Jackson DKMG

2007 Japanese DKMG, 24-fret rosewood board, fat bolt-on maple neck, arch-top gloss ebony alder body, EMG 81/85 pups w/3-way switch, Floyd whammy bridge, Grover tuners.

I play anything from blues, classic rock, hard rock/80's metal, speed metal. Made for 80's/speed metal, but can basically do an OK job on any of these styles with the right amp. Currently playing thru Blackstar and Marshall tube amps with minimal effects (clean boost, delay). Only use for the fast stuff, because it's got the fastest neck, by far, out of all my gear. If you want heavy, fast, fluid, tight metal/hard rock rhythm or lead, then this one would be a great pick. For blues or classic rock, grab a LP.

Setup was great, if you like 09-42 gauge strings. Only flaw was a nearly invisible dent on the rear body that didn't mar the paint, but got me about $300 off the price (that's another story).

Pretty solid, could gig it without problem, if I played with a metal band. I put straplocks on all my guitars. Would never play out without backup, regardless of guitar.

Not applicable.

Over 20 years playing. Other gear is couple of Gibson LPs, Roadhouse Strat, cheap Ibanez for travel, Yamaha 12string. If stolen, probably get something similar. Love the fluid neck, if there was anything I hated about it, wouldn't have bought it. That's why I can't understand how this clown with the most recent review on the DKMG decided to buy one when he hated it everything about it. If the licensed FR is a "pain", why did you buy it? If the neck is "fat and kind of uncomfortable", why did you buy it? If the sound is "bland", "boring", "UNINTERESTING", why the hell did you buy it? Just so you can post a review here, trashing it? This is surely not the best metal guitar made, but for $410, it is a helluva value and an excellent quality instrument in its price range. I actually prefer the tone of the original Kramer Baretta over the Jackson, but the dinky is faster and used Barettas are going too high these days. I never buy a guitar without playing it for at least 2-3 hours first, apparently this other guy didn't do that (I guess). BTW, I got the great price due to the salesman thinking this guitar was a cheaper DXMG (with passive pups). Apparently, he didn't notice the piranha inlays and arch-top body (the DXMG has sharkfin inlays and flat body). Even when the serial# didn't match, he changed it and sold it for $410.

What year was it made? Its probably an 07 or 08 model. Made in Japan likely.

How many frets? Well it had 24, thats nice.

Has a H/H configuration, active EMG 81/85s, nice combo.

Alder body with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard.

Glossy, black finish, rather striking looking.

A superstrat style body, can't beat a real Strat for style though.

Jackson licensed Floyd Rose bridge, pain.

Some sort of standard-issue Jackson tuning heads, also had a locking nut.

The neck is fat. Not slim, like you'd want it to be, its fat and kind of uncomfortable.


Personally, I'm not a fan of the Floyd Rose bridge, it sucks and the guitar stayed in tune maybe 5 or 6 hours, then it started going either sharp or flat. Weather I blocked the bridge off or not.

UGGGG!!! BLAND!!! I hear everywhere that the EMG 81/85 set is a beautiful combo, but its so...so...UNINTERESTING! There's no style to it, its bland and boring and sounds like everybody else's guitar. Lame. I lowered the 81 real low and it got a slight twang to it, kind of like a Fender, but it couldn't replace the real thing any day.

Now for overdrive, sounded half-decent. Playing it through Digitech Grunge pedal while on a clean setting gave it a bit of a Dimebag sound...but thats the pedal talking, not your guitar so much. With a simple built-in driven channel, its just another guitar with overdrive.

It was used, and it was messed with, so I don't reckon I can directly rate this. But the neck was fat and chunky, not like a slim-tapered-low-action thing you'd REALLY be interested in, like a Strat. The FR bridge, even when blocked off, could not hold the guitar in tune. The locking nut and super-sturdy tuning heads couldn't keep it in tune for more than a few hours.

CRAP, this thing wouldn't hold its own on stage! It'd go out of tune before you got to your scorching solo! Other than that, the guitar itself is very durable. Its all quite solid.

Didn't bother, bought it from a dealer.

UGH! I thought at first, it sounded pretty decent. Had a bit of a kick to it. After 2 weeks I got well sick of it. I have played two a number of Jackson guitars, they ALL sound bland and dull. The only reason you'd buy one is because you see maybe your favorite artists being endorsed by them and you hear - "oh those are nice guitars."

CRAP- they're overpriced and they all sound the same! I'm through with Jackson guitars! After 2 weeks I traded this back in to the same dealer for my old Fender Mexican Strat. And this is a nice Strat too, I compare it often to my 1961 Gibson Melody Maker, which has no modifications to it.

In conclusion- DON'T BUY JACKSON!!!! You WILL lose money. And you'll get a better, even well-driven sound from a TELECASTER. You are buying this kind of guitar for the fact that artists have endorsements. Hell, if you have an endorsement, you're making money, thats the only reason you'd support the endorsement at all!

Solid Alder Body with a Arched Top/Rosewood Fretboard. Active EMG's (81/85 Humbuckers) with a Licensed Floyd Rose Tremelo. Standard two knob configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone.

The sound of the 81/85's absolutely crushes! This thing can go from lean and mean to clean with everything in-between. I can get some nice bluesy tones, jazz to metal... the only thing I can think of that this guitar can't cover is country.

Solid Blue finish with a low action on the fretboard. The factory setup was "okay"... but after I took it to a music store and let them set it up it came alive.

There is some slight wearing of the black finish on the floyd rose were I have let my hand sit, but not much and this is to be expected. This can handle anything you can throw at it and is very dependable. I would still play with a backup just because of the floyd rose... no, I have never broke a string on it. However, I have played these types of guitars before... and if you do break a string, your done.

No reason to deal with customer service

Absolutely love this guitar and it has replaced my PRS as my main guitar!

Made in Japan 2007, Alder Body, bolt on maple neck with rosewood fretboard, 24 jumbo frets, 1x EMG81 und 1x EMG85 humbucker Pickups (this was the 'update' version), 1 volume/1 tone potentiometer, 3-way pickup selection switch, FR type tremolo, black hardware, color: black forest (a metallic color, looks black and in light it shows some dark green). Included was a truss rod adjustment tool and a couple of hex wrenches for the locking nuts. Body style was, of course, a superstrat.

Sounds good for any kinds of metal, but it isn't very versatile for other music styles because of the nature of the EMG pickups. I use my guitars linked to a Zoom G7.1ut effects processor/preamp (it has a tube, ooh) which in turn is linked to a behringer 2x10 combo from the effects return channel. It has no noise at all, compared for example to my other guitar, a Jackson kelly with a SH-13 Dimebucker. The guitar has a fat and pretty bass/midrangey sound. What kind of sound the guitar can make? Well, in my opinion that is much more related to what kind of gear it is linked to. The guitar sounds just fine for 80's thrash metal, for example. Overall, I like the sound of the guitar, it's just what i've been looking for. A fat tone for metal.

There is one or two frets that are too high and cause buzzing in the E and A strings. Pickups were finely soldered, but their height was a bit too lowly set up from the factory. Bridge was somewhat properly routed. No other flaws.

The guitar seems pretty robust, can't say really since I haven't had it for long enough. Strap buttons are quite fine looking, much bigger than those ones used in cheaper guitars. And no, I would not gig without a backup, only idiots/cheapskates do that.

Been playing since 1999. I also own a Jackson JS30 Kelly (which is heavily modified), a Fender Stratocaster (built in the U.S.), and I've had a Gibson Flying V '67 Reissue. If it was stolen, I'd drive over the burglar with my Volvo 240 (well, not perhaps). I love the body style, it isn't cumbersome to use like the kelly. I also love the EMG's and the licensed FR. I compared it to a Ibanez RG350EX, Jackson DK-6 and a Hagstr??m SS. I chose this one because it was most versatile out of the four. I wish it had a maple fingerboard. In my opinion, rosewood is too regular.

Trans-black finish, flamed maple top. Floyd Rose (lic.) black hardware. Jackson reverse stock machines, bolt-on thin super-fast compound radius maple neck with rosewood board, 24 jumbo frets and reverse headstock. Circa 2001? stock with EMG-HZ(H3) passive hbs (neck and bridge) with 1 tone, 1 volume and 1 EMG Afterburner variable gain pull-knob up to 20db (requires 9 v. battery) with 3-position Fender style pu switch.

Stock sound: definately suited for metal - higher mid response with basic low-end, sustain avg. with licenced block and Jackson tuners. Crystal sounding clean in neck HZ without spikey highs. Noisy with AB turned up in Dist. channel, higher volume response from AB in clean channel.

I upgraded the machine heads to Grover mid-size locking rotomatics (for added sustain from the wieght)and switched out the HZs to the Zakk Wylde 81/85 set, with wiring to the Afterburner. An original Floyd Rose Pro bridge and nut with the wider block and smaller string spacing added even more sustain and warmth, not to mention ease of tuning maintenance/ dependability. I would like to re-route the bridge area at some time, hard to find someone to do it.

Modified sound: This thing is a metal MONSTER!! A true shredding machine - the difference in beef is rediculous - the alder body and 81/85s are a marriage made in heaven. Screaming pinch harmonics with the "Dime squeal" are unbelieveable on this thing. The Afterburner behaves much better with the 81/85 set, still get noise at full 20 db, but backing it off anywhere from 1-10 or 11 gives you added crunch and bass response without mudding up your rhythms. Leads with full AB sound reminicent of Skolnik's violin-sounding early testament leads. Great arpegiation on the jumbo frets - can skip-pick lightning fast on residual sustain due to heavier Grovers and Floyd block. I play it through a Marshall valvestate 100 watt head, Crate 4x12 with upgraded Hellotones and a Digitech RP 2000 effects processor and occasionally (ok hardly ever) Dunlop Crybaby Wah. Be warned, the tone is NOT the beef you would get from a Les Paul, but its sound is definately thrash with its own distinct voice.

The lightwieght body and wide neck take some adjusting to with the smaller string spacing,(coming from an SG and Les Paul) but overall there are very few drawbacks to "BlackJack" as I've come to call him. Took some $ and patience to get him where he is, but I loved the finish and feel with the reverse headstock and that damn-hard to beat compound radius neck.

I bought it second hand, yet in mint condition (the guy never played it or learned to play at all) and got a rediculous deal. The set-up was poor (all saddles were lined up flush-yikes!) and the action was high, but with a slight tweak on the truss, intonation set and action was able to be lower than I expected. Even lowe action possible with 10s as opposed to 9s on the XL strings. I raised the neck pickup a tad, the routing is satisfactory for the Jackson bridge, but with the Oringinal Floyd Pro I could get rediculous with a re-routing. The controls needed to be tightened a bit, but overall no noisy in the selector switch or volume/ tone controls. Was in tight shape overall for stock accessories

Great for gigging - can take alot of movmnt/ motion. Could use all-hardened knobs, etc, but I have played it without a backup before. Finish is one of its greatest features...polishes up quickly without fading/ clouding after a year. I replace all strap buttons with locks just in case, so can't comment on buttons - they came off with original strings. Stock bridge has hard time staying in tune, then again, I get sick with the tremolo.

No warranty info when I bought it, however, EMG was awesome in sending me a diagram on how to connect the Zack Wylde set with the Afterburner on the same 9-volt battery. One phone call, and the email attachment was in my box in 30 min. EMG support guys name was Rick. He Rocks.
No comment on Jackson (Fender). Never contacted them.

I love this guitar. The overall feel of the cutaway and weight is excellent, although I wish it were neck-thru in design. For a bolt-on, it is without a doubt, the greatest bang for your buck. I couldn't afford a 2K Jackson USA, but over time I made a wise choice in body and neck to spend the time and $ I did upgrading it. I wouldn't trade or sell it for anything. I also have an SG and a Les Paul, '87 and '91 respectivley. For bluesy stuff, they fit the bill - for metal and speed, BlackJack is King.

Cobalt Blue Swirl graphic finish - looks like dark blue sky with grey silver swirl clouds. Jackson superstrat body style with cutaways on the cutways and an archtop. Floyd Rose type floating trem - double locking. 25 1/2 scale jumbo frets on a rosewood fretbord that is married to a rock maple neck, bolted on an alder body. 24 frets jumbo. Solidbody with 3-way switching between 2 humbuckers. Master tone, master volume, and EMG Turbocharger 25dB push/pull variable boost. Had stock EMG HZ passive 'buckers.

This is my review of this axe 2 years later with a better impression.

It suits my Hard Metal style easily in looks, hardware, and tone. I'm still using a Crate MX65R amplifier, no effects. The guitar is noisy with aftermarket pickups because since it was stock with EMG's, they cut all grounds, so when you put in non-EMG's there is noise, not to mention more with the active boost control.

The guitar's sound overall is midrange-y with great cut because of the rock maple neck and alder body. I use Ernie Ball strings to keep the natural guitar's sound balanced - midrange-y without any extra spice (extra brightness, power, what have you). The DKMG is not as beefy as some guitars and therefore needs a bridge pickup (at least) that is thick in the mids, and/or lows. This guitar is essentially a cutting rhythm guitar and shred machine.

I LOVE the graphic finish, the midrange-y rock sound, and the fact it has a whammy on it. I really only dislike the non-hardend hardware.

This stuff was as good as would be expected from a guitar in this price range. B+!

It could withstand a few hard months on a tour, but it's no Jackon USA which could do 2 years! I replaced the straplocks with Schallers just so the strap won't fly off when rockin' out. I'd gig it without a backup depending on the circumstance because I just don't break strings on a tremolo.

Been playing going on 14 years and it's still my #1. My favorite feature is the Cobalt Blue Swirl finish, followed by the body style, followed by the tremolo.

If you like a Les Paul, buy a Les Paul. If you can stand less beef and blazing lead guitar is a big part of your style, buy a Jackson DKMG.

Mines the Forest Black and all that other stuff

I play metal, suits me fine, I beat the piss out of the Floyd Rose, lots of dumps and wwwreeessss, I get a shiitload of speed out of the neck

My action is set real low, I don't get any buzz, it's a sharp guitar.

It hasn't broke yet

Definately a metal guitar

* Jackson DKMG Black Forest
* Alder Body
* Maple neck
* Rosewood fingerboard
* 24 frets
* Bolt-on neck
* Reverse headstock
* One Emg 81 in the bridge and one emg hz in the neck
* Emg turbocharger
* Licenced Floyd Rose tremolo

I was a bit critical against this guitar when I first got it used. Judging from the features, I knew I had to change a lot of things on this guitar. However, when I sat down and started playing the guitar, I was really impressed! The sound on this guitar was amazing! In the update version of this guitar there is a set of emg 81 and 85 which is better than mine. I?m probably going to switch the emg hz in the neck to emg 85. But I like the sound on this guitar very much, it suits my music style perfectly. I mostly play metal, but I?m also interested in other music styles as jazz and blues. This guitar handles the metal perfectly, can?t say how good it is for other styles. This is a great guitar for playing solos, but also as a rythm guitar.

Got it used, but there was not a single flaw on this one. It seemed new, because there was not even a single scratch on the guitar. Everything was perfect.

This is absolutely a guitar you can count on. I would definetly play live with this, in fact I?m sure I will do that in the fall. I have had bad experience of live playing, but this guitar seems so solid, that I?m sure I?ll use it on a gig. I changed the strap buttons to schaller strap locks, so that I can run around with the guitar without worrying. I depend on this guitar 100 %, but I?m not sure if I?d gig without backup. In case that a string would broke or something, I would rahter just pick my other guitar than stop playing. But I think I could gig with this without backup, since it?s such a badass guitar.

Haven?t dealt with them.

I own a ESP LTD Ex 351 BD which is my favorite guitar, a roland microcube for home practising and soon a Crate Fullstack. If this guitar were stolen, I would have to slay and kill the one that stole it. No mercy. I love this guitar, it?s great for the price you pay.
It?s not better than my ex 351 bd, but I still use it very often.

Carved top alder body, maple neck, compound-radius bound rosewood fingerboard with piranha inlays. Two Humbucking EMG-HZ pickups on a 3-way switch with the EMG TurboCharger, a 20dB variable boost. Floyd Rose licensed double-locking tremolo. 24 frets. Reverse headstock. Forest Green finish, Black hardware.

I was very impressed with the EMG's. The bridge pickup sounds like a fine tuned chainsaw with a lot of sustain. Edgey and compressed perfect for oldschool metal (Ratt,Dokken,EVH,AC/DC).I was trying to get a Strat sound on the neck pickup with a clean setting, but got closer to a Tele. I guess thats why Leo invented Strats! The string balance is exeptional on the EMG-HZ's. This is the only guitar I own were it sounds like each string is at the same volume, even at heavly distored chorded tones (very nice!). I would say the sound is bright, less full. Surprising the middle position on the 3-way switch is the darkest. Rolling off the volume to clean up tones works perfect! It softens distortion without losing clarity. As you may have heard, the Turbocharger potentiometer IS noisy when rotated and a lot of static at idle. In a "live" setting it could have its advantages (is your drummer to loud?). Its on a push pull knob so you can "set it" and then LAUNCH it into super distortion! But I'am more of a studio musician so I'm thinking of replacing it with a EMG-RPC potentiometer. I have to do more research to see if this is even possible with this pickup combination. My only dislikes is the pickups can be a little too compressed sounding. Which makes them lack a full round clean sound, but makes up for that with fast tracking, well balanced hot pickups.

I haven't played a Jackson since my younger days. as soon as I shoulder this baby my hands were happy. This guitar is EASY to play!Bought used so I had to set it up. And yes, the action can be set LOW without any buzzing. The compound radius neck is comfortable and awsome! I like the fact that the strings are stacked straigher at the pick hand, as oppossed to the radius on Fenders. It makes it easier to "target" your picking and is a dream for playing rhythm. No problems with sharp fret ends. That damn Turbocharger knob just feel off once while jamming! The set screw wasn't tight(little screwdriver, minor setback). This baby has SUSTAIN for a bolt on neck! What the heck does a neck-thru Jackson sound like? The used DKMG finish was already chipped (good now I don't have to baby it!) Archtop body is my favorite since I tend to have a heavy pick hand and gives me more room for accurate picking.

Only had this used guitar 2 months. Survived the Ebay shippment in a nicely packed box without a hardshell case. Sounds pretty durable to me. That damn Turbocharger knob just feel off once while jamming! The set screw wasn't tight(little screwdriver, minor setback). For a change, a used guitar came with tight strap buttons. The Floyd Rose licensed double-locking tremolo actuality seems to be staying in tune under whammy bar stunts! (Thanks Eddie!)

I've been playing for 18 yrs. grew up with 80's metal and then turning to the blues. Been plaving mostly Stratocasters and some PRS. I think every guitar has its own voice. I didn't buy this guitar to play the blues. I wanted it to scream! And it does that well. Maybe to brittle sounding for Death Metal, but dont we all need a lead guitar hero who knows how to cut threw the mix. Although you can get pretty various tones out of this guitar if you spend some time teaking your amp. But lets face it a JACKSON is made to plug in to a amp and distort it into bliss. The only thing I wish it had was coil-tapping(for that elusive STRAT tone). Thats why I'd get another one so I can experiment with different pickups and wire in a coil tap. I dont want to change this guitars tone ,I love it. This is a very comfortable guitar with a rock solid tremolo. If you what to shred and pull out harmonics til next tuesday, buy this guitar! If I could ever find a Jackson with a second strat tone I would happily be a one guitar man. This thing is that fun to play!

made in Japan , 24 frets ! thats so nice 2emg hz humbucker active

body: Alder
neck: rock maple
fingerboard:rosewood

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the floyd suck a bit... its a licensed

im using a behringer amp (head 120w bottom 200w)
im playing melodics death metal and death metal

the guitar sound is very nice a lot of harmonics but sometimes i think it can have more distorsion... i mean it's ok but i have to but my drive very high on my amp.

it's not very noisy

if you want to buy a guitar for a cost under 1000$ this is your guitar

the touch !!! wowww !!! i just love that touch it's very comfortable
just the high frets on the 5th or 6th strings can be hard to play if you have little fingers like me :P

neck and fingerboard---excellent!