Jackson JS30KE Kelly Electric Guitar (with Gig Bag)

Alder body, bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, Jackson humbuckers.

See Full Size Image

Overall User Ratings

Overall:: 9 out of 10
Features:: 9 out of 10
Quality:: 9 out of 10
Value:: 9 out of 10
I Want It:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 9 out of 10
Support:: 10 out of 10

"Don't let the one guy's bad review sway you away... he doesn't know how to work his amps, pedals, tone or something -- this guit"

Overall:: 10 out of 10
Features:: 8 out of 10
Quality:: 9 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
I Want It:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 10 out of 10
Support:: 10 out of 10

User: a customer from verizon.net

Submitted: 2/4/2009

Style of Music: alt. hard rock

Musical Experience: recording hobbyist

Location: Tampa FL USA

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Feature:
What more do you need?

Quality:
Tough as nails. Solid and smooth. Nothing needs replacing. Nothing sloppy.

Value:
I know I made the right decision.

Desirability:
Fits my whole motif perfectly

Sound:
Sounds superb for the money. 1/3 more than the boom boom starter at the grocery store, yet sounds like Metallica. The ONE guy badmouthing the sound out of everyone boasting it doesn't know how to work amps or tone or something.

Ease of Use:
The feel is more excellent than I ever imagined.

Support:
I've heard they'll do whatever it takes.

Overall:
I may surprise myself how long it takes to pry it out of my hands... maybe do a graphic or two.

6 of 6 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? JUST BUY IT!"

Overall:: 10 out of 10
Features:: 10 out of 10
Quality:: 10 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
I Want It:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 10 out of 10
Support:: 10 out of 10

User: a customer from yahoo.com

Submitted: 9/23/2007

Style of Music: Thrash, Metal, Progressive

Musical Experience: Performer

Location: Angola, IN, USA

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Feature:
The stationary string through tremlo, it's simply the best. The pickups are great. I get a very true clean tone, the neck pickup has the most incredible clarity during solos. The clipping I hear during shedding solos is fantastic. And the bridge pickup can get the crunchiest sound with any distortion. I've heard that people have changed the pickups in this particular model to get tones they want. Why? Every tone you need is right here. I got mine in black and it looks absolutly wicked.

Quality:
First of all, it a Jackson, born and bread right here in the united states. Need I say more? It's truly road worthy with a decent case. Either I'm just a softie, or there is one hell of a coat of paint on this instrument because I've accidentaly bumbed the body against a few things and found NO DENTS OR SCRATCHES. I think this instrument will last for many years to come.

Value:
I've played instruments ranging from $150 all the way up to $1200. The surrent price of this instrument is an absolute steal! I saw the price and thought maybe it was a typo. but no, it's not just a dream, it's a reality. I've seen guitars with similar hardware and design go for way more.

Desirability:
If part of your performance is theatrical, definetly pick this up. I can tell you one thing, this instrument makes me look good, even before I start playing. My wife even says it looks sexy on me!

Sound:
I'd say that out of all the guitars I've ever owned, this one had got to be th most impressive. Sound, playability, and looks are all well me here. I had been wanting to pick up a Kelly for a long time but often shyed away because of the usual Floyd Rose dive bomb tremlo (I've never been able to keep one of those things in tune, no matter what brand of guitar. The day I saw this particular Kelly, my prayers had been answered. It's very basic, simple, and I can go for about 7 songs before she shows any sign of falling out of tune (I'm very abusive on strings)

Ease of Use:
If want to adjust anything (I've never had to it can just the way I like it right out of the box), everything is easily accessable. Tuning is a breeze, action height is quiclky adjustable. and the playability- I'll put it this way, I'm coming down from a 7 string to this and I thought it would take me about 2 or 3 weeks to get used to it. Not so. This instrument is so comfortable to play.

Support:
I personaly haven't had to deal with Jackson directly, but I have a few friends who have contacted them about product issues or even just questions and they have found that Jackson is more than eager to be of quality service to the customer. Every time.

Overall:
I already have plans to buy another of this particular model but in another color. I just can't decide if I want the red or the blue. Maybe I'll get both. I've played for 20 years and I can honestly say that I feel that I've found the "soulmate" instrument for me. It was 20 years ago that I saw the video "Free" by Stryper, and it was Michael Sweet's solo that inspired me to pick up a guitar. He was playing a Jackson Kelly in the video! Go figure!

8 of 9 people (88.89%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

Jackson JS30KE Kelly Customer Review

Overall:: 7 out of 10
Features:: 7 out of 10
Quality:: 7 out of 10
Value:: 7 out of 10
I Want It:: 7 out of 10
Sound:: 7 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 8 out of 10
Support:: 9 out of 10

Submitted: 3/18/2009

Feature:
Unless you're looking for Floyd Rose type bridge, the through body bridge works good. The tuning machine works fine and knobs are pretty decent

Quality:
For $300 guitar, the quality is adequate. The knobs/pots/switch/jack will need replacement in 2 to 3 years unless you maintain them periodically.

Sound:
The humbuckers do decent enough job. They lack the tightness and refinement of more expensive guitars but they are good. At bedroom volume, the guitar sounds very good. When you play at a higher volume, you realize the limitation of cheap electronics.

Ease of Use:
This is where the guitar shines, the neck feels fast and the guitar plays very well. It response to the picking dynamic well which means the tone wood is of decent quality.

Support:
n/a

Overall:
If this guitar is stolen, I'd buy a different guitar.

Did you find this review helpful?

Thanks for your opinion!

"An awsome guitar for an awsome price!. This guitar owns everyother."

Overall:: 10 out of 10
Features:: 9 out of 10
Quality:: 10 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
I Want It:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 8 out of 10
Support:: 10 out of 10

User: a customer from yahoo.com

Submitted: 4/8/2006

Style of Music: Heavy Metal

Musical Experience: Band member

Location: Texas

Feature:
PICKUPS ARE AWESOME. I would give it a 10 if it had the floating tremolo, and a tremolo holder for that matter..but...this guitar is good none-theless. The 24 frets arent bad either.

Quality:
no blemishes, no loose parts, no dents easy, This guitar is almost made outta steel..it seems like, and yes...this guitar is awsome for "the road" hehe. but..you gotta get a universal case for it...lik the coffin case...beacuse it wont fit in any other.

Value:
This is a great price for this guitar. I paid 299..plus tax. So i think this is a great deal for a great guitar.

Desirability:
oh yeah! this is guitar looks so awsome. It just looks bad..i mean..good bad..hehe. The only problem i have with the look is my own fingerprints, but other than that...this guitar is just about perfect.

Sound:
i have 2 guitars. The kh900, and this guitar...there both awesome. I really like this guitar though, just because of the pickups. This guitar does take some time to get used to, but once you get the feel for it...its a smooth road. And the fact that its a jackson..sweet.

Ease of Use:
this guitar is easy to play, if your a little experienced. I wouldnt recomend this guitar for beginners. I mean...just think. You just started..trying to play a metallica song, and you cant...on a kelly jackson! hehe..it would look kinda funny. But. mean, if you want to go ahead. this is great price for this guitar.

Support:
oh yeah. sometimes they are a little busy..but...usually i can get a hold of them if anything happens.

Overall:
I expect this guitar to last longer that most, mostly because of its thickness. I expect this guitar to last at the least 20years.

1 of 2 people (50%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

Jackson JS30KE Kelly Customer Review

Overall:: 10 out of 10
Features:: 9 out of 10
Quality:: 10 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
I Want It:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 10 out of 10

User: a customer from yahoo.com

Submitted: 6/7/2007

Style of Music: Hard Rock, Metal, Hardcore Punk

Musical Experience: Active Musician

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Feature:
Wish it had sharkfin inlays or floyd rose, but hey, you get what you pay for. Has large strap buttons, so you don't need strap locks unless you're gonna do guitar spins or something.

Quality:
Everything is sturdy and well built.

Value:
VERY good guitar for the price...Screw strats.

Desirability:
Sexy.

Sound:
Great sound. I can get a nice mellow tone, then flip a switch and turn a knob to get an awesome solo-worthy sound.

Ease of Use:
Great slim neck. When sitting down it's no different than a strat. High frets are easy to reach, and chords are no problem with the jumbo frets. Adjusting the action could not be easier.

Support:
Never had to deal with them.

Overall:
I think the only adjustments I'll ever make to this guitar again are tuning and new strings. This is an awesome guitar for the price.

1 of 2 people (50%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

"Great guitar, great price, its a JACKSON KELLY!"

Overall:: 10 out of 10
Features:: 9 out of 10
Quality:: 10 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 10 out of 10

User: a customer from gmail.com

Submitted: 8/10/2006

Style of Music: Rock, Metal, Blues

Musical Experience: active musician

Location: Winthrop, Maine, USA

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Feature:
1 tone nob, 1 volume, 3-way switch. Pretty standard. Woulda liked to have a trem, but its not necassary.

Quality:
Seems to be built well, and its a Jackson :D

Value:
Only $300 for this great guitar? Go buy it!

Desirability:
It looks great. I got the black one, and other than the pretty standard finger prints showing up well, it just looks so dang good.

Sound:
Great sound, I love it so much!

Ease of Use:
One of the easiest guitars I've ever played, my hands just go right along the neck as smooth as possible.

Support:
Can't really say, haven't dealt with support.

Overall:
I'll have this guitar for a long time, no plans to sell it right now. The neck is a little heavy, if your not holding it while standing then it wants to dive, but its not that bad.

1 of 2 people (50%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

"its decent enough"

Overall:: 8 out of 10
Features:: 6 out of 10
Quality:: 9 out of 10
Value:: 9 out of 10
I Want It:: 8 out of 10
Sound:: 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 9 out of 10

User: a customer from vpsb.k12.la.us

Submitted: 2/22/2008

Style of Music: metal, hard rock, classic rock, blues, and more metal

Musical Experience: active musician

Location: leesville, LA

Feature:
for the price, its features aren't all that bad. but it could use a better bridge than the one it has.

Quality:
for the price its a good deal. i love mine.

Value:
like i have said before, it is a great deal for the price.

Desirability:
its looks are great! the shape of the body, the color, everything about the way this guitar looks is great.

Sound:
the sound is really good, especially for the price. with the right distortion, you can make it scream

Ease of Use:
it plays GREAT right out of the box. i eventually lowered the bridge and replaced the strings.

Overall:
ive already bought another guitar since then. its a b.c. rich Kerry King V. it completely owns all other guitars i have purchased. i still play my Kelly, but it doesnt get near as much use as before

1 of 2 people (50%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

"Jackson Quality at n Affordable price Finally! : )"

Overall:: 10 out of 10
Features:: 9 out of 10
Quality:: 10 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 9 out of 10
Support:: 10 out of 10

User: a customer from hotmail.com

Submitted: 10/6/2007

Style of Music: rock, hard rock Metal,main stream.....

Musical Experience: usd to tour back in the 80's!! now still active but not like i was.

Location: Riverside ,California

Feature:
well would be a PERFECT 10 if there wre "Shark Fin" inlays but if you really wanted to, gettng a new neck with those inlays is not a problem nowdays, but in it's stock form you'll be VEY happy.

Quality:
Quality, ok here's the tough one because even the "Inexpensive Guitars" are good "Once They are Set Up" like people everyone is a little different, so stock wise this will be right on for many! overall the woods are great! neck construction is solid,body is well finished and will last a L-O-N-G time....nothing was loose,and worked well, even if had been customer support is good!! road wise i have several and all hold up great!! again at this price hard to find a better deal! i have spent up to 3,245 for a guitar and this feels "RIGHT on Par" after i had the action set.. difference between the Super priced Kelly's and this one are "Graphics", Inlays,Pickups and your "Choice" of Bridges on the highend ones. other than that for 300.00* it's a "STEAL"

Value:
Value, again if was holding off because you couldn't get a high end KE1 (discontinued anyways) or the KE2 other than the shark fin inlays there almost Identical except for the hardware and type of wood. example all of mine except for my JS series have EMG 81's and Khaler Bridges,and the 3,000 to the 300.00 "Feel The same" after i had my "Action Set" to my "Personal Tastes"

Desirability:
I have several and Gibson Explorers (modified with Jackson Necks) so what can i say i "Love the Body Style"

Sound:
sound wise i would have to say right on par, Personaly i use EMG 81's and is what i have on all my Kelly's but regardless out of the "BOX" as it were you will like th sound the pickup is kina close to a Duncan JB. clean and has some good Growl. if lookg for the "Cleaner" Distortion if that helps? the stock pickups are DIALED!!

Ease of Use:
getting the right tone not to bad if you have a good amp most can vary the tones real well so good tones are not like it was back in the Hay day, getting used to it is not very hard, even when sitting it's not bad so getting used to it "Shape Wise" some might have to take a few days with it many may not,and moving the front strap post on the backplate (moving it down and forward) will help some.

Support:
over the past 20 years Jackson support has been Awesome,like all Industries there are good days and bad days,some dys ihad to wait but that is the nature of the beast sometimes were "Ony Human" in a General sence customer support is Awesome and they will allways take the time to help with "Any Question"

Overall:
overall what can you say? it's a JACKSON, it plays well and for many the set up is good! and even then set up is easy! Million sites now days! not lke it was back in the 80's and 90's so your getting a Killer Axe at a price everyone can afford! so so mow those lawns! do those chores! your Investment will be well rewarded!!

Did you find this review helpful?

Thanks for your opinion!

"Sexy axe...offering way more than its price could buy!!!"

Overall:: 8 out of 10
Features:: 8 out of 10
Quality:: 9 out of 10
Value:: 10 out of 10
I Want It:: 10 out of 10
Sound:: 8 out of 10
Support:: 10 out of 10

User: rippeace

Submitted: 2/23/2005

Style of Music: classic rock..punk...metal

Musical Experience: active muscisan

Location: NY

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Feature:
The guitar is pretty plain..only 2 switches and one pickup switch... however, they are more than enough...Great guitar regardless...The rosewood fretboard is amazing(fast action, smoothness, and comfort)

Quality:
The finish comes smooth, with no apparent blemishes...i gig with this product and its only a 300 buck guitar...SOME ADVICE to all beginners...screw begnners packages and buy this guitar with a good 70 buck marshall amp...it will pay off and last u years...

Value:
DEFINATELY WORTH THE MONEY...sexy looks and awesome play..great fro beginers to experienced intremediates.

Desirability:
i love my axe..thats all im going to say.

Sound:
Great humbuckers for the money...produces good enough clean sound...and when used with a good amp, plays very good ditsorted.

Support:
i have not yet dealt with Jacskon, and their products are fien to the point were i probbaly wont ever need to deal w them.

1 of 3 people (33.33%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!

"good looks. crap sound."

Overall:: 5 out of 10
Features:: 7 out of 10
Quality:: 3 out of 10
Value:: 2 out of 10
I Want It:: 9 out of 10
Sound:: 3 out of 10
Ease of Use:: 8 out of 10

User: a customer from yahoo.com

Submitted: 6/20/2008

Style of Music: Metal, Heavy Metal, Death Metal, Progressive Metal.

Musical Experience: currently in a band

Location: Lafayette, Louisiana, United States

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Feature:
This guitar didn't come with anything special. Just what you would expect from any cheap guitar. The through body bridge sucks. It might have been worth the $300 if it had a tremolo.

Quality:
Its quality is horrible. Both the volume and tune knobs were loose. I had to open the back and wedge folded paper in there to stop the knobs from wiggling. The plug in for the cable also came loose eventually. There was also a giant chip in the finish when i received it, but i think that is from the shipping. The pickups are cheap and sound like crap, so if you want them to sound good never play another guitar, because if you do, you will realize how horrible they are.

Value:
This product is definitely not worth $300. Today i played my friends Squier Stratocaster, which is probably worth about $100, and it sounds better than my Jackson. That is what made me want to write this review. You are only paying for the looks of this guitar.

Desirability:
This guitar looks completely ballin. So you are paying $300 for a cool looking guitar that is basically useless if you plan on playing it.

Sound:
The worst part about this guitar is it's sound. I was naive when i bought this guitar. If you are looking to play any type of metal, do not buy this guitar. It MIGHT be okay for bluesy music. At first i thought it sounded awesome, but then i heard my friends ibanez GRG170DX, which costs $60 less than this, and i was amazed at how crappy this guitar sounds. Now i have a PRS and it is amazing compared to this. My friend and I with the Ibanez are now in a band together, and his guitar's sound quality is still up to par. So if you are looking for a guitar that sounds good and is inexpensive, do yourself and save yourself 60 bucks and the agaony of having to play this monstrosity by going check out the ibanez GRG170DX.

Ease of Use:
It's a pretty simple guitar, so if you know how to play guitar it should be pretty easy. I did always have trouble plugging the cord in, but i guess that is just a personal problem.

Support:
i never attempted to reach them, though i should have.

Overall:
This was my first electric guitar, so of course i was satisfied at first, but now that i have a guitar that costs twice as much, i absolutely hate playing it. It nearly brings me to tears every time i hear it. Now don't get me wrong, it is easy on the eyes, but it will make your ears bleed.

1 of 4 people (25%) found this review helpful. Did you?

Thanks for your opinion!