right now i play a really nice epiphone les paul custom. like i've read here a billion times epiphones are really hit or miss but i have to say i got really lucky because mine plays amazing after a good set up. lately i find myself staring at jacksons online all night. i think my playing has changed to the point where i need something that allows access to the higher frets. i'm just worried about the fact that lower end guitars seem really hit or miss. so would buying a mid range jackson, specifically a dkmg or a dxmg, put me at risk of getting the off guitar with everything all fucked up? i don't really know much about jackson as a company. i already plan on replacing the pickups and all the other shit that needs to be replaced. i'm really the most worried about the neck. also has anybody made a switch like that? what's it like? i've played a few jacksons in stores and i've seemed to like it from what i was able to do in a store. thanks for reading this i realize it's alot longer than it needs to be but im all fucked up. thanks dudes.

thats quite a change...

as far as jacksons go.. i'm not a huge fan, but the higher end stuff like the soloists are pretty nice. my buddy has a u.s.a. built soloist with a OFR and active emgs(which they don't normally put in their guitars anymore, cheap fuckers) and it's a beauty. but then again, i think it costed him over a grand.

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I went from an Epiphone Les Paul Standard with EMG 81 and 60 to a Jackson USA Soloist SL2H, and here are my opinions:

1)Getting used to the Jackson is a lot harder, b/c of the bridge style, resting my hand on it like the fixed bridge on the Epi pushes the pitch sharp, so I had to adapt to that (an option is to block the bridge like EVH so that it only works to lower the pitch)
2)Seymour Duncans have way more personality than the EMGs, but that is totally a personal taste, so if you do end up getting new pickups (which is a good thing to do for low and some mid-range guitars) be sure to try them out prior to buying. By personality I mean response to picking, most evident thru my Mesa Boogie Mark IV (can't tell too much thru my Line 6 Flextone III), and better definition when playing single note runs. I would have to say that the "generic" tone of EMGs when playing palm muted power chords still reigns over the Duncans.
3)You will love the action on the Jackson once it is set up- this is a great rhythm and solo guitar, set it up with 9's and I think you will be happy. I've played on a friend's non-USA Kelly, and it had a great feel to it as well. I had Ernie Ball 10's on my Epi and had it tuned down to C, but the way the neck was made just didn't facilitate solo playing - great rhythm guitar though.
4)Sharkfins rule.

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I a big fan of jacksons and have a few. and I love the way they play. a friend of mine has a gibson les paul studio with a emg 81-85 set. it plays great, but i still prefer my jackson because of the thinner neck. once you get used to the thin neck you'll love it ( imo )

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i dont like LPs, but jackson is an amazing company. just play around with them in stores untill you find one you like, and this should be in the guitar forum, or in the "help finding new guitar" sticky in that forum

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I have a midrange jackson myself (RX10D...a custom one at that!) and it's a pretty nice guitar. I have an epiphone les paul custom, but I havent been able to comparitively play them because my jackson's been out of commission for a while (I fucked up a setup job...so I have to go get it done properly) but it IS a nice guitar.


My friend played a DKMGT in a store and fell in love with it. He doesnt have money right now but it's probablly gonna replace his MIM fender strat..

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I think you will notice a change at first, but you will get use to it easy. I got an Epi, Ibanez 7, Yamaha classical, and a Ran. The Ran has the same 1 11/16' nut width as Gibson/Epi but the nech thickness is even thiner then a Ibanez or a Jackson. I can switch between them all and I have no problem. They all have different feels and tone even though I set them up nearly identical. The Epi neck feels like a 2x4 in my have after playing the Ran, but I get use to it within a minute.

It will not mess your playing up to switch guitars.

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I dont have any jacksons , But I do have Gibsons , ESPs and Dean , Some with EMGs some with Duncans .The point is I have no problem going from one guitar to the next .
But you should play the guitar you are thinking about before you buy it , each axe is different, For example I tried out 3 Les paul Customs each kind of felt slightly different , I played all three before deciding one the one I felt was right , maybe it was nothing more than a phycological difference , I dont know , But try before you buy.

I've fallen in love with the DKMGT, soon it will be mine!!!!

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I have just bought a Jackson KVX10, I used to play a couple of Epi' LP's;
I found it slightly weird with the differently shaped neck on the V, also the different positioning of the bridge etc makes it slightly weird for me to tremelo pick but I've gotten used to it now, the set-up straight from the factory is awesome, doesn't need changing one bit! You'll adapt in no time at all, I love my epi's and my Jackson, all are great guitars.

Also keep in mind at those levels no one guitar is better than the other....some are made for shredding the neck to shit and others are made to just RAWK. Like I tended to use my Jackson for more metal things that required fast fingering, but when I'm going Aerosmith or Led Zep or hell even some Coheed and Cambria I like to have a neck I can grab onto...hence my Epiphone and Gibson Les Pauls.

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i ve never been a fan of low/mid priced jacksons, i ve played on the dkmgt, the kvx10 and another dkmg with flames on the fretboard, and i really didnt like any of them, they looked nice but just didnt feel right in my hands, i prefer ibanez's

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Actually, my friend has the lowest model (a JS1), and the thing has suprisingly great playability. Especially for hardcore/metalcore; as for more "brutal" stuff, its not as good. But yeah, definately pick up a Jackson. You shouldn't regret it, reguardless of the model.

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well i bought a jackson. that sweet transparent black DKMGT dinky. then as soon as i get home i get online and see it onsale for $340 on musicians friend. i payed $600. so naturally it's back at guitar center and i have a check for $600. the guitar would be nice for $340 but not $600 i guess. basically low-mid range jacksons (like most other companies) kinda suck cock. the hz's were even worse than most people say. i planned on replacing them anyway but i mean seriously those pickups in a $600 guitar is retarded.

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