JACKSON INTRODUCES THE AMERICAN SERIES SOLOIST™ SL3 MADE IN THE USA, BUILT FOR SPEED AND READY FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF HEAVY METAL GUITARISTS

"I've been a metal fan since I could buy records; my first two were Black Night by Deep Purple and Paranoid by Black Sabbath," said Andy Mooney, CEO, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC). "I love metal as it's home to so many virtuoso players, whose fans want to emulate them, the way I emulated Ritchie Blackmore. Jackson guitars are built to play fast and loud. We want to ensure this generation of heavy musicians have the tools they need to inspire the diverse audiences who love them. We've gone to great lengths to make the American Series Soloist SL3 the guitar that defines today's ever-evolving metal sound. We believe it will appeal to the many touring guitarists who want a top-quality, USA-built Jackson at an accessible price. And we've made sure they are fast, fast, fast."

The American Series Soloist™ SL3, proudly made from start to finish in Fender's Corona, Calif. factory, is a breakthrough in high-performance guitars and above all else, is designed for speed. Starting with the classic Speed Neck profile from beloved Jackson Soloists of decades past, the profile has been suped up to include masterfully rolled edges for maximum comfort. Complimenting this profile is a compound radius that starts at 12" at the nut and flattens to 16" at the 12th fret to promote screaming bends and intricate finger work as players move up the neck. Player-focused features like Luminlay side dots to illuminate the fretboard on the darkest of stages and quick access truss rod adjustment to make easy neck relief adjustments ensure the Soloist is always optimized for speed and precision.

The iconic "Concorde" six-on-a-side headstock visually represents the precision of the instrument with its razor-sharp profile. The model is laden with quality features usually found only in custom domestic builds or import models including a Floyd Rose 1500® and neck-through construction. With four eye-catching finishes — Riviera Blue, Platinum Pearl, Black Gloss and Slime Green Satin — there's no mistaking it for any other guitar.

"Jackson has a DNA that is unmatched in the heavy music space," said Justin Norvell, EVP of Product, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation. "Bringing Jackson's craftsmanship back to its Southern California roots has been a labor of love for all of us. The enduring passion for metal enables us to do so. Building this guitar in the Corona factory opened up incredible new design possibilities: the neck is unmatched, each pickup absolutely screams, and there isn't a single detail about this guitar that wouldn't make any shredder proud."

The launch of the American Series Soloist™ SL3 represents the next phase in FMIC's long-term investment strategy in its portfolio of wholly owned and licensed brands, which includes Jackson. With heightened resources in trade advertising, social media and elevated artist marketing, Jackson has built a campaign to reflect the significant milestone that the American Series Soloist™ SL3 represents: a guitar tailor made for the new generation of diverse heavy metal players.

To help tell the story of how the new American-made guitar honors the powerful traditions of the heavy metal genre, Jackson assembled a roster of shredding superstars who illustrate the best of the industry's leading talent. Legends like Scott Ian of Anthrax and Misha Mansoor of Periphery join the ranks of modern metal titans, including Lee Malia of Bring Me the Horizon, Kevin Skaff of A Day to Remember, Brandon Ellis of The Black Dhalia Murder and Mark Heylmun of Suicide Silence. Rounding out the roster are Japanese guitar master, Yas Nomura, educator and social media influencer, Alyssa Day and guitarist, producer and songwriter, Vixen.

"My first experience with Jackson was at Sam Ash, in New York City, in 1982; I was immediately hypnotized by the sheer awesomeness of the guitars and have been playing them ever since," says Scott Ian, guitarist and co-founder of thrash metal band, Anthrax. "Jackson guitars are the perfect tool for the job I do and the American Series Soloist SL3 has me playing better than ever. The neck is lightning fast, the guitar crunches like a beast, and the design is killer. I'll be adding the Soloist to my touring arsenal."

To support the launch of the American Series Soloist™ SL3, Jackson is kicking off the campaign with new serialized content that will hit Jackson's YouTube and social channels over the next few months. Today, the metal music genre is more popular than ever and its influence expands to all corners of the globe.

Japanese guitarist Yas Nomura showcases how the Soloist SL3 gives today's heavy players everything they need to push their craft further HERE.

Scott Ian, Misha Mansoor and Alyssa Day star alongside Jackson Master Builders Mike Shannon, Louis Salgado, and Adam Ehrig in a short documentary titled "Origins of Speed" that explores Jackson's rich history, its dynamic range of high performance guitars and its place in the future of metal music. You can view "Origins of Speed" HERE.

"The Soloist" highlights Lee Malia, Kevin Skaff, Brandon Ellis, Mark Heylmun and Vixen's individual musical styles and journeys. Each artist will demonstrate what American Series Soloist™ SL3 is capable of when in the hands of a rhythmic virtuoso who isn't afraid of speed.

High-resolution product images of the American Series Soloist™ SL3 can be found HERE; artis photography can be found HERE; and full product descriptions and specifications can also be found HERE.

For technical specs, additional information on new Jackson products and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.jacksonguitars.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @JacksonGuitars on Twitter and @OfficalJacksonGuitars on Instagram.

American Series Soloist™ SL3 ($2,499.99 - $2,599.99 USD, £2,449.00 GBP, €2,899.00 EUR, $4,499.00 - $4,699.00 AUD, ¥440,000 JPY) Equipped with all the essential attributes, the American Series Soloist™ SL3 leads the way in establishing a new standard in the premium high-performance category as it inspires players across the globe. The American Series Soloist™ SL3's alder body is matched with a sustain-enhancing throughbody three-piece maple neck that has a pair of graphite reinforcement rods for the ultimate stability to resist temperature and humidity-induced bending and warping. The Soloist was built for speed and engineered to become the fastest guitar in Jackson's portfolio thanks to its legendary Speed Neck, which includes masterfully rolled fingerboard edges for maximum comfort. To complement the neck profile, the Soloist sports a compound radius that starts at 12" at the nut and flattens to 16" at the 12^th fret for screaming bends and intricate finger work as you move up the neck. Add in player-focused features like Luminlay side dots to illuminate your fretboard on dark stages and quick access truss rod adjustment to make easy neck relief adjustments, the result is an instrument ready to take on any stage at any time.

Since 1946, Fender has revolutionized music and culture as one of the world's leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC)–whose portfolio of owned and licensed brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch® guitars, Jackson®, EVH®, Charvel®, Bigsby® and PreSonus® – follows a player-centric approach to crafting the highest-quality instruments and digital experiences across genres. Since 2015, Fender's digital arm has introduced a new ecosystem of products and interactive experiences to accompany players at every stage of their musical journey. This includes innovative apps and learning platforms designed to complement Fender guitars, amplifiers, effects pedals, accessories and pro-audio gear and inspire players through an immersive musical experience. FMIC is dedicated to unlocking the power of musical expression for all players, from beginners to history-making legends. In 2021, Fender celebrated 75 years of giving artists "wings to fly," carrying on the vision of its founder, Leo Fender, and connecting players through a shared love of music.

Jackson began in the late 1970s when heavy music experienced a virtuosic resurgence in popularity and a small Southern California repair shop became the epicenter of a new level of excellence. When extravagant young guitarists needed more from their instruments, a small staff of highly skilled craftsmen answered the call with a new breed of high-performance custom guitars. From that point on, heavy metal history would be written with Jackson's guitars lauded as the industry's shred machines. Known for their distinctive style and formidable substance, Jackson® guitars have melded seamlessly with each and every sonic mutation across the metal genre allowing discerning guitarists everywhere to achieve an explosive sound. Over the years, Jackson has worked with some of the most influential and respected players in the world, and its roster of signature artists boasts guitarists whose impactful and game-changing contributions to heavy metal continue to inspire generations of musicians and fans. Today, Jackson is an owned brand under Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) and with a foundation of premium state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and the industry's finest team of seasoned builders, together they are poised for a new and transformative era. For more information, visit www.jacksonguitars.com.

JACKSON® is a registered trademark of JCMI and/or its affiliates. SOLOIST™ is a trademark of JCMI and/or its affiliates.

SOURCE Fender Musical Instruments Corporation