Jackson Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 BLK
The Jackson Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 BLK pairs a Floyd Rose tremolo and Seymour Duncan humbuckers with a neck-through design. One customer praised its direct sound but reported protruding fret ends, so check the fretwork on arrival.
★★★★★ 5/5 · 1 buyer reviews · 6 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker
Jackson Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 BLK review
The Jackson Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 BLK is a black, high-gloss electric guitar built around a three-piece neck-through-body construction. Its combination of Seymour Duncan humbuckers, a recessed Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo, and a 25.5-inch scale places it squarely in the territory of hard rock and high-gain playing. It has a listed price of $1,222 and has been available since April 2026.
The body is made from nyatoh, with no separate top. The neck runs through the body and uses maple, walnut, and maple in a three-piece arrangement. An ebony fingerboard adds a dark surface to the black finish, while pearloid piranha-tooth inlays provide the prominent Jackson-style markers. The hardware is black, including the enclosed Jackson die-cast locking tuners.
Neck, frets, and playing feel
The 648 mm scale length is paired with a 42.86 mm nut width. The compound fingerboard radius transitions from 12 inches near the nut to 16 inches farther up the neck. That flatter upper section is suited to bends and fast lead passages, while the tighter lower radius supports conventional chord work. The neck profile is not specified in the supplied details, so players who need a particular shape should check with the retailer before ordering.
Jackson fits the guitar with 24 jumbo stainless steel frets. Stainless steel is a durable fret material, but the reported hands-on experience raises a setup concern worth taking seriously. One owner found fret ends protruding beyond the fingerboard edge, a condition commonly called fret sprout. That player planned to contact the retailer for a correction or replacement, noting that the issue might be limited to an individual instrument. This is one reported case, not evidence that every SLA2 BLK has the same problem. Still, inspect the fret edges when the guitar arrives, and contact the seller if they feel sharp against the hand.
Pickups and controls
The pickup set consists of a Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 humbucker at the bridge and a Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N humbucker at the neck. Controls include separate volume and tone knobs, along with a five-way pickup switch. That switching arrangement provides several pickup combinations, and the field report specifically notes that the sound changes noticeably with switch position.
The owner described the guitar's voice as raw, direct, and forceful, with a sound that suited 1980s rock and glam metal. Van Halen, Toto, and Journey were cited as relevant references. The same report says the guitar held its place well in a band mix. Those observations point to a strong rock focus, though the available feedback does not describe clean tones, recording results, or performance across other styles in detail.
Floyd Rose tremolo and hardware
A recessed Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo is paired with a Floyd Rose 1000 Series locking nut. Together, the locking components are designed to help maintain tuning through substantial tremolo use. The system can be useful for players who rely on pitch dives and expressive vibrato, but a double-locking bridge is more involved to adjust than a fixed bridge. String changes and tuning adjustments may take extra care, particularly for players who have not used a Floyd Rose before.
The guitar ships with nickel-plated steel strings in a.009 to.042 gauge. A Jackson gig bag is included. A hard case is not included, according to the product details.
Verdict
The Jackson Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 BLK offers a clear set of specifications for players after a fast-playing, high-output rock guitar. Its neck-through construction, ebony fingerboard, stainless steel frets, Seymour Duncan humbuckers, and recessed locking tremolo make it a purpose-built package, and the reported sound is especially promising for classic arena rock and glam metal.
The main caution is quality control at the fret edges. One player encountered protruding fret ends and intended to seek service, so a careful inspection after delivery is sensible. At $1,222, buyers should expect clean fretwork and should not hesitate to request an adjustment if the edges feel sharp. If the instrument arrives properly finished, the specifications and reported mix-cutting tone make it a focused choice for players who want a Floyd Rose-equipped Soloist.
Shipping and duties
The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.
Scores by area
Where it shines, where it stumbles
What convinced me
- Through-neck construction with a three-piece maple and walnut neck.
- Seymour Duncan bridge and neck humbuckers with a five-way pickup switch.
- Recessed double-locking tremolo, locking tuners, and included gig bag.
What bugged me
- One customer reported protruding fret ends and planned to contact service.
- The review describes a strong, raw sound that may not suit every style.
Is it the right one for you?
Good pick if
A good fit for players seeking a Floyd Rose-equipped guitar for 1980s rock, glam metal, or other styles that benefit from a direct, assertive humbucker sound. Also suited to players who want a through-neck design and multiple pickup-switch options.Look elsewhere if
Less suitable for players who need a hard case included or prefer a softer, more restrained sound. Buyers unwilling to inspect or address possible fret-end roughness may also want to consider other options.Suggested level: Intermediate
Specifications
- Color
- Black
- Body
- Nyatoh
- Top
- None
- Neck
- Maple, Walnut, Maple
- Fretboard
- Ebony
- Frets
- 24
- Scale
- 648 mm
- Pickups
- HH
- Tremolo
- Floyd Rose
- Incl. bag
- Yes
- Including case
- No
What other players say
The customer review praises the guitar's appearance and describes its sound as raw, direct, and effective in a mix, with noticeable changes between pickup-switch positions. The reviewer found it especially suited to 1980s rock and glam metal, but reported protruding fret ends and intended to seek service or return the instrument.
A very attractive guitar, particularly well suited to 1980s rock and glam metal.
A truly raw, direct sound that changes noticeably with the pickup switch position.
Unfortunately, there is one serious drawback for me: protruding fret ends.
Up close
Watch and listen
Before you decide
Questions players ask
What styles does this guitar suit?
The customer review specifically recommends it for 1980s rock and glam metal, citing artists such as Van Halen, Toto, and Journey.
What pickups are installed?
It has a Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 bridge humbucker and a Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N neck humbucker, controlled by a five-way switch.
Does it include a case?
It includes a Jackson gig bag. A hard case is not included.
Does the tremolo stay in tune during heavy use?
It has a recessed Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo and a locking nut, a setup designed to secure the strings. The supplied information does not include a specific tuning-stability test.
Is there any reported quality concern?
One customer reported protruding fret ends and planned to ask the retailer to correct the issue or arrange a return. That is one reported experience, not evidence that every unit has the same problem.
The last word from the bench
This guitar's specifications point to a performance-focused instrument, with a locking tremolo, stainless steel frets, and a five-way switch for changing pickup combinations. The customer review describes a forceful sound that works especially well for 1980s rock and glam metal and cuts through a mix. However, the reported fret-end issue is worth taking seriously, even though the reviewer hoped it was limited to one instrument. At this price, inspect the fretwork and contact the retailer if the ends feel rough.
Hanging next to it
Jackson Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 BLK
Today's price and delivery time are shown at the retailer.
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