Jackson DR5 Dinky

These guitars were more on the budget side as they were made overseas and stripped down of a lot of features compared to some of today's guitars. The guitar has the following specs:

Basswood
Maple bolt-on neck
Rosewood fretboard with 24 jumbo frets
HH configuration
No binding
Jackson licensed floyd rose
Offset dot inlays
Three way switch
Master volume and master tone knobs


UTILIZATION

The number one thing to check on these guitars is the neck joint. There can be some very sloppy neck joints on these, so pay special attention to that. A neck joint with a gap can potentially hinder tone, and it can be a pain to line up the strings properly. The frets on these are usually pretty decent, but I find that they could all use a bit of a level and recrown considering their age. The ends tend to be pretty decent. I'm not a fan of the bridge that comes on this stock. I much prefer the original floyd rose as it tends to be a bit spongier and sounds a bit better.

SOUNDS

The stock pickups on this aren't that great. The bridge pickup is pretty bland overall. It has this almost muffled tone to it, even with the tone knob all the way up. It just lacks that clarity that some of the higher end pickups seem to have. Note separation was a bit of a problem. The neck is very much the same way, but I was able to get a decent clean tone going on with the thing, so there were no issues in that department. Then again, I play metal, so take that for what it's worth.

OVERALL OPINION

The guitars are decent, but I highly recommend both a pickup swap and a floyd swap. Both of those will make this guitar play much better than stock, and it'll sound a lot better. You should be able to get some good used deals on these as they're not offered anymore, so they could work as gigging guitars.

Made in Japan with as much care as sisters USA.
Reserved for the Japanese and American market.
I brought this model only because Japan is the only Jackson's catalog have a body ASH (ash), which gives a lot of acrimony in the attacks and a lot of sustain.
The build quality is very good:
the handle is a true success, close but not too large compared to the Ibanez RG 550.
The frets are particularly well finished, it does not catch, it travels very quickly the 24 boxes of the handle.
The Floyd is doing rather well, even better than an Ibanez RG is, by far!
The pickups are a bit cold cons oriented metal. We like it or not.
To sum up the build quality is far superior to Jackson DK2 and I do not even JS 30!

UTILIZATION

The handle is the strong point of the guitar is a highway, it is ideal for complicated playing techniques, taping, etc. ... the shredding but we can play good old blues / rock playing without problem grows over it.
The body smaller than a Fender is a perfect fit. I love the fact that very reverse head Metallica! I love the dot markers at the top of the handle, it is professional and understated. In short it's less bling than the teeth of sharks and it's easier to figure it out
Ash provides a huge attack and a very long sustain, which is nice for a guitar with a floyd.

SOUNDS

Here, I'll be a little hard but it's a matter of taste
JA 123 Micro stick has a good output level, and a very good definition in saturated mode but is a little cold clean. For me playing the ZZ Top is not the top! This is better than EMG HZ but less good as a Paf Pro Di Marzio.
The bridge pickup JT 580 benefits the body in Ash (ash) to provide impressive attacks, it is better than the neck pickup by offering a very good performance.
But again, it's pretty cold and too set to play the blues-rock. My Fender Stratocaster is better in this area.
In fact it is a guitar that I use mainly for solos (long sustain Floyd +) or very violent rhythmic Rock.
So I issue a little restriction for the lack of flexibility but on the other side can not have everything ... This

OVERALL OPINION

Jackson offers a violin and a finish worthy of the highest caliber of U.S., its very simple black design will not appeal necessarily to teens like these microphones oriented metal. This brief is not a guitar beginner who seeks his style. It is for the Hard and metal. But hey it's a Jackson!