Jackson Adrian Smith SDX MN SW 5-stars Reviews

Super Superstrat!

First of all – yes, I am huge fan of Iron Maiden and mr. Adrian Smith but my review will be as neutral to that fact as possible.

Guitar itself looks stunning, totaly 80's guitar in that snow white finish with a black pickguard. All maple neck fits perfectly in my hand and the filing is smooth as a silk and so comfortable.

Jackson pickups are okay for the start and there's no need to replace them if you are on a budget. In case you want to have identically what Adrian Smith use, replace humbucker with the DiMarzio Super Distortion and 2 single coils with 2 Fender noiseless pickups and you have exactly what Adrian use. But, that is highly optional since Jackon pickups are working quite well.

Floyd rose special bridge is good but do note that it is not recessed, only for dive bombs and the fact that the guitay will stay in tune after using it (not like Fender bridges, for example  ).

If I have to find any minuses to the guitar then it is the fact that the truss rod adjustment is at the end of the neck so if you change strings gauge or want to do an initial setup – you have to remove the neck, do the adjustment, put the neck back and check if it is OK now... if not, again the same procedure. Not a major pain in the backside but if I dont have to do that – i'd choose not to.

All in all, it is one truly super superstrat! 

Good bang for the back

I bought this guitar because I always liked how it looks, and the features you get for the money are hard to beat. Good quality floyd rose which stays in tune much better than I expected, no need to replace it for the "original" one. Pickups are ok, but I just couldn't resist replacing it with Dimarzio's (Super Distortion in the bridge, Cruiser neck in the middle and Air Norton S in the neck, all splittable with push-pull pots, which I also swapped instead of regular ones) and the tonal options are insanely good.

The guitar is very pleasant to play, I absolutely recommend considering it.

Very Nice

I really like almost everything about this guitar.

It's very well build, so much versatility and tones to search, it really can play everything very well.

The only problem I can find it's the finish on the wood of the fretboard that could be better finished, I find that it gets dirt easy and it's hard to clean.

What an instrument

Adrian Smith was the guitarist who first inspired me to pick up and try to learn to play. Nearly 30 years later, I decided to treat myself to a new guitar, and it just had to be this. I was not disappointed.

Some may not like the lack of tremolo cavity, but I appreciate the security of not being able to pull back too hard on the strings - I have broken them at awkward times doing that in the past. Single volume control means you can't blend the pickups when selecting more than one, which also doesn't bother me, but might bother others.

It sounds tremendous, either through my modelling board or my Bugera 333, from chunky blues to 80s thrash, it can cover it all. And the single coils sound lush played clean with a little chorus.

The neck is fast, easy and the action very low (OK, I did lower it a bit more myself).

I've tried out guitars that cost twice as much that I'd not rate above this one. If you want a Floyd equipped guitar for rock or metal, you can't really go wrong with this.

Also, "Up the Irons!"

JACKSON ADRIAN SMITH SDX MN SW

All round good guitar. Pickups seem quite powerful, neck is very comfortable and finished well. Tremelo works well and stays in tune.

Only small issue was jack input socket loose but no biggy.

Very good guitar for the money and plays as well as much more expensive guitars.