First produced by Jackson Guitars in 1984, the Jackson Soloist was a radical model at the time that changed the nature of electric guitars. It was a bridge between the old and new guitar designs.
While Grover Jackson, the Jackson Guitar Company’s founder, was managing the Charvel Guitar Company he produced a number of custom electric guitars for a small group of clients. These guitars were the prototypes of what would become the Soloist Jackson Guitar and were authentic custom designs.
1984 saw the first Soloist rolled off the factory line with J0158 as its serial number. These factory produced Jackson Soloists had a core, basic design to which customers could order particular changes to or add certain features.
For the 1980s custom era, the standard classifications were the Student and Custom model. Student models can be identified by rosewood fretboards and dot inlays. Custom models feature ebony boards, sharkfin inlays, and binding on the headstock and neck.
Early models included features such as set necks, Stratocaster-shaped bodies, Explorer style headstocks, and often Charvel appointments like vintage tremolos. Oftentimes, a Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo bridge, as well as premium woods made the Soloist a recognized high-end guitar. The Soloist was extensively commended in both rock and metal music, particularly by lead guitarists.
Customers were offered any option in designing their very own Soloist. Having custom made features means that there are many examples of Soloist which have other design traits than outlined above. Often, such alternate features included different fretboards or binding on the Student model.
Fender, Gibson, and Martin have all presented a moderately straight copy of the Soloist in the past. Innumerable import and domestic companies have thrived manufacturing Soloist copy guitars. Guitars that have become more famed than the Soloist, such as the Ibanez RG series and the ESP M series guitars would almost certainly had not survive in the present day if it were not for the innovations that the Soloist introduced into practice.
The Soloist is possibly the most under appreciated guitar of the eighties. Different from many guitars, the Soloist became radical through construction, paired it with the relaxed and well-known Fender shape with Gibson neck specs, frets, and electronics. It was the perfect synergy of old and new creating an ultimate product exceptional in tone and feel from anything else.