The Jackson Custom Shop Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Soloist is a Jackson electric guitar. Close alternatives include the Hamer KK Downing and the Dean ML "Dean From Hell". It pairs well with the Fender Prosonic and the Orange Matamp.
Jackson Custom Shop Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Soloist
Jackson · electric guitar
Jackson marked the Soloist model's 30th anniversary with a Custom Shop limited edition run of just 30 guitars, each hand-built by Mike Shannon, who joined Jackson back in 1980, following the original 1984 Soloist's spec. John Mayer received a bright pink example in 2014, keeping it largely out of the public eye until his 2015 Grammy performance alongside Ed Sheeran, and later played it again on The Ellen Show in 2017 for a performance of Still Feel Like Your Man. The guitar carries two EMG SA1 active single coils, an EMG 81 active humbucker, and a period-correct 80s-style Floyd Rose tremolo, though some reports suggest Mayer may have later swapped the original active EMGs for passive pickups, a notable departure from the guitar's factory spec for a player far better known for his vintage-toned Fender work than shred-oriented active-pickup guitars.
- distortion
- vintage
- still feel
- whammy
- bright
- metal
- low noise
- tracking
Genres the Jackson Custom Shop Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Soloist is commonly used in
- Metal
- Rock
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Jackson Custom Shop Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Soloist
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
24% matchFender Prosonic leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Orange Matamp
Orange
24% matchOrange Matamp's smooth balances out the bright tone
Blackstar HT-5R Series HT-5R 5W 1x12
Blackstar
22% matchBlackstar HT-5R Series HT-5R 5W 1x12's warm balances out the bright tone
Bogner Ecstasy 3534
Bogner
18% matchJackson Custom Shop Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Soloist leans toward bright, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Blackstar HT Stage 100 MK III Head
Blackstar
17% matchJackson Custom Shop Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Soloist's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
tonal matchDumble Steel String Singer leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchRun Gibson GA-50 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchRun Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Pedals that stack with the Jackson Custom Shop Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Soloist
One Control Lingonberry Overdrive
One Control
16% matchOne Control Lingonberry Overdrive's warm balances out the bright tone
One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive
One Control
15% matchRun One Control Strawberry Red Overdrive after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Orange - Vintage Distortion
Orange
tonal matchOrange - Vintage Distortion's warm balances out the bright tone
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchRun SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Behringer Chorus Symphony
Behringer
tonal matchBehringer Chorus Symphony's smooth balances out the bright tone
Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Dunlop
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo answers back warm
Pigtronix gamma drive
Pigtronix
tonal matchRun Pigtronix gamma drive after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
tonal matchDunlop Echoplex Preamp's smooth balances out the bright tone
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Jackson Custom Shop Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Soloist?+
The closest matches in character are the Hamer KK Downing, the Dean ML "Dean From Hell", the Fender 1962 Silver Sparkle Telecaster Electric Guitar.
What pairs well with the Jackson Custom Shop Limited Edition 30th Anniversary Soloist?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Fender Prosonic, Orange Matamp, Blackstar HT-5R Series HT-5R 5W 1x12 — Fender Prosonic leans warm right where the bright tone needs it.
Compare
- vs Hamer KK Downing
- vs Dean ML "Dean From Hell"
- vs Fender 1962 Silver Sparkle Telecaster Electric Guitar