Jackson Pro Series King V KVTMG Electric Guitar - Snow White Reviews
Jackson’s King V has been proudly wielded by legions of legendary guitarists, including Dave Mustaine, Phil Demmel, Corey Beaulieu, and Robbin Crosby (the late Ratt guitarist after whom it was named). The Pro Series King V KVTMG boasts a classic aggressive V-shaped body along with pro-level features that exceed expectations. This solidbody electric guitar was built for speed, boasting a slick-playing compound-radius ebony fingerboard with eye-grabbing pearloid shark fin inlays. Its graphite-reinforced through-body neck provides incredible sustain and stability, ably bolstered by a TOM-style adjustable bridge and anchored tailpiece. The King V KVTMG delivers enough output to flatten the first 10 rows, thanks to its active EMG humbuckers, along with incredible high-end cut, fluid sustain, and laser-precise articulation. When you’re ready to get down to business, the Jackson Pro Series King V KVTMG guarantees that business will always be good.
Highest Rated Reviews
Fantastic guitar
I have been playing this guitar for over two years, and I love it! I had the black, hardtail Jackson JS32T KV from Sweetwater and that was my gateway into the Pro KVTMG. I'm a big fan of the Jackson compound radius necks, but I don't want a tremolo. Plus Jackson supplies, and I prefer, a basic electronics layout with master tone and volume controls, so this seemed to be the perfect choice for me.
The KVTMG plays great. The neck is so nice. Very comfortable. The fretwork is very well done. Nothing sharp at all. The setup was great right out of the box and the hardware and electronics work great. Really no complaints with the fit and finish. The active pickups were a new thing for me, but they sounded great. All in all a cool guitar.
Last fall I ended up having Ted Vig at Vig Guitars here in Saint Paul replace the EMGs with some hand wound Alnico 4s (I really liked how the EMGs sounded but I hated feeding them batteries). So now I have all the features I want in a solid body electric guitar, and over two years on, I'm very satisfied with my purchase and would highly recommend this instrument to anyone interested in this style.
Thanks to Nathan Kelch, Tyler Henry, and all the great people at Sweetwater. You all really work hard, day in and day out, at delivering a quality product in a prompt, professional manner. Much respect.
A True King
Since I started playing over 15 years ago, I've owned four guitars:
1. 2006 Schecter C-1+ (my 1st; and most prized possession)
2. 2009 Dean Razorback V-255
3. 2002 Fender Stratocaster MIM
4. This one.
I've played countless others over the years as well; including some Les Paul's & PRS's in the $5K-$6K range. That being said, I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that this Jackson is BY FAR the finest guitar I have ever owned, and ever played.
The craftsmanship on this thing is second to none. So solid, the perfect weight, and every little detail; from the tailpiece up to the tuners are just perfection.
The features are exactly what I wanted. I'm a rhythm player, so having 22 frets is just right. To piggyback on that, I did NOT want or need a tremolo; they're a giant pain in the neck. I was so excited to see a high quality King V with an anchored tailpiece. So cool, and kinda unique for the King V.
Plus, for anyone who doesn't know, this is actually a James Hetfield guitar; in a way. James recorded most of Master Of Puppets on a King V very similar to this one. However, James had to modify a few things on his; like the position of the tailpiece and the location of the toggle switch. Jackson apparently was paying attention to those mods though, because this guitar is configured exactly like James's after the modifications he made. James is my favorite player of all time, but I don't care for any of his signature ESP's; just not my style.
This Jackson checked literally every box. I couldn't be happier!
Beautiful and A Pleasure to Play
I recently purchased this Snow White Jackson King V. I also had Sweetwater Guitar Serv ice Team Setup, Plek, and replace the EMG 81 and 60;s with Seymour Duncan Jupiter (neck) and Nazgul (bridge) Pickups. I must say, the instrument, service, and pickups have exceeded all my expectations. This guitar is an absolute pleasure to play> It delivers an unparalleled performance that just lends itself to be played.
The Show White Finish is absolutely stunning. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident, making this guitar a very aesthetically pleasing and dare I say, classy. The finish not only adds a touch of elegance but also enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the instrument. The chrome accents of the tuners, bridge, tail peiece, knobs, and strap buttons really standout and complement the entire appearance.
The real magic, however, lies in the upgraded Seymour Duncan Jupiter and Nazgul Pickups. I have owned and used EMGs for decades but this guitar I wanted something different and I wanted to step outside of my wheel house and really focus on tone, harmonics, and the eq spectrum. I spent a long time researching different pickups before settling on the Jupiter Neck and Nazgul Bridge. I decided on mixing these pickups together in this particular order because when I listened to samples of the pickups in these positions and with every example they delivered the most sonic clarity in the low and mid range frequencies.
In this configuration, the tonal versatility is exceptional, offering beautiful tones both clean and distorted. The subharmonics really scream and sing when you want them to. The Jupiter and Nazgul pickups deliver a powerful, dynamic, and articulate tone that is perfect for heavy metal, rock, jazz, pop, and beyond. Whether you're unleashing thunderous riffs, blistering solos, jazzy chords or pop rhythms, these pickups handle it all with precision and clarity.
The playability of the King V is outstanding. The neck is fast and comfortable, allowing for effortless fretting and excellent access to the upper frets. The body shape is not only iconic but also contributes to a well-balanced feel, whether you're standing or sitting.
The Plek: WOW!! This made a huge difference. I can't recommend having it done enough. In fact I will be having all my other guitars and basses plek'd. From the moment I picked up the guitar, I could feel the impeccable setup. The fretwork is flawless, ensuring every note rings out with clarity and precision. The PLEK machine's ability to analyze and optimize the fretboard results in an incredibly low action, making string bending and fretting effortless.
After having this instrument Plek'd, the playability is outstanding Whether I'm navigating complex chord progressions or shredding through intricate solos, the guitar feels like an extension of my musical expression. The smoothness of the fretboard and the precision of the fret leveling make every playing session a joy
In summary, the Jackson King V in Show White Finish is beautiful and I highly recommend trying the Seymour Duncan Jupiter and Nazgul Pickups in the same configuration. This guitar with this setup is a sonic powerhouse with looks to match, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. If you're in the market for a high-performance guitar that doesn't compromise on aesthetics, this King V is an absolute winner. Highly recommended!
Beautiful and A Pleasure to Play
I recently purchased this Snow White Jackson King V. I also had Sweetwater Guitar Serv ice Team Setup, Plek, and replace the EMG 81 and 60;s with Seymour Duncan Jupiter (neck) and Nazgul (bridge) Pickups. I must say, the instrument, service, and pickups have exceeded all my expectations. This guitar is an absolute pleasure to play> It delivers an unparalleled performance that just lends itself to be played.
The Show White Finish is absolutely stunning. The craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident, making this guitar a very aesthetically pleasing and dare I say, classy. The finish not only adds a touch of elegance but also enhances the overall aesthetic appeal of the instrument. The chrome accents of the tuners, bridge, tail peiece, knobs, and strap buttons really standout and complement the entire appearance.
The real magic, however, lies in the upgraded Seymour Duncan Jupiter and Nazgul Pickups. I have owned and used EMGs for decades but this guitar I wanted something different and I wanted to step outside of my wheel house and really focus on tone, harmonics, and the eq spectrum. I spent a long time researching different pickups before settling on the Jupiter Neck and Nazgul Bridge. I decided on mixing these pickups together in this particular order because when I listened to samples of the pickups in these positions and with every example they delivered the most sonic clarity in the low and mid range frequencies.
In this configuration, the tonal versatility is exceptional, offering beautiful tones both clean and distorted. The subharmonics really scream and sing when you want them to. The Jupiter and Nazgul pickups deliver a powerful, dynamic, and articulate tone that is perfect for heavy metal, rock, jazz, pop, and beyond. Whether you're unleashing thunderous riffs, blistering solos, jazzy chords or pop rhythms, these pickups handle it all with precision and clarity.
The playability of the King V is outstanding. The neck is fast and comfortable, allowing for effortless fretting and excellent access to the upper frets. The body shape is not only iconic but also contributes to a well-balanced feel, whether you're standing or sitting.
The Plek: WOW!! This made a huge difference. I can't recommend having it done enough. In fact I will be having all my other guitars and basses plek'd. From the moment I picked up the guitar, I could feel the impeccable setup. The fretwork is flawless, ensuring every note rings out with clarity and precision. The PLEK machine's ability to analyze and optimize the fretboard results in an incredibly low action, making string bending and fretting effortless.
After having this instrument Plek'd, the playability is outstanding Whether I'm navigating complex chord progressions or shredding through intricate solos, the guitar feels like an extension of my musical expression. The smoothness of the fretboard and the precision of the fret leveling make every playing session a joy
In summary, the Jackson King V in Show White Finish is beautiful and I highly recommend trying the Seymour Duncan Jupiter and Nazgul Pickups in the same configuration. This guitar with this setup is a sonic powerhouse with looks to match, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. If you're in the market for a high-performance guitar that doesn't compromise on aesthetics, this King V is an absolute winner. Highly recommended!
Amazing guitar
Pretty amazing guitar get it if you have the money to
The replacement was way better than the firsr
Coming back for a final review . The replacement sweetwater gave me in a timely manner ..less than a week was superb only had to nock it .5 stars cause the first one was a nightmare. This one flipping rocks . Shreds . And is down right awesome
This specific model is a hit or miss
Honest review i am a avid jackson player all my heros played them and I play them myself i play a kexq kelly and a sldx camp i love both of them very much and still feature them on my channel I will tell you this my expireince with the quality control was . Traumatic to say the least . It caused me to be so upset and disturbed to be be rude to my poor sales man. Amazing person and rep . He doesn't make the guitars . I think maybe there was somewhat not doing there job with the quality control