Help me pick something close to but not exactly like my Jackson.

[Tenebris]

My flirtation with magic Japanese weirdness has ended. I've already had a short Tele phase and a short SG phase. I have accepted that I like hardtail super strats with a bridge humbucker, and that I'm just not that "into" guitars. I just want to own two guitars that I really like playing (I also have a vintage Yamaha that sounds amazing and plays great in a weird way but is an ergonomic nightmare and a little bitch about amps, so I only use it for tracking.)

I have a USA Jackson Soloist that has crowded out the few other guitars I have owned over the past ten years largely because it's a perfect, frictionless playing experience. Ergonomics are great, can play it for hours. I love the neck, love the body, works with every amp or amp model. This is my thing.

So. What I am thinking is I want something quite similar, but as a passive pickup vehicle and just a slight changeup to see if it inspires anything. Classic superstrat or close to it, bridge humbucker, fast neck, hardtail, 6-string.

Should I be looking further afield than another Jackson, an Ibanez Prestige, or LTD (aka "things where I can test drive the neck and control layout at any major music store") ? Like I said, I have never been "into" guitars, I was always more of an amp guy, and I don't have a great idea what else is out there.

Budget up to US$3.5K, preferably used - I'm not in a rush and I've always bought guitars used. And I don't think I know enough to do a build-a-bear guitar, I'd just end up copying my Jackson.

 

[Guitarwiz007]

Look for a used Suhr or Music Man. Some of the best guitars on the planet. IMHO of course. With that budget, you're pretty open. First choice would probably be an LIII followed by a real close 2nd with a Suhr HSS. Good luck with your search!

 

[Tenebris]

Look for a used Suhr or Music Man. Some of the best guitars on the planet. IMHO of course. With that budget, you're pretty open. First choice would probably be an LIII followed by a real close 2nd with a Suhr HSS. Good luck with your search!

Thanks - only looking for a hardtail superstrat with a bridge humbucker which I thought ruled out pretty much everything from both of those, but I'll look deeper!

 

[Iron1]

 

[laxu]

I'd add Charvel to your list.

Maybe Kiesel in-stock ones too if there's anything that strikes your fancy and is returnable if you don't like it.

Old Kramer Stagemasters are very much like Soloists. I think there's some reissue of these, but the originals are worth watching if you see one.

 

[Frodebro]

Thanks - only looking for a hardtail superstrat with a bridge humbucker which I thought ruled out pretty much everything from both of those, but I'll look deeper!

It ain’t a SuperStrat without the wang bar.

 

[Mikael Dez]

You could always block your trem with legos like I do lmao

 

[Guitarwiz007]

I know Music Man makes hard tail. Suhr does as well but much more rare.

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=music%20man%20hard%20tail

 

[Guitarwiz007]

+1 on the Charvel's as well.

 

[Iron1]

Solar makes a very “if a Soloist and an RG had a baby” sort of guitar in their A and S series. The 1s (A.1 and S.1) are the upper line, but don’t come with a normal hardtail (trems and Evertunes mostly). The 2s come with Hipshot or Hipshot-ish hardtails.

I have two A.2s and love them. But have never A/B’d against a Jackson custom shop fiddle before.

Always felt like Ola made a guitar for people who love Jackson and Ibanez.

 

[AlbertA]

+1 On Charvel

Also Kiesel? Like a Dalos or Ares titanium.

 

[RGB]

Tom Anderson builds a fine guitar as well.

 

[Tenebris]

Just found a hardtail HSH EBMM Silhouette like an hour's drive from me for what seems like a very good price. Not my style but I keep hearing that EBMM build quality and ergonomics are second to none, and the latter is my main reason for ditching my 'cooler' guitars. This seems fated...

edit: well shit looks like I own an EBMM now, thanks all!

 

[Guitarwiz007]

Thanks - only looking for a hardtail superstrat with a bridge humbucker which I thought ruled out pretty much everything from both of those, but I'll look deeper!

Just found a hardtail HSH EBMM Silhouette like an hour's drive from me for what seems like a very good price. Not my style but I keep hearing that EBMM build quality and ergonomics are second to none, and the latter is my main reason for ditching my 'cooler' guitars. This seems fated...

edit: well shit looks like I own an EBMM now, thanks all!

I own 7 Music Man guitars. That's my L4 in my avatar. You're in very good hands. All of mine are impeccably built instruments. They are my main gigging and recording guitars. Congratulations!

 

[Tenebris]

So this is it... I'm told it's a pretty unique Silhouette between the color and the hardtail. This is really a fantastic guitar. Put it this way - I bought it knowing it kiiinda needed a refret, played it for three days, hit up the luthier and forked out for a refret, this is a keeper. Verrrrry different than my other mains, the old Yamaha SG and the Jackson, it is just so much easier to play although it doesn't get down to essentially no action like my Jackson does or lend itself to really *interesting* playing like the Yamaha with its bigass flat fretboard. Also a completely different sonic experience than a Jackson with EMGs or a giant slab of mahogany with vintage pickups. I actually *use* all the pickups on this guitar.

 

[BedroomMusic]

Let's say a " musical friend of mine " from high school days used to tour with that MusicMan and Egnater amp. Here is the photo of his gear.

I will tell you - it is the best sounding guitar which I ever heard in my entire life. BUT - it is far away from mahogany Jackson with EMGs.

But it is extremely nice guitar. So congratz on new baby.

 

[gearJunkie]

So this is it... I'm told it's a pretty unique Silhouette between the color and the hardtail. This is really a fantastic guitar. Put it this way - I bought it knowing it kiiinda needed a refret, played it for three days, hit up the luthier and forked out for a refret, this is a keeper. Verrrrry different than my other mains, the old Yamaha SG and the Jackson, it is just so much easier to play although it doesn't get down to essentially no action like my Jackson does or lend itself to really *interesting* playing like the Yamaha with its bigass flat fretboard. Also a completely different sonic experience than a Jackson with EMGs or a giant slab of mahogany with vintage pickups. I actually *use* all the pickups on this guitar.

Congrats! I'm a big fan of EBMM guitars, and that's a great color. Enjoy!

 

[TSJMajesty]

it doesn't get down to essentially no action like my Jackson does

I have 5 EBMM's and they all have extremely low action. As in, whenever any of my guitar buds come over, it's the first thing they comment on when they pick up any of them to play.

I set just the slightest amount of neck relief by holding the string down at the first and last frets, then adjust the truss rod until tapping on the mid-point of the string gives just the absolute tiniest bit of movement before it hits the fret. That way I know the neck is as straight as can be, so I can set the action low enough that I hear just a slight amount of buzzing, as in just where it begins to appear, which doesn't come through when amplified.

Assuming you can set your neck that straight (i.e., there's no problem with the neck), I would think you can get your action that low also. Assuming that's how low you'd like it to be, when you say 'no action.'

The only other thing I can think of is if your saddles are down as far as they can go, and the action's still not that low, then the neck pocket needs some type of shimming adjustment.