Introduction
We have talked about Jackson guitars on other occasions. Looking back at their origins, we recall the credit due to Grover Jackson’s company for its 1980 invention of the superstrat with the “Soloist” model. It was based on an “improved”? development of the Fender Stratocaster, going from 21 frets to 24, with new humbucker pickups and a more elaborate bridge.
The truth is that Jackson kept racking up successes, offering various U.S.-made variants and models developed in Asia by subsidiaries such as Jackson Pro, Charvel and Charvette, and it has been imitated since by various international companies.
The design
Continuing with the evolution of the Jackson line, after going through many developments and experiments we arrive at today’s model: the Jackson JS30RR. As you can see in the photos, it is an aggressive, sharp design, reminiscent of the eccentricities of Gibson’s revolutionary (when it was built) “Gibson Flying” model (like the 1958 Gibson Flying V), a companion to the “Explorer” for its innovation in aggressive designs.
In its day these shapes, which replaced curves with straight lines, were a revolution in electric guitar building and were even rejected by musicians and dealers for their oddness. Later this aggressive look came into its own, becoming especially sought after in certain circles, and plenty of reissues were made.
Today’s Jackson JS30 RR presents some variations on that initial idea, since its points are not symmetrical (one is longer than the other), and it is sharper and somewhat more streamlined in shape.
I suppose this type of design suits the heavier, aggressive-looking setups especially well. The guitar in general pleasantly surprised me (considering its price) because of the details I’ll describe, although this body shape (regardless of whether the look appeals to any given player) strikes me as somewhat uncomfortable, since, for example, it is hard to play seated (in rehearsal or while recording) because the guitar, being straight-edged, slides off your legs.
Bridge, neck and headstock
The neck caught my attention; it is a bit wider than on most conventional models. It is straight and flat, and although it feels a little big in the hand at first, as you play you notice how easy it is to play. Along those lines, I really liked the feel: the guitar lends itself to “speed” because the strings sit quite low (with no buzzing), the view of the fretboard is very clear and, thanks also to the string gauge installed, the feel is smooth and soft. This combination of features favors fingering and lets you play fast, including bends and techniques that require good sensitivity or agility.
The headstock is the sharp, characteristic Jackson one, triangular and angled downward. The strings start their journey at a simple fixed bridge and end at a tuning-machine headstock that holds pitch quite faithfully.
To finish the comments on construction, I should point out that besides being comfortable to play (thanks to the good string setup along the neck), the intonation is right and harmonics come easily all along the fretboard.
The electronics
This is a simple guitar as far as circuitry goes, which in many cases is an advantage. Perhaps out of habit, I’m used to the usual volume, tone and pickup selector controls. When a guitar has “three hundred” positions, it drives you a little crazy, and generally only a few of the sounds are the ones you’ll end up using. To keep from rambling, I’ll focus on the Jackson’s elements: volume control, tone control and a three-way pickup selector: bridge, bridge/neck and neck. For me, that’s a sufficient combination.
The pickups are two humbuckers. As we have mentioned on other occasions, humbuckers, generally speaking, are characterized by having two coils. Each coil has its own set of pole pieces in contact with a single central magnet. Humbuckers could (in some cases) be considered two independent pickups, and the fact that they are wired in series and out of phase results in a reduction of noise and hum. As a rule, humbuckers have a warmer, darker tone than single coils.
The sound
Good for €329 (recommended retail price). The difference between the pickup combinations is notable, covering the whole range you need. Enough highs, mids, and a muddier low end on the darkest pickup. I liked the sound: cutting for bluesy tunes with attack, crisp, defined and with plenty of bite for “battle.”
Conclusions
Starting the conclusion with its price in mind, I’ll finish by saying it is a good buy in terms of sound, tuning stability, versatility and construction. Eyeballing it, and without knowing the price, I would have guessed a somewhat higher value. The hardest part of the instrument is its look, which will suit some people perfectly and others not at all. Of course, if you’re planning to spend around €300 (give or take), you like it heavy and the look fits you, this is without a doubt a good bet.
