Jackson Series Dinky Arch Top JS22 DKA Electric Guitar | Overview + Demo

[@davidireland6952]

Hi from the UK 🖐 I bought my white j22 dinky about 4 months ago and love it (That Jackson headstock and logo is a work of art). I took up the Guitar 4yrs ago at 53yrs of age, I would practice get frustrated , put it down, watch guitar vids on YT , buy another guitar, practice on it enjoy it, put it down, buy another practice on it etc,etc..I now have 14 electric guitars and have got better at playing..the frustration went away about a year ago after i learned all the pentatonic scales. Best thing i ever done, i just love jamming over backing tracks on my spark amps, will i ever be a fantastic guitar player, NO!, i will just continue to Jam, constantly learning as i go and now really enjoy the fun time i spend with a guitar in my hands. loving your enthusiastic approach to your guitar journey, your love for them and really enjoyed your vid...new sub for you 😁

[@Heroesworkshop]

I've owned this guitar at 2 different times. I've bought it again for the 3rd time today. It was an incredible guitar and easy to play with it's 12"-16" radius. Also, the price point is insane. It's one of the nicest guitars I've ever owned and it was 1/4 of the cost of others I've owned that were way more in price that didn't play as nice.

[@TheDrunkenScoundrel]

I used to be able to shred the HELL out of a 12-string Rickenbacker but two of my favorite guitar solos ever are barely even 'solos'. Never apologize for your your playing, just keep spreading the love.

[@ifihadagun03]

gonna be buying this as my first electric guitar, EXCITING

[@gnonymouse]

It's a great choice. Lots of fun.

[@michaelallen434]

I have a couple of Japanese Jackson’s from the early 2000’s. I love them as much as my Les Paul’s even though they are polar opposites. Glad you’re back, I’ve missed you!

[@guitarbobification]

As always, thanks for your enthusiasm. Its one of your most enduring qualities and your openness is rare in KZbin videos. I have never owned a Jackson but nearly pulled the trigger on one at GC a few weeks ago. So nice to see you back, but completely understand work, family, life obligations. So nice that your husband got this for you. My wife has bought me a number of amazing guitars over the years and it’s an enduring part of our 40 year marriage. Working on an Explorer parts project now so it should be really fun. Absolutely love your channel. All the very best to you!!

[@pyratoothNL]

About 6 years ago I kick-started my playing again and bought myself a Jackson JS32 TQ. First guitar that tried to slice me open with sharp fret ends! It did inspire me, but I went on a spending spree a couple of years later and found better instruments for cheaper from both name and budget brands. So I felt Jackson kind of dropped the ball. But this month took a gamble on a B-stock X-series soloist and it's wonderful. Neck-thru body design and neck profile, jumbo frets that are properly finished and a powerful bridge pickup. Like you said, if a guitar feels comfortable to play, you 're going to want to pick it and for beginners especially this is so important. This JS22 Dinky looks killer and that colour is really my thing. If the neck profile is as comfortable as you say, then it sounds like great value, especially if you're in the Squire/Epiphone end of the market and looking for a shred machine. BTW I wouldn't hold out too much for the whammy. Anything instrument below 3-4 hundred dollars and you can manage soft vibrato at best, but flutter and dive bombs will often take it out of tune.

[@bobafettslaundryroom755]

I'm planning on buying one very soon, but in the snow white color. Great review!

[@GRBAquatics]

Very Cool, Thankyou. Welcome Back. Nice Guitar always been tempted by The Jackson Dinky and this looks awesome. I agree The Headstock rocks. All the Best. Cheers

[@MickeyMaffei]

Hey Ashley! Happy to see you are still crushing it! Love that Jackson, what a pretty blue!!! Keep it up!

[@VN9001]

So nice to see you back at it with a review video! I love watching your channel. I have played a few Jacksons (lower to mid -range models) and am simply astounded at the build quality and playability at this price point. I particularly like the flatter fretboard radius and love the jumbo frets. I am hunting for one now and love the sometimes radical colour selection in this genre of guitar (shredders! 😆). Keep 'em coming Ashley!

[@thejovialpanda]

Hey! You're back! I was wondering what was up. Glad to hear that you got a new job. I know that can be a huge time suck and can keep you from guitar. I don't typically hit the bell icon, since I check my Subscribed list pretty much daily, but some how I missed the short video you posted two weeks ago. Don't know how that happened That Jackson is great. I've contemplated getting one for my collection. Interestingly, my wife also bought me a guitar for Christmas, an Ibanez RG6003FM. Also an inexpensive shredder guitar. It's so cool and you're so right, it does take you to a completely different place when you play it. But again, glad you're back and congratz on 1000 subscribers!

[@AshleyOffset]

@@thejovialpanda Thank you! So funny how we got similar guitars for Christmas :) You’ve been around since day 1..really appreciate the support!

[@thejovialpanda]

@@AshleyOffset What can I say, I really like your videos. You and your videos are eminently relatable.

[@RollandMatthewWeber]

This was a fun video! Some of my friends have had Jackson guitars but I have observed them from afar, by and large. They look like a lot of fun to play and have always had cool aesthetics. It was nice to hear a range of sounds from this one. Thank you for showing us and for the great info! All the best! (I can recommend the band Nonpoint for some heavier listening with plenty of melodies intact as well. They have been around since 1997 and still record and tour.)

[@AshleyOffset]

Very cool, I will check Nonpoint out!

[@crsstephen72]

enjoy your vids Ashley. All the best !!!

[@othrerir_jussi]

As a Jackson enthusiast and part of the shredder population, i’ve found myself leaning towards Charvel more as my everyday drivers but Jackson has my heart. The looks are top notch, for me. Especially the eye catching headstock and inlays.

[@-cheezeboy-]

Good to see you back. I hope the job change was your decision. I was laid off back in Oct., and thoughts of which guitars might need to be sold constantly crept in. All is good now, and I still have the full herd. I haven't bought one in over a year, though, so that feels weird.

[@AshleyOffset]

@@-cheezeboy- I am so glad it didn’t come to having to get rid of any of your collection! Hoping things pick up for you and you can continue your journey soon!

[@thislisa]

I hadn't seen this vid. Great to catch it. I love the thin neck profiles too!

[@HearGear]

Hi and welcome back, it's been some time, I know I checked up on you a couple of months ago by commenting on one of your videos, just to make sure you are ok. Anyway, this guitar looks cool and the price is cool too, i am happy that you like it and that's all that matters. I bought a Jackson dinky style guitar with a Floyd Rose back in the late 90´s, it did cost around 7-800 bucks, no wait, it was a Jackson JS1 I think.. a shredder's guitar, it was awesome but back in those days I could not afford to just keep buying guitars without selling one, so it had to go because I wanted to buy a used 1990 Pink Ibanez RG550. Also in the early 2000 I bought a Jackson Kelly with a Floyd Rose, I had it for just a few months and I sold it to buy my very first Gibson Flying V. Ive had hundreds of guitars over the years but very few Jacksons and since 10-15 years back I don't need to sell guitars to buy new ones so I mostly buy Gibson Les Pauls nowadays. But I want to make clear that I still like cheap guitars and have full respect for people buying cheap guitars because they can be awesome for the price. I have a Yamaha Pacifica 120SD from 1997 that is considered to be a cheap guitar, that guitar is the guitar I spent most time playing in 2023, even though I have expensive and fancy guitars that is the guitar I went to play most of the time. I am looking forward to your next video. :D

[@AshleyOffset]

Always good to hear from you! I have been curious about Yamaha Pacificas and have heard good things. I would love to see a roster of the hundreds of guitars you’ve laid your hands on over the years. I’m sure it’s quite a list!

[@HearGear]

@@AshleyOffset Thank you very much, its always very good to hear from you too, yeah it is quite a list of guitars I´ve had over the years, often I bought them in poor condition and made some repair and sold it and made some money out of it. Yamaha is still great guitars but they was even better back in the 80´s and 90´s, for the money way better than Epiphone and Squier, ive had several Yamaha RGX612S for example, the flagship of the late 80´s and early 90´s, several Yamaha 120SD (telecaster model), those are really great guitars. As of today I would recommend something like your cheap Jackson or something similar, Epiphone have gotten way overpriced I think, Squier is not as good as they was back in the days, at least not the cheapest ones, the more expensive ones can of course be a little better. You seem to know quite alot about guitars too, I have sure you have some great knowledge about certain things about your guitars and other guitars, thanks.. :D

[@edwinstovall3334]

Decided to jump in again, because you mentioned your Jackson's fret edges. Yours were fine, and I'm glad for that, but MINE were atrocious! It didn't matter that much, because I've been making myself an amateur guitar tech and I knew how to deal with it, but the edges were the sharpest I've seen yet, and I've been playing for 50 years! I had to give those ends the treatment twice, too! I think that the amaranth of the fretboard was to blame; it hadn't been dried and it shrank A LOT in transit. BTW, in case you didn't know, amaranth is also called purpleheart. My fretboard has a very small purple spot on it -- for now, anyway. I'm glad to hear that your frets didn't give you trouble. These guitars don't cost a lot, but they really ROCK!

[@AshleyOffset]

Oh, very cool that amaranth is also called purpleheart! I’ll have to look at mine closely and see if I pick up any spots. Also good to know about the variation in fret ends on these. I guess I got lucky with the one I got - I was really suprised at how smooth everything was.

[@edwinstovall3334]

@@AshleyOffset If we're both lucky, I just got UNlucky and you got the normal stuff.😎

[@Jackie_Rosewood]

Welcome back🎸🎸🎸😎😎 Such an awesome guitar!! 💙💙💙💙

[@AshleyOffset]

Thank you, Jackie! Hope all is well your way! 😊

[@red7fifty]

I have a Jackson Soloist from 1990 (H.S.S.) Humbucker, Single, Single. I recently purchased 5 budget Jackson Guitars for my son and myself, including a pair of JS22 (a metallic Blue like yours, and a white version, JS32T Natural Finish Rhoads V (solid bridge), JS34Q Transparent Red (HSS with cheap Floyd Rose), and a Minion (7/8th size jr guitar). My 90's Jackson is Superior in construction, fit, finish, and hardware and sound. However, 30 years ago, it cost me $1200.00. I paid less than $1000 for these recent 5 budget Jacksons! The fret finishing on my new budget versions vary from perfect, to needing some dressing to remove a few sharp edges (although minor). My Soloist is a Neck-Through construction, which means the neck and main body is a single piece of wood, with the wings glued to the sides of the center section, instead of a bolt on neck. The advantage of the Soloist construction is smoother access to the high notes at the upper end of the frets, and better sustain. Also, my Soloist has Active Pickups (Powered by an onboard 9V battery). Seems that the pickups are more sensitive, makes it easier for me to play. It also features a Floyd Rose Bridge. However, you have to learn how to properly set up, and the do's and don'ts for FR. So, to sum up, the $200~350 price range Jackson Guitars offer tremendous value. But, you do get what you pay for. The higher end Jacksons will play and sound better, unless the guitar isn't set up properly. Personally, I like the painted neck of my Soloist, some people will not like the gloss finish. If that is the case, some scotch bright to dull it down, will give it a satin finish. Go to the guitar store sometime, and ask to play a Soloist. They range in price from about $650 (New) and up.

[@AshleyOffset]

You know your stuff on these! Thank you for the insight, I’ll have to try a Soloist sometime 🤘

[@Skywalker5150]

Hello Ashley thanks for the content keep rocking..I have the same guitar in white I completely upgraded mine with Gotoh tuners non locking with a tusq nut and put cts pots with a push/pull on the tone knob for splitting coils with a Seymour Duncan jb and 59 the guitar plays and sounds like a beast...

[@AshleyOffset]

@@Skywalker5150 Dang, I bet it is BAD now! Very cool 😎

[@Lose2Love]

you look like you just enjoyed holding it. I think that's proof of a great choice. For the price it has great range of sounds. Really hope you get some more time to enjoy.

[@alexanderbarahonasoto4057]

Very good review, I was looking for a good guitar at a good price and I think I found it.🤘

[@brycejackson9232]

I have the same guitar in natural wood finish. The feel and the weight of it are completely awesome.

[@SearchingForTone]

I swooned over Jackson’s as a kid just because of the headstock. If I was going shreddy I heard Schecter are great for their price.

[@Alfredo78666]

Yeah, your alltime fave guitar headstock in the history of the world is gorgeous 70's Strat's

[@joeriveracomedy]

Thanks for the demo. Received a discount offer. Pondering it.

[@simonB143]

Thats a lot of guitar for the money... Nice vid. Its good to find a guitar that inspires you to play more and try different styles 👍

[@centralnetwork]

awesome guitar collection and channel!

[@glennbarry1315]

I've owned 3 Jacksons over the years. A Dave Mustaine Signature King V Pro (paid $2800 new), a Marty Friedman Kelly (paid $2200 new), and Dinky DKFF ($600 used). The Dinky FF had flames for fret markers. Those 3 were the best playing guitars i ever owned, out of the 7 guitars i've had.

[@maheshmohan92]

Just ordered new JS22... waiting for it. It's my first guitar

[@AshleyOffset]

Awesome! Let me know how you like it, and congrats on your first guitar! It's a great choice.

[@chrisvuk3053]

Cool guitar! I had the 7 string version of that guitar, and the pickups were surprisingly good. Now it's time to start learning some drop D riffs!

[@AshleyOffset]

@@chrisvuk3053 I cannot even imagine playing a 7 string, that is awesome! Drop D riff time, indeed! 🤘

[@chrisvuk3053]

@@AshleyOffset A fun easy drop D song is "Shine" By Collective soul. Have fun!

[@dethangel88]

I've had this exact guitar for about 5 years, and it's still extraordinary for the $200 range. I will forever be a cheap buyer because at the end of the day (And the fact they live most their lives on the wall), I could use thousands of dollars on something more important. I love the guitar hobby, but I refuse to play the game with these companies (better pickups, better strings, better tuners, better components, better woods, etc...), I have found the tone I desire from my hands, a $.50 pick and a $7 set of strings. Hell, that's cheaper than fast food these days.

[@AshleyOffset]

Totally get it!

[@DeputyVanHalen5150]

Favorite headstock? 🤔 Well mine is the 84 Kramer. Banana, hockey stick headstock. Thanks for sharing, beautiful Jackson guitar. Me I'm a Floyd Rose junkie. Have to have a Floyd now. I don't want to buy anything without it. Just played a Randy Rhoads js32 flying v. Very cool guitar.

[@AshleyOffset]

@@DeputyVanHalen5150 Very cool about the Flying V! I’ve yet to have anything with Floyd Rose, it definitely piques my interest though!

[@red7fifty]

@@AshleyOffset A draw back (compromise) for the cool shape, it doesn't sit in your lap for sit down playing very well, you have to straddle it differently.

[@fram8045]

The Jackson X series are the best bang for buck. If you get any Jackson guitar set-up properly you'll be satisfied. When your playing reaches intermediate level you'll want to upgrade; don't until your playing knowledge improves 😅

[@dannagle2319]

I have a 93 Jackson King V Std, it is a Made in Japan bolt on neck worth about 800 bucks so a mid-level Jackson and the neck on it is only matched by my Ibanez wizard III neck. I bought it brand new in 93 and I still love it. Only regret is the 22-fret neck with the standard dot inlays, not 24-frets with the Jackson shark fin inlays.

[@AshleyOffset]

I love that yours is ‘93! It sounds like they were great quality in the 90s.

[@carlospaz28]

Jackson Guitars Rules 🤘🏼🎸🔥

[@edwinstovall3334]

Hi, Ashley. I'm jumping in because I actually have this model of guitar (in the Natural Oil finish, because I wanted a different body wood -- AND it looks cool!), and you said that you didn't know the name of the neck profile. Jackson calls it the Speed Neck profile, and the JS22 is the least expensive Jackson that has it. It's killer, isn't it? I really dig mine, but I also modified my axe. Tuners, pickups, bridge, nut -- all changed out, although the pickups didn't really need replacing. I hope you really love yours!

[@DorothyOzmaLover]

Niiiice, ya definitely make it have a certain vibe to its sound!

[@AshleyOffset]

Thank you!! 🤘

[@ibanezexplorer]

I think you showed up on my feed bc I remember watching a video a few months ago, about a husband surprising his wife with a guitar, but sorry if I'm wrong. My question is, do you own a guitar with a Floyd Rose double locking system? Just curious, thought this was going to have one. Thanks, and cheers!

[@michaelallen434]

The more money you spend on a guitar usually means more comfort/ quality but, the difference between a good guitar and a great guitar is small and not always dictated by what you spend. I have great cheap guitars that are better than more expensive ones by the same company.

[@torgomax]

Thank you. Just what I needed to know🎸

[@Nachtmahr616]

Other top headstock? Probably ESP since you like Jackson's too

[@jhicks1289]

Favorite headstock is a Gibson?

[@_Yep_Yep_]

When someone buys you a guitar, marry them.

[@DouglasMcLaughlin-kq7hk]

I've got an older Japanese built DXMG with a reversed headstock and passive EMGs...what are the diferences between these two?

[@928Porscheman]

I would like to recommend that you listen to some riffs from some of the most influential guitarists from the 80s like Warren D Martini from RATT. I would start with Wanted Man. It's a cool riff that's easy to play.

[@victorramsey5575]

Im gonna guess your favorite headstock is Gibson. The traditional, narrower version. Not that wide one they did for a few years. I know this because its mine too! But I do also love Jackson, and the ESP "Smurf Hat" headstock. Very Cool!

[@luisvillarreal5262]

Hello Ashley. I subbed to your channel. Your video just popped up, so I’m glad it did. Very cool Jackson. You probably like the Flying V headstock as well. What do you think of the Charvel’s or Kramers? Who are your favorite/inspirational guitarists?🎸🤘🏼👍🏻

[@AshleyOffset]

Thank you for subscribing, Luis! Very good guess with the Flying V headstock, I do love it. I’ve always been interested in Kramers, but never really considered Charvel before. My favorite guitarists are Jonny Lang, B.B. King, Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain (for the simple yet insanely catchy formulas used for songs), Slash, Orianthi, Dickey Betts, and Steve Cropper, SRV, Michael Lemmo and Tomo Fujita. I’m sure I’m leaving a lot out, but those immediately come to mind. How about you?

[@over-there]

yes its whats called shreader but, it plays all genres, more easily to me, its also called a fast neck, check your action, mine is at 1.2 to 1.5 mm, if thats a strat style 2 or 6 point tremolo, you know you cant use that tremolo until its set up in the style you want, floating or decked, as is something can break trying to use as is, have to loosen the screws so it can pivot, can balance the back of the trem either floating in the air about 1/8 inch off the deck or deck it meaning flat, or block it meaning a wood block wedge in the spring area. Utube vids on it. Have to balance tension between strings and the springs. Put on a locking nut, a string positioner at nut, maybe a wilkenson trem drop in, maybe gotoh locking tuners, and depends on what your playing if you want different pickups. Then its a 1500 dollar guitar or much more, for 100 dollars in parts, the bones are good, meaning you will have a hard time finding a better neck and body for this style, even at thousands of dollars, its not the price, to me and checking, that price range has best body and neck on most brands, after that its the extras, diy saves money, right now if thats a strat style tremolo its working like a hardtail style. You can change tuning easily the way the trem is set now, pretty easily if change to a wilkenson drop in, now the j32 if I remember has a floyd rose tremolo, whole different story, usually dont change tunings on that due to it takes to long, so would have more that one guitar ready to go. Or a very fast guitar tech stage side.

[@charlene2400]

I have the JS11 in the same color. 22 frets instead of 24, and just dot inlays. I'd rank it about as good as my Ibanez GAX50, that I bought 20yrs ago, and still play. I'd rate it above Epiphones in same price range, being I have one too, lol

[@fletcher75er]

These Jackson's are really good guitars as long as ya don't get the cheaper Floyd on it, they kinda suck from my experience. Love the blue.

[@fletcher75er]

I think the 1 I had with the Floyd I hated was a 32 tho

[@fletcher75er]

Also, haters will hate and there are trolls all over here. If u need any help or wanna jam just holler. I'm in the country but I play alot and look on here alot. Good vid

[@red7fifty]

It would be worth explaining, that the cheap Floyd is softer metal, and the sustain and sound is slightly lower quality, but the big difference, is it will wear out much sooner with heavy use. For a beginner, that won't be a deal breaker. For a pro on stage, that means that every divebomb, it won't return back to tune, and that will be an issue. Remember, loosen the string tension BEFORE adjusting the height of the bridge.

[@socalwill9876]

Dinky means 7/8ths size, so it's not an entirely fair comparison comfort-wise to your other guitars. Putting more money into a "super-Strat shred" guitar like this one usually means electronics/pickup upgrades and a faster neck; speaking as an Ibanez guy, their $1K RG model feels completely different from the ~$300 entry-level copy of the same model. I still think you'd be very pleased with the super-comfort super-Strat Ibanez S, it's about half the thickness/mass of a Dinky. Good to see you back, keep going! 🎸🤘❤

[@AshleyOffset]

I had no idea dinky meant that.. this is the kinda info I love. Good to see you in the comments!!

[@crave809]

@@AshleyOffset🤨 it’s in the name… Dinky😂. JK! Jackson’s are awesome but agree, you may wanna try the S series. I love them at all levels from entry to prestige. What’s great about Jackson is even at the entry level they have fast necks and compound radius fretboards. I don’t understand if Jackson make awesome guitars @$200 range why can’t other brands in the same company do the same (i.e., MIM and MIK Fenders and Charvel’s)

[@red7fifty]

WRONG, Dinky does not mean 7/8th size. The Minion is 7/8th size. The Dinky is basically, a 2pc body bolt on neck version of a Soloist.

[@red7fifty]

@@AshleyOffset Dinky is NOT 7/8th size.

[@socalwill9876]

@@red7fifty Dinky is 7/8s body size with standard scale, MInion is 2/3s body size and scale length. The Dinky plays like any other guitar whereas the Minion's short scale means pick attack easily knocks strings out of tune.

[@WelcomeToCanadaToday]

I have a js32 the only difference is the Floyd Rose. Your js22 has the same pickups and is just as good as a js32 without a tremolo. Likely yours will hold a tune longer.

[@red7fifty]

The JS22 has a tremolo, but it will go out of tune everytime you use it.

[@WelcomeToCanadaToday]

@red7fifty if you watch the video, hers doesn't have one.

[@red7fifty]

@@WelcomeToCanadaToday It looks like the SAME bridge on my (2) JS22, the bar comes packaged separately in a bag taped inside the box. If the guitar was hanging on the wall, it's possible that the bar was left off, or, it could be missing from the box. In any case, I think reaching out to Fender/Jackson customer service, would probably get you a warranty bar since I think it's just missing. If you pull the back cover off, and there are springs that hold the bridge saddle in place, and there is a HOLE in the front of the bridge, than I rest my case.

[@WelcomeToCanadaToday]

There is different models. I have a js32 with a floyd rose and a Js32T Rhoads and it doesnt have a tremolo.

[@AshleyOffset]

@@red7fiftyi definitely need to check the box or reach out, mine should have one

[@rodolfopuentejrrodolfo2972]

Try PRS

[@AshleyOffset]

Have always wanted to! Do you have a favorite model?

[@mattdylan664]

replace the tuning machines and pick ups and its a great guitar , i own four Jacksons (J22, JS24 and two X series Soloists) I love em all but their house brand pick ups are too muddy for my taste and the tuning machines on their JS series are wonky as hell, i replaced mine with Guykers , alternately Musiclily make some great locking tuners that will fit them for under $30

[@JosephVarghese-g4d]

Fender amp is not good for jackson, you need metal amp

[@AshleyOffset]

What would you recommend? My only other amp is a JC-120

[@Unsold_WashingMachine]

Beautiful axe

[@nicolashunter4131]

Learn to play and then upload a video, jeez...