Hi,

I am trying to date my Jackson guitar using the serial number, but I can't find what I am looking for on any of the Support Pages. My Jackson is not a "USA" model, and the Product Dating Information section only has USA models. I don't have a picture of the guitar, as it's about half disassembled in the closet right now, but I will describe it as well as I can.

I bought the guitar in May of 1996 from a small local shop. It is a Jackson brand (not Charvel), black with 24 frets, bolt-on maple neck with rosewood fretboard, dot inlays, non-reverse headstock, humbucker/single/single pickups (without the white "Jackson" logo on them), barrel type volume and tone knobs, 5-way switch, black hardware and a non-recessed floyd rose type bridge. There's no serial number on the neck plate, but there is a small white plastic sticker on the back of the head stock with the serial number "65001539".

I have searched through the old product catalogs in the Archived Catalogs section, and the closest I can find is the "Performer PS-2" model in the Jackson 1995 Performer Series catalog, but it's not an exact match.

Can anyone point me in the right direction where I might find the specs for this guitar?

thanks a bunch!

It sounds like you have a JS20.. Made in Taiwan in 1996, the only year produced in Taiwan..

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Yeah, I thought it might be a JS20 as well, but I looked in the 1996 catalog, and there are a few key differences. The JS20 had 22 frets and a non-locking tremolo (in chrome), whereas mine is 24 frets and double locking tremolo in black.

Unless there was a alternate model of the JS20 that doesn't show up in the old catalogs?

By "not an exact match", are you referring to the dots on the fingerboard being offset??

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Chaos, panic, and disorder.. My work is done here.

No, the dots on the fretboard of my guitar are centered.

Actually my guitar matches the "Performer PS2" model except that the pickups on the PS2 have the white "Jackson" logos on them, and my pickups do not have the logos (I compared mine to the PS2 in the 1996 catalog).

Then yours was built with non logoed pickups.. Most likely they are Duncan Designed.. They switched around a little during production, depending on availability.. Since yours is already "half disassembled", take the humbucker out and look for a logo stamped into the bottom plate, it might even be a sticker.. As long as it's that far apart, four more screws will answer your question...

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Chaos, panic, and disorder.. My work is done here.

Thanks for all of your help! It sounds like mine is the PS2 after all.

I replaced the bridge pickup with a Dimarzio Super3 many years ago and regrettably I do not have the original bridge pickup.

What are the specs on the neck of these guitars? It feels pretty wide and fairly thick in my hands; it's probably the most comfortable guitar neck of any guitar I've ever owned. Does Jackson still use this neck profile? I've tried Jackson guitars in recent years, but it feels like the necks have slimmed down a little compared to this one.

I am not positive of the specific neck dimensions, as I don't have any from that era to compare to.. I hear the new X Series has a slightly thicker neck profile, but haven't seen one in person as of yet.. Yes, neck profiles have evolved over the years.. If you are still curious about the pickups, and you didn't change them, pull one of the single coils and check them, they should all be the same manufacturer..

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Chaos, panic, and disorder.. My work is done here.