Jackson basses are known for their sleek designs and aggressive aesthetic, which attract hard rock and metal guitarists. Jackson basses produce powerful bass tones capable of accommodating thrash and heavy styles such as thrash. Their JS Concert Bass models include passive Jackson humbucking pickups for enhanced stability and bolder tone; additionally their HiMass bridge adds stability while further amplifying tone.
Body & Neck
Jackson Guitars was established by Grover Jackson to produce guitars for Randy Rhoads of rock band Bad Company in 1980, quickly becoming popular with bassists for its unique designs and competitive prices. Offering various basses such as the Chris Beattie Signature Bass and John Campbell Signature Bass models, Jackson provides bassists with options tailored specifically to their needs.
Jackson basses feature sturdy wood construction for deep and rich tone while their neck provides comfortable playing sessions for hours on end. Many Jackson models also include fixed bridges to provide the sustained sustain required by heavy metal music.
Jackson bass guitars come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, from standard 4-string models to 5-string basses that produce deep notes that can rattle a room. Many feature pointed or slanted headstocks first seen on Jackson’s prototype for Randy Rhoads Concorde back in 1980 – this design likely evolved due to trade dress issues involving Fender Strat-style headstocks.
Jackson bass models have long been beloved instruments. One such popular Jackson model is the Concert Bass JS2 Black. Featuring a 34″ scale four-string body made from lightweight poplar with speed maple neck and graphite reinforcement for rock solid stability, this 34″-scale four-string features pearloid sharkfin inlay on its 12-16 compound radius rosewood fingerboard for fast playability with 24 jumbo frets for plenty of tonal options. Furthermore, two high output humbucking bass pickups produce low end growl while an active 3-band EQ circuit allows you to fine-tune your sound – one popular Jackson model among bass enthusiasts alike.
Hardware
Jackson basses were not made for one specific style of music – unlike some bass guitars which are made for only one particular genre – they’re designed for versatility across many bass styles. Their thin yet lightweight contoured bodies deliver powerful tones that respond well to distortion settings while their super-slim necks with jumbo frets make fast leads and licks easy. Many also come equipped with thick-sounding humbucking pickups that deliver full-bodied tones even at higher volumes.
The Spectra Bass JS3Q offers a sound as individual as its bassist who is playing it. Dual passive Jackson medium-output humbucking pickups create a powerful low end growl while HiMass bridge increases stability, sustain and adds bolder tone. Tone can be tweaked and refined further via three-band active EQ, blend control and push/pull selector allowing bypass of active circuit for simple acoustic operation.
The three models in the JS series of Concert basses each provide distinct sets of premium features to meet the needs of various bassists. Starting with the entry-level JS2, these premium features can meet many types of playing needs; an acoustic-electric, onboard active electronics or fifth string can all take your playing to the next level. All three feature 35″ scale lengths, Indian cedro bodies with maple necks featuring 12-16 compound radius fingerboards that allow comfortable chording/rhythm playing as well as easy bending/vibrato effect when needed.
Jackson Guitars were initially an independent brand owned by Grover Jackson who collaborated closely with Randy Rhoads to design Ozzy Osbourne’s Concorde bass for Ozzy Osbourne in 1980. Since then, Jackson guitars have become one of the premier suppliers for hard rock and metal bass instruments, known for their striking designs, powerful tones, lustrous finishes and distinctive flairs such as their Demon, Dinky King V Kelly Soloist models featuring distinct flairs; today these iconic instruments are manufactured by Fender Musical Instruments at their facilities located in Corona California and Ensenada Mexico respectively.
Electronics
An ideal Jackson bass guitar should offer you a full palette of tones at your disposal, which is why the JS3 Concert includes multiple controls on its body that let you craft your sound to suit any genre or situation – whether that means big and punchy basslines or something more subtle. Each of its humbucking pickups have volume controls while its master tone control equalizes low, mid, and high frequencies; also included is a HiMass bridge for optimal sustain.
Jackson Guitars gained notoriety during the heavy metal boom of the 1980s with its distinctively designed Dinky, King V and Kelly models of guitar. Although these iconic instruments remain available from Jackson today, more affordable Asian-made basses now make up a substantial part of its product offering. These include models like Concert Bass Minion that pack plenty of seismic tone.
The JS Series Concert Bass Minion JS1XM boasts a gorgeous Indian cedro body, maple neck with graphite reinforcement rods and 12–16 compound radius laurel fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets. A Jackson P style neck pickup provides ample balanced tone while its counterpart, J style bridge pickup eliminates any unwanted hum or noise for a punchy note every time. Adjust the sound to suit your preferences with its single volume knob and single tone control; additionally it features superior string-to-string sustain via its hardtail bridge with black base plate.
Though designed for rock and metal styles that require powerful low-end tones, its upgraded electronics and classic brutal style make this bass suitable for many genres. High-output humbucking bass pickups deliver an unmistakable low-end growl that can be adjusted via onboard 3-band EQ controls, while its graphite-reinforced speed maple neck with compound radius laurel fingerboard ensures effortless playability at breakneck speeds.
Jackson’s JS3Q Concert Bass is an ideal bass for any genre that demands thunderous low end. Equipped with dual passive medium-output humbucking pickups that deliver an enormous bass growl, its HiMass bridge ensures improved stability and note sustain, and three-band equalizer with bass, midrange, and treble controls as well as push/pull selector to bypass its active circuit but keep sound without power, tonal shaping can be easily accomplished using these features.
Sound
Since Grover Jackson collaborated with Randy Rhoads on Ozzy Osbourne’s Concorde guitars during the ’80s, Jackson basses have set the bar for extreme metal bassists. Renowned for their lightweight designs and ultra-slim necks with jumbo frets, Jackson basses have set a trend among metal bassists worldwide. These iconic instruments boast sleek body shapes, lightweight designs and ultra-slim necks equipped with jumbo frets for enhanced power; known for their stunning dual high output humbucking pickups carefully voiced to give you ample low end rumble; their 3-band EQ allows you to dial in vintage sound or open up more modern clarity and definition depending on your musical taste or amplifier settings – which makes Jackson basses standout from their competitors when it comes to metal bass tone!
Jackson offers budget-minded bassists an option in the form of its JS Series Concert Bass Line, offering four-string passive basses (JS2) and active basses (JS3 and JS3V). The entry-level JS2 features 35″ scale Indian cedro bodies with maple necks featuring Indian rosewood fingerboards featuring 12-16 compound radius that’s great for chording/rhythm playing; further up the neck there is a flatter radius that provides fast lead work/wide vibrato effects.
The Jackson JS3 and JS3V both boast active electronics from Jackson, including two humbucking bass pickups with an active 3-band EQ for you to fine-tune your sound. Using its bass, mid and treble controls you can roll off highs for vintage thump or boost frequencies for cutting through any mix in any situation. A high-mass bridge helps ensure strings remain tight to pickups for rock solid stability and improved sustain.
The JS3B bass was created in collaboration with one of thrash metal’s iconic bassists, David Ellefson from Megadeth. It offers the massive Jackson sound that this hard-rock pioneer requires. A resonant poplar body houses lightweight yet durable gloss finishes, while its bolt-on maple neck boasts graphite reinforcement rods and scarf joint joints for strength. Furthermore, its Indian rosewood fingerboard with 12-16 compound radius and sharkfin inlays offers 12 frets. Premium features also include sealed Jackson die-cast tuners as well as adjustable truss rod and 4-in-line headstock featuring white “Radiation” logo.