanez was. The tops and bottoms of the frets needed to be beveled as they were pretty sharp, there was a noticeable nick on the fretboard, and there was a black smudge on the back of the neck. None of those was a huge deal. The main two issues I have with the guitar are that the middle pickup, the single coil, has such low output that the middle three positions are much quieter than the neck or bridge pickups alone. I do like the tone of the single coil in conjunction with the humbuckers, but those positions are somewhat useless considering how quiet they are, and I have ordered a humbucker to replace it. The single coil alone (middle position) has too much noise AND is too quiet. Not a big deal to replace a pickup, but why they are selling it this way, I'm not sure. The second issue is the volume control. Instead of a gradual swell, there is a sharp dropoff in volume at one point in the rotation of the dial, making it pretty much useless other than having it full on or all the way off. I am not sure if that is fixable, but if it is, I'll need to have that done as well. All that said, if the guitar had not arrived in such sloppy condition and the two problems were resolved, I'd give this guitar 5 stars.hickory spork
The Ibanez RG 450 or any of the RG's are with the exception of the factory p/u and electronic. capable of becoming one of the best performance guitars to own. The base Ibanez Floyd Rose system is fiddley but, after learning how to adjust/tune quickly becomes appreciated for holding tune no matter the severity of attacks you use with the tremolo. The Wizard(ll or lll ?) You would need to go to custom built to exceed the easy play and comfortable frets you will find on and RG. This recent RG450 I upgraded to equal the higher priced models by adding the De Marzio Tone Zone (B), Air Norton (N). And instead of going with the True Velvet. Added the Seymour Duncan Vintage Hot Stack for the middle position and added better electrics to even out the upgrades.. End result; This guitar plays and sound equal to guitars costing over $1,000.00!! Good bones! Yes this can be played well and many will find happiness with this as stock., and, will perform well against the competition dollar for dollar!ikeus
I used to own an '89 Ibanez VBK JEM that I regrettably sold to buy a gaming pc. I wanted to get a newer entry level RG so I could have a floyd,HSH superstrat in E standard. I've had this RG for long enough to know it's a keeper. This thing has the same feel and vibe of my old JEM! Minus the monkey grip and other features obviously. The neck feels fantastic and I only had to do very minor setup adjustments to my liking. I would have liked a rosewood or ebony fingerboard but of course this is the lower end model. The Jatoba feels good under the fingers, similar to rosewood but with a slightly lighter shade to it. Like most guitars you buy online mine came desperately needing some good oil and cleaning. The Jatoba fingerboard seems to require a bit more lubrication than rosewood. The neck binding is done well, not perfect but to a good standard. I do wish the trem was an Edge lo-pro… But again, this is the lower priced model. There is nothing wrong with the Edge tremolo, it stays in tune well with whammy bar abuse but it is one of the bulkier Original Floyd Rose style bridges. The stock Quantum pickups are among the best stock Ibanez pickups I've tried. They are hot but versatile. However I did swap them out with the classic Dimarzio Air Norton/Steves Special combo and a True Velvet middle. I do believe a higher end Ibanez will obviously sound better than this but for the price it really is hard to beat! Well done Ibanez and AMS!Nevin
12. Strandberg Boden Metal Nx 6 Black Granite
Product Details:
Visually sleek and futuristic, the metal nx model was designed for over-the-top metal sounds that are still articulate and expressive as well as being exceptionally versatile to cover various other genres of music. the name of this model certainly belies what is hidden beneath its aggressive yet refined look. from brutal heavy to crystalline clean and everything in between, the metal delivers them all with authority and supreme musicality. the 6-string model now features the passive suhr aldrich set for a more organic feel while delivering loads of punchy output for high-gain distortion.
Specifications:
| Finish | Black Granite |
| Year | 2021 |
| Body Shape | Double Cutaway |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Top-Load |
| Finish Style | Satin |
| Fretboard Material | Composite |
| Fretboard Radius | 20" |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Offset Body | Yes |
| Pickup Configuration | HH |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25" |
Reviews:
This is my first strandberg guitar, purchased from GuitarGuitar in the UK. The service was exceptional, and they even helped me to set up the guitar before shipping it out to me. I'm new to the world of headless guitars, and I've always been a fan of S-style and T-style guitars, and I wasn't sure how I would adapt to the feel of the strandberg, especially the endurneck and the flat radius on the fretboard. That said, after reading lots of reviews on how strandbergs have helped people to be able to play for longer hours, I decided to take the plunge. It has now been about two weeks, and I will say that a strandberg is all that they say it is. It's incredibly light and ergonomic, and the endurneck really helps to promote good left hand placement. I can stand for hours and practice, and I don't feel that there's an ache in my left shoulder. Fit and finish was perfect, and the frets were polished very well. Bends are a breeze, and the low action makes it play like butter. The stock pickups are also amazingly versatile. It's a guitar that sounds and plays great right out of the box. Thanks again strandberg, and Sarah, for working together to make such a lovely instrument. I can see myself getting more strandbergs!Daniel
First, I have been waiting for this guitar for about 4 months. Going back to mid 2021, I had 13 guitars ( Gibson, Fender, Schecter, Ibanez, Music Man etc) but wanted to focus on getting better at the guitar and only have one great 6 and 7 string. When doing research on guitars. I came across Sarah’s music and the Strandberg guitar. Because I never played one I was a bit hesitant to get one based on the reviews compared to the actual guitar. I was shocked when I got my first Strandberg, which was the prog 6 it was just an overall amazing guitar. When this guitar became available a few weeks ago I was excited I could finally get the original Strandberg I wanted. As a result, I sold my prog 6 to get this specific model. Overall, this guitar is just amazing. The neck is smoother and more comfortable then any other guitar I ever owed or played. At first I was hesitant about the OEM pickups and figured I could just swap them out. But I am very pleased with them. They provide a great clean and/or distorted sound. So after adjusting my setting in my plug-ins I really love the way this guitar sounds. Again, overall I just love everything about this guitar and extremely happy I was able to finally get one.Cory Z.
The Boden 6 DR Titanium is a great all-around guitar. It’s very appropriate for almost all styles of play and is manufactured to a very high standard. This is my second Strandberg. I met Ola at the 2020 NAMM show (I had not heard of Strandberg and did not know who he was!). He took the time to introduce me to his line of guitars and why they were engineered differently. I found them extremely comfortable to play. I ordered one when I returned home from the show and was surprised to discover that my "salesman" at the NAMM booth was none other than THE man, lol. My first one was a Boden Prog 6 which I had refinished in a nice sunset burst by Adrian Moreno which made its way onto the Strandberg Instagram page recently. I am playing the Boden DR a lot now, as I tend to slightly prefer non-trem guitars. I find the DR and the Prog have very different sounds, probably due to the different pickups. The Prog 6 can emulate some great “strat”-type sounds as well as more traditional hum bucker sounds. The Boden DR sounds a bit more like a PRS than a Fender to me, but it’s really unique in its sound. Very warm and full sounding to my ear. Thanks Ola for taking me down the garden path and for making such great stuff. Now if I could just find somewhere that has a Prog 5 bass in stock…Randy B.
13. Squier Bullet Mustang Hh Electric Guitar (Black)
Product Details:
Get the guitar that's designed for students with the squier bullet mustang hh, black & yamaha ga-15ii bundle. the squier mustang's short scale and light weight makes it a perfect companion for both students and beginners. chords are easy to performant and notes can be bent with ease. its set of humbuckers makes it ideal for all musical styles – even high-gain genres like rock and metal. its basswood body, maple neck, and laurel fingerboard provide you with a comfortable play, while the high-quality hardware keeps your performance stable. the yamaha ga-15ii features two channels to experiment with, while its 3-band eq lets you personalise your tone and discover new sounds. deliver classic fender tones with the squier affinity mustang and produce powerful soundscapes with the yamaha ga-15ii amp.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Poplar |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | C |
| Neck wood | 1-piece Maple |
| Joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale length | 24 in. |
| Truss rod | Standard |
| Neck finish | Satin |
| Radius | 12 in. |
| Fret size | Medium jumbo |
| Number of frets | 22 |
| Inlays | Dot |
| Nut width | 1.656 in. (42 mm) |
| Configuration | HH |
| Neck | Standard humbucking |
| Bridge | Standard humbucking |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Series |
| Piezo | No |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Master volume, tone |
| Pickup switch | 3-way |
| Coil tap or split | No |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Fixed |
| Bridge design | 6-saddle |
| Tailpiece | String thru body |
| Tuning machines | Die-cast sealed |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
Reviews:
I picked up the Surf Green Ltd Ed. Bullet Mustang a few days ago off the rack. They had two. One had rusty strings and sharp frets but the one I picked was almost perfect. These Mustangs are great for smaller learners and older guitarists that may enjoy the lighter string tension due to the short scale. I love the sound of both humbuckers. The bridge one gives you a nice grungy Nirvana like tone while the neck is smoother but both love to be driven. I picked up the Imperial Blue Mustang HH a few weeks ago. They both use the same humbuckers, The only difference I believe is the wood type, Basswood vs Poplar. Both guitars are quite light with the Basswood Surf Green one being somewhat lighter.These Mustangs are ideal for modding but for now I've only changed the cheap pickguard on this Surf Green one, putting a Tortoise Shell on it. So far I'm loving both of them and my Fender P90 Mustang is getting quite lonely.Tingman
First of all, this is a ton of value for the price. I got it on sale which made it even a bigger steal. Now, this guitar needs a lot of setup out of the box. You should polish the frets since they are as coarse as beach sand. Otherwise, string bends will be impossible and will most likely damage the cheap supplied strings (which should be changed immediately as with most new guitars). Expect some fret buzz, so be ready to adjust the saddles and the truss rod (I like my action quite low so this was a minor tweak for me). The intonation was actually quite close to perfect, it only needed a bit of tweaking on the A string. The nut and string trees are the ones you typically get on Squiers, which are good enough but won't do wonders for your tuning and should be replaced unless you are patient enough to tune your guitar every so often. Be sure to change these first before changing the tuners/bridge if you have tuning problems, I haven't changed the tuners or bridge on mine and don't plan to – they just work. Finally, the pickups are surprisingly good for the price, not too mellow and you can get some nice tones from the bridge pickup. You might soon outgrow them, though, and might opt for better humbuckers or P90s. For all these reasons, this guitar is not the best as a first guitar or for beginners unless it gets a proper setup first or if you're really planning to learn how to setup or change electronics/other parts in a guitar. However, those are the same reasons (plus the low price and simple design) that make this a really fun modding platform, and if you don't feel like modding it, with the right amount of work it's still amazing. It's light as a feather and the neck is very fast; you can probably muscle through hours of playing with barely any effort at all. The stock tones are reasonable enough, and in my opinion it looks awesome. You can't get a better deal for the money once you're aware of the above.Carlos, M
I like this guitar because of the 24" scale length. Everything else was pretty bad out of the box. The strings were a 1/4" off the fretboard. The fretboard was super dry. There was fret sprout. The frets felt like sandpaper on bends. The E strings are too close to the edge of the fretboard. When you play you're constantly hitting the pickup selector switch. The finish on the neck is supposed to be satin but it looks unfinished to me and there are light and dark areas on the neck which look bad. It is the worst finish on a neck I've ever seen on a guitar and I'm going to have to put some kind of finish on it. Trying to load strings is tricky and not as easy as on most other guitars you have to bend the end of the strings to get them to load. So that is the bad. The good? The tuners are your typical Chinese tuners that come on all cheap guitars these days, and they are fine. The pickups sound good. The 24" scale is great and really fun to play bends on!Steve
14. Ibanez As93fm Artcore Expressionist Hollow Body Electric Guitar (Violin Sunburst)
Product Details:
For a decade now, ibanez has energized the hollow-body segment with a wide range of designs-from rockin' hybrids to straight-up jazz-boxes. with the introduction of its new expressionist line, ibanez has begun yet another chapter in the story of its acclaimed artstar series. built with tone woods selected for their beauty as well as their musicality, the expressionist line covers the wide range of styles for which ibanez hollow and semi-hollow bodies are known. the semi-hollow as93fm features flamed maple top, back, and sides, and handsome ivory binding on the body, headstock, and fingerboard. an expertly crafted 3pc maple/ mahogany set-in neck ensures body liveliness and is fitted with a rich ebony fretboard with silky contrasting pearl block inlays. the tortoise shell colored pickguard provides an gorgeous appearance. the ibanez-original quik change iii tailpiece enables fast and easy string changing. jazz fans will recognize the ibanez original super 58 custom pickups-the preferred pickup of george benson, pat metheny, and john scofield used in their own signature models. these pickups provide warm, balanced articulation, and excellent response. super 58s are at home in variety of genres.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Semi-hollow or chambered body |
| Top wood | Flamed Maple |
| Body wood | Maple |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Not specified |
| Neck wood | Mahogany/Maple |
| Joint | Set-in |
| Scale length | 24.75 in. |
| Radius | 12" |
| Fret size | medium |
| Number of frets | 22 |
| Inlays | Pearl block |
| Nut width | 43 mm |
| Configuration | HH |
| Neck | Super 58 Custom |
| Bridge | Super 58 Custom |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Piezo | No |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Volume 1, volume 2, tone 1, tone 2 |
| Pickup switch | 3-way |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Fixed |
| Bridge design | Tune-o-matic |
| Tailpiece | Stopbar |
| Tuning machines | Not specified |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | Indonesia |
Reviews:
Sound: The stock pickups sound great especially with high gain. Nice crunch and break up. Features: For me the reason that I bought this model is that it is the least expensive way to get a real Edge tremolo. I can do subtle things with the Edge that I can’t do on an Original Floyd Rose. The bar is easier to position and it stays where ever you put it. As long as the torsion bushings on the bar aren’t worn out, the pop in bar is neither too tight or too sloppy. Value: This guitar is worth every penny. Manufacturer Support: I did not use Ibanez customer service and I did order half a dozen sets of torsion bushings, but had to order them from different places. The Wow Factor: I love the color of this one, Desert Sun Yellow. Overall: In the last 2 months I’ve bought 5 different Ibanez guitars, both lower and higher price. I must say that this guitar is the most bang for the buck out of any of my 21 guitars that I own.Got more than 200 bucks off on mine as it was sold as a slight blemish. When the guitar arrived, I noticed it did have a hairline crack in the paint on the bass side at the neck pocket. That was the only flaw I could find and it probably would have happened anyway if I would have got a “new” one.This is the shreddiest guitar that I have. The only thing that I had to address is that the 6th fret was a little proud. Other than that the fret job was good. All the frets were shiny and smooth and no fret sprout.This is the guitar that is at the price point where if you spend more money, you aren’t going to get much better. And the fit and finish were top notch.Scott
Overall: This guitar was a total impulse buy and I’m so glad I bought it! It’s easily worth twice the price of it. Can’t get too many mid tier guitars that are neck thru with decent pickups and a 5-way switch that has a fast and slim neck at this price. I mostly play baritone 6 strings and 7 strings but I needed a 25.5” scale for drop C and this is perfect for it with 10-54 strings. I did upgrade the nut with a Graphtech tusq nut and Hipshot locking tuners with knurled tuner buttons and looks even more badass while staying in perfect tune! I have an Ibanez rgib6 Iron Label 28” baritone and this is up there with that as far as quality and playability. The stock pickups aren’t bad at all and definitely surprised me cuz that’s usually the first thing I’ll change in an inexpensive guitar. As you can see by the other reviews people say it’s a great guitar and they’re not lying so if you’re on the fence about getting it then go for it! You won’t be disappointed at all and if for some reason you are then zZounds has a return policy within like 30-45 days so you won’t be stuck with a guitar you don’t love.Josh
Overall: I have been playing the epiphone les paul std for two and half years now,and started looking at semi hollows around five months ago! I did some research looked at reviews and then bought the am93 ays almost four months ago,and just love it! The body is bigger and its lighter then the les paul ,it rests real nice on the lap no strap is neaded.Pickups and tunners excellent !! I would say the neck shape is a (c ) standard! Not thin like a jackson or wizard 3 neck! With the string action low feels and plays very nice!! Flawless machine ! No sharp frets,no freting out, all notes are clear, fret boards nice and dark no gaps around the block inlays ! All smooth sealed and even. Amazing finish. Thanks to everyone at zZounds ! With the payment plan i was able to get this! im very happy and very much enjoy it
15. Ibanez Jemjrsp Steve Vai Signature Electric Guitar Yellow
Product Details:
Wizard iii maple neck mahogany body jatoba fretboard w/tree of life inlay jumbo frets double locking tremolo bridge the iconic body style of the jemjr guitar is carved from mahogany, and features the jem trademark monkey grip cut near the upper horn, along with a white finish. steve vai prefers the metal industry standard h-s-h schematic for maximized tonal versatility. the jem jr features a trio of ibanez infinty pickups. the humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions feature ceramic magnets that reproduce more harmonic overtones than conventional humbucking pickups. the single coil pickup in the middle delivers a more traditional tone. the simplified controls include a master volume, master tone, and a 5-way switch providing endless tonal variations and slabs of explosive tone. the ibanez jemjr also gives you an ultra-thin fast-playing maple neck, carved to mr. vai s exacting specs. steve vai has always been partial to slim neck profiles that maximize ease of playability and enable him to play at blazing velocity. the 24-fret jem neck boasts an extremely flat 15.74 radius, and a jatoba fretboard adorned with steve vai s tree of life inlay. the ibanez double-locking tremolo system makes tuning easier and faster as well as providing stable tuning that will withstand long performances, all while maintaining smooth tremolo playing. loss of tuning is kept to a minimum, even through aggressive dive-bomb licks or when a string breaks. case not included.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Solid Mahogany |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Wizard |
| Neck wood | Maple |
| Joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale length | 25.5 in. |
| Truss rod | Standard |
| Radius | 15.75 in. |
| Fret size | Jumbo |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Nut width | 1.69 in. (43 mm) |
| Configuration | HSH |
| Neck | High output humbucker |
| Middle | Vintage single-coil |
| Bridge | High output humbucker |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Series |
| Piezo | No |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Master volume, tone |
| Pickup switch | 5-way |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Bridge design | Licensed double locking tremolo |
| Tuning machines | Die-cast |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | Indonesia |
Reviews:
I wish I had purchased this a long time ago. It was a champ right out of the box. This is one of the very few times in 50 years of buying guitars that I actually purchased an instrument and not a project. I’m amazed at how well it was set up to rock from the get-go. AMS must take great care of their stock because this was perfection in a box when i got it. Crisp and clean, aesthetically astounding. The sound encompasses everything I look for but i got it in this one guitar. Rough and rugged tones for grinding out ripping leads, sweet mellow tones for ambient music, unmatchable warm and hot tones for clean country and soothing jazz. You just cannot beat this guitar in quality and sound in this price range! You gotta get one of these!DC Collins
I’ve read almost every single review on this model and the overall take was hit or miss. Well I musta lucked out because this thing plays great! I had no paint blemishes, was smooth around the monkey grip, frets level, neck relatively straight and after a home set up, twice oiling the fretboard, with a fresh set of Super Slinky’s dropped down half a step she was solid. Tremolo unit not as bad as I had read or expected. The bar will get loose after use but I’ve got it holding tune very well. You can’t pull the bar up like the big brother Jems without an almost immediate fret out and the obvious answer is raise the bridge but then the action is too high to enjoy playing. Pickups are really decent. They clean up well. Was probably the main factor over the White or Black. The White Jr just looked and felt plain in comparison. After owning a JEM7v and playing a thousand gigs on it this is a nice little reminder of what fun that was!Ryan
Purchased in Westminster, CA Sam Ash store. Had a hard time locating these in SoCal stores. Their online store said it was in their inventory, but it was not on display. Bryan, my sales rep, located the guitar and setup and tuned as quickly as possible. He located an amp to suit my style and plugged me in. He was very attentative, well spoken and enthusiastic – asking questions that were very helpful. Big shout out to Bryan for all his heolp and personability. This Jem Jr in Pink acheived all the tones I was looking for in one guitar from clean to shred. Pretty sturdy and stayed in tune quite well even after thrashing the trem bar to see if I could get a string to break. No fret edges, though the fretboard was dry (oiled then neck at home). No scratchy pots or finish issues. The weight was pleasant and easy to carry around. Got a great deal from Sam Ash and their service was good and meaningful and I left with a sense of a solid purchase. Will visit this store again and I recommend the Jem Jr if you can't afford the upper end Jem guitars.BaconFire
16. Fender American Ultra Stratocaster Hss Maple Fingerboard Ultraburst
Product Details:
The fender american ultra stratocaster electric guitar features a maple “modern d” neck bolted onto an alder or ash body in the iconic strat shape. the speedy 10”-14” compound-radius maple fingerboard has rolled edges for added comfort, and 22 medium-jumbo frets mean effortless and accurate soloing. this special hss model offers three proprietary vintage ultra noiseless pickups with a humbucker in the bridge position, plus advanced controls (master volume, dual individual tone, 5-way switching) to provide endless tonal possibilities – without hum. this model also has a fender tremolo bridge for classic whammy action, locking tuning machines to ensure precise tone and chrome hardware to keep you looking as good as you sound. this versatile, state-of-the-art instrument will inspire you to push your playing to new heights.includes molded hardshell case.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double Cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Alder or ash |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Neck shape | D |
| Neck wood | Maple |
| Joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale length | 25.5" |
| Radius | Compound |
| Fret size | Medium jumbo |
| Number of frets | 22 |
| Inlays | Dot |
| Nut material | Bone |
| Configuration | HSS |
| Neck | Proprietary Single Coil |
| Middle | Proprietary Single Coil |
| Bridge | Proprietary Humbucker |
| Control layout | Master volume, Individual tone, Individual tone |
| Pickup switch | 5-Way |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Tuning machines | Locking |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Country of Origin | United States |
Reviews:
Sound: The vintage tone noiseless pickups are perfect for what I wanna play on this guitar. All my other are humbuckers, high gain passive and active humbuckers at that, so the vintage tone single coils give me that sound I simply cannot get from my other guitars. Granted, my other guitars have split coil options, but there is a noticeable difference between a split humbucker and a noiseless single coil. Features: The S1 switch serves me no purpose, just turns the tone into mud. Ease of Use: It's not rocket science, but I'm used to 3way pickup selectors, and an all or almost nothing attitude when it comes to my other guitars volume controls, and never touch the tone controls, so for me personally there is a learning curve when it comes to all the tonal possibilities that come with a typical Strat setup.If I could change one thing on the guitar, it would be using 6100 jumbo frets, but generally speaking the guitar is a breeze to play, after a day or so… It's very stiff out of the box.The tremolo has a very nice feel to it, and the pop in arm should be standard on all trems at this point. Quality: The guitar is very well made. This is a professional guitar! Value: This is where my issue is… I just can't see how this guitar is worth $400 more than the Professional series. With everything being made on CNC machines, that little contour on the cutaway and the compound radius fingerboard seem like an unjustified mark up, the only thing on this guitar that should be a logical price mark up are the locking tuners and the pickups, neither of which equate to $400 in parts… But I liked the finishes more, and didn't feel like swapping out tuners and bridge saddles. Manufacturer Support: Never had to deal with Fender customer service. Overall: This guitar is a purists nightmare, but it's a dream to me. Compound radius fingerboard and satin neck finish are up my alley.Rob
First things first, the manager and the guys at Guitar Center in Pensacola were very helpful. About 3 weeks ago I bought the Plus Top Stratocaster and I loved the guitar but wanted to upgrade to the Ultra so I started shopping around for one and found one at a different music store down the street for a significantly lower price than what was advertised at the local Guitar Center. So I figured I would have to return my guitar to the store. When I got there I asked about the price match guarantee that Guitar Center provides and I brought it up to them that I found the Cobra Blue Ultra guitar at a lower price at another store and after a few minutes and the manager doing some research he pretty much told me " if you're are going to buy this guitar, I would rather you buy it from us " I was very surprised. In my mind I thinking that he was going to come up with some sort of excuse to not match the price. That is what customer service is all about!!!! Middle finger to other stores! From here on out I am a lifelong customer of Guitar Center. Oh and this guitar is the best of the best!! It's like being handed the keys to a brand new Corvette ( or a Ford Cobra, whichever you prefer). So, hands down the best guitar and the best customer service you could ask for!! I'm already looking forward to getting an Ultra Tele this year!Steve
This is my third Fender. I previously owned an "standard" Ultra that I traded towards another guitar, and I also currently own a Lincoln Brewster model strat. While those guitars are very good, the Ultra Luxe is next level. The craftsmanship, feel and sound of this guitar truly deserves the "Luxe" name. Before ordering, my biggest concerns were how the stainless steel frets would affect the tone and how the new neck shape would feel. But I have ordered from Musicians Friend off and on since the late 90's and have always had excellent service, so I figured I could return the guitar it I didn't like it. Both concerns were put to rest within moments after plugging in. The tone is definitely that unmistakable Fender strat sound and I had no trouble dialing a nice funk and a very serviceable SRV tone. You can also get a pretty good variety of other tones thanks to the switching. I was kind of expecting a thin neck shape based on reviews/descriptions that I read, but it is pleasantly thick without being too chunky. I can't stand thin Ibanez style necks and thankfully the neck on the Luxe is not like that. It fits the hand nicely. Not a chunky as the Lincoln Brewster model (which I also really like) but feels a little thicker than the neck on the standard Ultra. I believe it has the same bridge found on the standard Ultra model which is the push-in style. So no thread to wear out over time. Overall, I am so happy that I bought this and it has already become my new #1 guitar.Matt
17. Squier Classic Vibe '60s Jazzmaster – Olympic White
Product Details:
Body and neck a four-screw bolt-on neck connects the poplar body and maple neck – a relatively lightweight yet sturdy combination. you’ll feel right at home on the c-shaped neck profile with an easy playing 9.5” radius. extremely comfortable for the fretting hand and great for chords. the indian laurel fingerboard evokes true classic vibes and feels smooth underneath the tall and narrow frets. these are a real throwback to mid-twentieth century guitars, unlike most modern variants equipped with jumbo frets. sound jazzmasters usually favour soapbar pickups, and the classic vibe is no different. the fender-designed sing coils produce an old-school growl great for rock, indie or blues. the neck pickup is fat yet has plenty of bite and sounds excellent for clean rhythm. while the bridge pickup provides a more aggressive tone. hardware the jazzmaster utilises a classic floating bridge system for strong bends or smooth tremolo effects. you can get truly creative with your playing. it also features a 1960s inspired large headstock, nickel-plated hardware and a tinted gloss neck finish to get you in the swinging sixties mood.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Poplar |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | C |
| Neck wood | Maple |
| Joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale length | 25.5 in. |
| Truss rod | Standard |
| Neck finish | Tinted |
| Radius | 9.5 in. |
| Fret size | Narrow tall |
| Number of frets | 21 |
| Inlays | Dot |
| Nut width | 1.65 in. (42 mm) Bone |
| Configuration | SS |
| Neck | Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil |
| Bridge | Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Parallel |
| Special electronics | Specially-Voiced Rhythm and Lead Circuit Controls |
| Control layout | Master volume, tone, |
| Lead Circuit Controls (Slide Switch Down) | Volume (Neck), Volume (Bridge), Master Tone |
| Rhythm Circuit Controls (Slide Switch Up) | Two Thumbwheel Controls for Neck Pickup |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Tuning machines | Vintage-style |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | Indonesia |
Reviews:
Sound: Today's guitars are all made on cnc's unless you get something like a US made G&L, those are cut out with bandsaws and routers, like fenders in the 50s up to the 70s. The neck pocket in mine is very clean and neat, the body routing is very clean, the frets were nice out of the box, no misaligned screws or parts, no blemishes in the finish or anything. Features: The least useful feature for a majority of people will be the rhythm circuit, it has its own volume and tone pots and is neck pickup only, with a much darker tone than the neck pickup on the lead circuit, leave the switch in the down position, and you never have to worry about it unless you want an old school jazz guitar tone. Then push that switch up. (It does old jazz guitar really well) Ease of Use: The jazzmaster has quite a bright bridge pickup, makes it well suited for surf, or spaghetti western guitar, but it also means distortion on the bridge pickup will cut through rather well. the neck pickup is strat like, but bigger and thicker. Like a strat neck pickup on steroids. Both pickups together results in a sweet soft sort of quack tone, due to the pickups being so far apart, it's not the same as a strat quack tone, but its very nice sounding. Then of course there's the neck only rhythm circuit which is very much like an old jazz tone (hence the name Jazzmaster)The pickups are generally higher output than most other fender pickups, and work well with distortion. A lot of people still think jazzmaster pickups are p90s. Nope, real jazzmaster pickups are roughly the same size, but thats where the similarities end. They don't even sound similar. This confusion is furthered by the old mexican player jazzmasters, the j mascius, and others that have P90's. Quality: Fender mexico didn't skimp on the electronic parts, the pickups are very much like a mid 60s jazzmaster in sound, even down to the gray bobbins and enamel coated coil wire. Pots are CTS, both switches and the jack are switchcraft, just like they are supposed to be. They should last forever. The trem is built well, but not exactly the same as the old ones, the trem arm is screw in, it really should be a push in arm, like all the old ones. Also, I think the hole of the trem arm in the top plate is way way too big, it only needs to be slightly bigger than the trem arm collet.The tuners are kluson like split shaft, loke fender used from the very earliest days until 68, they're not made by kluson but it doesn't matter the design is too simple to screw up. The frets are vintage, they're always described as tall and thin. They're not tall, but they are thin, it is a 60s styled guitar after all. But I think a lot of people used to 9.5 and flatter radiuses will have problems, it's a 7.25" radius fretboard, requires a bit higher action but a half hour or so of playing, you get used to it. It also has a truss rod nut at the heel of the neck, its a correct feature for all fender's prior to 1971, but man was that a bad design choice on leo fender's part. You either have to loosen the neck a lot or take it completely off to adjust neck relief, and hope you got it right.Now when I got my guitar I took it completely apart (I always do). What I found on the inside could be improved. First was an excessive amount of wire. There is a lot of wire in a jazzmaster, but they didn't even bother cutting the pickup leads to length. Both pickups had about a foot of unnecessary lead wire, so I fixed that.The other issue was a bad conductive paint job in the cavities. The jazzmaster is an electrically noisy guitar, they need all the shielding they can get. The conductive paint was one thin coat, and didn't even go up the sides of the cavities, it wasn't doing anything. From 1958 to the end of the original run around 1980 each jazzmaster had brass tubs in all the cavities, all soldered together and grounded. I don't expect that in a new jazzmaster, but they knew then that it needed shielding. The pickguard in 58 was also gold anodized aluminum, which was excellent for shielding. But the anodizing wasn't good, and the gold wore off after a few months so and looked awful. In 59 fender switched to plastic tort pickguards, with a thin pickguard sized aluminum shield underneath. Anyway I properly shielded the cavities. Also the pickguard only had aluminum tape for the toggle switch to the jack, and another piece for piece for rhythm circuit switch and pots. That ain't going to do it. I added more shielding, put it all back together and it was a major improvement. Recently I decided to see what a proper gold anodized aluminum pickguard would look like on ice blue metallic, and its VERY cool, looks like a 1960s california speed shop modded my guitar, might put some tele knobs on it sometime.I also made another modification, I had a 65 reissue trem and bridge laying around, so I put them on it. In the old days, the lock button, trem
To start with this review I would like to point out in two different sections. The buying experience with the shop and the guitar set up. 1-The buying experience was great, fast shipping, very well package, tracking feedback. No complaints at all. The guitar, as I said before, came really well package, in two cardboards and bubble plastic. 2-The guitar set up: Out of the box, the guitar set up is horrible, and let me tell you again, horrible. The worst guitar set up I have ever received. My guitar which was "inspected" by a music technician before being shipping to me. I do not know what type of inspection was that but sincerely I think the guitar was not by any means checked. It arrived with crazy fret buzzing through all the neck, gritty frets (almost impossible to do bendings), Sharpen fret edges that felt like knives cutting my fingers, super dry fretboard( I can understand this because of the Indian Laure fretboard), no neck relieve at all ( Truss rod adjustment is needed if you want to play any music with this guitar), the tremolo bridge was rattling like crazy, all strings out of intonation, not to confuse with out of tune. All these things made the playing experience awful. Now I understand why there are so many B-Stocks of this guitar. I thought that being a Chicago Music Exclusive (FSR) product will be take care much better. Do not get me wrong, this is a heck of guitar for the money but be prepared to spend an extra 150 bucks to make this guitar useable. IJ D.
My wife got me this guitar for Christmas and it has more than exceeded my expectations. I had a Fender Jaguar MIJ candy apple red back in the early 90s and it ended up missing. I’ve been waiting for a guitar like that again as it was my absolute favorite guitar to play. I saw this one online and told her this is the one I’d like to have to replace my other Jaguar. I LOVE the tone on these as they give so much depth to the mid and high ranges. The notes just ring so much depth. I must say it sounds even better than I remembered. The matching headstock is another positive for me and sold the look of the guitar. While the tremolo is a little different than I remember (tremolo bar screws in vs push into place) it is probably a better thing that it is that way now. American Musical has always shipped our orders in a few days and didn’t disappoint my wife when it showed up just a few days after ordering and was ready to play directly out of the box. I would recommend this guitar to anyone who wants that perfect surf punk sound.A. Smith
18. Jackson Dinky Arch Top Js32 Dka – Natural Oil Guitar
Product Details:
Swift, deadly and affordable, jackson js series guitars take an epic leap forward, making it easier than ever to get classic jackson tone, looks and playability without breaking the bank. the js series dinky arch top js32 dka has a poplar or nato (natural oil only) body with arched top, bolt-on maple speed neck with graphite reinforcement and a 12-16 compound-radius amaranth fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and pearloid sharkfin inlays. a pair of jackson high-output humbucking pickups with ceramic magnets cranks out clear tone with plenty of girth, and can be shaped with a three-way toggle switch and single volume and tone controls. available in several striking finishes, the js32 dka also features white neck binding and all-black hardware including a jackson-branded floyd rose double-locking tremolo bridge, standard strap buttons and die-cast tuners. one-piece bolt-on maple neck with graphite reinforcement and scarf joint a type of neck constructed with a scarf joint for an angled back headstock, which in turn increases the tension behind the nut eliminating the need for string trees and/or string retainer bars. the bolt-on neck joins the neck to the body of the guitar with screws or bolts, allowing for more control, attack and sustain. 12"-16" compound radius fingerboard jackson pioneered the use of the innovative 12"-16" compound radius design, in which the fingerboard gradually flattens toward the heel from its more rounded profile at the nut. this makes for comfortable and natural-feeling chording and riffing near the nut, with optimal shred articulation and bending nearer the heel.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Poplar or nato, depending on finish |
| Body finish | Satin |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Speed neck |
| Neck wood | 1-piece Maple |
| Joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale length | 25.5 in. |
| Truss rod | Graphite reinforced |
| Neck finish | Satin |
| Radius | Compound 12–16" |
| Fret size | Jumbo |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Inlays | Sharkfin |
| Configuration | HH |
| Neck | High output humbucker Ceramic |
| Bridge | High output humbucker Ceramic |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Parallel |
| Piezo | No |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Master volume, tone |
| Pickup switch | 3-way |
| Coil tap or split | No |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/vibrato |
| Bridge design | Floyd Rose Licensed |
| Tuning machines | Die-cast sealed |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | China |
Reviews:
I bought this guitar to serve as a backup while my main guitar, an Ibanez Premium RG1070FM, is gone several weeks for warranty repair. I needed a practice guitar with the same scale length and double-locking tremolo, and after three days, it's doing great. It's my first guitar with a poplar body, and tonally it seems similar to basswood but slightly brigher; this combination of woods and pickups makes the guitar nice for mid-heavy soloing without sounding brittle. The neck and fretboard rivals guitars costing three times as much, like the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH FR I had. The neck joint and heel is less clunky than the Charvel's when it comes to reaching frets 19-24; although playing the upper frets is better on the JS32DKA, I still prefer the All-Access Neck Joint on late model Ibanez RGs. I've been an Ibanez RG devotee for 23 years, but thanks to the JS32DKA, I'll give Jackson guitars serious consideration when I'm in the market for a gigging gutiar. I'm thinking Soloist SL2 or SL3. A few negative: 1. There was too much play in the tremolo arm, despite the inner hex screw and arm collar being fully tightened. Sadly, I've played enough entry-level guitars to know that this is a fact of life. I had spare parts, so I replaced the arm socket with and arm with Floyd Rose branded one I had lying around. The collar still needs to be tightened down after every song, but the socket itself no longer wobbles in the base plate when you pull or push the bar. 2. My bridge pickup squeals with moderate gain dialed in on my Blackstar HT Club 40 MKII amp. I have DiMarzio pickups on my Ibanez and Seymour Duncans in my Schecter, and I get no feedback with those guitars; this leads me to believe the stock pickups in the JS32 are not wax potted to prevent feedback.Indiana_Tim
I needed a comfortable guitar to record some song ideas, and this one seemed to fit the bill. The finish is really nice, although it's a lot darker in person than it is in the pictures. It's really comfortable sitting down. It seems to stay in tune, so I don't have to put locking tuners on it just yet. And now for the downsides… There's a few minor blemishes on the back of the neck, but they can probably be easily sanded out, or them might smoothen out after significant playing time. The fretboard is incredibly dry, so I recommend conditioning it with some mineral oil right away. The pickups are low quality. As in, they kinda hurt your ears when playing them. No big deal, I'm gonna switch them out for some EMG 81/60 I got lying around, so I didn't expect them to be good from the start. No big deal, really. What IS a big deal is the quality control on the frets. They are very rough, they make a scraping sound when you bend strings (which can be heard even through heavy distortion) and kills the notes real fast. I can't play it until I get them properly polished, so I get to dump some more money into it. Despite the low price, I expected more from Jackson, honestlyThijs
I love jackson guitars. I recently purchased the js32 and not being picky at all. First thing out of the box, impressed that it was really close to in tune yet immediately it had fret buzz, Could see runs in the paint as well. Ended up adjusting the truss rod, to help with fret buzz, adjusting the bridge to combat overly high action then adjusting springs in the back to compensate. By the time i had done that i also had to run the pick-ups way down due to strings touching. Literally nothing left un-adjusted in order to make it playable compared to their higher dollar guitars. 2 hours into it i could enjoy it. I think i blame fender takeover. Side note, bought a 700 dollar jackson and everything was horrible, turned out brand new, the strings were way too thick and had excessive pressure on the bridge, impossible to play.Randall Tadych
19. Jackson Js Series Dinky Arch Top Js22 Dka – Natural Oil
Product Details:
Swift, deadly and affordable, jackson js series guitars take an epic leap forward, making it easier than ever to get classic jackson tone, looks and playability without breaking the bank. the js series dinky arch top js22 dka has a poplar or nato (natural oil only) body with arched top, bolt-on maple speed neck with graphite reinforcement and a 12-16 compound-radius bound amaranth fingerboard with 24 jumbo frets and pearloid sharkfin inlays. a pair of jackson high-output humbucking pickups with ceramic magnets cranks out clear tone with plenty of girth, and can be shaped with a three-way toggle switch and single volume and tone controls. this model also features all-black hardware including a synchronized fulcrum tremolo bridge, standard strap buttons and die-cast tuners. delivering more for less, the js22 dka is available in metallic blue, natural oil, satin black or snow white finishes. one-piece bolt-on maple neck with graphite reinforcement and scarf joint a type of neck constructed with a scarf joint for an angled back headstock, which in turn increases the tension behind the nut eliminating the need for string trees and/or string retainer bars. the bolt-on neck joins the neck to the body of the guitar with screws or bolts, allowing for more control, attack and sustain. jackson high-output humbucking pickups these jackson high-output humbucking pickups are painstakingly voiced for full, rich tone while providing maximum overdrive and sustain.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Double cutaway |
| Body type | Solid body |
| Body wood | Nato |
| Body finish | Satin |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Speed neck |
| Neck wood | 1-piece Maple |
| Joint | Bolt-on |
| Scale length | 25.5 in. |
| Truss rod | Graphite reinforced |
| Neck finish | Satin |
| Radius | Compound 12–16" |
| Fret size | Jumbo |
| Number of frets | 24 |
| Inlays | Sharkfin |
| Configuration | HH |
| Neck | High output humbucker Ceramic |
| Bridge | High output humbucker Ceramic |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Parallel |
| Piezo | No |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Master volume, tone |
| Pickup switch | 3-way |
| Coil tap or split | No |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
| Bridge design | 2-point Fulcrum tremolo |
| Tuning machines | Die-cast sealed |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | China |
Reviews:
I bought this guitar as a mod platform. As such, some of its stock faults, while present, simply don't matter. Top to bottom: Tuners suck, swapped them within hours. Nut is plastic, will replace with my first GraphTech nut. Neck is very thin, very nice. Frets are a mixed bag, as they may need very little leveling or polishing, but the fret ends are the sharpest I've ever seen! Pickups sound surprisingly good, though I'm only barely tempted to keep them. Bridge is maybe okay, swapped it first thing. I should mention that the stock bridge was decked. This is no problem with an old campaigner like me, but a beginner would have frustrating problems with it. This is my first guitar with a conical ("compound") fretboard radius! Never knew it could feel this good! If you're buying one for a rank beginner, either set aside money for a good setup or find your newb some good lessons in maintenance on YouTube.Edwin
Great guitar for under $200 , got this for reduced price because of very faint blemish on the back of the body. This is my second Jackson , also have the Rhoads JS32 V. Been wanting this one for a while , it sounds and plays great. The tuners are fine and I lowered the action to my liking and have no fret buzz , none on my other Jackson either. These are solid guitars and build is great for the price , they're comfortable to play especially with the thin necks. They come pretty well set-up right out of the box unlike others in the same price range , the JS22 is right up there with some of my more expensive guitars , great tone and sustain. I play for a hobby and have several guitars and this is up there with my Schecter and Ibanez , this is a great guitar for a beginner or experienced player and also a nice addition to your collection. I've bought other guitars in this price range that were a mess and needed a complete set-up , for the price you can't go wrong with Jackson!Mike G.
Overall: This guitar is a real sleeper. The neck is just so nice to play really amazing and it balances really well. I have two of them when I get them I just rip out the electronics and put all new stuff. They play great out of the box though and you could use to pick up some electronics that are in them until you decide to get better stuff. The fundamentals of the guitar are almost perfect something about the angled headstock make it so the strings have just the right amount of tension on them and it plays great. The downside of this is that it doesn't come back into tune as well as a strat style headstock but since I don't use the tremolo much or even at all sometimes this doesn't bother me. I love the caramelized Maple neck it has a great feel to it the other one I have is rosewood and it's also awesome.John
20. Gretsch G5230t Electromatic Jet Ft Single Cut With Bigsby – Cadillac Green
Product Details:
In its 65 year existence the gretsch jet has been the hallmark sound for iconic players. the all-new g5230t electromatic jet ft single-cut with bigsby captures that essential jet power and fidelity at an incredible price. classic jet tone begins with a chambered mahogany body with maple top that produces full lows and mids with an exceptionally smooth and present high end. the result is a deep acoustic foundation that is robust, yet balanced. black top filter'tron pickups amplify and accentuate the electromatic jet ft's chambered body to produce a wide, balanced and transparent tone. loud and punchy, this jet sounds out with remarkable definition at any level of gain. together, the body and pickups thunder with full, responsive lows and mids with a high end that sparkles without spikes. the electromatic jet ft is equipped with essential features that give you complete tonal control. the combination of individual pickup volume controls, master tone and master volume with treble bleed circuit provides intuitive global control over your pickup and tone settings.
Specifications:
| Body shape | Single cutaway |
| Body type | Semi-hollow or chambered body |
| Body wood | Mahogany |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Not specified |
| Neck wood | Mahogany |
| Joint | Set-in |
| Scale length | 24.6” |
| Truss rod | 2-way adjustable |
| Neck finish | Gloss |
| Radius | 12” |
| Fret size | Medium jumbo |
| Number of frets | 22 |
| Inlays | Pearloid block |
| Nut width | 1.687” (42.8 mm) |
| Configuration | HH |
| Neck | Blacktop Filter'Tron |
| Bridge | Blacktop Filter'Tron |
| Active or passive pickups | Passive |
| Series or parallel | Series |
| Piezo | No |
| Active EQ | No |
| Control layout | Volume 1, volume 2, master tone |
| Pickup switch | 3-way |
| Kill switch | No |
| Bridge type | Fixed |
| Bridge design | Adjusto-matic |
| Tailpiece | Bigsby |
| Tuning machines | Die-cast |
| Number of strings | 6-string |
| Country of origin | China |
Reviews:
Gretch has so many awesome and different style guitars and I have wanted one for a while, I came across this beautiful guitar in Airline Silver! It is stunning! The finishes are impeccable it looks like a 5k guitar Im not even joking. The guitar came setup pretty good but Im very picky, I set the intonation and lowered the action to my taste, and this thing flies! so many great sounds and tone scapes, a very versatile guitar I would pit against any Les Paul, but Im am really happy with the craftsmanship and quality of this instrument. Picked up the case as well. I dont know how you couldn’t be blown away by this guitar. On the last note, Stock tuners seem good no tuning issues. Glad I bought this beast of a guitar, Its a little heavy, but it doesn’t bother me.Perryman
Overall: …at least in my case. I ordered numerous semi hollows from a well known maker, and had to send them all back for poor set up/fit/finish. Finally gave up and ordered this Electromatic Jet, mostly because the quality control got rave reviews and I was just tired of rolling the dice on the 335s. The rumors were true. For the price, this is just a great guitar. Yes, the Bigsby is a little gripey. I ordered some nut sauce and that should take care of it. I've read of some other fixes if it still needs a little love. In the meantime, I take it easy on the Bigs. Gigged with it right away. Looks totally pro and classy to all but total guitar snobs – of which I am one, for sure. So, at that level it's not a total love affair, but I will say that as of right now, I guess rather than saving for a 'real' 335, I'm saving for a 'real' Gretsch. For sheer umph, you can't beat the 335 – I know it – and the down market 335 sounded great – sent it back for having a totally unprofessional nut job. Not to mention fret sprout and truth be told, the finish is just not that good looking. Not to rag on the big E. I have a 339 that's a total gem. But this Gretch – just at the basic level of fit and finish, it smokes the 335s I've been sent. And then just the look of the thing. Heads turn, people gather to check it out. It's just good looking. Not all pretty girls are rich girls. I've heard of people preferring these Electromatics over the Player series. Sounds like a stretch to me, but on a cost/benefit comparison I could totally get that. Playability – it's totally playable, but such a different feel from the LP I usually play, that it was like learning to play all over again. I even got new blisters. It some ways it's actually easier to play than my LP. In some ways, mostly in not having a chunkier neck under my hand, not as enjoyable as the LP. I haven't picked up the Gibby in two weeks. The LP is a better guitar in pretty much every way, but it had better be, right? Then again, one thing it can't do is sound like a Gretsch, and even though I'd rather be playing the high end Jet (mostly for the thicker neck), I feel like I'm getting a good dose of 'Great Gretsch Sound' at a killer price. The Jet has a thinner neck and a slightly shorter scale, but it has a very different feel. It's very easy to play. And feels very well built. Neck feels great. Headstock looks so cool. The neck is not overly thin, objectively speaking. It's got a little meat on it.The Sound – woah! It's spanky! You will cut through! If you are a player who feels a little exposed if your sound is too out front, well, playing this baby is the sonic equivalent of wearing a Speedo with holes. You will be heard. Personally, I'm digging it. I'm used to fighting with PAF style pickups to get my sound out there. Problem solved. No EQ necessary. Don't get me wrong: it's a beautiful sound – smoky and airy and raspy with a ton of vibe and attitude. You can get a wide range of sounds out it, but it's a very different palette of colors for a Gibson guy to get used to. And it's a great palette. The notes come off with an immediacy that is just great. I find myself digging out pedals that I didn't really use with a Gibson. I'm putting away the Marshall type pedals. Pulled out a Fulldrive 3, which is kind of dark with PAFs.Anyhow, not to ramble. The Electromatic Jet is the real deal, the reviews are real – I think you can't count on receiving a good guitar when you order this. Oh yeah, I wanted to mention the volume control sucks… no taper… it's either off, then with a tiny little twist of the knob you are at full volume. Something that I imagine is easily remedied. Having gigged with this guitar now, for a few weeks, I will say this: why are there 3 volume knobs? That is just silly, I'm going to just put in a new Master Volume pot and totally bypass the two other volumes. I don't find myself using the tone knob a whole lot either. Partly because it doesn't really seem to do anything, partly because it just sounds so freakin' good at full knob. Anyhow, like I said, I'm a wicked guitar snob, on something of a budget, and I'm keeping this baby, and loving it.Many salaams and hat tips and thank yous to zZounds. Or is it zZounds? I've bought a ton of guitars from them and all kinds of other stuff. They've been very patient with the returns. And of course, I wouldn't have half this stuff without Pay to Play. Bless you ZZOUNDS!
I'm an experienced player and musician having been playing for the last 15 years and being in multiple bands. This is my first Gretsch guitar as I am more of an Epiphone fan, however I am a huge Nick 13 and Tiger Army fan and as you know this is his signature model so I couldn't help myself. The guitar itself is beautiful and plays like a dream. I'm a Punk musician however I dabble in Psychobilly, Rockabilly, Ska, and Reggae and this guitar has no problem adapting to any style of music. The bridge pickup is nice and bright with the perfect amount of twang you would expect from a filtertron. The neck pickup and smooth, warm, and most importantly satisfying. However, a few days ago my toggle switch unfortunately went out and I can no longer switch between the bridge and the neck pickup. I bought this Gretsch in December and while it isn't 100% "new" anymore I am very gentle with my toggle switches so it is a bummer that it is already on the fritz. I'll be bringing it into my local GC to have the technician (Josh) to look at it and see if we can get her back into 100% working order. The other negative that I have is that the fret ends are a little sharp but that is an easy fix. Overall I am extremely happy with my Tiger Jet.Michael, C.
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