A mix of Ibanez and Stratocaster - aka Superstrat.
First of all, the guitar comes in a Jackson box labeled “Custom shop”. That was a surprise to me.
Also comes with Jackson hardshell case with black interior. The case is ok. Nothing special.
Inside case there is nothing except the instructions and the tremolo handle and, of course, the guitar itself. Floyd rose tools-hexkeys are not included.
I own American professional Stratocaster and Ibanez RG 1570 so I can compare them with this Jackson-Adrian Smith creation.
Let’s start from the headstock. Front side of the headstock with Jackson logo is the only part of guitar which comes in high gloss finish. The rest of the neck is completely unfinished including back of the headstock which I do not like at all. Jackson tuning keys are ok but they are not important on a Floyd rose guitars. Locking nut is a R2 size but guitar itself has 43 mm R3 dimensions so there are gaps on both sides of a nut. Unfortunately, the nut is not well centered so gap on the bass side is around 0,6mm while 0,4mm on treble side.
Neck has compound radius 12-16 inch. My impression of the neck is thin wide neck but not D shape like Ibanez wizard necks. More like something between strat and Ibanez neck. Jumbo frets are not too tall 1,2 -1,3mm. Ibanez guitars are equipped with 1,6mm tall jumbo frets. On the other side the frets are very polished and they are the best thing on this guitar. Fret ends are impossible to see and feel. Very very good fret job.
Guitar joint (bolt on neck) is a biggest problem on this guitar. The manual says that bridge pickup shoud be cca 2mm under strings( action 1,2mm on treble, 1,6mm on bass side) but that is virtually impossible because end of the neck where lays 22th fret is about 2mm above pickguard which is both esthetical and practical problem. Duncan on his highest position is around 0,5mm under strings. The solution is thicker pickguard or thinner neck on joint position. I tried to find that same flaw on the internet pictures of this model but there are not many good pictures.
Truss rod adjustment wheel is big improvement considering past Adrian Smith models where one should take off the neck in order to adjust neck relief.
There is nothing special to say about pickups. Duncan does its job but fender noiseless are somehow too sterile for me.
The guitar stays in tune very good. Better than my Ibanez equipped with edge pro tremolo but Floyd is much more hard to handle and use. I have to mention another problem. Floyd saddles are not following the neck radius properly. Second and fifth string action are lower than it should be so B and A string saddles needs little saddle shims (0,15mm) which I had to buy separately.
Recently I had the opportunity to play Mexican Charvel with Floyd which is basically the same guitar at third of a price. But that charvel had uneven frets. So, my suggestion would be to buy charvel and plek the frets.
Guitar two piece body is a piece of art but I don’t like very thin white pickguard. Guitar is very heavy like old strats.
Conclusion: Very expensive guitar but I rather play my strat, Ibanez or my old Gibson sg. If I ever had to sell one of my guitars this one will be the first one to go.
