JS30KV King V Review

Indian cedro body, bolt-on maple neck with Indian rosewood fingerboard, Jackson CVR high-output humbucking pickups, adjustable string-through-body bridge and chrome hardware.

Features:	9
Sound:	9
Action:	9
Reliability:	9.5
Impression:	9
Overall rating:	9.1
Users rating:	8.5
Comments:	37

overall: 9

Featured review by: Demonikk, on april 09, 2007

Price paid: $ 384.2817

Purchased from: Planet of Sound

Features: Made in 2005 in India, 24 jumbo frets. Specs as above I believe, black gloss finish with chrome hardware. String-thru body bridge, 2X Jackson stock humbuckers. Master tone and master volume and a 3-way toggle Switch. Stock Jackson machineheads and no accessories included in the price. For the price I suppose I can't really complain, but a gig bag would have been great, even a cheap one. // 9

Sound: I play mainly metal, but I like to stray into blues, acoustic etc. Played through my Marshall MG100 DFX and Dunlop Crybaby Wah. In Standard tuning and with light strings (0.09-0.42, out of the box) I found that the distorted tone was weak, lacking in bass and general power, even with the gain and bass maxed out. The clean tone was nice, with a warm tone at the neck pickup and a crisp, soft sound in the middle position. After changing the the strings and dropping the tuning (0.11-0.56, CGCFAD) the distorted tone really improved. Powerchord riffing in the bridge postion produces a huge bass punch and fret-melting soloing really cuts through. Sustains very nicely, due to the string-thru body construction. On high distortion, the neck pickup or the middle setting does go very muddy though. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: Out of the box, using the stock strings, it was perfectly set up. The action was low and smooth, without fret buzz. The pickups neded raising to get the maximum punch out of them though, but that's a 10-second job. The machineheads are fairly poor quality, they're sticky and stiff when using thicker strings. The volume and tone pots are also quite stiff, and don't 'glide' like many other sets. Again, at this price I can't moan much though. One thing I can complain about is the placement of the input jack. I found that during seated practise, my lead really dug into my thigh. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I've had this guitar for about 2 years now and over that time it's taken a fair few knocks, but with only a couple of dents and chips to show for it. Granted, if you knock a guitar as pointy as this, of course the finish is going to chip. The hardware's still in good condition, but I'm going to replace the pickups and tuners soon (personal preferance). The strap buttons are solid, getting the strap on is a right struggle and getting it off is even harder. Gigging, I would never play without a backup (again, personal preferance)but it's a reliable guitar, only ever had 2 or 3 string breakages. Replacing strings and retuning can be done in about 20-30 seconds per string if you're not fussy about neatness. The aforementioned 'sticky tuners' really keep it in tune though. // 10

Impression: At this price, it's very hard to complain about anything. It's a great guitar for beginners, but professionals won't shy away from it either. Upgrading it is always a possibility. I play Jacksons exclusively, because they have killer looks, playability, reliability and that awesome metal tone. I would, however, recommend buying the next model up (KVX10). At about £80 more you get far superior hardware. Again, for an entry-level price tag, this is as good as they get though. If it were stolen, I would probably buy a DKMG (no point buying an inferior guitar if I can afford a better one) but if I didn't already own an RR3, I would definitely buy it again. // 9

overall: 9.2

Reviewed by: breadfan82, on february 01, 2007

Price paid: $ 300

Purchased from: Brickhouse Music

Features: This axe is well worth the price. I'm not sure when or where it was made, but it has a 24 jumbo fret bolt-on maple neck. Fretboard is made of rosewood, with shark-fin inlays. My specific guitar has a laminated top with the quilted finish. The body is made from alder and the neck is maple. Much cooler looking than the Gibson-style V. It has a JT390 adjustable bridge with string-thru body for bad-ass sustain. The guitar came with Duncan Designed HB-102 pickups, which actually weren't bad, but I replaced them with an active EMG 81/60 setup, and the EMGs give this guitar the perfect tones for metal and rock. It has two humbuckers with a volume and a tone knob, and three-way selector Switch. The tuners are just the stock ones put on by Jackson, and they can be a little sticky and hard to turn with thicker strings, but that is the only complaint I really have about this guitar. It didn't come with any accessories, since I bought it at a small town music shop, and we all know that they don't want to give you too much bang for your buck. // 9

Sound: I play mostly Thrash, Alternative, and Metal, so this guitar is absolutely perfect for all of those styles. I use the EMG setup I mentioned before, through a DigiTech GNX4 Guitar Workstation, which I run through a Peavey Bandit 112. It has very bright, crunchy sound when I use the bridge pickup and warmer tones at the neck. I can play everything in my catalog with this one guitar, anything from Megadeth, Ozzy, and Metallica to Nirvana or Pearl Jam. I never have to Switch, since this one does it all. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: Setup was okay. I lowered the action a bit (since I have to play a ton of fast solos), and then it was fine. I had to play around with the bridge to correct some minor intonation issues, but that's all part of the game, you know. Pickups were a little too close to the strings for me, but a few turns with a screwdriver and that's easily corrected. The only flaw was that it had a small chip in the plastic nameplate on the headstock, but that's purely cosmetic. Other than that, the guitar was in mint condition. // 9

Reliability & Durability: This thing would absolutely withstand the Live gigs. The harware seems like it would last, but I might replace the tuners with something a little less touchy. I replaced the strap buttons with some Schaller strap locks, and they are as solid as can be, but the original buttons were also set very well. I would not use it at a gig without a backup, because I would never use any guitar at a gig without a backup. You can't be too careful. However, this is a very reliable guitar. The finish is very attractive and seems to be very even and durable. // 9

Impression: As I said, I play thrash, metal, and alternative, and this axe is perfect for all of those styles. It is a great match for my technique and everyone says it looks good on me too. I have been playing for 8 1/2 years, and I have two other electrics. I have a B\.C\. Rich Warlock and an Epiphone Gothic '58 Explorer, and this is by far my favorite axe. The neck is very speedy and the sound and setup is magnificent. If this were stolen, I'd be so pissed off, but yes, I would certainly buy another one. I love the tone I get out of this guitar. I don't think I hate anything about it, but I wish the tuners were a little less touchy. My favorite thing (as bad as it sounds) is probably just the way the black EMGs look against the quilted red finish. Very bad-ass. I compared this to the Gibson Flying V and the Jackson Rhoads model V, and this one just seemed to play and fit better than the other two. This guitar is f*cking awesome. // 9

Comments

[musicfreak003]

"the EMGs give this guitar the perfect tones for metal"
well so do seymour duncans...

[Shred Head]

it says on top that the guitar comes with CVR humbuckers but he says his guitar came with Duncan Designed pups. Either he wrote a review for the wrong guitar or the little note on top is wrong

[Jeff Manthei]

the guitar he purchased was probably from a place that has used guitars and the guitar stock was the CRV and when he bought it the person before him but in HB-102s and then he replaced them with 81/60.

[breadfan82]

Yeah, guys. The note at the top is wrong. The shop I got this from does deal in used gear, and this was a used axe. The EMGs DO give it great tone for metal. Seymour Duncans would too...but the "Duncan Designed" pickups were okay, but weren't really cutting the mustard. I tried the EMGs because they were recommended to me by a good friend, and they turned out pretty great. My axe is an older model than the one at the top of the page.

[silentdob]

If it has "shark fin" inlays, then its not a JS30KV.

[WhiteLightning]

yea ther emg's sound awesome...

[sheppo]

if we are talking about the JS series i have this v and its CRV Humbuckers with dot inlays

[jacob23]

wel actually there arent sharkfin inlays. the note at the top is right.....he was trhinking this was a rhoads maybe

[jacob23]

oh and it doesnt come with duncans.....it comes with jackson humbuckers

[Amature]

The guy JUST mentioned he bought it @ a used shop bitching.

[Amature]

*stop bitching* sorry

[stratokaster]

i love this guitar!

[rob_rob666]

my guitar!!!

[Quantonyne]

this guitar is pretty sweet. i have had mine for about 6 months and it has held up pretty good, just a few dings and scratches on the V parts. I am about to EMG's in it so i imagine that i will cream my pants when that happens.

[stevo_92]

i got one of these too. it's ****ing awesome

[tom everett]

i've got this guitar and its awesome but i need help for finding a decent soft case can anyone help me?

[Demonikk]

tom everett wrote:

i've got this guitar and its awesome but i need help for finding a decent soft case can anyone help me?

Try Kinsman gig bag, they make ones that fit KVs and RRs for about £30

[tom everett]

Demonikk wrote:

Try Kinsman gig bag, they make ones that fit KVs and RRs for about £30

thanks very much. where can u find these gig bags?

[Demonikk]

Most guitar shops stock them. If not, you should be able to order one through them or over the internet. They're great gig bags, they come with thick rubber pads to slip over the end of the spikes.

[spiroth10]

I traded some old video games for one, and it rocks. It doesn't match the quality of my American/Canadian made Godin freeway classic, but it provides excellent tone that the former cannot deliver in certain situations.

The standard pickups for the guitar work fine for my style (rock, blues, and some metal) but if your into heavier, darker, higher output modern metal, you might want to replace them. I like them though.

excellent sustain, stays in tune, the neck is nice once you get used to it (much wider than my other electric, almost as wide as an acoustic neck, I measured and compared).

one thing though, it is a bi*** to get the strings on sometimes. The string-through body is a pain to deal with (at least on mine) and the strings get caught in the holes somehow. I almost would rather have a floyd rose on it ironically, but that would be an extra expense, as I don't use whammy effects.

[Demonikk]

^^Spiroth, to be fair your USA Godin is in an entirely different league compared to this Indian-made axe ^_^
But yeah, it's great value for money and the wide neck's pretty good for lead playing

[Hanger 17]

wide neck...awesome. I need a temporary shred guitar for cheap before i get an expensive one down the track. The only thing im worried about is the sitting down issue, is it possible to sit down and play or should i go for a different axe? If so which one do ya reckon

[SkAsupafly]

Hanger 17 wrote:

wide neck...awesome. I need a temporary shred guitar for cheap before i get an expensive one down the track. The only thing im worried about is the sitting down issue, is it possible to sit down and play or should i go for a different axe? If so which one do ya reckon

well if ur gonna sit down and play u can get the same thing as this but w/ a different body. they make it in flying v, kelly, rhoads, and Dinky. so u probably should buy a kelly or dinky. I assume you like megadeth. Marty Friedman played a kelly. it looks almost like an explorer body.

Anyways this guy don't know what he's talking about. Duncan Pickups??? Sharkfin Inlays??? its not Quilted its solid black!!!

[Hanger 17]

Yeah i knew all that..thanks anyways man, if i didnt you woulda helped heaps. Some money came through and i ended getting an ESP DV8-R

[rurouni_aoshi]

I like this guitar very much. I own and I just love nearly everything about it. I very simple tho' keep that in mind. I like nearly every guitar I pick up xD The reason I bought this guitar is because I sat down with it for the first time and just couldn't stop playing until my dad said I had to leave. At THAT moment I decided to get it :P

[Korzack]

So, generally these things are pretty damn solid then? Cool - Happy early christmas to me, specially consdierng I can spread the cost over 10 months... Nice.

[roarinflames]

i just bought one and put an invader and a dimebucker

[Shred-Masta]

I have a metallic red one with custom scallop frets. I bought it off of a friend of mine, hes gonna be ****ing famous as SHIT in a couple years. DEFINITELY remember the name "Joey Bennett". at 17 years old he's better than most guitarists who've played for YEEEARS longer than him. ANYWAYS... it's my first guitar and i must say, learning to play on this beauty is ****ing SICK. I play almost exclusively Death Metal, mainly because i just started and it seems easier to go with what i already know. definitely the most fun song to play is Babylon's Pride by Decapitated. ****in amazing song/band.

[Shred-Masta]

SkAsupafly wrote:

Hanger 17 wrote:

wide neck...awesome. I need a temporary shred guitar for cheap before i get an expensive one down the track. The only thing im worried about is the sitting down issue, is it possible to sit down and play or should i go for a different axe? If so which one do ya reckon
well if ur gonna sit down and play u can get the same thing as this but w/ a different body. they make it in flying v, kelly, rhoads, and Dinky. so u probably should buy a kelly or dinky. I assume you like megadeth. Marty Friedman played a kelly. it looks almost like an explorer body.

Anyways this guy don't know what he's talking about. Duncan Pickups??? Sharkfin Inlays??? its not Quilted its solid black!!!

nah its perfectly fine for sitting down, you just gotta position urself correctly i find... pretty much jam the middle of the V into ur crotch/thigh and turn your right leg a bit inwards. only problem is that you gotta sit near the edge of the chair, else it wont fit.

[sydstab]

i just got this guitar about a month ago, and so far i have no complaints. If i had a small problem it would be that whenever sitting and playing the input comes loose every now and then. Other than that its the best guitar ive ever owned, and its well worth the price.

[sydstab]

i also agree with Shred-Masta on how to play sitting. I just position it with my right leg where the v seperates. I also tend to wrap the calf of my right leg around the bottom part of the v so it doesnt slip backwards or forwards. Once again, a great, affordable guitar

[GozitanThrasher]

The only trouble this guitar is giving me is the volume knob(when turning it up sometimes the sound is cut) and the input jack(its coming loose on its own after playing)

[guitarmaster97]

does this guitar sound better than the js30rr?

[Zertuche]

Im thinking of buying a KVX10 with a Floyd but its either that or a Schecter C-1 Hellraiser FR.

[shredder_666]

This is GREAT axe, my only complaint with it is it needs different pickups, in my opinion anyway. I threw a dimebucker in mine and it straightened out the problem in half a second

[ilovebamboo]

I was initially interested in purchasing the cheap series of the BC rich warlock. Now I'm interested in getting a Jackson, King V, Rhoads or Kelly. But im low on cash so my mums got to buy it. can anyone recomend the cheapest possible jackson i can get my hands onto that has the sick shape?

[Joseph Castro]

does it come in white? msg. me