American Soloist

Jackson's American Series Soloist SL3 is now available at Swee Lee ($3,699). This one was touted to be a promising guitar based in its pedigree but the fact that it features a lower tier bridge will be the deal breaker for many of us - especially at that price. 

Pic: Jackson 

Crackling

Jackson has new stuff in their X-Series of guitars, this crackle finish Soloist SL3X DX, is one of them. This is now available at Swee Lee ($1,299) together with its other sibling, the blue version. I like this one because it captures the 80s vibe very well but the deal breaker here is the whammy bridge - Floyd Rose Special. Kudos to Swee Lee for bringing in the new stuff here, not just Jackson stuff, rather quickly. We are still holding out on the Gibson stuff. 

Jackson's Summer

In the absence of Summer NAMM 2020, Jackson, along with other manufacturers announced its mid-year line up. This is one of the showstopper (if there was one to begin with); a 27 fret soloist with much glitter to boot. Jackson isn't the first when it comes to extra frets (ESP/ Ibanez were there) but the fact that it dares to debut such a looker in the absence of a real reception speaks volume (forgive the pun) about intent. This isn't a second tier import model & will set you back about USD1.9K if it rocks your boat. That arched top is a nice touch. 

Selling: Jackson Soloist SLXT (SOLD)

Another one on the to go list, my Jackson Soloist SLXT (funding for chemo, thanks). I really like the neck profile, it's between an Ibanez & an ESP. I just want a satin version hence letting this go.

• Jackson Soloist SLXT (unpadded bag included)
• Neck binding on both sides have creamed off/ stained
• No reservations/ trades/ testing
• Self-collect: CCK mrt station
• Queries/ confirmation: subversion.sg@gmail.com
• Price: $500 (FINAL, non-nego)

With greenie

Spent some time with the greenie today. I actually have more than one mean greenie here, this is just something I'm happy I came across. It's an affordable guitar but well made, to me it's worth every cent. I'm also quite averse to finished necks but since I bought a Les Paul, adapting is everything. 

The pickups in this one are Seymour Duncan's Nazgul (b) & Sentient (n) pair. The Nazgul - won't appeal to players who are looking for some dynamic tones because it's not that appealing clean. It's also beyond what the traditional Distortion (SH-6) has to offer. It's a mean pickup with a singular objective of death & destruction. It's named after a malevolent character for a reason. The Sentient, on the other hand, handles both clean & distortion very well. If you think you need good cleans but not in the vintage territory, something like the Polyphia dudes or Yvette Young are chirning out, this is the pickup to get. 

Jackson: Mick Thomson Soloist

This is one of Jackson's 2018 highlight, the Mick Thomson Soloist. It's not too far off my expected details of the instrument. To put it bluntly- nothing new. Even the fixed bridge there is an adaptation to the Ibanez FX Edge unit. We should know Mick Thomson by now; someone who's totally into playing the guitar, the brand name isn't a particular pre-requisite. He just needs a brand name that backs him up 100% while he's at it. All the best to him this year, he's still on my list of formidable metal musicians out there. By the way, this one lists for more than USD5K. 

EVH & friends

Last weekend's preoccupation- EVH 5150III LBX. I guess I have not heard it in action enough. The Jackson here is equipped with A Seymour Duncan Sentient in the neck. I've come to believe that this neck pickup is a great complement to all things high gain in terms of tone. Not referring to cleans, of course. If you wish for something that speaks when extra drive is served, this pickup will serve you well.

My Yamaha Pacifica here is a focus tool. I'd play this one to enhance some concentration when it comes to technicalities but this guitar with this pickup (Duncan's P-Rails) sounds impressive with high gain, angry amps in its full glory & then some split coil performance- mind the hum, of course. 

Green holiday

It's actually an excuse to break the Gibson monotony- spent the holiday morning with my Jackson Green Meanie made meaner by Seymour Duncan's Nazgul humbucker in the bridge. Despite being set up to manifest some metal mayhem, this guitar was only fed overdrive. Yes, the mild kind peppered with some post-drive boost & it just sang as well. Sometimes the tools that were meant to convey a primary objective could spring some surprises given a chance. 

Green gift

Jackson discontinued this colour. I was trying to avoid another sunburst/black addition so this was it- the Soloist SLX. A great through-neck model going for a good price. So, happy birthday to me!

But today isn't my birthday :-)

Desolate riposte (3)

The explicit target for this Charvel DX1ST is rather obvious; the fleet-fingered enthusiasts who have so much to say in a very short, given time :-) The shredability credits aside, the test model I played was superb in terms of construction, fit & finish. I see the major concern here would be the neck-body heel; it's not a smooth transition. The body finish sports a stained & glossed overcoat, giving it a bumpy feel once it meets the satin-finished neck. The treatment could be better on some models I saw in-store but the good City Music people would arrange for a fresh, out-of-the-box model for you upon purchase, so no worries.

I'm not a big fan of EMGs but I can live with them in this guitar; not a total aversion on my part (I still love my EMGs in my ESP Eclipse). Coming back to the neck; if you think the Wizard III in the current standard Ibanez guitars aren't too inviting for you, the thinner profile here would be a good enticement. I love the fusion of this profile with the compound radius & that wider-than-Fender feel; it's a robust combo, would withstand any heavy metal treatment... & beyond. Just a reminder that it's on promo pricing: $837.25

Charvel 2012: Desolation Soloist

This is one of the new guitars featured in NAMM 2012; Charvel's Desolation Soloist. It's new for the manufacturer, not new to us but we are aware of the Jackson-Charvel affiliations.