Build Quality:4.8 out of 5 stars
Hardware:4.8 out of 5 stars
Electronics:4.7 out of 5 stars
Sound:4.7 out of 5 stars
Value:4.8 out of 5 stars
Average:4.8 out of 5 stars

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Jackson JS22 Dinky

Pros:

  • Good Sound
  • Affordable
  • Beginner Friendly

Cons:

  • Tuning Stability Issues

There are a lot of guitars with weird or funny names out there, all of them have qualities that justify the funny name. Yet few of them are capable of standing up and saying that the funny name they have is ironic, when you realize how good the instrument sounds. Yet there is one out there that has a funny name, is cheap and still sounds really good. So good in fact, you start wondering who would make this guitar the way it is. Let’s take a close look at the Jackson JS22 Dinky and see what makes it a not so funny, funny name guitar.

Body Quality

The Dinky body shape is distinctive in the world of electric guitars. While those new to this world might find the Dinky to just be funny, the rest of us know that the body shape is badass. Just take a look at the guitar – the curved body, the beautiful U neck, with the slight slope along the body towards the sides. Would make you want to scream with how much you actually want this guitar right?

The body of the guitar is made out of basswood. This cheap hardwood is cheap only in price, with the quality of the wood and sound being beautifully adequate. Basswood is known for  its low tone amplification, and does this very same thing with this guitar. The wood itself is lightweight, making the guitar comfortable to play for long periods of time. The relative softness of Basswood does make it a little less resistant to damage, yet the guitar will be fine if you don’t use it like a literal axe.

The neck of the guitar is made of maple, a hardwood notorious for its sturdiness. This means the guitar will remain intact for a long period of time. Maple is known to be on the heavy side, yet the fact that basswood is so light balances out the final weight of the guitar. The fact that the neck is bolt-on bothers me just a little, but this is not a problem for the guitar. The alignment is done very well, so the guitar can be said to be high quality. The fretboard of the guitar is dark, beautiful rosewood.

Hardware

The bridge of the guitar is a two-point fulcrum tremolo. This means that the strings are very stable in their attachment to the bridge. It also means that you get the chance to play with the tremolo bar as much as you want, bending tones in beautiful ways whenever you need.

The nut is made with synthetic material. This usually bothers me, but here the nut does an adequate job of keeping the guitar harmonically beautiful and buzz-free. Still, the synthetic wears down soon, so replacing it eventually might be a good idea.

The tuning machine on the guitar is problematic, just like with any other guitar in the price range. The tuning stability is something that could use improvement, with the guitar needing a re-tuning every few days. Still better than most guitars, which need retuning every time you play (eesh).

Electronics

The pickups on the guitar are actually rather surprisingly good. The two Jackson High Output Humbuckers do a great job of picking up the sound and having it amplified in a beautiful manner. The pickups are known for being capable of very clean sound, as well as being gifted in terms of sustain and heavy sounds. A beginner will have a great time with these!

The guitar is also equipped with controls, to allow sound customization. The usual control knobs are here, including volume and sustain options. The level also allows you to switch in between settings for pickups. Fun times everyone!

Jackson JS22 Dinky Sound

The sound on the guitar is beautiful. The two humbucker pickups do a great job of producing an interesting sound. While professional players might get bored of the sound soon, a beginner will enjoy whatever they have. Metal and hard rock players should pay special attention to the instrument as it has everything in terms of sound they could want. Sustain heavy or clean, you are bound to love this guitar.

Conclusion

The Dinky is a great body shape and I tend to be biassed towards whatever guitar has the name Dinky attached to it. Funny in name, and serious in sound, this guitar is bound to be a favorite among beginner players. Even professionals might find use for it after some upgrades. Definitely recommended.

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