1986 Jackson

1986 Jackson "Strat" (not to be confused with the other more famous body style) gun-metal grey, no pickguard, rosewood fingerboard, 3 active Seymour Duncan single-coil pick-ups, 3 toggle switch pick-up selector system enabling 2 outside pick-up combination, all 3 and off! Kahler tremelo locking nut system keeps everything in tune when whammying in the style the guitar was made for: an all-purpose strat with amazingly original Stratocaster sounds from the Duncans. This guitar was seen in the hands of Jeff Beck in the mid-80's so it's Beck-approved feel is all there. Smooth neck with jumbo frets, the response is quick and the balance is superb. Aside from the 2 out-of -phase sounds available by combining the bridge and middle and the neck and middle position p/ups, two unique tonal shapes come from the ability to activate the 2 outside single-coils and enabling all 3 simultaneously. The outside pick-up combo is a cross between a Tele and a Paul in their middle pick-up selector positions and imparts a great bell-like tone with that fat mid-range honk. The 3 coils on at once is unusual and unique to this instrument: a funky semi-hollow bodied sound is produced, great for R&B and funk as well as blues, gospel or soul! Check it out. A great match with the Duncans.

Specs: Jackson strat with 3 single-coil Duncans, Kahler vibrato system. Rosewood neck, 21 frets, jumbo.
Tone: luscious old Strat sounds from Seymour + 2 new tonal variants.
Look: slick, sleek modern strat yet no frills. Sharp point headstock characteristic of the Jackson line.
Feel: Responsive, failproof lines, well-balanced. A well-built axe ready for neo-classical, shred, metal right down to the blues and everything in between.
Needs/wants: Kahler does job of keeping tune but 1st string E tends to have softer attack and output quality. Remedied somewhat by using a fatter gauge E. Locking-nut fails after x amount of use, needs replacing. Battery operated...
Quirks: Pinging E string from Kahler bridge needs attention. Guitar will make popping sounds when battery goes. Watch those speakers!
History: Jeff Beck played em first. Charvel co-produced models thruout years of production. American-made and older seem to be the best.
Desirability: Tho' not vintage, the older non-Charvel and American made models attract a higher price. A great guitar with some bridge quirks that can be overcome.