Jackson | American Series Soloist & Virtuoso
Jackson American Series Models Offer Their Original Built-To-Order Quality for Lightning-Fast Fretwork in the 21st Century!
As the first brand to embrace the needs of hard rock and metal virtuosos, Jackson electric guitars set the bar with distinctive style and formidable substance, offering feature sets that cater to the high-velocity playing styles of modern musicians. Begun in Southern California in 1980 as a made-to-order Custom Shop, for over 40 years now Jackson has relentlessly revolutionized the craft of building the world’s leading high-performance shred machines.
Built by some of the same Jackson craftsmen who’ve been there since the beginning, the new Jackson American Series Soloist and Virtuoso models represent the brand’s first made-in-Corona flagship product line—both harkening back to Jackson’s SoCal roots, while ushering in the next chapter in Jackson’s storied legacy!
High-Performance Shred Machines Have Arrived!
Jackson is raising the bar with the American Series Soloist SL2 DX, a next-level shred machine built for speed, precision, and pure sonic aggression. Designed for players who demand the best, this premium high-performance guitar is packed with pro-level features that inspire across the globe.
At its core, the SL2 DX boasts an alder body paired with a through-body three-piece maple neck, reinforced with graphite rods for rock-solid stability—resisting the effects of temperature and humidity. The 12”-16” compound radius rolled ebony fingerboard is made for lightspeed playing, featuring 24 jumbo stainless steel frets and inverse mother-of-pearl sharkfin inlays. Whether you're riffing down low or soaring into high-register solos, this neck was built for comfort and extreme technical precision. Plus, Luminlay glow-in-the-dark side dots keep you locked in on even the darkest stages.
Equipped with a Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 bridge pickup for hot-rodded, aggressive tones and a Seymour Duncan ‘59 SH-1N neck pickup for smooth, glassy cleans and creamy leads, the SL2 DX is a sonic powerhouse. Its versatile five-way blade switch and dome-style volume and tone knobs give you ultimate control, while the Floyd Rose 1500 Series double-locking tremolo keeps you in tune through the wildest dive bombs and war cries. Top it off with Gotoh MG-T locking tuners and Dunlop® dual-locking strap buttons, and you’ve got a guitar that’s built for battle.
Finished in Lemon Ice or Snow White—all with color-matched Jackson pointy headstocks and black hardware—the American Series Soloist SL2 DX is pure, unapologetic Jackson metal attitude.
American Series Soloist Models
Though its streamlined, double-cutaway, pickguard-less body had been offered as an option in earlier Jackson/Charvel catalogs, the model wasn’t officially dubbed the “Soloist” until it appeared in the brands’ joint 1984 catalog. Now, nearly four decades later, Jackson American Series Soloist models lead the way in establishing a new standard in the premium American-made category!
Jackson American Series Soloist models feature an alder body paired with a sustain-enhancing through-body three-piece maple neck, reinforced by a pair of graphite rods for the ultimate tuning stability. This neck-through design creates a heelless neck joint providing unrestricted access up to the highest reaches of its rolled ebony fingerboard.
Now Available In: Matte Army Drab, Satin Black
American Series Soloist SL2MG & SL2MG HT
Boasting 24 jumbo stainless-steel frets and inverse mother-of-pearl sharkfin inlays, the Soloist SL2MG’s and SL2MG HT’s 12”-16” compound radius rolled ebony fingerboards are designed for highly technical lightspeed playing, plus Luminlay glow-in-the-dark side dots to provide exceptional fingerboard guidance even on the darkest stages.
Powered by a pair of brawny EMG81 and EMG 85 humbucking pickups, these brutally powerful instruments deliver a commanding punch while retaining clarity with enhanced note definition—a critical component for modern metal—letting user harness their sonic horsepower with a versatile three-way blade pickup switch and single volume and tone controls.
Designed with Jackson’s trademark metal style, the American Series Soloist SL2MG models are available in Satin Black, Satin Lambo Orange, and Matte Army Drab finishes—SL2MG HT are available in Satin Black and Matte Army Drab finishes—all with color-matched Jackson pointy headstocks and black hardware. Both models feature Gotoh MG-T locking tuners and Dunlop dual-locking strap buttons.
The Soloist SL2MG comes equipped with a Floyd Rose 1500 Series double-locking tremolo bridge system for tuning stability throughout daring and aggressive playing theatrics. Besides the finish options, the only spec difference between the SL2MG & SL2MG HT is the bridge, and the latter is outfitted with a premium Hipshot 6 hardtail bridge system for reliable tuning stability.
Now Available In: Gloss Black, Platinum Pearl, Riviera Blue
American Series Soloist SL3
Though its streamlined, double-cutaway, pickguard-less body had been offered as an option in earlier Jackson/Charvel catalogs, the model wasn’t officially dubbed the “Soloist” until it appeared in the brands’ joint 1984 catalog. Now, nearly four decades later, Jackson American Series Soloist models lead the way in establishing a new standard in the premium American-made category!
Jackson American Series Soloist models feature an alder body paired with a sustain-enhancing through-body three-piece maple neck, reinforced by a pair of graphite rods for the ultimate tuning stability. This neck-through design creates a heelless neck joint providing unrestricted access up to the highest reaches of its rolled ebony fingerboard. Sporting trademark Jackson style with its inverse mother-of-pearl sharkfin inlays, the Soloist SL3 is outfitted with 24 jumbo frets along a 12”-16” compound radius fingerboard—which is more curved near the nut for comfortable chording but flattens out up the neck to facilitate faster playing without any fear of fretting out on a bend.
The Soloist SL3 HSS comes equipped with a Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 bridge pickup that roars with a hot-rod attitude and a powerful low end, while the Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 RWRP Single-Coil middle and Seymour Duncan Custom Flat Strat SSL-6 neck pickups radiate with glassy treble tone and scooped mids, which perform well across a multitude of genres.
DK Virtuoso Available In: Satin Black, Satin Shell Pink
Virtuoso HT Available In: Snow White
American Series DK Virtuoso & Virtuoso HT
The Jackson American Series represents the next chapter in Jackson's storied legacy, and the DK Virtuoso model is the next chapter in the series! Featuring a bolt-on five-piece multi-laminated caramelized maple/maple neck reinforced with graphite rods that provide rock-solid stability all the way up to the 24th fret, the Virtuoso’s ultra-fast 12-16” compound radius, streaked-ebony fingerboard with rolled edges is built for easy chording and riffing near the nut, as well as speedy scale runs as you move up the neck.
American Series DK Virtuoso and Virtuoso HT also features a heel-mount truss rod adjustment wheel, which allows for quick neck relief tweaks on the fly, plus Luminlay side dots to ensure that you always land on the right fret—even on the darkest stages!Sporting an HH pickup configuration, the Virtuoso’s Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 humbucking bridge pickup roars with a hot-rodded attitude and a powerful low end; plus, the Seymour Duncan ‘59 SH-1N neck pickup provides brilliant trebles and scooped mids, making it suitable for a variety of genres. Both pickups are controlled using an intuitive layout consisting of a five-way blade switch and dome-style knobs for volume and tone.
American Series DK Virtuoso models feature a Floyd Rose 1500 Series double-locking tremolo bridge system for reliable tuning stability throughout daring and aggressive playing theatrics, while American Series Virtuoso HT models are outfitted with a Hipshot hardtail bridge. Both models Gotoh MG-T locking tuners for reliable tuning stability—plus color-matched, bound pointy headstocks!
To add your name to the legendary list of players to pick up an American-made Jackson guitar, stop into our Lincoln Avenue showroom, call one of our gear experts, or chat with us today!
SHOP JACKSON GUITARS
Related Posts
Fender | Limited Edition Vintera II Road Worn
In the ‘50s and ‘60s, Leo Fender’s guitar and bass designs sent shockwaves through the musical landscape, giving players in emerging musical genres the tools needed to shape a new world of sound! The new Limited Edition Vintera II Road Worn Series pays homage to the look and feel of those original instruments, bringing their designs to a new generation of movers and shakers. Now available on our showroom floor and on our website, each guitar and bass captures the magic of a well-loved musical companion, thanks to period-correct specifications and subtly aged finishes.
Read more
Staff Picks
Staff Picks is where each of our experts share their FAVORITE GEAR! It's always changing, always updating with the latest and greatest. Enjoy CME Staff Picks!
Read more
EarthQuaker Devices | 2025 One-of-A-Kind Series
Make your pedalboard pop with the 2025 EarthQuaker Devices One-of-a-Kind Pedals, available exclusively at Chicago Music Exchange! For the fourth year in a row, CME is teaming up with the legendary Akron-based pedal builders to deliver a limited run of truly one-of-a-kind stompboxes. Each pedal showcases EarthQuaker’s most beloved circuits—like the Avalanche Run, Hoof, and Plumes—reimagined with fresh graphics, bold colors, and unique finishes. Built by hand in Ohio, EarthQuaker Devices pedals are known for their innovative tones, player-friendly controls, and eye-catching aesthetics. Every pedal in this collection is one-of-one, making it as unique as your sound. Shop CME Exclusive EarthQuaker Devices One-of-a-Kind collection now and grab the pedal that will set your board apart in 2025.
Read more