The Pro Origins series sees Jackson making a throwback to the designs that put them on the map all the way back in the 1980s. A time in which they were operating out of a small Californian workshop under the direction of Grover Jackson.
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Back then, Jackson’s sole focus was centred on producing elaborate custom shop instruments for working professionals. In fact, production line instruments with the Jackson logo on the headstock were absent throughout the 1980s, making their first appearance in 1990 after the success of the prior Charvel/Jackson line of import models introduced in 1986.
Fast forward to the current day, and Jackson, now owned by Fender, is known for building some of the finest import lines on the market. Managing to do so while continuing their USA and Custom Shop operations, much like they did in the old days, albeit on a much larger scale.
Upon unboxing the SD1 HH, I am met with a classy and substantially padded Jackson-branded gig bag. With many manufacturers choosing to ship their guitars without any sort of travel protection, a quality gig bag is a welcome sight and has done its job of protecting the guitar while it made its journey over the Pacific.
The guitar itself looks fantastic, boasting a beautiful alder body finished in Candy Apple Red that sparkles under the light. Anyone familiar with the custom shop Jackson brandished by Steve Vai in the 1986 blockbuster hit movie Crossroads will get what was most likely the immediate inspiration for this model’s aesthetic details.
The classic San Dimas body shape is a style that is often associated with Jacksons long time sister company, Charvel. It provides the familiar curves of a regulation Stratocaster body, with the main difference being a rear routed electronics cavity and omission of a pickguard.
Not only does the guitar’s finish look great, but it is also sure to last decades, with Jackson opting for a hard-wearing gloss Polyurethane. A common feature among all guitars in the Pro Origins line.
The neck is yet another feature of the Pro Origins SD1 HH that is to die for, harbouring Jacksons signature 12”-16” compound finger board radius with 22 jumbo frets. Chording down by the nut is comfortable, while shredding up past the 12th fret is effortless.
At this point, Jackson’s Speed Neck profile is a classic, and the combination of this guitar’s maple fretboard, satin finish and graphite reinforced truss rod ensures that not only does this neck feel amazing, but that it will also remain stable under even the harshest of conditions.
Another exciting aspect of the Pro Origins series is the reintroduction of Jackson’s long-out-of-production J-90C and J-50N pickups. These pickups were a popular choice on both Jackson and Charvel guitars during the ’80s and ’90s, since becoming cult classics that can command some relatively high prices on second-hand markets such as Reverb.
Having owned a number of guitars with original J-90C and J-50N pickups, I am pleased to report that these repros do the originals justice. Providing raunchy 80s rock and metal tones without effort, and even managing to bring forward a convincing 80s clean tone when paired with appropriate amounts of compression and chorus. “Def Leppard eat your heart out!”
The control layout on this Jackson comprises of the traditional master volume, master tone and three-way switch. Offering a plethora of versatile tones without going overkill for a guitar whose target demographic is the headbanger crowd.
This isn’t to say that this San Dimas is a one-trick pony, though. As it is definitely equipped to cover a broad spectrum of musical styles from blues to country. No wonder so many greats in the world of session guitar often opted for superstrats when it came down to selecting the right instrument for the job!
The hardware package on the Pro Origins SD1HH is rounded out with a set of Jackson-branded 6-in-line tuners and a Floyd 1000 Series tremolo system. The 1000 series is a common companion of guitars in this price range and performs exceptionally well under even the most strenuous of tremolo bar abuse.
It is worth mentioning that Jackson has opted to top-mount the tremolos on the Pro-Origin series. This makes sense, considering that this method of tremolo installation was common during the 80s. However, top mounting does limit the amount of pull-up achievable, a trade-off for what many consider to be better tuning stability and improved transference of string to body resonance.
The Jackson Pro Origins San Dimas SD1 HH is an excellent option for anyone looking for a versatile instrument that oozes attitude and style. Jackson has managed to rejuvenate decades-old design traits, and the prospect of seeing what the current generation of musicians does with these instruments is indeed a very exciting prospect.
