Jackson DR3 Dinky Reverse

These guitars are meant for those looking for a totally budget guitar with similar features to the famous Jackson models that are made in the states. This model has the following specs:

Basswood body
Maple bolt-on neck with a rosewood fretboard and 24 extra jumbo frets
Reverse sharkfin inlays
Licensed Jackson floyd rose
Two humbuckers
One volume, one tone and a three way switch

UTILIZATION

This guitar had a few issues with both fretwork and the actual neck joint. For one, the neck joint had a slight gap. This can hinder tone, and it can be a real pain when the neck shifts and your high e starts falling off the fretboard. You'll want to pin the neck if something like this happens. The frets were a bit sharp, but the worst part was that there were a few low frets. This meant that they wouldn't produce any sounds when you start lowering the action. The guitar would also start fretting out with bending when it was set to lower action. If something like this happens to you, have a luthier go over the frets. A simple level and crown are usually all that's needed to fix this issue. Also, the Jackson floyd on this thing isn't good at all. If you're going to keep this guitar, I recommend replacing it with an original floyd rose as it'll improve both tone and tuning stability.

SOUNDS

The guitar didn't sound that great. I think it had Duncan Design pickups in it, but I can't be sure. The bridge itself was pretty muddy and undefined. The neck reminded me of a poorly wound Duncan '59 or something. It seemed to have that similar vibe, but it never really could achieve that great tone of the Duncan '59. The guitar itself didn't seem to resonate too well, and I personally have an issue with basswood Jacksons. I love my basswood Ibanez guitars, but a basswood Jackson seems very wrong to me.

OVERALL OPINION

I don't really recommend getting one of these guitars. They're not the best, quality wise. If you do get one, be sure to have a luthier go over it to make sure the frets are perfectly level. Also, replace the bridge with an original floyd rose, and replace the pickups with something that work nicely with basswood. DiMarzios tend to go best with basswood, in my experience.

Made in Japan, 1999, red head reversed
basswood body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
equipped with a vibrato jackson licensed floyd rose, 24 frets
originally were mounted two duncan design humbukers HB 103
a volume knob and one tone control, 3 position selector

UTILIZATION

The handle is relatively quick and pleasant with shark teeth embedded (neck wide enough and the radius is fairly flat which gives a good feeling), access to acute easier. egonomie good, well balanced, strong, not too heavy ...
The settings are simple and effective

SOUNDS

For sound, the microphones of origin (directly screwed into the wood) are correct (especially in saturation, but you can get good clean sounds, looking for settings). However, they crunchent too fast for my taste and are not accurate enough (especially the neck pickup). I think they're not versatile enough.
hence their replacement with a tone zone in the bridge position and a Carvin neck position (both and split) - the tone can be a zone output level too high after all!
if not level violin, a guitar is well made, durable, because even she is manhandled the agreement (can do dive bombs without worry !!!). it sounds just perfect acoustic (but not connected)
is a snarling guitar and efficient and the wood gives it a relatively warm sound ...
It is perfect for rock, hard metal and ds but can provide other records with good settings (playing with the microphones and the EQ of the amp).
it remains the big pr cut its power packed while remaining accurate anyway, and can switch plans worthy of the greatest schreddeurs (legato, tapping, sweeping, etc.)!
I use it with an all-tube combo Marshall jcm600, a distortion pedal Rocktron Metal Planet, a deluxe memory man, a phase 90, etc ...

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for about five years, she never let me down! live it sends potato and an original look ... what I like most is his side Péchu!
I played in 12 years including a Epiphone Les Paul, a master metal lag, an Ibanez 7-string, a copy olp musicman and it remains my favorite. so I just do it optimizing (settings sleeves, the floyd, harmonics, plan frets, replacing microphones with push-pull pr more versatility). and there is a second life, she rips serious! I can not get the benefit. in fact its weaknesses have been resolved (due to micro origins) and its potential free!
It is therefore of great value (I think I bought new around what would now 650 euros) and have always wanted to own a jackson I remake a similar choice with the same budjet!
Update 17/05/07: Now that I have a LAG Arkane prestige, of course, there is no picture quality issue, but I always use this in concert, on some tracks, as it is reliable ...