The Jackson Soloist is an electric guitar model introduced by Jackson Guitars in 1984, although prototypes were available before then. The design is a typical "superstrat"; it varies from a typical Stratocaster because of its neck-thru design; tremolo: Floyd Rose or similar, Kahler; or a fixed Tune-O-Matic; premium woods; a deeper cutaway at the lower horn for better access to the higher frets, and a sharper body with squared-off edges.
History
San Dimas era (early-mid 1980s) Grover Jackson began developing ideas that would manifest in the Soloist while he was running Charvel. Early examples have set necks, Stratocaster-shaped bodies, Explorer-style headstocks, and often Charvel appointments like vintage tremolos. The general Soloist style continued to evolve after Jackson started his own company. Early Soloist-styled models, called "Custom Strat" or "Neck-Through Body Strat", were typically custom guitars that varied in size, shape, and control placements.
The design had been standardized when the first official Soloist, serial #J0158, was completed on August 28, 1984 (though later serial numbered guitars were completed a week and a half earlier). Customers thenceforth could order variations.
Original platforms
The Soloist Custom: standard neck-thru the body, 24 frets, ebony fretboard, "Sharkfin" or dot genuine pearl inlays, binding on the fretboard and headstock. The Soloist Student: standard neck-thru the body, 24 frets, rosewood fretboard (Brazilian rosewood 1984 - early 1985), genuine pearl dot inlays, lacks binding on the fretboard and headstock.
The intended meanings of the model designations was to be similar to Gibson Les Paul Standard (Student in this case) and Les Paul Custom. The designations do not make one a lower quality instrument and the two are made in exactly the same fashion.
Original options
Originally the customer had the choice of 3 different bridges: Floyd Rose tremolo; Kahler cam tremolo; String-thru Tune-o-matic
Pickup options were vast. A customer could get any configuration and any brand. The standard pickup brand was Seymour Duncan until very early 1985 when the company began using in-house wound pickups standard.
Finishes were practically unlimited. While the standard colors were Platinum Pink, Ferrari Red, Ivory and Black, any custom color or airbrushed graphic was available for an upcharge.
Some items changed to help cut costs and speed up production. An example of such a change was in the mid-1980s, when the hand-shaped nibs in the binding beside the frets were discontinued to save time hand-shaving the binding between each fret. In-house manufactured pickups also became standard. Necks were also changed from a laminated style early in the year to a single piece of wood to prevent wood wastage.
Ontario era (late 1980s) 1986 was the year the company moved from Glendora aka San Dimas and over to Ontario. 1987 they began using a Floyd Rose-styled tremolo made in Asia with their name on the top plate. It was still possible to purchase a Floyd Rose or Kahler tremolo bridge, but the JT-6 Jackson unit was the default. A quick way to differentiate the different bridges was to look at the nut at the furthest end of the fretboard. If the nut was the primary nut with screws that go through the neck to the back, it was a Floyd Rose tremolo equipped from the factory. If the clamp was behind the nut and mounted to the surface, it was equipped with a JT6.
Also, the archtop Soloists were introduced. The initial runs were made with Brazilian rosewood fretboards, flamed maple tops and mahogany necks and backs.
Graphic finishes were very popular in this era. The list of common styles is long and unique styles even longer. In-house manufactured pickups became standard in the beginning of 1985, and mid-boost controls were introduced in many guitars.
Pickups were handwound by ex-Fender employee Abigail Ybarra, as discovered by Fender Custom Shop founder John Page who visited Jackson in the early 1990s to purchase their then-unused pickup winding machines and found her working there. She was hired by Jackson in 1985 when the Fender factory closed down and when Fender was sold by CBS to FMIC. The expensive Masterwound pickups were wound by her and possibly the same machine since the mid-late 1980s.
Up to this point these guitars were each made to order and each was given a serial number that matched a detailed work order.
Production era (1990s)