Jackson JS32Q | Review, Demo, Upgrades

Here is a video I wanted to make to show what it would take to get one of these budget guitars ready to play a gig as a backup guitar
0:02 Intro
1:29 On The Bench
2:54 Locking Tuners
4:06 Neck and Fret Work
6:24 Pickups and Shielding
8:24 Wire Harness
10:17 Grounding the Bridge and Finishing up
13:12 The Sound Check
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#jackson #js32Q #guitarreview #guitar

[@CarbonGlassMan]

Damn that's clever. Making a carboard template to bolt the pots to when you're cutting and soldering the wires.

[@jsr-uz3oj]

I have Js32 Dinky with a Floyd rose special. The first thing I changed was the pot metal saddles with stainless steel. I put the same tuners on it. Put copper tape on it. Replaced the nut, tremolo block and the screw on bar with a push-pull. Replaced pots and switch and finally put Seymore Duncan Invaders in. I strongly recommend to beginners is to learn how to work on your guitar. There are plenty of KZbin videos that you can learn from. Nice video. Just subscribed.

[@KWM1972]

Welcome to the channel and yes I agree 💯 Thanks

[@zAvAvAz]

love builds like this

[@angusorvid8840]

Brilliant mods! I'm a huge fan of the DiMarzio Tone Zone/Air Norton combo. Best combo on earth. Works great for any style, really beefs up a strat and handles gain very well and any style.

[@KWM1972]

Yea I have been on lollar pickups the last few years but wanted to try some Dimarzios and I really love them. I am looking at paf master or paf 36 anniversary for my next build. I have dark moon single coils in my tele but I am looking into some single coil sized hum-buckers for it. Dimarzio has a ton of great sounding pickups for sure 🎸

[@angusorvid8840]

@@KWM1972 Lollars are pricy but if they get you the right tone, worth it. I like their Imperials from demos I've heard, but I haven't tried them myself.

[@chrisa1125]

Cool video. You did a damn good job with that copper shielding job... looked really clean

[@KWM1972]

Thanks it’s something I have been working on nobody sees it but it’s a way to sign the guitar with outstanding craftsmanship

[@derickalbert]

I’ve the exact same guitar. This thing is solid I’ll change the tuners and nut and that’s about it. Love the stock pickups 😊.

[@michaelnugent9758]

Nice job, dude! Sounds great! Nice playing too!

[@KWM1972]

Thanks i am glad you enjoyed it have a great day 🎸

[@dbrown6451]

This vid hit home. I have the J32Q in purple. I also changed the tuners to locking, the originals are junk. Mine came with a Floyd. I upgraded that to a fat brass block and titanium insert blocks (purple) from FUtone. The pickups I chose a Dimarzio AT1 and Air Norton (neck). This guitar plays well above its cost. All the upgrades did make a difference. Luv this guitar. 🎸 🤘🏻

[@KWM1972]

Yes that’s awesome I just think with some easy mods people can save some money and make a great guitar keep me posted take care 🎸

[@frettingitforward]

Cool stuff i am infatuated with 🤩Jackson

[@KWM1972]

Thanks man I am really enjoying there guitars lately I will be stepping up to some of there more expensive models too and see the differences 🎸

[@michaelnugent9758]

​@KWM1972 Oh yeah, they get WAY better once you start moving up. Their Pro series is especially impressive. One of the best guitars I've ever owned was one of the Pro series V's MIJ. Beat out several USA builds.

[@daft4682]

Great vid, great idea. You could make a while channel just doing this. The "Monster Garage" of guitars. I'm presently dreaming a major upgrade to an entry level epi les paul (all new electrics, $500 custombuckers, nice tuners, name brand bridge, etc). Also looking to upgrade entry level ibanez S in a similar way. You could make an entire brand out of buying entry level used rigs and making them awesome then re sell them maybe through the channel. 🎉

[@KWM1972]

Yes that sounds great i am also working towards evaluating these diy kit guitars and see what i can do with them. i also thought about giving some away to people who love guitar but are struggling , just not sure how i want to do it yet. i heard the ep les Paul’s are really good guitars do you like yours ? 🎸

[@daft4682]

@@KWM1972 I like my epi, but I'm kind of a beginner, not much experience to compare. I have the "ultra" purchased around 2006. I understand the body is ported, but no external openings, so it's a cross between a semi hollow body and a solid. It looks like a normal les paul but w a bit more resonance. Sounds great unplugged. My son actually just built one of the stew mac jazzmaster kits. It's pretty nice for $200ish. The pups are prob not great and the frets and fretboard are all assembled by the builder so your results will vary, but he just picks around on guitar and has never built one before and I was impressed with the result. I bet with some attention to fret dressing and some nice electronics those kits could be finished nicely.

[@patrickshannon4516]

I had the purple one it was amazing...

[@KWM1972]

Nice you really get a lot of guitar for the money 🎸

[@patrickshannon4516]

@@KWM1972 oh yeah I gave 250$ for mine it had a maple fretboard with black sharkfin inlays it was so bad ass...

[@KWM1972]

@patrickshannon4516 I would love to see a pic sounds beautiful.

[@patrickshannon4516]

@@KWM1972 I'm not sure what you mean sir but I guess if anyone could make one sound beautiful it would be Justin Johnson that guy makes anything with strings sound great...

[@patrickshannon4516]

@@KWM1972 oh I get you now sorry for that bud appreciate your videos.

[@Skywalker5150]

Hello thanks for the content…which grimsby 3 way switch did you use because these import guitar have lower height cavity and your switch needs to be small to fit…I ended up leaving the 3 way switch but used cts pots like you but a push pull on the tone knob for split in middle position…thanks

[@KWM1972]

Yes I had problems with the switch clearance I did use it for the demo but ended up putting the smaller switch back in because I didn’t want to get clearance by removing material on the body but it did work it was just barley to big as a matter of fact it was so close I could put a piece of electrical tape on the cover and it worked but I wouldn’t keep it like that

[@ScreamingEagleFTW]

whats the difference between the JS32Q and the JS32QT? what does the q stand for ? Quilted? and the T? I know the TQ is fixed bridge. I would think the T stands for tremolo but the TQ is fixed bridge. Makes no sense.

[@guitobr4200]

What about the compound neck? Is it good?

[@KWM1972]

As you get higher up the neck the fretboard flattens out more with a compound radius, bends don’t choke out the angle of your hand is different as you go up the neck too. so it feels faster with a flatter radius it easy more comfy and really just feels right ihmo

[@CarbonGlassMan]

So if I get a $150-$200 guitar, like a Jackson or Dean or Ibanez, then the base is all there for a good expensive guitar? I just have to do the work to the neck & frets, making sure they're all straight and level. Then things like locking tuning keys or a locking nut, replace a plastic nut with bone, use good strings and maybe replace the pickups and electronics. So what I'm getting at is that an expensive or cheap guitar both have the same body & neck wood. What makes a guitar cost $700 vs $150 is the amount of setup work they do to the neck and then the accessories that attach to the body. Is that right?

[@KWM1972]

if you can afford a better guitar than get it. but if your broke and want to play there are ways to get you there. These are great if you want to learn how to fix them, and i am doing these videos to show the amount of work thats involved to get these in decent shape. Most of the reviews on youtube do not show this . if you can afford a nicer guitar you should get it because these cheap guitars will never be at the level of a better built guitar. just not everyone can afford it. Plus even with expensive guitars theres always something i end up changing out, this happens when you have a specific sound you want to achieve. But theres no doubt the wood is better in a higher quality guitar. have a good day man 🎸

[@CarbonGlassMan]

@@KWM1972 I have a Dean Eighty Eight that was built in 1991. I think I paid 5 or 6 hundred for it maybe 20 years ago. It's a great guitar for me but the neck broke so I'm in the process of replacing the neck. This is not just a straight replacement though because I can't find another Eighty Eight neck. So I have a Kramer ZX10 neck from the 90s, but it's cracked, so I am learning how to do repairs on guitars. After watching several videos, I believe I can replace the missing parts of the original neck can be replaced with an epoxy casting resin. Then for extra strength I'm thinking about doing a carbon fiber fretboard. Since I work with carbon fiber for a living I can get it for free. I do keep looking at these inexpensive guitars from Jackson, Ibanez, and Dean and think I might get one. I just want it to play well. My Dean plays easy. I don't know why, but it's just so easy to play. Kind of how when you go from playing acoustic to picking up an electric guitar, the electric is so much nicer and easier to play compared to the acoustic that You're used to. This Dean felt that much easier to play than my Squire Strat.

[@KWM1972]

Those dean guitars are nice I never owned one but there’s some great guitar plates that swear by them have you looked into how some luthiers repair the Gibson headstocks ? They do this were they have broken off completely there might be some into in there that could help. You could also talk to warmoth they will build you a custom neck for your specific needs not sure if it’s a bolt on or a through body and that’s is a interesting idea for the carbon fiber fret board also you could look into using carbon fiber as binding that would help with strength but also allow you to use wood on the fretboard. Thanks for posting and let me know how it turns out I would love to see your work good luck 🎸 oh yea is sounds like you set up your own guitars anyway. so one of those cheap Jackson’s would be great for ya. I do take it to the extreme for the sake of the video, and to see how far I can take it but as far as an inexpensive guitar to play until you fix yours would be great. I am now using the Js32q as my backup guitar and it will be fine for that. take care man

[@CarbonGlassMan]

@@KWM1972 I liked playing my Dean. I bought it off my stepson, so I guess he didn't like it as much as I did. When he went to the Navy I had all of his guitars while he was gone so I got to play his Gibson Les Paul and his Gibson SG Standard. I personally liked my Dean more than the Les Paul, but I did like playing the SG. I guess it's all personal preference based on hand shape, etc. I've played on and off, mostly off, for 36 years. When this Dean neck broke, I quit playing. Now I'm 50 and want to get back into it. It was always fun to just sit and play, but not on a hard to play crappy guitar. I had fun playing nice guitars.

[@patrickshannon4516]

You don't really need locking tuners with a locking nut but it's not a bad idea.

[@johnie19644]

Is this guitar basically the same as the js32t as far as the neck and pick ups just a different shape body?

[@KWM1972]

Yes from what i can see the specs are the same just a different body shape Those look pretty cool maybe i should review one 🎸

[@johnie19644]

@@KWM1972 thanks

[@johnie19644]

@@KWM1972 it says it’s a dinky does that mean it’s smaller?

[@KWM1972]

Dinky means it’s smaller than a fender Stratocaster body it’s very common on super strats too

[@jessereyna7408]

What kind of saddles did you use again?

[@KWM1972]

It was from the amazon brand dopro i think just type in brass saddles 10.8 mm

[@snflip]

@@KWM1972 I'm measuring closer to 10mm saddles, can you check yours? I'm looking to do a saddle upgrade too.

[@KWM1972]

I think it was 10.5mm i sold the guitar so cant check it. double check your string spread from the low e to the high e were the string touches the saddle and you can make sure what you order is the same spread too

[@robertwheeler8994]

Any guitar can be great. You can find tone in a lawn chair if you try. I watched my father play his corduroy pants once.

[@Gerry-cg6kr]

Don't see why not