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Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
VS
Playability
82
Sound
68
Build
79
Value
61
Score
76
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Playability
78
Sound
66
Build
62
Value
69
Score
69
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Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star vs Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star

Reasons to Get
Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star over Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star over USA Signature Gus G. Star

Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
69 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star vs Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star

Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star vs Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star

Bridge Pickup
Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active)
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active)
Same Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm)
Same neck comfortability
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Neck Profile Type
D
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Neck-Through
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Locking Tuners

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star is the better choice.

The Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star Overview

  • From Jackson's 2017 Artist Signature series
  • Gus G Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Quartersawn Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TonePros TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Gotoh Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 Artist Signature series
  • Gus G Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Woods Used in the Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Winner: Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

None of these use a specialized pickup brand for their pickups. Some of the best guitars on the market come with pickups from brands like EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. You might want to replace your pickups eventually if you want to get the best sound out of any of these instruments.

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star and Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star and Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star
Pickups 55
Sustain 90
Versatility 47
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 68
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
Pickups 55
Sustain 85
Versatility 47
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 66

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star compares to the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star is built in United States while the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star is made in Indonesia.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

They both have locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star
Quality of materials 61
Features 75
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 79
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
Quality of materials 41
Features 70
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 62

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star and Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star and the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star have a D-shaped neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star and the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star favors large hands more than the Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star and Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star Frets Size
Both have a similar Jumbo fret size

Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.

Final Playability Scores

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 100
Playability 82
Jackson Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 100
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star vs Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
General Jackson USA Signature Gus G. Star Pro Series Signature Gus G. Star
Brand: Jackson Jackson
Year: 2017 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Artist Signature Artist Signature
Colors: Yellow Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: TonePros TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Gotoh Tailpiece Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Neck-Through
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple Maple
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Big Block Pearloid Big Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Speed Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Plastic
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker / Active) Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker / Active) Blackfire Pickups Proteus Humbucker (Active) (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 0