I just sold my geetar, and am looking for something new, i quite like the look of some of the jacksons, but how do they play compared to say ... an RG550 ??? i would think they are pretty similar

but how would i know !!?!?!

any opinions welcome.

They are good buys for the money, but the cheaper ones have cheezy TRS-level trems. Anything with a real Floyd will rock. The USA ones are seriously good, but costly.

My fave is their S-series knockoff, called a Stealth. The Pro line from the early 90's was one of the great Japanese axes (better made than the IBZ Sabre, IMO, though there were other differences that I preferred on the sabre).

I hate jackson...

but its personal/

I'd rather have a Jackson than an Ibanez any day

I've owned a couple of Jackson's. The last was a US Custom Shop Archtop. I agree that the USA Jackson's are great guitars and quality instruments. A matter a personal taste - Coke vs Pepsi / Ibanez vs Jackson.
My guess is that you'd probably be happy with a USA Jackson/Charvel.

I've played some great ones, and some turkeys, of the same model. Play as many as you can, you're bound to find a keeper. You just usually have to look a bit harder.

If you buy a Jackson make sure it is a USA model. The mid-price imports are close to a 550 (imo). If you have the funds, go for a custom shop model, you will not be disappointed.

I got near enough 20odd high end guitars now, jems, UVs, ESPs, Gibsons, this and that, bla bla, and my main players are an old 1982 beat up customshop kelly, and my new customshop soloist, if you get a good USA jackson they are GOOD, i recommend the USA select series to anyone. great guitars, i personally take (USA series) them over Ibanez anyday, as i just consider them more soild instruments built with better materials, but thats my opinion, and everyone has thier tastes...

R.L.L

If you're looking used, the early 90's Japanese made Professional series was a close second to the USA ones.