Something pretty amazing just happened. You may have noticed a slight change in the decor of my space. I was completely stunned when my kids came in the other day with a find they had made on Facebook. Today, I'm proud to share that find with you: a Jackson Kelly Series X KEXQ Cherry Burst ! This is a guitar model that I've always loved and that I looked at a lot in magazines when I was younger. Now that I have one in my hands, we're going to discover it together.
The History and Design of the Jackson Kelly
Everyone knows the Jackson brand, founded in the 80s by Grover Jackson. She quickly became a symbol of metal culture with her aggressive body shapes and bright colors. Legends like Randy Rhoads and Marty Friedman of Megadeth have largely contributed to his fame.
The Kelly is probably one of Jackson's most iconic shapes. It's a variation of the Gibson Explorer shape, but with sharper angles and edges, giving it a modern, futuristic look. It quickly became synonymous with speed and precision, adopted by many thrash, death, and speed metal guitarists for its aesthetic qualities and ergonomics.
Model Overview: The Jackson Kelly KEXQ Cherry Burst
The model I have in my hands is a Kelly from the X seriesThis series is positioned between the entry-level JS and the Custom Shop models made in the United States. We are therefore on a mid-range that aims to be professional and accessible.
- The Body: The body is in poplar, a relatively light wood that contributes to the instrument's good balance. The guitar is surprisingly comfortable, even for long standing playing sessions. The finish Cherry Burst is superb, with a flamed maple top reminiscent of the Les Paul finishes. The veneer and white trim on the body, neck and headstock add a touch of class to this decidedly modern design.
- The Channel: The handle is in maple and is through. This construction offers a super nice body-to-neck transition and easy access to the upper frets. It is a more complex and expensive technique to manufacture, but it brings better sustain and extra warmth to the sound. The profile is a Speed Neck, extremely thin and flat, ideal for fast and technical playing.
- The Touch: The key is in laurel, an alternative wood to rosewood and ebony. It has a beautiful color and open grain that resembles jatoba, but is a little darker. The radius of the fingerboard is composed, that is to say that it is of 12 inches at the first frets (perfect for chords) and gradually flattens out until 16 inches in the treble, which facilitates soloing and bends. The finish of the 24 jumbo frets is impeccable and the rebate on the fingerboard prevents any protrusion under the fingers.
- The Microphones: The guitar is equipped with two high output Jackson humbuckersThese powerful pickups are designed for metal, with great clarity and impressive sustain, even under distortion.
- The Tremolo: We find a Floyd Rose Special. It is very similar to the original Floyd Rose, but the saddles are zinc instead of steel. This double-locking vibrato system is renowned for its tuning stability and its ability to absorb the dive bombs the most extreme.
Handling and Sounds
The Kelly's grip is truly unique. Although the rear strap button is positioned behind the neck, the guitar sits comfortably. There is a slight tendency to nose-dive with a basic strap, but this shouldn't be a problem with a more grippy strap.
Once plugged into Neural DSP's Archetype Gojira plugin, the guitar reveals its full potential.
- Clear sound: The microphones, although powerful, are capable of producing pleasant clean sounds, with a slight tendency towards saturation.
- Saturated sound: This is where it excels. The sound is powerful, rich in harmonics, and ideal for metal. It feels like you're holding a real war machine in your hands.
The handle is incredibly fast and the low draw (action) allows for smooth, effortless playing. It's a great solo guitar, but it's just as enjoyable for rhythms. I was able to turn the action all the way down without any fretting, which is a great feature. The Floyd Rose is tight and responsive, making it a joy to use for vibrato effects.
Conclusion: An Incredible Discovery
I'm really happy with this find. This Jackson Kelly KEXQ is a beautiful instrument, with an exceptional neck and great sonic versatility. Despite some adjustments needed upon arrival, it has the potential to become one of my favorite guitars. I'm going to spend hours having fun with it!
While waiting for the next video, feel free to leave me comments to ask me your questions or share your suggestions. Share your experiences with Jackson guitars! I will continue to play on my new Kelly. See you very soon!
