What's the going rate for an MIJ Jackson Dinky?

IanSavage

Been asked to try and put a value on this for a mate of mine, not got my hands on it yet but will have in the next couple of days - I'm not all that up on my RAWK guitars though so thought I'd pick your collective brains! 

Mid-90s, made in Japan, Floyd Rose, reverse headstock, has an aftermarket Duncan JBJ in the bridge and the stock Jackson-branded pup in the neck, three-way switch, master volume & tone. Dot markers not sharkfins - pretty sure it's one of these from the description but not 100% yet: http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/henryfp/pictures/gear/882477/

I'd be thinking around the £200 mark in a decent market (it's in pretty much mint condition, apparently, and of course the JBJ adds a good bit of value), but obviously times of austerity and all that - what d'you reckon he should be pitching it at?

Bucket

It wouldn't be one of those JS30 models if it's made in Japan - the JS series are the cheap Indonesian ones they're doing now.

For a MIJ Jackson from the mid-90s, with some decent aftermarket pickups, I'd say anywhere between £250 and £500 is sensible.

EDIT: Sounds more like one of these:

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/6531/wjacksondinkymij002.jpg

Probably worth a little more than £200! Sounds like a nice guitar, that.

IanSavage

Hmm, okay - it's black, and the fretboard dots go up the centre of the neck, not to the side. There's an 'Made In Japan' sticker on it, which I assume is original...more research needed, possibly! 

Bucket

Sure - post some pics when you get it, I'll see if I can give you any ideas?

IanSavage

Cheers man, I'll do that - this is getting really confusing, he's sent me the serial number and it's a seven-digit starting with '97', which from any serial decoder I can find puts it as a 1997 MIJ, but looks-wise it's a JS (dots up the centre of the 'board, reverse headstock, chrome Floyd, those horrible-looking closed Jackson-branded pups, or one of them at least). Pics ASAP before I drive myself insane!  

Bucket

The plot thickens - I've just looked at a scan of the 1997 Jackson catalogue and couldn't find anything quite matching your description! Closest I could find was the DR2 but that's USA-made and has no inlays...

22 or 24 frets?

IanSavage

Um...22, I think! 

IanSavage

Ah-ha, okay, think I've cracked it - looks like they DID do some JSeseses in Japan according to this video, looks like exactly the same guitar only in red...

Bucket

Ah, nice one!

Didn't know they ever did Japanese JS models, they're all Indonesian or Chinese or something now.

A side effect of my attempts at helping you is that I am now trawling eBay, having spotted about five models from various mid-90s Jackson catalogues that I've decided I cannot live without.

IanSavage

Bucket said:

Ah, nice one!

Didn't know they ever did Japanese JS models, they're all Indonesian or Chinese or something now.

A side effect of my attempts at helping you is that I am now trawling eBay, having spotted about five models from various mid-90s Jackson catalogues that I've decided I cannot live without.

Heh, sorry bro

According to a post about halfway down this by RacerX, the serial number might be a red herring - apparently there was a short-lived Jap-made range of JS30s with 96/97-starting serial numbers but they came out in 2002-2003. Weird, but then I guess Jackson serials don't make much sense...http://www.jcfonline.com/archive/index.php/t-55195.html

EDIT: yeah, think I've found it. Short-lived MIJ JS30 (nothing else in the model number), in the 2002 catalogue and nowhere else: http://support.jacksonguitars.com/catalogs/us/Jackson2002_catalog.pdf

Thanks for the help Connor - now, being as it's now been established as a little bit hens' teeth, I'm at even more of a loss as to what to recommend as an asking price! Help me, FretBoard types...

Bucket

Perhaps mention the MIJ-ness and the rarity, emphasise that it's not a new JS and is likely better-made.

You could maybe ask £200-300.

IanSavage

Cheers man - yeah, hopefully MIJ and with the Duncan he could pull £250 for it without too much effort. I need to set it up for him and get it gone; we're doing a couple of acoustic duo gigs together at the end of the month and, well, he hasn't got one