Jackson Adrian Smith San Dimas DK

92 Guitarist July 2009
JACKSON/FENDER IRON MAIDEN SIGNATURES
£1,139-£1,799
ELECTRICS/baSS
Jackson Adrian
Smith San Dimas DK
PRICE: £1,799 (inc case)
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Double-cut signature
solidbody electric
BODY: Alder
NECK: Maple, bolt-on
SCALE LENGTH: 648mm (25.5-inch)
NUT/WIDTH: Locking/43mm
FINGERBOARD: Ebony, 305-406mm
(12-16-inch) compound radius
FRETS: 22, jumbo
HARDWARE: Floyd Rose Original
double locking vibrato; Gotoh tuners
– all black-plated
STRING SPACING, BRIDGE: 53mm
ELECTRICS: DiMarzio DP-100 Super
Distortion; two Fender SCN single-
coils; five-way lever pickup selector
switch; volume and tone controls
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 4.13/9.1
OPTIONS: Also available with black
pickguard and maple ’board (£1,799)
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISHES: Snow White only
Fender GBI
01342 331700
www.jacksonguitars.com
Test results
Build quality
Playability
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
Fender Dave Murray
Stratocaster
PRICE: £1,719 (inc case)
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Double-cut signature
solidbody electric
BODY: Alder
NECK: Maple, bolt-on
SCALE LENGTH: 648mm (25.5-inch)
NUT/WIDTH: Synthetic bone/42mm
FINGERBOARD: Maple, 241mm (9.5-
inch) radius
FRETS: 21, medium jumbo
HARDWARE: Fender USA Vintage
vibrato; Gotoh vintage-style tuners –
all chrome-plated
STRING SPACING, BRIDGE: 57mm
ELECTRICS: DiMarzio DP-100 Super
Distortion (bridge); Fender
Stratocaster vintage-style single-coil
(middle); DiMarzio DP-103 PAF (neck);
three-way lever pickup selector switch;
volume and two tone controls
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 3.5/7.7
OPTIONS: None
RANGE OPTIONS: Many, including
Fender American Vintage ’57
Stratocaster (from £1,529); Fender
Road Worn ’50s Stratocaster (£899)
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISHES: Black only
www.fender.co.uk
Test results
Build quality
Playability
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
Fender Steve Harris
Precision bass
PRICE: £1,139 (inc gigbag)
ORIGIN: Japan
TYPE: Double-cut signature
solidbody bass
BODY: Alder
NECK: One-piece maple, bolt-on
SCALE LENGTH: 864mm (34-inch)
NUT/WIDTH: Plastic/42mm
FINGERBOARD: Maple, 184mm (7.25-
inch) radius
FRETS: 20, medium jumbo
HARDWARE: Leo Quan Badass II
bridge; chrome mirror finish
scratchplate
STRING SPACING, BRIDGE: 20mm
centres
ELECTRICS: Seymour Duncan
Basslines SPB-1 Vintage P-bass split-
coil; volume and tone controls
WEIGHT (kg/lb): 4.3/9.4
OPTIONS: None
RANGE OPTIONS: Fender American
Vintage ’57 Precision (Olympic white
£1,769, sunburst £1,719); Fender Road
Worn Precision (sunburst £1,049,
Fiesta red £1,019)
LEFT-HANDERS: No
FINISHES: Royal Blue Metallic
Sparkle only
Test results
Build quality
Playability
Sound
Value for money
GUITARIST RATING
The Bottom Line
Jackson Adrian
Smith San Dimas DK
We like: Superb neck;
equally impressive overall
performance and tones
We dislike: The price may
put some people off
Guitarist says: This is a
pro-standard USA-made
custom guitar and will have
most rock players slavering
at the bit. Charvel last issue,
Jackson this – rock is back!
Fender Dave Murray
Stratocaster
We like: Blending a ’57 Strat
with rock sounds and more
We dislike: A five-way
pickup selector would
increase the palette
of sounds
Guitarist says: Finally, an
official USA-made version
of the Murray Strat is with
us, and it’s worth the wait
Fender Steve Harris
Precision bass
We like: Striking looks; solid
sound; meaty feel
We dislike: Modern-style
tuners – old reverse action
is our preference
Guitarist says: Harris fan
or not, this is a great P-bass.
The strings, bridge and
pickup combine very well
the bass – there are cheaper
options out there, but few that
rock quite as hard.
The Jackson offers a neck
with a feel that’s totally at one
with any rock player’s needs.
Meanwhile the Dave Murray
Strat – although far more
traditional in vibe – is different
enough in both tone and feel to
a traditional hot-rodded Strat
to ensure a level of popularity
outside Iron Maiden fans. Both
are versatile, play wonderfully
and offer more than their fair
share of impressive and
individual tones.
Considering the sheer legacy
that Murray, Smith and Harris
share as players, what’s good
enough for them to use is no
doubt more than good enough
for the likes of us. We suggest
you reach out…
GIT317.rev_fender 92 20/5/09 6:12:55 pm