Looking at the prices of the Jackson USA guitars and what they come with, the prices of new Jacksons coming in from Indonesia and also cheap Gibson/Fender USA models, I've got one idea, or rather, request- why not have a stripped-down American-origin Jackson line? Something like Gibson's Studio Faded or Studio 50's tribute? Or Fender's Highway-One or American Special? Something that folks not so rich but still keen on buying an American guitar would still want? I can do without bells, whistles and decorations that the new Pro series has got. I wouldn't settle for lesser wood and woodwork, and American guitars don't compromise on that. Besides, when I have big money to spend on a guitar, I would opt for an American product. And of course, Jackson over Gibson- I yearn for a neck-through, string-through superstrat.

Jackson tried doing that, and the cost differential wasn't enough to make that big of a difference.. Ultimately, that is what created the import lines of Charvel/Jackson.. In this case, you may want to look into the X Series, although they are imports, or search for an SL1T or SL2HT..

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The prices now quoted on the import Jackson Pro line are very much in the bracket of American-made models from other companies- $849-$999 is rather steep, given their origin outside the US. However, with the quilt maple, fancy paint job, fancy metalwork and all, even the prices of import guitars go up.

What I want is something basic- neck-through body in alder/maple (mahogany/mahogany and mahogany/maple will also do), baked maple/ebony/Madagascar Rosewood fretboard, basic inlays, string-through hardtail, chrome hardware and Seymour Duncan pickups. The X-series, for me, is less than basic- it's basswood (low-end guitar material) and the quality of woods not good enough, nor are the fit and finish.

My choice of an entry-level American Soloist is like the SLXT, in alder/mahogany and with Seymour Duncan humbuckers. I can pay $600-750 for one. I can get an American Gibson Les Paul with that money, but I'd prefer a Jackson Soloist.

EDIT: In the 1980s, when super-strats were very popular, Jackson had two lines in the United States itself- the Custom line and the Student line. I'd like a revival of the Student line, in some form.