Jackson Guitars: A Legacy of Metal Mayhem

As a lifelong metalhead Jackson guitars hold a special place in my heart. Their sharp aggressive shapes and screaming hot pickups seem custom-made to melt faces with heavy riffs. In this post, I’ll explore the history and legacy of Jackson, from their early days catering to the biggest shredders on the planet to their continued popularity among metal guitarists today.

The Early Years: Born to Shred

The Jackson guitar company was founded in 1980 by Grover Jackson Jackson had previously worked as a partner in Wayne Charvel’s guitar repair shop When they parted ways, Jackson struck out on his own.

From the very beginning, Jackson targeted their guitars toward heavy rock and metal players. Their guitars featured thin, flat necks ideal for fast soloing. Bold body shapes like the Rhoads flying V and King V guitars made a statement on stage.

One of Jackson’s earliest endorsees was a young guitar phenomenon named Randy Rhoads. Rhoads helped design the Concorde model, an early version of what would become Jackson’s legendary Rhoads guitar. His creative guitar playing with Ozzy Osbourne cemented Jackson as THE choice for shredders.

Other early Jackson players included prowling panther Vivian Campbell of Dio and fleet-fingered Marty Friedman of Megadeth. Their endorsement gave Jackson serious credibility among metal fans.

The Glory Days: Rattling Eardrums, Melting Faces

As metal exploded in popularity in the 1980s, Jackson sales skyrocketed. The company could do no wrong, especially after Randy Rhoads’ tragic death in a plane crash cemented his legend. The original San Dimas guitar factory ran nonstop to meet demand.

Jackson guitars were everywhere on the sunset strip metal scene Hard rock heroes like Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi and Dave Mustaine of Megadeth sported flashy custom Jacksons Slayer’s Kerry King worked with Jackson to design his menacing King V signature model,

Shred was the name of the game, and nobody did it better than Jackson. Every aspiring metal axe-man yearned for a wild, neck-through-body Jackson Soloist to blaze through Van Halen-esque solos. Jackson cranked out hot rod guitars covered in pointy horns, neon paint, and chaotic graphics.

For many metal fans, Jackson guitars were the Holy Grail. I remember drooling over their guitars in magazines, never imagining I’d ever own one on my measly allowance budget.

Changing Times: Grunge Kills Metal

Sadly, oversaturation and changing music tastes led to a cooling of Jackson’s red-hot popularity in the early 1990s. The rise of grunge and alternative rock pushed metal off the charts.

Fender’s parent company at the time bought the Charvel/Jackson brand in 1992. Some players felt quality declined under the corporate owners. Facing slumping sales, Jackson diversified into more mainstream guitars.

For metal loyalists, this dilution of Jackson’s pure metal heritage was an outrage. Small shops like ESP guitars catered to the underground metal crowd Jackson left behind.

Return to Glory: Jackson Reborn

Luckily the Jackson brand did not fade away forever. In the early 2000s, Jackson changed hands again. Their new owners vowed to return Jackson to their roots as the undisputed leader in metal guitars.

Jackson reopened their successful Custom Shop to produce high-end metal weapons. They also revamped their import lineup with modern features suited for extreme players.

Today, Jackson caters to both old-school metal with retro models like the King V and Dinky guitars. Their modern X Series features updated ergonomic designs.

Top metal guitarists like Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith and Testament’s Alex Skolnick are back in the Jackson fold. Smith’s signature SDX model marries classic looks with modern playability.

Why Jackson Rules for Metal Today

So why do Jackson guitars continue to dominate the metal realm decades later? Here are some of the key factors:

Aggressive Original Designs

Jackson’s wild pointed headstocks, bright colors, and edgy shapes just scream heavy metal. While not for everyone, their stand-out style is perfect for metal and hard rock. The iconic Rhoads V still looks dangerous and subversive.

Lightning-Fast Neck Profiles

From their early days, Jackson necks have catered to shredders. Their slim, flat profiles allow fleet-fingered solos and quick riffing. Many models feature compound radius fingerboards that get flatter toward the high strings for low-fret bends while still facilitating intricate chords.

High-Output Pickups

Jackson knows metal demands high levels of crunchy distortion. They use hot pickups like Seymour Duncans, EMG active pickups, and powerful Fishman Fluence pickups optimized for heavy tones.

State of the Art Technology

Jackson keeps up with the times, offering modern refinements for today’s players. Features like locking tremolo systems, pinned bridges, graphite-reinforcement, and luminlay side dots give Jackson a high-tech edge.

Made for Speed and Performance

Nimble basswood bodies, sleek bolt-on maple necks, and quality hardware keep Jackson guitars light and resonant. They feel fast and responsive under the fingers, ideal for quick lead playing. The elegant balance reminds me of a fine sports car.

Custom Shop Masterpieces

For well-heeled shredders, Jackson’s Custom Shop offers stunning high-end guitars with no-compromise components and fit and finish.

Many of their builders have been with Jackson for decades, with skill passed down from their original team. A Custom Shop Jackson melds innovative design with old-world craftsmanship.

Prices run upwards of $5,000, but the results are breathtaking metal machines. Master builders blend beautiful tonewoods, exotic inlays, reactive pickups and flawless playability into every instrument.

The USA Select Series offer a more affordable Custom Shop experience starting around $2500. These guitars capture the vibe of Custom Shop Jacksons at lower prices.

Jackson for a New Generation

A whole new generation of metalheads are discovering Jackson’s prime place in metal history. Their distinctive style lives on through Jackson’s Tribute Series imports modeled after classic designs.

Beginner models like the JS Series offer young players access to Jackson’s metal legacy on a reasonable budget. I constantly see teenagers first learning to thrash on Dinky and Rhoads starter guitars. At under $200, they provide an affordable way to join the Jackson family.

Through good times and lean times, Jackson has maintained their rightful reputation as the go-to guitar brand for metal. Decades later, Jackson guitars continue to inspire heavy metal kids to reach for their dreams and make some noise. For me, nothing else looks, sounds, or feels more like a real metal machine.