Marcus Stray

It took me a few weeks to settle on the Jackson JS32 Dinky, but I haven’t looked back or regretted my purchase. I had been trawling Facebook Marketplace and visiting music stores for weeks looking for a budget-friendly axe to grind, but ultimately one day I scouted a good used offer on Amazon and went for it.

Admittedly the JS32 Dinky wasn’t my first choice of guitar. Choosing the right guitar can be an agonizing affair, especially for someone like me who has developed a very particular taste in musical instruments over the years.

In the end, I wasn’t looking to spend hundreds of dollars on an instrument, and I decided that I was tired of looking at guitars. I needed something to play, and Jackson’s entry level offering looked more and more appealing as the days wore on. I eventually capitulated and ordered it.

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First Impressions – Light, Comfortable, and Balanced

The used Jackson JS32 DKA I ordered from Amazon arrived in its original packaging, I believe the pickups still had the plastic on them. The box was sturdy and the guitar fitted snugly in the foam, which belayed the immediate need for a gig bag or case. In fact, I still keep it in its original box to this day like some sort of savage.

This isn’t to say my new Dinky isn’t deserving of a case. I immediately liked how light and comfortable it was in my lap. The first thing I always do when I pick up an instrument is tune it. It wasn’t too far out of tune, but I took the time to set it up how I liked after messing around with it for a little while. It didn’t need too much adjustment.

The maple compound radius neck on the JS32 has a nice profile to it. It’s daintier than any comparable Ibanez I have played, which I personally like. It starts out at the nut with a relatively small-ish D shape, then progressively flattens out into a broader D shape further up the neck. This makes it much wieldier when playing bar chords on lower frets, while providing more room higher up for bends and other techniques.

JS32 Neck Features and Hardware

Honestly, the wood isn’t the prettiest, but it’s straight and serviceable. The grain is well-matched at the scarf joint. I don’t care for the binding around the neck, I also dislike the shark fin-style inlays, but the craftsmanship is solid. I do like the dark amaranth fretboard, I think this wood is one of the better rosewood alternatives on the market.

Moving on to the hardware, the headstock is equipped with Jackson-branded machine heads and, in the case of my hard tailed model, a black plastic nut. I haven’t got around to it yet, but these 2 items are great candidates for upgrades.

The fact that I haven’t got around to upgrading them should tell the reader that the machine heads hold tuning well enough, and the plastic nut hasn’t done anything wrong except look kind of cheap. A set of Gotoh machine heads would be my first choice, I’ve always found them to have great tuning stability and accuracy. They are also available in a variety of colors.

No Complaints About the Neck

Overall, the JS32 Dinky neck and hardware exceeded my expectations. I opted for the hardtail version because I wanted something uncomplicated, and re-stringing a Floyd Rose-style tremolo can be kind of annoying. All I want to do is pick the guitar up and play it at my leisure, and as far as that goes, I don’t have any complaints.

The nickel frets were somewhat roughly dressed out of the box, but they were dressed nonetheless. I didn’t find any sharp edges or dead frets on my guitar, which leads me to believe that the quality control at the factory is top notch. There isn’t much more to say about the JS32 neck and hardware, so let’s move on to the rest of the instrument.

Body, Finish and Electronics – Better Than Expected

Embedded in the body of the JS32 Dinky are 2 Jackson-branded humbucking pickups, a 3-way switch, 2 pots, and a Jackson-branded bridge. These things were not the first thing I noticed about the guitar; I was pleased with the quality of the satin finish and the comfortable contours. The one I got is a frankly boring transparent black quilted maple burst, but there are more exciting options available. I actually had my eye on the transparent purple burst JS32, but compromised because I got a better deal on the black one.

It must be acknowledged that Jackson’s JS series guitars are primarily geared for the aspiring metal musician. The passive house brand pickups are, as a consequence, on the hotter end of the spectrum. I can get a variety of tones from the stock pickups, but they are overall fairly bright when played clean. Plugging it into an amp various amp models on Native Instruments Guitar Rig 5 reveals that the JS32 is no slouch when it comes to laying down chunky riffs or blazing solos.

Theoretically, one could throw in an even hotter set of pickups along with the aforementioned hardware upgrades and get even more blistering tones out of this little guitar, but I think the stock offering is just fine. I’m not planning to upgrade my electronics or hardware yet, or maybe ever. A pair of EMGs or Seymour Duncans will cost half as much as the guitar at least, all told it would be around the price of entry for an equally equipped higher range Jackson X series.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the most burning questions people are asking about the Jackson JS32 series guitars.

Where Are Jackson JS32 Guitars Made?

Jackson JS32 guitars are made in China. Chinese-made products are often viewed as inferior, but if my experience with the JS32 Dinky is any indication, Jackson must have good quality control measures set up at their China factory.

I have played many good Chinese-made guitars. I once owned an Ibanez Artist series that I was fond of. I also owned an LTD EC-10 that I removed all the electronics from to install an EMG 81 with just a volume know and a kill switch, as well as a makeshift scratch plate to cover the open pickup hole.

What is the Difference Between JS22 and JS32?

While looking at the JS32, you might notice that there is a cheaper option in the Jackson JS22 and wonder if there is any major difference between them.

The JS32 series has a wider variety of premium finishes such as the quilted maple, neon orange, and poplar burl, while the JS22 is only available in a handful of different finishes. The JS32 and JS22 share the same 24-fret compound radius maple neck with amaranth fretboard and shark fin inlays, as well as the house-brand Jackson electronics.

What Type of Music are Jackson JS32 Guitars Good For?

Jackson JS32 guitars are excellent for making hard rock and heavy metal, but there is no reason they can’t be used to make other types of music as well. Jackson is the guitar brand of choice for many shredders, rivaled only by the likes of Ibanez and Schecter.

With 2 pickups to choose from and a tone control to play around with, the JS32 can be quite versatile, albeit not as versatile as other guitars at a similar price point. The Squier Sonic HSS Stratocaster, for example, has 3 pickups, a 5-way switch, and 2 tone controls.

Conclusion – A Solid Shredder For The Price

The Jackson JS32 Dinky is a solid instrument for anyone who wants a reliable guitar that represents great value for money. I would not hesitate to step on stage with my JS32, but it does have a few compromises that should be expected at this price point, particularly in terms of hardware.

I believe it is a great guitar for beginners as well as more experienced players who are on a tighter budget. I did not personally test one, but I would hesitate to buy the model with the Floyd Rose-style trem, as the licensed units are typically not as stable as the real deal. Don’t take my word for it, but judging by the quality of the hardware I had hands-on experience with, I’d stick with a hardtail.

Pros and Cons of Buying a Jackson JS32 Dinky

Pros

• Great value: all the guitar one could hope for at a fraction of the price.
• Silky Smooth: The finish work is excellent.
• Compound Radius Comfort: Jackson’s signature neck design is one of the most comfortable I’ve played.
• Easy Upgrades: some modest hardware modifications will make a huge difference.

Cons

• Big Hands Beware: The neck might not be comfortable for players with bigger paws.
• Limited Tonal Variation: Some might prefer the uncomplicated electronics, but they won’t be suitable for players who want to be more versatile.
• Compromises Were Made: The stock machine heads are not great, but not terrible either.