Jackson CMG

This is one of the last basses made by Jackson before Fender purchased the name. 4 strings on an alder body with a maple neck and a 22-fret rosewood fretboard. Has black gotoh-style tuners, a convertible bridge (meaning strings can be strung through the bridge or the body), 2 active EMG-HZ pickups (volume, blend, bass cut/boost, treble cut/boost and midrange cut/boost), and shark-tooth inlays (so you can REALLY tell it's a Jackson).

The body is essentially a bass version of a Jackson Soloist or Dinky, so the body is more compact and rounded than a Precision. The neck is quite thin and fast, even more so than a Jazz, and has a classy cream binding (headstock as well). A guitarist friend of mine said it reminded him very much of a guitar neck. The neck also has either a satin or light oil finish, meaning it is very smooth and less "sticky" than the neck on a Fender bass.

Mine is a metallic green colour, called "Black Forest" on the Jackson website.

My only complaints about the features are: A. The blend knob seems to be counter-intuitive (turning towards the neck increases the BRIDGE pickup, and vice-versa), and it took me a while to figure out which controls are for the bass, treble and mids. B. The neck joint is a little abrupt. No different than a Precision or Jazz, but I was expecting a little more for $850 CND.

Other than that, I cannot BELIEVE how great this instrument is for the amount I paid!

I can play anything from classic rock to heavy metal, hip hop, funk, jazz, modern rock, the blues, you name it. While the inclusion of 2 pickups and a 3-band active eq insures that the CMG has you covered in all situations, you can tell it's meant for hard rock and heavy metal (it's a Jackson, after all). No complaints here though, they're my 2 favourite genres to play!

Because of the tight neck joint and string-thru body bridge, the CMG has great sustain and resonance. You can really feel it even when not plugged in. With all the controls flat, the sound tends to have a strong midrange presence, meaning the E and A strings really growl (in the best possible way). Favouring the neck pickup helps take a bit of the edge off. Of course, the bass's EQ and your amp's EQ can make the CMG sound like almost anything.

I play my CMG through a Peavey Max 450, a SansAmp bass driver and 2 15" speakers (one per cabinet) by Peavey.

Being a Japanese-made instrument, you know that they don't skimp on quality when making these things. The action is amongst the lowest I've seen on a standard-scale 4 string, and other than a nick in the headstock and being a bit dusty, the instrument was ready to go.

This thing is built like a rock, and seems to be designed with playing live in mind. The strap buttons are similar in size and shape to those on a Gibson Thunderbird, meaning you have nothing to worry about.

I wouldn't gig without a back-up using this instrument simply because it's active, and it's always handy to have a reliable passive instrument on hand.

Now that Jackson has been purchased by Fender, I'm a bit worried....

I am in my 5th year of bass-playing, and have owned a variety of instruments including a 95 Fender Jazz bass (which broke) an Ibanez Soundgear and an Epiphone Thunderbird. Currently, my arsenal consists of a Fender Jazz, an BC Rich NJ Series Warlock and the CMG.

I would look into any changes made into constructing these instruments now that Fender has bought Jackson, but I would certainly like to have more than one of these in my possession.

My favourite part of this bass is the way it feels. The neck is like butter, the action is incredible and is very comfortable when sitting or hanging from a strap. All in all, the Jackson CMG has the ruggedness of a Fender Jazz with the versatility and playability of high-end ESP bass. It is my best instrument by far.

What the others have said. The bass is loaded, active pickups and EQ. Great looking finish. Beautifully done neck with it's inlays and binding. Fantastic quality construction and hardware. It's all here!!.

The EMG HZ's do a fine job especially when mated to the active EMG circuit. The sound is bright yet warm with boot loads of punch. The bass is dead quiet although mine had a scratchy volume knob that I quickly fixed with a shot of contact cleaner. Over all I'd say I'm impressed.

Fender now owns Jackson and that is ok with me if this is what they can produce together. The craftsmanship is typical Japanses quatlity, A+ all around. The playability is very good if not excellent as well. The Alder body sports a flamed maple top that looks very nice under the transparent red finish. The hardware is first rate and I love the strings thru body design. The bass is punchy and cuts thru in the mix. The bound maple neck combined with the shark tooth inlays on the nice looking rosewood board only add to it's playabilty and overall vibe. This is a sweet looking bass that plays even better. It's got a metal look about it, but these basses are quality instruments. This is a great bass for the money.

Haven't had it long enough, but it looks tough and so far has held up well to heavy playing.

Never needed it.

If it was stolen I 'd buy another in a heartbeat. This bass is a great bargain for under a grand Canadian. It is certainly one of the better deal oyut there. They are hard to find up here in Canada as well. So if you see one, buy it!!.

Here's the list of goodies from the Jackson site!!

BODY Alder with Flame Maple Veneer on Transparent Colors
NECK Bolt-On Rock Maple
NECK DIMENSIONS 1st Fret: .800?, 12th Fret: .890?
TUNING MACHINES Die-Cast Mini Tuners
FINGERBOARD Rosewood
NO. OF FRETS 22 Jumbo Frets
BRIDGE PICKUP EMG? HZ35B
MIDDLE PICKUP N/A
NECK PICKUP EMG? HZ35N
CONTROLS EMG? Active BEQ3 Preamp:
Master Volume,
Blend,
Treble,
Middle,
Bass
BRIDGE JB340 Convertable 4-Saddle
PICKUP SWITCHING None
HARDWARE Black
STRINGS NPS, Gauges:
.045, .065, .085, .100
CASE Optional Deluxe Molded Case
PICKGUARD None
SCALE LENGTH 34?
WIDTH AT NUT 1-5/8?
UNIQUE FEATURES MOTO Shark Fin Position Inlays,
Bound Fingerboard and Headstock

Warm, loud, cutting, versatile. It's dead quite on any of the settings even with the treble cranked it's very reasonable. Great overall and for the price it's top notch.

Mine is the transparent green model with the flame top and let me tell you, it's a sweet looking bass to say the least. Fit and finish are fantastic. Nice tight neck/body fitting, great cream binding, beautifully laid shark tooth inlays, no glue spots, nice fret work, superb all around REALLY!!!

I've only had it for a month so long range forecasting is a guess basically, but so far so good. It's built very well as good as any bass I've ever seen and I think it'll last or hold up very well in the years to come.

Never needed them?. They are owned by Fender now and I've heard good and bad thinga about that. So I'll leave it a with a no opinion.

If you have not seen one or tried one, do it!!. I've seen a few of these kicking around from time time on ebay and that's were I picked this beauty up. This bass has got to be the best kept secret around as these things are truly fantastic basses for the money. Anything under 500.00 U.S. dollars is a steal for this bass with the features and quality it provides. If it were lost or stolen, I'd search for another without ever thinking about it.

I LOVE THIS BASS!!!!!!!!

Mine is the 2004 Jackson CMG bass. This bass has the added flame top (an extra cost) and see thru color. It has a 22 fret bolt on maple neck with rosewood fretboard. The classic Jackson Sharkfin inlays are here and they are cool. Creme binding on neck adds a classy touch. The neck is easy to get around on. The Jackson's body is made from Alder which is a good tone wood. The electronics are twin EMG HZ's with an EMG 3 band active eq. The bridge is the string thru type & the hardware is black.

Bright with the EMG's but it is also fat and cutting. Great for a loud band situation. Sustain is good and rings for days. Harmonics stand out and it's dead quiet. Very versatile with good sounding eq.

I've played and seen a lot of basses over the years. This bass has got to be one of the better bases I've ever seen as far as overall construction goes. No huge gaps between the neck and the body, nicely cut nut and beautifully polished fret ends, no glue blobs anywhere, good quality hardware and the finish is top notch. Japanese quality at it's finest.

I have used it for a few months now on a regular jam/gig schedule with no problems at all. Battery life is long and the hardware and finish are holding up very well. It seems to be a reliable bass thus far and I don't see that changing in the future as this is one seriously put together bass.

Never dealt with them and don't think I'll need to.

If you're looking for a bass that is relatively cheap yet has fantastic quality construction, great hardware and electronics not to mention hot looks this is your axe. This Jackson CMG model is their top of line import bass and it shows.

A great deal at 599.00 US dollars. I'd easily spend a lot more than this for a bass that wasn't nearly as well put together as this thing is. If you find one for a cheaper price, I'd seriously consider picking it up if I were you as they are a great deal.

2003 Jackson 4 string CMG bass. Mine is without a mapletop & see thru color so it has a solid poplar body. Cobalt blue finish. 22 fret bolt on maple neck with rosewood fretboard. Sharkfin position markers. Creme binding on neck. 1 & 5/8 inch width at nut. My neck thru BC Rich warlock has poplar wings & my readings on it for body wood sold me on trying the Jackson poplar body version. Anyway, electronics are twin EMG humbuckers with EMG3 band active eq. Jackson string thru body bridge & Black hardware. Made in Japan. Came with adjustment tools for truss rod & bridge.

Has surprisingly good sustain for a bolt on. Normally with bolt ons I remove the neck glue itinto neck pocket & rebolt it toi give it most of the sustain & increased harmonics of set neck instrument. The downside of set neck responce is slightly slowed initial note attack. Which is why neck thru is superior cause no slow down in note attack. But the sustain, harmonics ect of the Jackson bolt on is as good as other brands set neck instruments. So I'm leaving it as is. Excellent throaty growl to cutting treble bite as desired depending how you set the eq & pup blend. Very quite, no noise. I mainly do electronica to thrash metal & the bass suits this fine. I use a Zoom Player 3000B for effects. My main monitor amps are a pair of Peavey Minx 110's. Nothing to dislike about the bass.

Excellent fretwork, factory action & truss rod adjustmnent are for lowest possible action. Factory strings my same preferred gauges of 45-100, so need for light tweaking of truss rod when put my own preferred brand of strings on it. No finish flaws. The basses body shape is also a plus fit wise. As I find it more body hugging & comfy then the ESP LTD neck thru B305FM body shape. The jackson replaces the ESP LTD as alternate bass with my BC Rich neck thru Warlock. Body isnt as wide at its max as either Fender Jazz basses or the ESP B series. This along with the countour at front top rear of body & rear middle top of body along with the bridge not being all the way to rear of body, helps its fit imo. Sound variety is equal to the ESP LTD B305FM but a little bit better sound overall for me. This is prob due to high grade poplar body & better grade maple neck. Whereas the ESP has good but not best grade mahogany wings & flame maple top. The ESP & Jackson both haveing 3 band active eq. The Jackson, like the BC Rich, necks arent quite as thin as either ESP or Ibanez, but certainly aren't chuncky or clunky like Fender P basses are.

No reason not to concider it totally reliable. Excellent finish. Used to play Jackson & BC Rich exclusively & have returned to this. As mentioned above, I also play a USA BC Rich Warlock. So its not like I'd have no backup if the Jacksons battery went kapoot or a string broke whuile playing a gig ect.

Havent dealt directly with jackson.

Been playing bass since I was 14. Started out with a doubleneck bass & guitar. Still got one a vintage 1977. Jackson was the other main brand of guitar & bass for thrash & death metal ect of the 80's. The other brand being BC Rich. The sound, playability & fit being main reasons for this imo. Though it would work fine for other music genres too. Easilly the most impressive bolt on neck bass I've had. The sustain, harmonics & fullness of sound is the best I've heard for a bolt on. Has fuller treble & upper mids then my Warlock which is douple P pups by Dimarzio. But certainly ot lacking in the bass dept either. Course the Jackson being 3 band active eq helps this. Though I dont go much past center with the 3 eq knobs. I wasnt sure if I'd prefer the Cobalt blue or Dark Forest finish, but decided to get the cobalt bluie when I ordered it. Is very nice. Not overly dark or overly light. The price is little higher then ESP LTD neck thru it replaces, but still excellent for what you get imo. Next step up in Jackson basses would be american one. The CMG being their top of line import bass. Fret finishing & neck binding is better then that on the ESP's I was playing as other bass & guitar. Useing a Jackson Dinky as main gutar now too.

This is a Jackson CMG bass that was made in Japan and is a fantastic bass for the money.

Alder body with a flame masple top and strings thru body bridge. EMG passive Hz's hooked up to an EMG active circuit that has bass, mid and treble controls as well as pickup balance and volume. The fit and finsh are top notch as is the hardware. A 22 jumbo fret neck is bound and has shark tooth inlays that really spice up this axe. It's light and plays like butter. All in all a grweat bass for a great price. Infact I would say it's a steal at $500.00 US dollars or less.

Quiet and punchy as hell. Cuts thru the mix extremely well.

Typical Japanese quality AAA+++

So far so good and it looks as if it should last a long time judging by the fit and finish.

With Fender in the fold now, if a problem should arise they will most likely make sure it's dealt with promptly as that's been my past record dealing with Fender.

A Great bass at a great price.