Jackson LS

Made in probably 2000, Japan. Has 21(!) frets, not 22 like all the literature says, so if that's a big deal to you be advised. 4-string. A solid arched top, possibly of maple but also possibly ash like the body. There is a pan, bass, treble, and master volume control. There is one big soapbar at the bridge and a single coil in the middle/neck position, they are Duncan Designed passives with active tone controls (I believe.) Neck is maple and is painted to match the body. The finish on mine is a brilliant transparent red. The body style is oversized, double cutaway, with a set neck. The bridge is a big tune-o-matic style with strings through body. The tuners say Jackson, so problaby their version of Grover or Schaller. It's 34" scale, with jumbo frets (again, conjecture on my part.) I give it an 8 for the body style/size, good electronics, striaght-pull angled headstock (too tiny, though), but some noise and that single coil bring it down a bit. I also would have liked Jacksons new EQ system with the mid control and slap switch, but oh well. That neck is fast and thin, narrow but solid. No P-Bass chunky-style but not a Ibanez pencil-neck either. I miss the unfinished wood of my bolt-on Warlock, but the laquer will break in.

I play metal, rock, and ambient/experimental. I use it into a Tech 21 Bass Driver DI into a Peavey TKO15. I am only a home studio/4-track guy in search of a band. I do not play out at this time. I also occasionally use a RAT fuzz for total saturation and a Morley Bad Horsie. I also use a little blue HUSH pedal when necessary. It is only really noisy with the neck single coil soloed and the treble pushed past the center detent. Not out of the ordinary but noticeably noisier than my EMG P/J system I had installed on my former BC Rich. But what do I expect from Duncan Design? It serves its purpose and certainly does not ruin the bass. I think this bass has a lot of very useful sounds, but I tend to set the bass flat and use the DI and amp controls. I blend and tweak the B/T on the fly when I use distortion, but only moderately. I normally suck all the treble out when using the RAT, but a cool feedback can be had if I goose the treble control. I guess it could be distasteful to some, but I listen to Type O Negative and they turn feedback into an art form at times, so I like it. I like the "quack" you can get out of the bridge pickup, and the neck sounds huge, if a little noisy since it is a single coil. I do NOT like the click the blend control has when you move from "both on" to "neck", but I do not think it is defective. I plan to have it set up in a few weeks, so I'll probably have that checked on. I think it is very warm yet toppy if necessary. The bass control, while not touchy, is EXTREMELY powerful if maxed, and there is a great rumble in there if you dig that. It's only a 9-volt system, so your headroom is a little more limited than on an 18-volter. Overall, pretty good.

Action was not bad. Needs a setup to my taste, since I pluck very hard and use a pick. One pickup had a screw loose, but it was not stripped. I think the fingerboard was a little uneven finish wise, there are some lighter patches that just don't look right. See my comment on the pan control above. The nut has a major flaw on the A string slot, looks like it was sliced in the middle with a dull razor blade. The G string slot depth was cut too low, but the others were right in the middle. Again, though, acceptable flaws on a list-1000 dollar bass. The finish was flawless, though I have already dented it by the input jack. There was no bubbling on edge of the the fingerboard and the clearcoat was really well done. I felt no dead spots on the frets or any buzzy points. The body I think is semi-hollow, but it feels very solid. It's lighter than my old bass, but perfectly balanced with no neck dive. Again, not bad for the price.

You know, having never played, I don't know how it will hold up under those types of conditions. I know it stays in rock-steady tune. I barely need to tweak it when I pick it up after any weather changes. The finish seems nice and thick, that dent it got must have been against a solid edge, and the finish stayed on with no chipping. The strap buttons are gone (Schaller Straplocks) but seemed well-set for the day they were on there. I would NOT gig without a backup. Since I don't have another bass, I guess I won't be gigging! Seriously though, even a 4k Alembic would need a backup in my opinion. So there :) Now, if you get one of these and peek in the control cavity--whew! It looks like the human nervous system in there! I would hate to try to find a loose wire, and when I upgrade the electronics...you bet someone else is handling that. I guess, if I were not as cautious as I am, I would trust 'er. But I have only had it for three weeks. That neck...it's dead-stable though.

Never ever owned a Jackson. I don't plan on using the warranty (though I did register it.) I'd go to the "official" service center in the Twin Cities here if they'd do the electronics upgrade. Otherwise I'll take it to MARS. The warranty is (I think, again!) lifetime now, but I could well be wrong... Look, everyone's opinion of the same company's support can be either smooth as silk or a nightmare. These companies are just too big to give an opinion to go by. Hopefully, I will never need service for it, so it won't matter. Jackson seems to make good stuff, so I'll give it another solid 7.

I have been playing bass for 5 years on and off. Guitar for 8. I switch between a pick (for black/death metal projects) and fingers (for other stuff.) This is my 4th real bass. It was right what I was looking for, since I could not get an old Ibanez '78 artist. I love the look of the thing, and its playability. I hate how ZON and Warwick basses look, but they sound fine. I need to want to pick the instrument up. It's not a "last bass" but it is a fine, fine "now" bass. For the price I paid in today's economy, it rocks. Set-necks are becoming a thing of the past in basses it seems. Most are bolt on, with neckthrus gaining, so I think I like that middle ground. If I buy a backup, it will likely be a Concert Jackson 5 string, just based on this bass. I would but another one with the insurance money if I only got 700 bucks were it stolen. If I got more...hmmm, it would not be an automatic buy, but would be among the top 3. Very good bass for the price and I recommend GuitarExpress.com Great selection and prices and very prompt delivery (hope I can promote them :)