Jackson Pro Plus Brandon Ellis GLD CRL

Jackson Pro Plus Brandon Ellis GLD CRL: In-Depth Technical Test

The Jackson Pro Plus Brandon Ellis GLD CRL is a signature model crafted for the guitarist of The Black Dahlia Murder. Priced at $1,699, this instrument is designed for demanding metal players who value speed, precision, and tonal versatility. This test focuses on the technical execution, playability, and construction detail of this Indonesian-made guitar.

Build Quality and Finish

• Body: The body uses Nyatoh, a medium-weight wood with tonal behavior similar to mahogany, favoring midrange and sustain. Its golden crackle finish is applied with precision, free of blotches or irregularities.
• Neck: The through-body design uses maple with graphite reinforcement for added stability. Fit and contour are clean, with no glue overflow at the joints. Upper fret access is not obstructed.
• Fretboard: A maple fretboard featuring 27 jumbo stainless steel frets. The black sharkfin inlays are accurate and well set. All frets are smooth at the edges, seated even to the board with no sharp ends or protrusions.
• Hardware: Gold-plated hardware throughout, with precise plating and no scratches. The Gotoh GE1996T series double locking tremolo stands out for its sturdy baseplate and fine-tuning adjustment.

Playability and Neck Feel

The classic Jackson compound radius (12 to 16 inches) creates a neck profile that is comfortable for high-speed runs while encouraging clean chord voicings in lower positions. The neck shape, a rounded flat, feels stable without bulk. The finish is satin-like, avoiding sticky gloss. The nut is the Floyd Rose 1000 Series model, locking the strings securely and set precisely at the 1.625 inch width for shredding and intricate passages. The neck's graphite rods reinforce tuning stability under tremolo use and aggressive bends.

Fretwork and Setup

• No high or uneven frets; the fingerboard surface is polished, and the alignment is precise.
• Tuning at setup holds well after heavy tremolo work, showing careful attention to leveling and crowning at the factory.
• The saddle heights and tremolo angle (top-mounted Gotoh) allow for low string action without buzz. The locking nut and die-cast tuners cooperate well for micro-adjustment.

Players reported flawless out-of-the-box setup, with no cosmetic issues or functional flaws. The instrument is tuned and intonated properly upon arrival, needing minimal adjustment.

Pickups and Electronics

This model features a hot-rodded circuit:

• Bridge: Seymour Duncan Dyad Parallel Axis humbucker delivers high output with detailed articulation. The voicing is tight, with strong attack and saturated mids suited to extreme metal riffing, but cleans up with aggressive picking dynamics.
• Neck: Seymour Duncan STK-1 single-coil pickup, offering clarity and warmth for lead passages and clean tones. It stays noise-free compared to vintage designs, which is a significant plus with high-gain rigs.
• Controls: A three-way switch plus a push/pull volume control. Pushing or pulling the knob toggles the bridge pickup between series and parallel wiring, making a noticeable difference, thinning out the tone for rhythm or creating a fatter lead presence. The control layout is logical and accessible mid-performance.

Tremolo and Hardware Performance

One of the standout components is the Gotoh GE1996T double locking tremolo. The system has a solid steel baseplate, precision knife edges, and responds with ultra-smooth vibrato or divebomb effects. Pull-up range is generous without sacrificing tuning stability, helped by the robust locking nut and graphite neck reinforcement. Hardware screws, strap buttons, and machine heads are securely mounted and finished evenly.

Included Accessories and Presentation

• Supplied with a branded gig bag (robust and padded for transit security).
• No hard case included at this price point, a tradeoff for signature-level build and hardware components.
• Strings: Factory-installed nickel-plated steel in.011 -.056, matching aggressive playing styles and tuning stability requirements.

Conclusion: Signature-Level Value for Demanding Metal Players

The Jackson Pro Plus Brandon Ellis GLD CRL is meticulously executed for technical precision and tonal versatility. The highlight is the playability of the 27-fret neck, easy tremolo action, and advanced circuitry. Hardware, fretwork, and finish all stand above typical production-level instruments from Indonesia, addressing critical demands of touring metal musicians. At $1,699, the price is justified by the sum of usability features, signature appointments, and overall build integrity, provided you do not need a hard case in the bundle.