Jackson Adrian Smith Dinky

Jackson Adrian Smith Dinky review

The Jackson Adrian Smith Dinky is a USA-made signature guitar built around a familiar Strat-style outline and a high-output bridge pickup. Its alder body and maple neck are paired with an ebony fingerboard, an Original Floyd Rose tremolo, and an HSS pickup layout: one humbucker at the bridge and two noiseless single-coil pickups in the middle and neck positions. The specification gives it a clear hard-rock and metal identity, while the single coils broaden its clean and in-between sounds.

It has been available since September 2009. The listed price is 2475, with no currency specified in the supplied information. A hard case is included; a gig bag is not. The finish is Snow White, with a white pickguard and black hardware. Those details give the guitar a sharp, stage-ready look without straying from its classic outline.

Build and hardware

The body is alder, with an alder top, and the maple neck is bolt-on. The ebony fingerboard has mother-of-pearl dot inlays and 22 frets. Scale length is 648 mm, or 25.5 inches, and nut width is 43 mm. Gotoh tuning machines handle tuning at the headstock, while an Original Floyd Rose tremolo provides the floating bridge setup associated with the model.

Owner reports are notably positive about the neck's stability and the tremolo's tuning performance. One player changed from.009 to.010 gauge strings without observing neck movement, then used the tremolo heavily through a 20-song set and reported that the guitar remained in tune. Other owners describe strong workmanship and a good setup straight out of the case. These experiences point to a solid instrument, though they do not guarantee that every example will arrive with identical setup or fret condition.

Playability and setup

The neck is described as slim, but not unusually thin, and one player compared its feel with a 1950s Fender-style neck. That same report praises the rolled fret edges and large frets, calling the fretwork particularly impressive. The fingerboard radius is reported as 12 to 16 inches, a compound shape that becomes flatter toward the higher frets. One owner was able to set the treble-side action to 1.2 mm without buzzing, but preferred 1.6 mm for a more comfortable feel.

Setup feedback is not unanimous. While several players received well-adjusted guitars, one buyer reported insufficient neck relief and buzzing on the lower E string across the first 12 frets. The action had been left medium to high, and professional setup work was needed before the guitar was suitable for recording. That owner did praise the intonation, which was accurate. Buyers should treat the out-of-box setup as a potential variable rather than assume every instrument will be ready for their preferred action.

There is also a practical limitation when adjusting the neck. The truss rod adjustment point is at the heel, so access requires removing the neck. That makes routine relief changes less convenient than adjustments made at the headstock. One owner also noted that the supplied guitar arrived without the Allen keys needed for the Floyd Rose, although the retailer later sent a set at no charge.

Pickup sound and controls

The bridge position uses a DiMarzio Super Distortion humbucker, while the middle and neck positions use Hot Samarium Cobalt Noiseless single-coil pickups. Controls consist of one volume knob, one tone knob, and a five-way selector switch. Together, these cover the expected high-gain bridge sound and cleaner single-coil tones, with the second and fourth selector positions adding in-between options.

The bridge pickup is described as thick and forceful, with pronounced low mids that can sound muddy on the bass strings in some rigs. Careful equalization can help it deliver a dense sound that still cuts through a mix. The middle pickup has lower output and stays relatively clean under strumming. Players report useful sounds in positions two and four, while the neck pickup draws particular praise for clean tones and fluid lead playing with distortion.

Several owners consider the HSS arrangement versatile for recording and live performance, spanning clean parts and heavy rock or metal. The noiseless middle and neck pickups are also valued for quiet operation. Another owner found the overall sound less lively than a Les Paul or Stratocaster, a reminder that pickup impressions depend on the player's preferred guitar, amplifier, and effects.

Verdict

The Jackson Adrian Smith Dinky combines a stable-feeling neck, premium-feeling fretwork according to owner accounts, an Original Floyd Rose, and a useful range of pickup sounds. Its main compromises are the heel-access truss rod and the possibility of needing setup work after delivery. For players who want Adrian Smith's signature specification in a white, hard-rock-ready guitar, it makes a compelling case. Those who expect a flawless setup straight out of the case should check the instrument carefully and budget time for adjustments if needed.