The Jackson Kelly or KE is a heavily modified version of the
Gibson Explorer
The Gibson Explorer is a type of electric guitar model by Gibson guitars, released in 1958. The Explorer offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its siblings: the Flying V, which was released the same year, and the Moderne, which ...
produced by
Jackson Guitars
Jackson is a manufacturer of electric guitars and electric bass guitars that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson. The company was acquired by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2002, which manufactures Jackson-branded guitar ...
. The guitar has been in production since the early 1980s, and is available in several different formats. It was heavily popularized in the early to mid 1990s due to its use by the guitarist Marty Friedman of Megadeth.
History
It was designed by and named after
Bradford Kelly
Bradford is a city status in the United Kingdom, city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a p ...
, guitarist for
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
n
heavy metal band
Heaven
Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the belie ...
in the early '80s.
It was later more popularized by
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American thrash metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the "big four" of American thrash metal along wit ...
guitarist
Marty Friedman
Marty Friedman (born December 8, 1962) is an American guitarist, best known for his tenure as the lead guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1990 to 2000. He is also known for playing alongside Jason Becker in Cacophony from 1986 until ...
who had his own signature model at the time.
The Jackson Kelly has been available in several formats over the years, some having been removed from production such as the Marty Friedman signature model, the Jackson KE1, and the 'Professional' series.
Design
The Kelly typically features the classic Jackson pointed head-stock. The neck is generally of a very thin profile, featuring a standard 24 jumbo frets, a neck-thru design and is generally quite extended from the body. These factors grant the Kelly a very high level of play-ability, especially in genres such as heavy metal. The only exception to this is the 'JS32', an entry level model that had a bolt-neck and dot style inlays, although the JS32 model now features Sharkfin inlays. The PS6T of the Performer Series is a Bolt on 22 fret version of the Kelly.
The neck generally features shark fin inlays and has a Rosewood or Ebony fingerboard. The body is made of usually either Alder or Basswood.
The guitar is available in both active and passive pickup design. The only model of the Jackson Kelly to feature active pickups is the 'Jackson KEXMG', of the 'Jackson X Series' range. It features an active 'EMG 81' pickup in the bridge position, and an active 'EMG 85' in the neck position. With exception to the 'KEXMG', all other models contain passive pickups. The entry level 'JS32' features stock Jackson pickups, whilst the more expensive models feature differing models of Seymour Duncan pickups.
The model can come equipped with a locking tremolo system. Generally it is a
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1976, the first of its kind, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name. The Floyd R ...
Special, though in the more expensive models that are produced in the USA, Floyd Rose Original systems are used. The 'JS32' models can also come with a Jackson-licensed Floyd Rose.
As standard, the Jackson Kelly features a volume knob, a tone knob and a switch to change the pickup being used.
It is available in several colours, most popularly 'Gloss Black'.
See also
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Gibson Explorer
The Gibson Explorer is a type of electric guitar model by Gibson guitars, released in 1958. The Explorer offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its siblings: the Flying V, which was released the same year, and the Moderne, which ...
*
Dean Z
The Dean Z Guitar is an electric guitar made by Dean Guitars starting in 1977 along with its counterparts, the Dean ML, Dean V and Dean Cadillac. It has the recognizable Dean headstock and the V shaped tailpiece. The body shape is similar to the ...
*
Jackson Guitars
Jackson is a manufacturer of electric guitars and electric bass guitars that bears the name of its founder, Grover Jackson. The company was acquired by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in 2002, which manufactures Jackson-branded guitar ...
*
Heaven
Heaven or the heavens, is a common religious cosmological or transcendent supernatural place where beings such as deities, angels, souls, saints, or venerated ancestors are said to originate, be enthroned, or reside. According to the belie ...
*
Marty Friedman
Marty Friedman (born December 8, 1962) is an American guitarist, best known for his tenure as the lead guitarist for thrash metal band Megadeth from 1990 to 2000. He is also known for playing alongside Jason Becker in Cacophony from 1986 until ...
*
Sodom
References
External links
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Guitars
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