Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 5 stores. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $3,959
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 3 merchants for "Jackson USA Soloist". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
For those who crave precision and power in their electric guitar, the Jackson USA Soloist is a standout choice. This solid body electric guitar is crafted with a neck-through-body construction, ensuring remarkable sustain and resonance that makes every note ring with clarity. The Soloist combines a sleek alder body with a quartersawn maple neck, seamlessly integrated into a compound radius ebony fingerboard that transitions from a comfortable 12-inch to an ultra-fast 16-inch radius—perfect for both intricate solos and hefty chords.
Equipped with a trio of Seymour Duncan pickups, including a JB TB4 humbucker at the bridge, the Soloist offers a rich tonal palette that can handle anything from crunchy rock riffs to soulful blues solos. The Floyd Rose Original double-locking tremolo system provides stability and precision, letting you dive-bomb and bend notes with confidence, while die-cast tuners ensure your guitar stays in perfect pitch.
Visually, the Soloist is a showstopper with its mother-of-pearl shark fin inlays and bound fingerboard and headstock, exuding the professional craftsmanship that Jackson is renowned for. Whether you're shredding on stage or laying down tracks in the studio, this guitar is designed to meet the demands of any musician seeking a high-performance instrument.
Key Features:
- Body: Alder
- Neck: Neck-through-body quartersawn maple
- Fingerboard: Ebony, compound radius (12-16 inch)
- Frets: 24 jumbo
- Scale Length: 25.5 inches (648mm)
- Pickup Configuration: Seymour Duncan JB TB4 (bridge), Seymour Duncan Classic Stack (middle and neck)
- Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone, 5-position blade pickup selector
- Bridge: Floyd Rose Original double-locking tremolo
- Hardware: Black, with die-cast tuners
Product specs
| Brand | Jackson |
| Model | USA Select Series SL1 Soloist |
| Finish | Absinthe Frost, Acapulco Gold, Agent Orange, Amber Lager Burst, Amber Sunburst, Black, Black Cherry, Black Forest, Black Ghost Flames, Black Pearl, Blue Bengal, Blue Ghost Flames, Blue Green Pearl, Bolted Steel, Burnt Cherry Sunburst, Cabo, Candy Apple Green, Candy Blue, Cherry Sunburst, Cobalt Blue, Copper Snakeskin, Cream, Darby Green, Deep Candy Red, Deep Cherry Stain, Eerie Dess Swirl, Electric Blue, Faded Wine Red, Ferrari Red, Gold, Graveyard, Gun Metal Gray, Holoflake, Hot Rod Flames, Ivory, LA Blue, Lightning Sky, Metallic Black, Natural, Nebula, Pile O' Skulls, Quicksilver, Raspberry Burst, Sea Foam Green, Shattered Glass, Silver / Black Dragon, Silver Sparkle Metallic, Silver Swirl, Skullyard, Snakeskin, Snow White, Tobacco Sunburst, Transparent Black, Transparent Blue, Transparent Cobalt Blue, Transparent Green, Transparent Red, USA Flag, Ultra Violet Burst, Violin Brown, Yellow Bengal, Yellow with Gold Pearl |
| Year | 2003 - 2020 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Solid Body Electric Guitars |
| Body Material | Alder |
| Body Shape | S-Style |
| Body Type | Solid Body |
| Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Locking Tremolo Bridge |
| Color Family | Black, Blue, Brown, Gold, Green, Grey, Natural, Orange, Purple, Red, Silver, Tan, White, Yellow |
| Finish Pattern | Sunburst |
| Fretboard Material | Ebony |
| Model Family | Jackson Soloist |
| Neck Construction | Neck-Through |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 24 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Offset Body | Non-Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | HSS |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Scale Length | 25.5" |
| Series | Jackson USA Select Series |
| Top Material | Maple |
| Wood Top Style | Flamed |
FAQs
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What type of neck construction does the Jackson USA Soloist feature?
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The Jackson USA Soloist features a neck-through construction, which provides enhanced sustain and stability compared to bolt-on necks.
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What pickup configuration does the Jackson USA Soloist use?
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The Jackson USA Soloist utilizes an HSS pickup configuration, offering versatile tonal options with a humbucker in the bridge position and single coils in the middle and neck positions.
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Is the Jackson USA Soloist suitable for advanced players?
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Yes, the Jackson USA Soloist is designed for advanced players, offering high-quality materials, a fast-playing neck, and versatile sound options suitable for various music styles.
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How many frets are on the Jackson USA Soloist, and what is the fretboard material?
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The Jackson USA Soloist has 24 frets and features an ebony fretboard, known for its smooth feel and bright tonal characteristics.
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Does the Jackson USA Soloist come with a locking tremolo bridge?
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Yes, the Jackson USA Soloist is equipped with a locking tremolo bridge, allowing for stable tuning even during aggressive playing and dive-bombing techniques.
Videos
Essex Recording Studios
USA Jackson SL1 Soloist HSS H/S/S Guitar - Up Close Video Review
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Jackson USA Soloist.
User experience
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One owner with multiple USA and American models noted that American Series guitars have a unique vibe, often preferred for their playability despite the production feel.
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Comparisons
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The genuine ebony fretboard and mother of pearl inlays are difficult to fake, unlike more common synthetic alternatives.
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The price of 1,100 CAD for a USA Soloist from the '80s is extremely low, comparable to a new Indonesian SLX priced at 969.99 CAD.
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American Series guitars, despite being made in the same facility, are described as production models with a distinct feel compared to the more premium USA Selects.
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A 1996 USA custom Soloist was purchased for $1,600, showing that vintage models can offer similar quality at a lower price compared to new models.
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A Kiesel DC with similar specs but including stainless steel frets and an OFR costs around $2,800, highlighting the Soloist as relatively cost-effective for its specs.
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Setup and maintenance
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Serial numbers on these models are typically stamped past the 24th fret, not on the headstock, unlike recent models.
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Features and functionality
Build quality
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The neck-through carve is a crucial detail that many fakes tend to get wrong, yet this one is spot on.
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The absence of a serial number on some late '80s Soloists can be due to them being prototypes or employee project guitars.
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The standard case is considered underwhelming, prompting some owners to upgrade to an SKB-made Jackson branded flight case for better protection.
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Some American Series models share paint and final setup processes with the Custom Shop, though they're considered less premium in feel by some users.
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Use cases and applications
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Despite being production models, the American Series guitars are praised for their playability and might be favored by players who appreciate a certain vibe over premium materials.
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The Soloist is noted for its versatility, with Duncan Flat Strats and JB pickups excelling in clean tones and lower gain applications, suitable for neo-soul and prog styles.
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Value and pricing
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While some may find the price steep, the labor cost and attention to detail justify the higher price of USA Select models compared to production line guitars.
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The Soloist, priced around $2,300, is one of the few USA-made neck-through guitars available at this price point with its specific specs.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 2 Ratings
417
Absolutely a top notch guitar
1985 USA Jackson soloist a super top notch guitar this one is off the chain!
Artist usage
Add artist
Trent Reznor is noted for using the Jackson USA Soloist, as highlighted in the I Heart Guitar blog archives.
Slipknot lead guitarist Mick Thomson’s arrival heralds the induction of one of metal’s most successful and revered players into the Jackson fold. His game changing, take-no-prisoners approach to metal guitar has influenced countless musicians worldwide, while his black hole-heavy de-tuned guitar sound has been an integral part of Slipknot for more than two decades. With over 16 million records/videos sold and an impressive stream of ongoing sold-out worldwide tours, the Grammy award-winning, multi-platinum band continues to be a dominant force in modern metal music.
Jackson pays tribute to Thomson with the new USA Custom Mick Thomson Limited Edition Signature Soloist™ guitar.
Premium features include a genuine mahogany bound body coupled with a graphite reinforced through-body three-piece quartersawn maple/rosewood/maple neck—carved to a custom super-thin profile for maximum comfort and high-speed playability, and a 12”-16” compound radius ebony fingerboard with 24 frets.
This signature Soloist is powered by a pair of active humbucking Seymour Duncan® Mick Thomson EMTY Blackouts, customized to complement the complex, crushing riffs Thomson plays in dropped tunings. The EMTY bridge pickup offers the energy and output of the original Blackouts but with Thomson’s custom voicing to emphasize the percussive chunk of palm-muted notes. Designed for crystal clear clean tones, the EMTY neck pickup can also produce more aggressive mids and increased sustain for high-speed solos and ominous melodic interludes when you crank up the gain.
Other features include a fixed Floyd Rose® bridge and locking nut for laser-accurate intonation and ultra-stable tuning, single master volume control, three-way blade and a uniquely angled side jack.
Beastly sounding, it’s also a beauty in a show-stopping Deep Blood Metallic with a matching reversed pointed 6-in-line headstock and black hardware, including Schaller® strap locks and Gotoh® tuners. Comes in a custom Anvil® case along with special case candy items such as a certificate autographed by Thomson, a black Mono Betty long guitar strap, Dunlop® custom picks and a Slipknot tour laminate.
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Jackson USA Soloist, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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