Looking for Jackson super-strats in India, I found the Japanese Dinkys made in alder listed in some shops. Yes, we still get the DK2, DK2M and DKMG here. The DK2/DK2M seems reasonably close to a Strat, and can handle gain quite well, but I'm concerned about the pricing, and production in Japan.

These models are apparently discontinued, because production in Japan has stopped. Yet, I found that their prices here increased after the foreign exchange rate went up. Are these Dinkys still being made for the Asian market? Or are the shops here merely changing the price tags? And is it still worth the (updated) price?

You are correct, there is no more Jackson production in Japan, and no Asian market specific model production.. Not only the foreign exchange rate, but Jackson did have a price increase earlier in the year, so that is also a factor in current pricing.. Ironically, the new "X Series" guitars, the line that has more or less replaced the Japanese Jacksons, is produced in your home country..

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

I'll need more information, maybe images (I actually found some neat hi-res images that show the label), about such instruments as the SLX/SLXT/SLSXMG, and have emailed the distributor about it. An instrument priced between $500 and $700, made here in India, doesn't seem to sell in India because it's 'high-end' and such products 'won't sell', but that's another story altogether. There's a Jackson SLSXMG selling at the same price point as some American Fender Strats on an online shop here!

Maybe the DK2/DK2M is a value-for-money package, but I'm concerned about the time when a particular unit was manufactured, given the recent price rise. Like how much you would pay for a Jackson DK2/DK2M as of now, if it was still sold.

Jacksons are not very popular here, despite the local link, or maybe dealers avoid stocking them (plenty of Ibanez/ESP/Gibson guitars sell here, and it's hard to get a Fender here).

How much would I pay for a DK2 or DK2M if it were still available? That would depend on how I was buying it.. Cash always talks best, but I would definitely try to negotiate..

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

How about US$649? That may be the cost if it was a current product in the United States- the amount I would pay for a guitar at that price is what's been quoted here.

I wish to have a Strat with HSH, but can't afford a new American Standard Strat, nor can I do that mod on an American Special Strat. I don't trust the Blacktops, as they don't get stocked here and I can't test them out. I don't wish to be ripped off, so I won't buy a Jackson Soloist X-series. The best, value-for-price option is the DK2M, but I'm not too keen on paying for more than what it's worth, since it's discontinued and the only update has been the price.

At 84% of the price, a collector will sell me a DKMG, barely a few months old. However, the EMGs are the problem- I am not too comfortable with battery-operated pickups, and I'm not sure if I'll get the Strat tones that I want. I come quite close in the Duncan-equipped DK2/DK2M, but I'm not keen on swapping the active pickups on the DKMG for Duncans.

The idea is to get a Strat (or something really close) that can play metal, in the US$400-800 range. I wish to stick to Fender/Jackson, and not stray toward Ibanez, ESP, Schecter, BC Rich, Dean or Yamaha.

I would jump on the DK2M.. Mine is a limited edition, and it came with EMG's, and they sound great..

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

I think it all depends on where you live. I will give you my experience as an example. I live in the south Florida metropolitan area. I bought a DK2M in almost new condition; with no fret wear for $350.00 two years ago. I don't like floyd roses so I blocked the trem and love the way it plays and sounds (It has seymour duncan pickups) with the trem blocked. I tried to sell it on CL for the same thing I paid for it and over the course of several months I got only two or three calls and no one even came to see it.

A few weeks ago I found on CL a DK2SP with a two point strat style trem and Duncan Design pickups. It plays as well as the DK2M but I don't like the sound of the DD pups as well as the SD pups. That one was dinged up a little but was only $175.00.

Wanna buy my DK2M for $350.00?

Buying used overseas, from individuals, will be a difficult task for me. I've had no experience whatsoever of buying online, maybe once I change my job, I'll do it.

I tried to bring up the issue of current prices on year-old (or so) products with the distributor, to have the price reduced, but he bluntly said he can't do anything, because of the dollar exchange rate, as also increased local duties and taxes, and the Jackson hike. Apparently, people stopped buying Jacksons in India after the price hike, and other brands offered cheaper alternatives. Fender have also lately hiked their prices by $100. I'm getting this at 75% of the price of the American Special Strat (possible deal-changer), which is an option if it will suit me. Apparently, the DK2M is a better package than the current X-series Jacksons.

The price I pay for the DK2M, will also get me an Ibanez RG920 (920? that's a grey area), at a large retail chain. This smaller best-price shop can sell it at the price of an Ibanez S570DXQM, PRS SE 245/Marsden, Jackson SLSXMG/SLATXMG, or a Fender Deluxe Player's Strat.

My sound of choice is classic metal/classic hard rock/AOR/progressive, and a Strat or Dinky or Soloist should fit in nicely there. Is there really much of a fundamental difference between the Dinky and the Strat? Alder body, bolt-on maple neck, with maple/rosewood fingerboard? Just the pickups seated in the body as against hanging from the pickguard?