Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 - Satin Trans Amber Reviews
Get your hands on Jackson's PC1 Phil Collen solidbody electric and you'll know immediately that this signature guitar is built to take care of business — from its well-balanced mahogany body and super-fast quartersawn maple neck (with a very comfortable compound radius) to its powerful pickup configuration. In addition to the DiMarzio bridge humbucker, you get an awesome sustainer pickup in the neck position. Whether tearing off lightning-fast lead runs, comping chunky chords, or divebombing the Floyd Rose tremolo, Sweetwater guitarists love what the Jackson PC1 Phil Collen does for their playing — you will too!
While this isn't an item we normally stock, we can still get it due to our great relationship with Jackson. Go ahead and place your order and we'’ll follow up shortly to let you know when to expect it.
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Highest Rated Reviews
Grail
...HAD to have it after touching it. Beautiful, beautiful guitar. I actually wanted the blue frost, and was ho-hum on the matte finishes... until I saw it in person. I love it. Some notes: I play in a California-based 80's metal tribute band that doubles as a Def Leppard Tribute, but this is NOT why I bought the PC1. I have been waiting to pull the trigger on a USA custom shop charvel or Jackson, and have also seriously considered getting a PC1, just because they are sexy. I was GOING to order Blue Frost from Sweetwater, but it was not in yet, and I fell in love. I will not comment on the general quality of fretwork, electronics, fit, finish, craftsmanship, workmanship, etc, in detail. They are beyond reproach and simply fantastic.
Here's the stuff that is necessary to know:
1.) NO FRETBOARD MARKERS. it takes getting used to. However: It DOES have GLOW-IN-THE-DARK side-dot inlays. FANTASTICALLY useful for me on stage in low light. AMAZING.
2.) The neck is FAT. A little fatter and more classic than the current Charvel Pro-Mod necks. I love it. Not everyone will.
3.) The Jackson brand sustainer pickup has a learning curve (it's the same as any other sustainer). It's not a looong learning curve, but it does things, and you have to know how to manipulate it to get the right stuff out of it at the right time. It is FUN to play with and adds things when you use it.
4.) The sustainer is an 18v system, unlike other brands, which are 9v systems. It EATS BATTERIES LIKE PEZ CANDY. The only way to prevent a high battery budget if you play and practice with it every day is to NOT use batteries until you need em. I would say, with the sustainer on 90% of my practice/play time, the batteries last about 2 weeks. But it's worth it. I use it for great effect in Juke Box Hero and other covers, and our Def Leppard Tribute is able to do all the modern Phil Collen live stuff, too, which is great and adds dimension to our show. That does NOT mean by any standard that this thing is only useful for Phil Collen fanboys. It is an amazing, high quality sustainer guitar. Frankly, I will be 49 in just over a month, and I have owned a LOT of guitars, many of them FANTASTIC. Nothing comes close. Not the fond memory of Ibanez Vinnie Moore signature (sigh) or my American Kramer Pacer Imperial). Not Even. One.
HA!
HA! Because that's what you'll be saying every few minutes with this guitar. It's hard not to smile with this in your hands and the sustainer on. Beautifully made and hugely versatile, it's the perfect super-Strat in my book, just the right amount of everything nuts done right. Reviews note the neck as chunky... I would not say so... it's not a custom shop Clapton but on a par with newer Les Paul or SG necks; bottom line, I love my CS Clapton Strat but took to this no problem. The sustainer is a bit nuts if you have it turned all the way up, but back it off to 7 or 8 and it's a lot of fun. 'Personally' I find the bridge HB to be a little dull but this will also be amp dependent (Orange in my case). The only thing I don't like about this guitar is that it came with .011's and I don't have the superhuman powers of Mr Collen to be able to deal with that, so it's down to .010's and setup... a few $ well spent given the overall cost.
As always Sweetwater gave me the best price, best service, free candy and a delightful experience.
