The Steel Guitar Forum

I had the opportunity to spend the day with Harry and David Jackson last Wednesday. These gentlemen are two of my oldest and dearest friends. Harry allowed me to learn to play while he worked upstairs at Sho-Bud in the early 70s. Harry, David and Shot encouraged me and built guitars for me for many years. Now I am happy to say I am returning to my roots with the Jackson family. I ordered a new Jackson D-10 Shot Jackson model while in Nashville. The Jackson guitar has captured the sound of the original Sho-Bud guitars with 21st century technology. We seem to all desire a sound from the past with a mechanism that handles today's copedants. Harry and David have done just that. Sho-Bud was always on the cutting edge and Jackson is continuing that tradition. I can't wait to take delivery on my new guitar. I'll keep everone posted.

Great Johnny, Hope you get it and bring it to the Dallas show, so folks can hear it live & lively.
Best wishes
Jim Flynn, Lone Star Steel Guitar.

I just ordered the Jackson "Xtreme" as my first PSG. I really like hearing stories like yours. Can't wait to get mine and see for myself.

I have been playing my Shot Jackson Commemorative for a couple of years now and it has a fantastic sound and superb mechanics and man is it ever pretty to look at! But best of all, I found that the Jackson Guitar Co., customer service is absolutely second to none. Best regards. ..jeff bradshaw

Jeff - Superb playing on 'Til the Rivers Run Dry which is played on the Jackson web site. That is beautiful playing. I've been to the site a few times just to listen to that song.

Ken

Johnny,
The new Jackson is a great choice in guitars. I played a couple of them myself in St. Louis. Also I've tried out Bobbe's at the store. They both feel good and sound good. I hope it turns out to be everthing you want. Congratulations on your new gig with Jody Nix, you guys sound great!

Nick

www.thecountryjunctionband.com

If I bought another guitar, it would without a doubt be a Jackson...maybe on down the road...

these steels must be nice...but what happened to the post from the guy who had some issues with them...i can't find it anywhere!?!

Hi Ken,
Thanks for your kind words regarding the "Till The Rivers Run Dry" track, I heard Lloyd Green play it in St Louis one year and tried to pay a small tribute to him with the track..I feel that I fell short but it is the best that I can do.
And to get back on topic, I am thrilled that someone of Johnny Cox's skill level has discovered (maybe "re-discovered" is more accurate) the guitar building skills of Harry & David Jackson. The Jackson brothers certainly have the experience between them to put out a fine product and Dawn is a complete pleasure to do business with! Best regards. ..jeff bradshaw

Johnny, Congratulations---you will be in tone heaven!!

Good luck with the new guitar Johnny. Whatever guitar you are playing always sounds great to me.

When in St Louis I sat down to a Derby D10, if I had the emoney I would have bought that guitar on the spot, later in the day I sat down to the Jackson D10 and I wished I had not bought the derby, that Jackson was the guitar of the century, it played so well I thought I was in guitar heaven, One day I will try to raise the money for a Jackson D 10, until then I can dream.

ernie

Johnny welcome aboard. I was talking to david just before Xmas and he had told me you had ordered one. I have two a Blackjack and a commemorative and love both of them. Now I'm not in the same league as you and Jeff but it sure is nice to get what you want from an instrument and the Jackson does this hands down. As for David,Harry and Dawn they just feel like family. I was over at Harry's in early Dec. and what a gret guy and he has a great family that treated my wife and I like royalty. These people are like tony the tiger would say GREEEAT!!!and the same goes for the guitars.

Charlie

Thanks guys. I need to say this about Harry and David. I stopped playing Sho-Bud full time in 1980 and throughout the years that followed I played three other brands. Harry, David and Shot (until his passing) never treated me any different than when I was a Bud player. Of coarse Shot in his humor would tease me about playing brand X. That was always in fun followed by his wonderful laugh. These folks are true friends and practice what they preach. All the more reason for me to want to play this wonderful guitar.

Well Johnny, tell us about the guitar you ordered.
D-10 I'm sure, what pickups, color, wood or mica, maybe the set up too. thanks.

Hi Chris, I had posted a topic containing an e-mail I had received from a gentleman that preferred to remain anonymous, so I deleted the post and Bob took the topic down. My point was'nt to cause him any grief, it's just that I had just ordered the "Xtreme" from Jackson when I got it from him and since I hadn't heard anybody else so unhappy ( Let's just say he was not satisfied), I was curious if there was anybody else who had had an unpleasant experience like his. It would seem that his was the only bad review of Jackson that I have heard of. Everything else I'm reading is glowing praise for both the guitars and the company. As my experience with them has been so far. So now I'm just waiting anxiously for mine to show up here. I'll gladly post my thoughts on my guitar when I get it, as I expect to be quite pleased.

I can not imagine the Jacksons building anything less than an inspiring and incredible guitar. I would say it's in their blood......look at the lineage, and look at how their design has evolved into the Jackson guitar.

chris ivey wrote:these steels must be nice...but what happened to the post from the guy who had some issues with them...i can't find it anywhere!?!

It was deleted at the request of the person who started it, and the person whose private email was quoted in it.

I love those new Jacksons! But, I may have to wait a few years and snag me a used one, if there ever will be one....

Brandon

I played one in St. Louis last year. Played and sounded great. I think it would take a while to get used to seeing the tuning keys tilt!!!

doug and b0b...thanx. i have heard good stuff about jacksons and hope that is the case.

Mine sounds, look and plays incredible:



I'm having a ball gigging with it. It really has an old, classic-sounding tone. "Rich" is the best description. The sound really fits in with all the good old country standards in our set.

Johnny, I bet David, Harry and Dawn are just as thrilled as you about your decision to get a Jackson.

This is customer service: David has insisted I call him frequently to give him updates and assessments on the functioning of the Blackjack. He did a walk-through with me underneath the guitar by phone when I got it. While I haven't gotten around to calling him lately, I sure like knowing that he's there for me with any support I should need.

David tells me the cabinet is built and ready to start assembly. I can't wait.

I still believe that the Blackjack that I have is next to none in regards to quality and sound. I was trying to find a new one for the best price and I heard about David and Harry's expertise in the steel guitar field. The thing that I am still impressed about is the SOUND, and how easy it to press the pedals and levers. I don't play well, but it still sounds good. All I am using is a Nashville 112.....no effects and it sounds awesome!

Dave

Would smeone mind explaining how the Blackjack changer works. I get the Shot/Xtreme changer, but the fact that the BlackJack looks like a normal AP changer but with compression springs like the double sided changers got me stumped.