Jackson Adrian Smith SDX MN SW

I purchased this guitar from Thomann because I was looking to get my first 'Floyd Rose' equipped guitar. I wanted two things from this guitar; tuning stability and a decent set of pickups.

I usually play Les Pauls, but I fancied something different without having to pay for it. The price of these guitars is very cheap for the specification so, as I didnt want to spend much I decided to purchase one. I was expecting to receive a typically 'metal' sounding one trick pony guitar, which I was fine about, but I have been blown away by the versatility of it. Other than the signature on the headstock there is no reason to tie this guitar to Iron Maiden. It can play a variety of styles of music and sounds and responds more akin to a proper stratocaster. The bridge pickup is fairly hot and has a decent edge to it, but at half the output the noiseless neck and middle pickups can be rolled back to clean up wonderfully, and are very musical and bluesy.

The build quality of the guitar is exceptional, there are no sharp fret ends, the finish is immaculate and the neck plays beautifully. The Floyd Rose Special is excellent. I spend a while setting this up to how I prefer, but once set up (two weeks ago) I have not touched a fine tuner. It has been in and out of gig bags, done a band practice and been played daily, divebombed quite religiously to some Van Halen tunes and it is still perfectly in tune. I am astounded.

£325 doesnt get you much guitar these days. But it does get you a Jackson SDX, and honestly you wont find a better guitar for the price. If I saw this in a shop I would be drawn to it because of the finish, I'd play it and fall in love with the neck. If I then saw the price tag of £650 I'd buy it and skip home. I wouldnt think twice about this being worth any less, but it is. grab one!

Adrian Smith was the guitarist who first inspired me to pick up and try to learn to play. Nearly 30 years later, I decided to treat myself to a new guitar, and it just had to be this. I was not disappointed.

Some may not like the lack of tremolo cavity, but I appreciate the security of not being able to pull back too hard on the strings - I have broken them at awkward times doing that in the past. Single volume control means you can't blend the pickups when selecting more than one, which also doesn't bother me, but might bother others.

It sounds tremendous, either through my modelling board or my Bugera 333, from chunky blues to 80s thrash, it can cover it all. And the single coils sound lush played clean with a little chorus.

The neck is fast, easy and the action very low (OK, I did lower it a bit more myself).

I've tried out guitars that cost twice as much that I'd not rate above this one. If you want a Floyd equipped guitar for rock or metal, you can't really go wrong with this.

Also, "Up the Irons!"