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Jackson : KE3 Kelly review. 13 reviews, 146 votes and 69 comments total
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KE3 Kelly Review

manufacturer: jackson date: 04/17/2009 category: electric guitars
KE3 Kelly
 Features:8.9
 Sound:9.4
 Action:8.5
 Reliability:9.2
 Impression:9.2
 Overall rating:
 9 
 Users rating:
 8.2 
 Comments:
 69 
 user comments vote for this guitar:
overall: 10
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overall: 9.8
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overall: 9.6
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overall: 9.2
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overall: 9.4
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overall: 9
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overall: 8.6
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overall: 9.4
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overall: 9.4
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overall: 6.8
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overall: 8.6
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overall: 9
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overall: 8.8
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 69 
 comments posted
victorkang :
Hi there. I am considering the KE3 Kelly for my first electric guitar (although I play some acoustic and classical). It is made in Korea, and it is about $400US, so is it worth the price?
POSTED: 03/07/2006 - 01:30 am / quote |
g-unitie :
im not sure...but i would by it

POSTED: 05/13/2006 - 12:50 pm / quote |
KVX10 KING V :
Hi there. I am considering the KE3 Kelly for my first electric guitar (although I play some acoustic and classical). It is made in Korea, and it is about $400US, so is it worth the price?


Firstly, Jackson had their main manfacturing plant in Taiwan before the tidal wave hit. After that they moved to Japan, so their shipment is way behind. Anyways they are Japanese made, therefore meaning better quality, and you can tell if u have one from each country. Secondly since it is coming from Japan it may be a little more $ but not much. I wouldn't suggest it as a begginer guitar, because you will have a lot of problems with the floyd rose. Unless if u get a block installed. but other than that its an amazing guitar and the Seymour Duncan huimbuckers are HOT. I know because i have one.

POSTED: 06/08/2006 - 07:41 pm / quote |
_ZarockeR_ :
i am thinkin about buyin this guitar but at my local music shop it is 700 bucks! Is that a good price or should i look around on the internet or sumthin?
POSTED: 10/17/2006 - 06:28 pm / quote |
KVX10 KING V :
its a good price for a good guitar, yes.
POSTED: 11/28/2006 - 09:07 pm / quote |
LightningboltX :
The original price for this guitar is apox.$950-$1300.
Depending on the finish(color) you get it.

POSTED: 12/04/2006 - 10:08 am / quote |
defcon224 :
idk wat color 2 get on this guitar. I like the skulls but thats like $300 extra and i cant afford that. What color shouldd i get?
POSTED: 12/16/2006 - 09:22 pm / quote |
Kreuger :
Mine doesn't have a serial number or anything on it, I'm starting to think the guy I bought it off of, built a replica and stuck a Jackson neck/headstock on it.
POSTED: 12/26/2006 - 02:42 pm / quote |
MonsterOfRock :
If you like Explorers and whammy bars, definately get this, its the only Explorer with a Floyd Rose in it, from what I know. And plus, I own it, I know that thing is loud as hell. Im not even considering EMG 60/81 set.
POSTED: 01/13/2007 - 11:47 pm / quote |
MetalDanny :
im thinking of buying this guitar soon for $1029 australian.
is this a good price?

POSTED: 01/16/2007 - 08:20 am / quote |
StratSlinger421 :
does anyone know if a fender replacement stopbar flame bridge tailpiece would fit on this pup?
POSTED: 01/24/2007 - 08:50 am / quote |
StratSlinger421 :
never mind, i dont even know wtf im talking about.
POSTED: 01/24/2007 - 08:59 am / quote |
d_lord1 :
_ZarockeR_ wrote:

i am thinkin about buyin this guitar but at my local music shop it is 700 bucks! Is that a good price or should i look around on the internet or sumthin?
definately look on the internet, you can get it alot cheaper than that


POSTED: 03/08/2007 - 03:23 pm / quote |
ronan-the-great :
this guitar looks sick with the skulls finish on it, my friend has and it rips
POSTED: 04/05/2007 - 12:29 pm / quote |
TeddyRamone :
Qoute: I am a metaller but this guitar suits me perfectly but will also be able to play other styles very well aswell

Metaller? WTF is that?

POSTED: 06/01/2007 - 11:06 am / quote |
soulburn101 :
I had a 1997 Jackson KE3. The older ones were much better than the ones they make now. Parents paid $730, $30 extra for the Translucent Blue, and I got it on Christmas. I even have the Guitar World that reviewed the model.

After nine years of use and abuse, I finally had to retire it. I always thought it sounded great. I could get any tone I wanted, and I like the simple setup (one volume knob, and a pickup selector).

POSTED: 06/01/2007 - 01:10 pm / quote |
l)ragonForce :
wow sounds like a very nice guitar. What would the cost be around these days?

POSTED: 06/01/2007 - 02:24 pm / quote |
megaganj :
I have a ke3 kelly. I replaced the bride pickup with a dimebucker, and it sounds pretty good. It's a pretty decent axe for it's price. but the epiphone zakk that I have is a much nicer guitar.
POSTED: 06/01/2007 - 05:58 pm / quote |
operation ktulu :
kellys are beautiful

POSTED: 06/01/2007 - 09:39 pm / quote |
GhostRecon :
i have a kelly..actually i had a kelly 10 yrs ago sold it and missed it. i got one on ebay for 100 quid so i was well pleased. In comparison to my ibanez s series and les paul studio the pickups are awful, the woods are veru poor quality, the bridge is good however. Dont buy a kelly if you want to keep a mint condition guitar because it always gets bashed.
POSTED: 06/02/2007 - 08:54 am / quote |
JerkyChid :
The only one I ever played was severely damaged so I can't give an opinion either way on one.
POSTED: 06/02/2007 - 05:46 pm / quote |
soulburn101 :
i agree, this guitar WILL take a beating, no matter how well you take care of it.

also, as a warning, the hardshell cases are frickin HUGE! people always asked if i played the keyboard

POSTED: 06/02/2007 - 08:36 pm / quote |
heminder :
i'm a starting player, and i've a JS30 kelly...
am considering this guitar when i get better...

POSTED: 06/02/2007 - 09:57 pm / quote |
Magero :
My mate owns one. Fucking mint guitar. Its a metal guitar through and trhough with a brilliant tone.
POSTED: 06/03/2007 - 12:37 am / quote |
cleft11 :
yeah, kellys look awesome. i wrote the review on the KX10-D model, totally love it. yeah, same thing about the harshell cases. people always ask me wtf i play lol, even whem im carryin me fender 30 in the other hand!
POSTED: 06/03/2007 - 12:54 pm / quote |
Demonikk :
MonsterOfRock wrote:

If you like Explorers and whammy bars, definately get this, its the only Explorer with a Floyd Rose in it, from what I know.


It's not really an explorer though is it, but if you're looking for an explorer with a Floyd Rose, try the ESP/LTD DJ600. There are other ones too y'know, have a look around

POSTED: 06/03/2007 - 02:09 pm / quote |
GhostRecon :
marty friedman used to have a limited edition kelly/explorer with reverse headstock. it ruled the earth
POSTED: 06/03/2007 - 09:10 pm / quote |
operation ktulu :
GhostRecon wrote:

marty friedman used to have a limited edition kelly/explorer with reverse headstock. it ruled the earth

uh yeah its marty friedman

POSTED: 07/27/2007 - 01:07 am / quote |
Marvil :
Is this guitar better then Jackson Dk2m?
POSTED: 08/16/2007 - 08:51 am / quote |
jon bon 12 :
How thick is the neck on the guitar, I'm considering buying it but haven't found anywhere which will tell me the neck width
POSTED: 09/01/2007 - 04:04 pm / quote |
fretburner2162 :
The neck on the KE3 is
1st Fret: .720”
12th Fret: .805”

The neck on the KE3 is actually about .035" thinner than the more expensive KE2.

POSTED: 09/08/2007 - 01:37 pm / quote |
rurouni_aoshi :
I was considering buying this a while ago.
POSTED: 11/04/2007 - 07:10 pm / quote |
_ZarockeR_ :
yeah i ended up findin it cheaper on the internet. But if i didnt heve found it cheaper i would have never known i freakin awesome this guitar is. i love it for any kind of playin. i def suggest it for anyone.
POSTED: 11/06/2007 - 07:47 pm / quote |
GreenVelvet :
ZarockeR_ :
yeah i ended up findin it cheaper on the internet. But if i didnt heve found it cheaper i would have never known i freakin awesome this guitar is. i love it for any kind of playin. i def suggest it for anyone.


Got mine off the internet to, I had no idea what kind I was going for until I saw the price on this badboy lol
So I also wouldnt have known how great it was if it wasnt for it being so cheap. Exactly what I was looking for. I would especially suggest it to anyone that uses a lot of harmonics

POSTED: 12/13/2007 - 12:02 am / quote |
stephen_rettie :
all of these reviews use wither mgs or line 6s
shoulda bought a better amp

POSTED: 12/21/2007 - 07:58 am / quote |
amplified101 :
Great guitar, my second favorite of my guitars, ive used it at gigs and got good response
POSTED: 12/28/2007 - 10:55 pm / quote |
JackOSF :
i agree, this guitar WILL take a beating, no matter how well you take care of it.

also, as a warning, the hardshell cases are frickin HUGE! people always asked if i played the keyboard
haha, on about hardcases cos i was thinking buying this as my second guitar ( i've been playing ageeees on my first, a wannabe strat. ) how much are the hard cases for them?

POSTED: 01/07/2008 - 03:00 am / quote |
AnxietyAngel :
This Guitar Is A Demon!! It's Good For Playing Metallica!!
POSTED: 02/14/2008 - 12:07 am / quote |
ChazBcWarlock :
i have this guitar in trans black, very sexy indeed, the cleans are very good but the distortion could be better so im thinking of upgrading to maybe a barenuckle nailbomb in the bridge

and i dont have a mg or spier, i use roland cube 60

POSTED: 02/16/2008 - 09:00 am / quote |
AnxietyAngel :
I Have My Guitar Going Through A 212 Peavey Amp, With A Df-7 Distortion Factory. And To Tell You, It Sounds Awesome. I Have Mine In Trans Black As Well. I'm Tryin To Get The Peavey Windsor Head And Cabinet Amp Are They Good?
POSTED: 02/16/2008 - 09:55 pm / quote |
MetalCro :
i am thinking on getting this one or some simmilar costing ibanez, anyone has any suggestions on whish one should i get?
POSTED: 02/17/2008 - 07:07 pm / quote |
AnxietyAngel :
MetalCro wrote:

i am thinking on getting this one or some simmilar costing ibanez, anyone has any suggestions on whish one should i get?
I'd Say...Try The Ke3 Kelly First , I Think It Would Blow Your Mind. What Kind Of Music U Listen To?

POSTED: 02/21/2008 - 03:03 am / quote |
Megallica Dude :
Is this guitar shape more comfortable to play sitting down then KV/RR shape?
POSTED: 05/06/2008 - 04:51 pm / quote |
norths01 :
Im thinking about this getting this or a Dk2m dinky pro can sum1 tell me which is the better guitar?????
POSTED: 05/28/2008 - 02:27 am / quote |
sandman-105 :
question is the trem the kind that they have to drill a cavity in to install?
POSTED: 07/09/2008 - 03:44 pm / quote |
metulman :
Megallica Dude wrote:

Is this guitar shape more comfortable to play sitting down then KV/RR shape?
Yes they are extremely comfortable to play, even more than my prs se.


POSTED: 07/24/2008 - 05:40 am / quote |
Guitarandbass :
getting one in about 30 days
POSTED: 07/31/2008 - 05:13 pm / quote |
Guitarandbass :
where im gettin mine it is $600 minus 100 for my crappy squire (500) then one of my two basses thats also crappy for $50 (450) so then im gettin this guitar for a nice 450. Ive tried it and it is amazing and ill write a review. Destroys every other guitar (was looking at a dan jacobs 1000 something dollar guitar same shape but LTD and it only costs more because of the "signature" part.
POSTED: 07/31/2008 - 05:19 pm / quote |
Orbit91 :
They are awesome to play, but they're a bit top heavy :P
POSTED: 08/02/2008 - 09:30 pm / quote |
cukd7x-a2- :
victorkang wrote:

Hi there. I am considering the KE3 Kelly for my first electric guitar (although I play some acoustic and classical). It is made in Korea, and it is about $400US, so is it worth the price?

get the string thru version for a beginner guitar, then step up to the ke3's and ke2's
and the guitar is 700-1000 for a ke3 and 2000 for the ke2, wherever you got the 4000 from is a rip off

POSTED: 08/18/2008 - 06:43 pm / quote |
fireball85 :
Megallica Dude wrote:

Is this guitar shape more comfortable to play sitting down then KV/RR shape?


Much more comfortable. Infact i often find this shape more comfortable than the conventional 'superstrat' shape guitars, as it allows for arm support.

POSTED: 09/04/2008 - 07:06 am / quote |
Meximini :
hey pplz im probaly gonna get the Ke3 for a couple reasons.
-The Ke2 is a $1000 more, and if you want an ebany fingerboard just order on from warmoth.
-i can afford it, and still have enough to throw in some EMG's

-the Ke2 is constructed out of Poplar which sounds exactly like alder (check warmoth if you dont belive me)and the advantages of neck-through are highly debated.
the basic question is- Would you spen $1000 for an original floyd rose?

POSTED: 11/21/2008 - 09:49 am / quote |
_foo fighter_ :
I bought a used KE3 about 6 months ago at a local pawn shop for $300. TOTALLY worth it, besides, I got a really good deal seeing as new ones go for somewhere in the $700 range... Plays amazingly well, the neck is fast and my crimson swirl finish looks awesome! If you tune the Licnsd. Floyd Rose right it will hardly ever get out of tune. 6 months and no problems! I don't even play that much metal and I love it. One question though, what pickups and/or amp should I get for playing classic rock, grunge, new rock, and some good clean sounds?
POSTED: 02/17/2009 - 11:51 pm / quote |
FIGHTERSOFFOO :
Best Clean Chime: Bruno Underground 30 w/ REVERB. Spring for Telefunken tubes (especially the EL84s). You'll notice a huge improvement.

Best Fender Clean/Blackface: Bruno Cowtipper 45 with REVERB. Get the RCA Blackplates and NOS Mullard rectifier. GE preamp tubes will sound just fine.

Best SRVish BIG BIG Clean: KOMET 80. WOW

Best clean on the planet: Dumble ODS but that's way out of reach for most at $35k each.

Best lead tone: Trainwreck Express (New Transformer versions). Good luck finding one now. Next to that I have to like the Komets when dialed in correctly. The SLO is very very nice too but not as thick (yes Govt Mule but try to nail that tone yourself).

Best Heavy OD: Diezel VH4 EL34

Best Classic Rock/Higher Gain Amp: Soldano SLO with all the mods and NOS KT66

Best Clean OD amp(s): Komet Constellation (darker) or Matchless JJ30 or DC30 or SC30 (pretty much the same on Matchlesses).

POSTED: 02/18/2009 - 04:47 pm / quote |
jean_genie :
victorkang wrote:

Hi there. I am considering the KE3 Kelly for my first electric guitar (although I play some acoustic and classical). It is made in Korea, and it is about $400US, so is it worth the price?


Pass. Don't even consider a single locking trem or funny-shaped guitar unless you have a backup. If you break a string while playing a locking trem, you're pretty much ass-out for at least a song - and that's if the strings are new. If they're old, it could take you 15-20 minutes to get the thing set up well enough to stay in tune for a whole song.

Plus funny shapes are hard to play sitting down.

Oh, and never EVER use a nylon strap with a funny-shaped guitar. I was playing a Firebird onstage, and the nylon strap and offset weight caused the thing to slide, and the headstock hit me right in the side of the head, in front of a couple hundred people.

Very, VERY embarassing.

POSTED: 02/20/2009 - 09:26 am / quote |
BTKA :
I am just gonna to order one of these in Trans Red when pay day hits

Ummmmm.

Best £400 notes I ever spent. It will give me a great alternative to my Les Paul.

POSTED: 02/20/2009 - 11:41 am / quote |
ShadesOfNight :
Demonikk wrote:

It's not really an explorer though is it, but if you're looking for an explorer with a Floyd Rose, try the ESP/LTD DJ600. There are other ones too y'know, have a look around


But the DJ600 is an artist series and only comes in the one colour scheme which isnt amazing to be fair, and its set up to someone elses standards, not factory settings. Id get a Kelly over that any day. But I'd still rather have and EX series ESP or a real Gibson Explorer over anything else, I don't really need a Floyd as i don't use whammy bars, and they are SWEET guitars

POSTED: 02/20/2009 - 01:18 pm / quote |
RyanMetalMatthe :
This was my first good guitar and it was a great axe except for the pick ups. They sounded weak to me and I hated them. The Floyd Rose was flawless, though.
POSTED: 02/20/2009 - 10:34 pm / quote |
rhodesthegod :
one of the best guitars ever made; the pick ups, the bridge, the shape and feel of the guitar is flawless, i played one for about 3 minutes and fell in love with it, i wish i could own one
POSTED: 02/21/2009 - 12:07 am / quote |
drunkinkoala :
I got this bad boy for christmas a year ago. It's quality.
POSTED: 02/21/2009 - 01:28 am / quote |
Serjem :
iva never played a jackson but i extremely dislike the look.
POSTED: 02/21/2009 - 12:36 pm / quote |
wyldeshredder :
i dislike the every reviewer plays either an AVT,MG, spider or frontman.....cept for the mosfet100 guy and AD30
POSTED: 02/21/2009 - 04:42 pm / quote |
Avengethedeath :
The necks on Jacksons are the smoothest and fastest playing necks ever. Thats why I bought one!
POSTED: 02/21/2009 - 10:02 pm / quote |
_foo fighter_ :
^^Amen to that!
POSTED: 02/22/2009 - 06:23 pm / quote |
MasterExploder0 :
Marvil wrote:

Is this guitar better then Jackson Dk2m?


Nothing is better than the DK2M XD

POSTED: 02/23/2009 - 02:38 am / quote |
Galvatron :
I have the skull finish version.Payed about 1100 for it maybe 4 years ago or so.

Great guitar and worth the cash,if I lost mine I would buy a new one.

POSTED: 02/23/2009 - 05:26 pm / quote |
nofearfactor :
I hated this guitar for live playing.Just hung on me at a wrong angle or something.Very uncomfortable to play standing or running around on a stage.I put my EMG actives in it and it sounded great,and played great when sitting.I was given mine to me as a gift from my band so I wasn't out any cash.My band mate plays it now and he put the Duncans back in it and loves it,plays it all the time.But he also loves Ibanez RG and Jem's too.So.What the **** does he know about guitars...
POSTED: 02/24/2009 - 06:01 am / quote |
TheWeemaster :
I have one (eerie dess swirl) and it is just the most amazing guitar fell in love with kelly's now If you can, buy one !!!
POSTED: 02/24/2009 - 01:07 pm / quote |
DCarney9116 :
I got one of these off craigslist, amazing condition, EMG's a custom installed tone knob, and a reverse headstock, $200!!!!!
POSTED: 06/27/2009 - 11:39 pm / quote |
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