The Jackson Soloist is a pioneering superstrat style electric guitar made by Jackson Guitars since 1984, but there were custom models before this date. Jackson updated the basic strat body shape with though-body neck, locking tremolo and humbucking pickups to make a rock guitar that became a shred phenomenon.
When first officially introduced there were two variations: the Soloist Custom and Soloist Student. Both shared the same basic construction and quality but the Custom had slightly fancier Sharkfin inlays, ebony fingerboard and binding on the fingerboard and headstock. This compared to the dot inlays and unbound rosewood fingerboard of the Student model.
From 1984 to 1990 Soloists were made to order, but in 1990 Jackson put them into full production and various Soloist models were released during the following years (including SL1, SL2H, SL3 and SLSMG models). The 1990s also saw the introduction of imported Jackson Soloists.
| No image yet | JACKSON SHS1 SHANNON SOLOISTRead more |
| No image yet | JACKSON SL1 USA SOLOISTRead more |
| No image yet | JACKSON SL2 SOLOIST XLProduction of the SL2 (SOLOIST XL) began in 1996 and ended in 1998 |
| No image yet | JACKSON SL2H MAH USA SoloistRead more |
 | JACKSON SL2H USA SOLOISTThe Jackson SL2H is like the Jackson SL1 but with two Seymour Duncan humbuckers at neck and bridge positions.All SL2Hs are made in the USA. Variants of this model include the mahogany SL2H-MAH and the hard tail SL2H-HT. The Jackson SL2 was a different model: made from 1996-1997. The SL2H comes in a wide variety of finishes including transparent and custom graphic finishes. |
| No image yet | JACKSON SL3Read more |
| No image yet | JACKSON SLATQHRead more |
| No image yet | JACKSON SLS SOLOIST SUPERLIGHTThe SLS SOLOIST SUPERLIGHT (NO. 280-3073) was made between 1997 and 1998 |
| No image yet | JACKSON SLSMG SOLOISTRead more |
 | JACKSON SOLOIST ARCHTOP (1989-1991)JACKSON made the SOLOIST ARCHTOP from around 1987. It was a super strat with a bound arched flamed maple top on a mahogany body. The standard bridge was a tune-o-matic with strings anchored throught the body but there was an optional JT6 double locking tremolo. Pickups in these early models were two humbuckers: Jackson J95 and J50N, although there are some single humbucker models out there. It had a though body mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and sharfin (or dot) position markers. There have since been multiple lines of Jackson Archtop soloists since then. |
| No image yet | JACKSON SOLOIST STANDARDJACKSON produced the SOLOIST STANDARD between 1991 and 1995 |
| No image yet | JACKSON SOLOIST USAJACKSON manufactured the SOLOIST USA between 1991 and 1995 |
Specifications:
| Model | Image | Binding | Finish colors | Finish effects | Made in | Number of strings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON SHS1 SHANNON SOLOIST | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL1 USA SOLOIST | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2 SOLOIST XL 1996 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H MAH USA Soloist | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H USA SOLOIST |  | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL3 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLATQH | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLS SOLOIST SUPERLIGHT 1997 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLSMG SOLOIST | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST ARCHTOP (1989-1991) 1987 |  | white binding | amber finish, blue finish, red finish | sunburst finish, transparent finish | USA | 6 strings |
| JACKSON SOLOIST STANDARD 1991 to 1995 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST USA 1991 to 1995 | No image yet | - | blue finish, red finish, white finish | metallic finish | - | 6 strings |
| Model | Body material | Body shape features | Body style | Body top material |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON SHS1 SHANNON SOLOIST | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL1 USA SOLOIST | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2 SOLOIST XL 1996 to 1998 | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H MAH USA Soloist | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H USA SOLOIST | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL3 | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLATQH | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLS SOLOIST SUPERLIGHT 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLSMG SOLOIST | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST ARCHTOP (1989-1991) 1987 | mahogany body | archtop, double cutaway | super strat style body | flamed maple body top |
| JACKSON SOLOIST STANDARD 1991 to 1995 | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST USA 1991 to 1995 | poplar body | double cutaway | - | - |
| Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tuners |
|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON SHS1 SHANNON SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL1 USA SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2 SOLOIST XL 1996 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H MAH USA Soloist | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H USA SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL3 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLATQH | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLS SOLOIST SUPERLIGHT 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLSMG SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST ARCHTOP (1989-1991) 1987 | Jackson JT6 tremolo, tune-o-matic bridge | black hardware | Gotoh tuners |
| JACKSON SOLOIST STANDARD 1991 to 1995 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST USA 1991 to 1995 | double locking tremolo | black hardware | - |
| Model | Fingerboard inlay material | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers |
|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON SHS1 SHANNON SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL1 USA SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2 SOLOIST XL 1996 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H MAH USA Soloist | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H USA SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL3 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLATQH | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLS SOLOIST SUPERLIGHT 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLSMG SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST ARCHTOP (1989-1991) 1987 | pearl fingerboard inlay material | ebony fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers, shark fin fingerboard position markers |
| JACKSON SOLOIST STANDARD 1991 to 1995 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST USA 1991 to 1995 | pearl fingerboard inlay material | ebony fingerboard | shark fin fingerboard position markers |
| Model | Headstock inlays or logos | Neck joint | Neck material | Number of frets | Peghead (headstock) | Tuner layout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON SHS1 SHANNON SOLOIST | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL1 USA SOLOIST | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2 SOLOIST XL 1996 to 1998 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H MAH USA Soloist | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H USA SOLOIST | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL3 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLATQH | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLS SOLOIST SUPERLIGHT 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLSMG SOLOIST | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST ARCHTOP (1989-1991) 1987 | Brand name logo or inlay on headstock | neck through body | mahogany neck | 24 fret | bound headstock, pointed headstock | six-in-a-row tuners |
| JACKSON SOLOIST STANDARD 1991 to 1995 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST USA 1991 to 1995 | Brand name logo or inlay on headstock | neck through body | maple neck | 24 fret | bound headstock | six-in-a-row tuners |
| Model | Pickup selector controls | Volume controls | Tone controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON SHS1 SHANNON SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL1 USA SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2 SOLOIST XL 1996 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H MAH USA Soloist | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H USA SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL3 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLATQH | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLS SOLOIST SUPERLIGHT 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLSMG SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST ARCHTOP (1989-1991) 1987 | 3-way selector switch | 1 volume control | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST STANDARD 1991 to 1995 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST USA 1991 to 1995 | 5-way selector switch | 1 volume control | 1 tone control |
| Model | Pickups brand and model | Pickups configuration | Preamp |
|---|---|---|---|
| JACKSON SHS1 SHANNON SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL1 USA SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2 SOLOIST XL 1996 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H MAH USA Soloist | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL2H USA SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SL3 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLATQH | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLS SOLOIST SUPERLIGHT 1997 to 1998 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SLSMG SOLOIST | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST ARCHTOP (1989-1991) 1987 | Jackson J50 pickup(s), Jackson J95 pickup(s) | 2 humbucker pickups | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST STANDARD 1991 to 1995 | - | - | - |
| JACKSON SOLOIST USA 1991 to 1995 | Jackson pickup(s) | 2 stacked coil/1 humbucker pickups | active preamp |
