Jackson Kelly questions

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ratou
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Ratou

Ratou

Active member
Hi all,

I'm trying to get my hands on a neck-through, hard-tail, made in USA (custom shop would be nice but a regular USA model is fine as well) Jackson Kelly (would be a KE2T model I assume?). I've been having a hard time finding anything on the used market so started to consider a custom shop order with Jackson.

-Do you think it's worth waiting for a used one to pop up or are these too rare? What would be the fair value for a used one? (I really don't care about paint condiction etc, only build quality, sound and play ability so doesn't have to be mint)

-How much would a custom shop cost? Everything would pretty much be standard (shape, hardware, regular black color etc) except i'd like a tune o matic bridge, bare wood oiled neck, if possible 24.75 inch scale length and also I saw the option to have no truss rod cover. Also, what type of build times would I be looking at? I read somewhere here that certain dealers could potentially already have build slots available ealier?

Thanks a lot in advance for your replies.
 
I had one custom-made in the 80s and it was neck heavy which drove me nuts and I sold it. Just something to look out for.
 
Agree. I had a KE2T and while it looked, played and sounded great - the neck dive made me flog it
 
SpiderWars":yp2nysov said:
I had one custom-made in the 80s and it was neck heavy which drove me nuts and I sold it. Just something to look out for.
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Same ^^^ !! I bought a Jackson custom shop Kelly mid early 90's. Neck dove like a mother fucker no matter where I put those strap pins. Ive thought about having a luthier build me one that would have some kind of counter weight in the control cavity. I dont know yet, it was just an idea I had. Real love those guitars though.

Buy the cheapest out you can find and see if this is going to be an issue for you first. I think those Jackson custom shop wait times were over 2 years before the WUHAN virus hit.
 
Don't buy any new Jacksons especially from the custom shop. Their Ebony sucks and isn't black anymore, they also won't let you supply your own wood. Also the way the custom ordering process works they will screw up your order guaranteed.

I've gone through it five times and each one got f'd up in the process. The way they make you communicate to the CS by having you go through the dealer is a nightmare. It's such a draconian system. You should be able to talk to Mike Shannon or the builder at the shop directly via phone and or social media. They need to change how they do this.

Imagine playing the game of telephone but with a 5k custom shop guitar order. That's how they setup their CS ordering process and they haven't updated the process in the last 20+ years. :doh:
 
Thanks for agreeing TJ.

Seriously I remember after three screw ups in a row and one rebuild they finally let me talk to one of the Jackson custom shop employees directly. Also everything I requested was on the spec sheet and I never requested changes after the order.

I was told back in the 80's you could just call Jackson, deal with one of the builders directly over the phone and they just found the dealer closest to you to do the billing/shipping or you could do it out of state to avoid sales taxes but the guitar would have to be shipped.

After FMIC got involved it was these draconian you have to communicate everything through a dealer. If you even attempted to call the CS directly they would turn you away and tell you to communicate with your dealer. Small things like the color of headstock binding or custom shop logo maybe important to you but probably not your dealer, so if Jackson has questions on your order they would not call you to ask directly. They would message the dealer and if for some reason he can't get a hold of you or just doesn't have time because he has a 100 other orders he will make descicions on your behalf. You won't find out about till when you get your guitar and it's got 23 frets instead of 24 or 22. This actually happened to someone. Jackson told them to pound sand.
 
I bought one of the 25 reissue Kellys from a few years ago. The list was like $7k or some shit (bought mine used), and while it plays really good and has decent balance, I've seen better finishes on the cheapo import models. You can actually see every seam thru the paint on the front and back where they glued the body together. I have a 1990 Jackson that has a flawless finish but my 1992 Concorde tribute when holding it to the light you can see a flaw. For all the money they charge wtf are they doing?!.... :doh: :doh:
 
It's simple, the old days are gone and Jackson with it. Man it was so fun back in the day. I knew people there and could talk to them along the way and get just about anything. Holograms reversed/mirrored logos and inlays of just about anything you could dream of and they would do it not only was it about money but they loved what they did and it was so evident but now...forget it :doh:
 
EXPcustom":hd3huvwu said:
Seriously I remember after three screw ups in a row and one rebuild they finally let me talk to one of the Jackson custom shop employees directly. Also everything I requested was on the spec sheet and I never requested changes after the order.
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Ugh, brutal. Sorry you had to deal with that man. Didn't know you can't communicate with the custom shop directly, that's not ideal.
 
Thanks a lot for all your answers

I guess I'll hold on for now on the custom shop order... good that I asked before ordering! I'll keep an eye on the used market in case something pops up
 
man Ive heard a lot of horror stories about them lately. My guitar tech was head of the QC at Dean as well as working with the artists. Now he works for himself and seems to have a deep seated hatred for Jackson these days. Or really any of the Fender owned companies. He does a ton of setups these days and the first guitar I took him was a Jackson Soloist that I got that was unplayable out of the box and already went through one setup by another tech that didnt completely take care of the issues. He was like at least you didnt get a custom shop cause you would have spent more and still got a lemon.

I cant imagine they are all like that but I guess where there is smoke there is fire. Honestly though I cant imagine going through a long drawn out wait for a custom shop instrument and getting something that lets you down. I just ordered my first custom(Mayones) and it wont be ready until December and my nerves are already shot and they seem to have a pretty decent reputation.
 
I've got a Jackson King V KV2F...........and I love it! Can't fault it on anything!
 
I'm waiting on a custom shop Kelly that I ordered two years ago, I was told it'll be completed in about 45 days. We'll see if, or how badly, I get screwed over.

TBH I've kind of written it off anyway. I ordered it through a small dealer (not local to me) that I thought I had a pretty good relationship with - he had hooked me up on a custom Dean order and a few other guitars before - then things started getting squirreley. It's paid in full but I'm not sure I'm ever going to see it. I contacted Jackson directly regarding the order so it does exist but whether it makes it to me....let's just say confidence is low.

I almost expected Jackson to say, oh that guitar was completed and shipped 6 months ago but no, it's still there. I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. :aww:
 
Buy from Randall Pearson at Chondro Guitars. He does a lot of Jackson custom shop and will hook you up.
 
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