1996 Jackson Performer Series Kelly w/Jackson Molded Case - Black
Description
The Jackson Kelly is one of the more distinctive body shapes in the shred era canon — a flying V derivative with an asymmetrical lower bout that actually balances well on a strap and sits comfortably on the knee. This 1996 Performer Series Kelly is a Made in Japan example from the mid-90s run that represents the practical working end of Jackson's import lineup during that period. These MIJ Performer guitars were built at reputable Japanese facilities and offer genuine playability and construction quality that punches above what the Performer Series name might suggest to the uninitiated. The Kelly shape, in particular, has always been underappreciated relative to the RR and Soloist — which makes examples like this one an honest value for players who want the aesthetic and the functionality without the premium price of the Professional or USA-made variants.
The construction here is a poplar body in black with a maple neck running a compound radius rosewood fretboard — 12" at the nut opening up to 16" as you move up the neck, a setup that rewards both open chord work and high-position lead playing. The neck profile is a thin D, measuring .725" at the first fret and .838" at the twelfth, which is genuinely fast without feeling insubstantial. The 25.5" scale and 24 frets give you the full range, and the 1-11/16" locking nut width is right in the expected territory for this type of guitar. The bridge is a Jackson-licensed Floyd Rose — no trem arm included, worth noting — with all-black hardware throughout. The two Jackson humbuckers read 8.33k at the bridge and 8.31k at the neck, an unusually close matched pair that suggests a consistent, balanced output across both positions rather than a hot bridge/warm neck split. Action is set at 2/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret — that's genuinely low and even. The guitar weighs in at 8 lbs 8 oz, which is on the moderate end for a solid-body of this construction. Frets are original and the guitar comes with its original hard shell case.
This is a no-frills working guitar for someone who wants a legitimate Floyd Rose-equipped Kelly that plays well right out of the case. The MIJ build quality from this era holds up, the pickups are balanced and usable, and the fast neck profile and compound radius board make it comfortable for extended playing. If you've been looking for a Kelly that doesn't require a significant investment to get into, this is a solid, honest example.
Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase. Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.
No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.
Specifications:
Brand: Jackson
Model: Performer Series Kelly
Year: 1996
Origin: Made in Japan (MIJ)
Color: Black
Weight: 8 lbs 8 oz
Body: Poplar
Neck: Maple
Neck Profile: Thin D
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .725"
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .838"
Fretboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Dot
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 24
Nut: Original Locking
Nut Width: 1-11/16"
Radius: 12"-16" Compound
Scale Length: 25.5"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Overall Length: 41"
Body Depth/Thickness Outside Edge: 1-5/8"
String Gauge: 10-46
Hardware Color: Black
Bridge Pickup: Jackson Humbucker — 8.33k (Original)
Neck Pickup: Jackson Humbucker — 8.31k (Original)
Bridge: Jackson Licensed Floyd Rose (no trem arm included)
Tuners: Original
Knobs: Original
Switch: 3-Way
Pots: Original
Case: Original Hard Shell Case (OHSC)
Notes: No trem arm included
Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:
"The Kelly is the most underrated guitar shape of all time." - Reddit / r/guitarporn
"Performer series can be considered between the JS series and the X series Jacksons." - JCFonline.com
Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site!
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Gibson electric guitars - vintage & used
The largest vintage & used guitar amplifier selection in Northern California
Vintage & Used Effects Pedals
Shipping policy:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.
The construction here is a poplar body in black with a maple neck running a compound radius rosewood fretboard — 12" at the nut opening up to 16" as you move up the neck, a setup that rewards both open chord work and high-position lead playing. The neck profile is a thin D, measuring .725" at the first fret and .838" at the twelfth, which is genuinely fast without feeling insubstantial. The 25.5" scale and 24 frets give you the full range, and the 1-11/16" locking nut width is right in the expected territory for this type of guitar. The bridge is a Jackson-licensed Floyd Rose — no trem arm included, worth noting — with all-black hardware throughout. The two Jackson humbuckers read 8.33k at the bridge and 8.31k at the neck, an unusually close matched pair that suggests a consistent, balanced output across both positions rather than a hot bridge/warm neck split. Action is set at 2/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret — that's genuinely low and even. The guitar weighs in at 8 lbs 8 oz, which is on the moderate end for a solid-body of this construction. Frets are original and the guitar comes with its original hard shell case.
This is a no-frills working guitar for someone who wants a legitimate Floyd Rose-equipped Kelly that plays well right out of the case. The MIJ build quality from this era holds up, the pickups are balanced and usable, and the fast neck profile and compound radius board make it comfortable for extended playing. If you've been looking for a Kelly that doesn't require a significant investment to get into, this is a solid, honest example.
Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase. Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.
No sales tax for direct sale customers outside California. Reverb sales are always taxed.
Specifications:
Brand: Jackson
Model: Performer Series Kelly
Year: 1996
Origin: Made in Japan (MIJ)
Color: Black
Weight: 8 lbs 8 oz
Body: Poplar
Neck: Maple
Neck Profile: Thin D
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: .725"
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: .838"
Fretboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Dot
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 24
Nut: Original Locking
Nut Width: 1-11/16"
Radius: 12"-16" Compound
Scale Length: 25.5"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Overall Length: 41"
Body Depth/Thickness Outside Edge: 1-5/8"
String Gauge: 10-46
Hardware Color: Black
Bridge Pickup: Jackson Humbucker — 8.33k (Original)
Neck Pickup: Jackson Humbucker — 8.31k (Original)
Bridge: Jackson Licensed Floyd Rose (no trem arm included)
Tuners: Original
Knobs: Original
Switch: 3-Way
Pots: Original
Case: Original Hard Shell Case (OHSC)
Notes: No trem arm included
Excerpts from real online end-user reviews:
"The Kelly is the most underrated guitar shape of all time." - Reddit / r/guitarporn
"Performer series can be considered between the JS series and the X series Jacksons." - JCFonline.com
Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site!
Fender electric guitars - vintage & used
Gibson electric guitars - vintage & used
The largest vintage & used guitar amplifier selection in Northern California
Vintage & Used Effects Pedals
Shipping policy:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.