This 1998 Jackson Kelly PS-6T Performer guitar was a birthday present from my parents when I was in college, and now that my dad is no longer with us, it’s very special to me. It was used about five times; its last time being a live performance with Appetite For Destruction (a Guns N’ Roses tribute band) in the summer if 1999 in front of a crowd of hundreds. It was a great show - loud, long, and we all made it through the night on our own feet.

:: 1998 Jackson Kelly PS-6T Performer - click on image to enlarge ::

The very first time I used this guitar, I loved its feel and mass, though I absolutely despised the stock pickups. For such an aggressive guitar it came equipped with low-output junk pickups that would create more feedback than music. So, I went to Music Emporioum and had the neck pickup replaced with a Seymour Duncan JB model Trembucker. The difference was incredible. The guitar sounded like it looked - edgy and overdriven, yet refined with awesome harmonics. My first choice was the ceramic magnet Duncan Distortion (another great pickup), but none were in stock, so this was my second choice. As it turns out, I have a new appreciation for alnico magnet pickups like the JB. They sound warmer and fuller without the exaggerated highs of some of the higher output pickups.

The guitar is now fully set up, with the bridge reset for 9-gauge strings. Once I plugged it in, I suddenly had the same revelation that I did ten years ago - that this was one hell of a great sounding and playing guitar. The build quality of this Japanese-made Jackson is excellent - just a hair under par with my Ibanez RG570. The frets are very nicely polished, and the neck is very smooth with a satin finish. It plays very fast with no buzzing or intonation issues. Why did I wait so long to play this again? Sometimes I need to kick myself, and this is one of those times.

My cousin John and I have been discussing the reunion of Conviction (our band from the 1990s), and this guitar will lead my entry into the band, right alongside my Les Paul Classic. The Jackson JT-series licensed Floyd Rose bridge seems well-made, and it’s rock solid, but if it gives me headaches, I’ll replace it with an Original Floyd Rose. I’m off to New York after the Miami International Boat Show, and the Kelly may come with me. We’ll see how it performs.