Jackson CUSTOM SHOP Reverse King V

This Guitar was made in 1990 at the JACKSON CUSTOM SHOP in Ontario California.It has the "J" series serial #58xx.
It is ONE of a KIND as far as the construction and design.There are NO other 22 Fret/*Reverse Headstock*/String Thru/Tuneomatic Bridge/brass Hardware,EMG loaded,No Tone Control Custom Shop King Vs.

It has 22 Extra HIGH/WIDE Dunlop Custom Fret Wire.The Guitar is Constructed of Poplar Body(wings) and is all Hard Rock Canadian Maple Neck Thru from the headstock tip to the middle of the "V".

It has Custom Ordered Controls:
Volume(for bridge pick-up)Volume(for neck pick-up)and a 3 way Brass tipped Toggle-Not a sliding blade type 3 way switch but a TOGGLE.
NO TONE knobs at all.
I have no need for tone knobs if the right pick-ups are in the guitar.)
The pickups are EMG Active Pick-Ups.
An EMG 85 in the bridge and an EMG 81 in the neck.
I know some people reading this might think it's backwards,but that is the configuration I like...it has more diverse tonality in that configuration,and SUSTAIN like I cant believe.

The Headstock and the Entire Neck are Bound with Ivoroid Type Binding,it has ALL GOLD Plated BRASS Hardware on it too:
Tuners,Strap Locks(Schaller-I replaced the original buttons & put em away)Input Jack Plate,Bridge,Pick-Up Rings & String Thru Body Plate are ALL Gold Plated Brass.
The Bridge is a JACKSON Tune-O-Matic Type(like on the Randy Rhoads RR-1 Original or PCS)Made ENTIRELY of BRASS(saddles too)and the Strings go THRU the Body.The String Thru plate is also Gold plated BRASS.on the rear of the body the string thru ferrules are Gold plated BRASS as well.The Tuners are standard USA Jackson in BRASS.
The Guitar has a REVERSE Headstock and an EBONY Fretboard.
This Guitar weighs in at 6.9 lbs. A shade heavier than my KORINA Custom Shop JACKSON King Vs.
The neck scale is 25 1/2" and the Fretboard Radius is 14".i would call the neck Medium/Wide.The Nut is made from phenolic Resin(hard & slippery)This guitar stays in tune Perfectly and SUSTAINS like No Other I have ever owned or played.
Came with the tolex covered Custom Shop Case(with JACKSON Metal Nameplate),Tags,Tools,Keys,Work Order Sheet and thats it.

I play mostly Metal/Heavy Rock and Progressive types of Metal and Hard Rock.This style Guitar suits ME & the music I play very appropriately.
I'm 5'6" and 127 lbs so this guitar fits me very comfortably as far as ergonomics and comfort go.It has access to EVERY fret and it's just plain comfortable for me to play on it.Somepeople DONT like Vs but they fit me very well.
This Guitar is DEAD QUIET.It has active EMGs in it and it exhibits absolutely NO Hum or Buzzing at all(either Electrical or Fretwise)
It has a thick and pleasing tone to it and the SUSTAIN is like NO other Guitar I have ever played or owned.I cannot believe the SUSTAIN in this thing....I can grab notes ALL over the fretboard,bend em and hold em into pleasing SUSTAIN-NOT feedback....its very spooky actually.Really...I can "Feel" the string vibration in this guitar thru my picking hand/palm edge while playing it.I am assuming I have a very alive/well aged-or"settled" piece of wood.
I'm sure the EMGs have something to do with it as well,but the Guitar feels "Alive"(best way to describe it).
The bright edge to the EMGs will also help the natural tonality of the guitar shine thru-so I am very comfortable with how it reacts to my playing style(or lack thereof)
I would guess with the right type of amplifier that this guitar can cop some pretty versatile tones,BUT It was very Obviously Built/Geared/Designed to play agressive Rock & Metal.

my Rig(s) consist of:

Two VHT 2150 Power amps
BOGNER "Fish" Preamp
BOGNER Ecstacy 101-b head(no options except Metal Grill)
BRADSHAW/CUSTOM AUDIO ELECTRONICS 3+ and 3+SE preamps
BRADSHAW RSB-18f Switching System
MESA/BOOGIE "Rackmount" Dual Rectifier(older 2 channel)
MESA/BOOGIE 3 Channel Triple Rectifier
ADA MP-1 Preamp(s)
ROCKTRON "Chameleon Online" Preamp/Processor
BBE 422a Sonic Maximiser(older unit-circa 1990,lotsa "headroom")
ADA MC-1 controller(s)
MESA Armored 4x12 Straight Cabinets w/Vintage 30s
BOGNER 4x12 Straights w/Celestion Vintage 30s
(one) Marshall 2x12 w/75 watt Celestions
The King V seems to LOVE all of the above amps I'm using with it.
I KNOW I'm very happy with the tones I get for what I play.

The Guitar came from the CUSTOM SHOP set up superbly and very playable.The action was a tad too "low" for me and I set it up again to my taste.
Too "low" an action will diminish and affect the sustain and "airyness" of a Guitar so I like it low,but comfortably high.
I know that sounds like a contradiction-but it's hard to explain unless you play MY guitars what I mean.(not too LOW but not too High)

Jacksons Custom Shop REALLY cares about the fine reputation they have established and it shows in the QUALITY & WORKMANSHIP that they put into ANY Finished Instrument they build.
The Time & Effort put into ANY CUSTOM SHOP JACKSON GUITAR is a benchmark of QUALITY and CRAFTSMANSHIP that the other so-called "quality" USA guitar makers should take a REAL LONG look at.

I know of several friends of mine who recently purchased set neck & neck thru USA made guitars from "big" name guitarmakers-and when they play My CUSTOM SHOP Jacksons they are very dissapointed and annoyed at what they bought and paid for with Hard Earned $$$ as opposed to what I got for the same money.
I couldn't detect a single flaw,mis-aligned,poorly filed or constructed piece on the ENTIRE Guitar(and I inspected it for an hour or 2)
EVERY Component and piece was properly made,built,fitted and fine tuned to absolute perfection.THIS is what USA Made JACKSON instruments are FAMOUS for: QUALITY GUITARS.
To say I'm happy is just a slice of the iceberg.It's an 11 year old guitar that is simply built FANTASTIC.

You can keep your flametop les paul historic and other overpriced Gibson guitars.I've owned em and SOLD em(at a nice profit too) to Get USA CUSTOM SHOP JACKSONS.....and I NEVER looked back.

This Guitar has been PLAYED ALOT in the last 11 years....I would be very confident to say that it'll outlast this 31 year old player by leaps and bounds.
Withstand live playing...?(silly Review outline question)
a..YEAH (der)..Yes It does and It will continue to do so with a little care and proper maintenance.
The Hardware is Plated Gold over REAL BRASS.
I do have some wearing of the Gold finish on the bridge and string thru body plate-but it's cool.
I can "polish" ALL of the hardware down to the Brass underneath if it gets too worn.Some has already worn off to the Dull Brass underneath,but it's not really a problem.It still looks nice.
I know of NEW Gibsons & PRS Guitars that have LOST ALL the Gold Finish
off themselves and they aren't even 2 years old yet.

I replaced the Original Strap Buttons with Schaller Strap Locks(in answer to the review outline)
I ALWAYS have at least 3 Guitars at a gig with me-so to answer the "would you use it at a GIG without a back-up" question would be silly.You have a spare tire for your car...right?

JACKSONS USA CUSTOM SHOP IS THE FINEST CUSTOMER SUPPORT FOR GUITARS IN THE INDUSTRY-.They rank Right up there with BOGNER and BOB BRADSHAW
for being the BEST in the Industry.

I've been playing Guitar for the last 14 years.I gig regularly 3 to 4 times a week.
before I bought this guitar i had other JACKSON USA custom Shop Guitars and a few other brands.My USA custom Shop Jacksons Now add up to over 20 guitars but I have other brands NOT even worth mentioning
in the same post/Review as JACKSONs.
I love Everything about this Guitar and I use it daily to record & practice in my studio.I DONT use it on smaller club stages because I'm afraid of bumping a wing into my amps/racks/cabinets or the other Guitar player.
I Keep the Korina Custom Shop Vs and this one for Live performances on roomy stages/clubs/venues.It gets LOTS of Use but I'm careful where.


*** in answer to the Review Question:If it were Stolen or Lost-what would I do ?

I DONT lose Guitars,Amps or Gear.IF ANY Thief is/was Stupid enough to *try*(try is the key variable noun here) and steal My Guitars or Amps & Gear-he would be on the receiving end of a .45 caliber/185 grain Hollow Point into his chest cavity-and/or a serious ASS Kicking & subsequent Hospitalization due to his wounds & Injuries.
Nothing I Own is worth your life.


Buy a USA Jackson Custom Shop Guitar...you'll be GLAD you did.