Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass - Overview and Best Prices

Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass Review
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  • 4 Prices - New from $899.99 >
  • From Jackson's 2024 Pro series
  • Adam Blackstone Signature
  • Made in China
  • 5 strings
  • 34"'' scale
  • 9" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson BBE J (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson BBE J (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 4 tone Dome knobs
  • Jackson HiMass bridge
  • Bass Pro Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Jumbo frets
  • Open-Back Geared tuners
  • Side-By-Side Comparison
Show Specs
Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass Specifications
Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass
General
Brand: Jackson
Year: 2024
Configuration: SS
Strings: 5
Made in: China
Series: Pro
Colors: Brown
Left-Handed Version: No
Body
Type: Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar
Bridge: Jackson HiMass
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On
Tuners: Open-Back Geared
Fretboard: Maple
Neck Material: Maple
Decoration: Black Block
Scale Size: 34"
Shape: Bass Pro
Frets: 21 Jumbo
Fretboard Radius: 9" to 16"
Nut: Plastic
Nut Width: 47.6mm (1.875'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Jackson BBE J (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Jackson BBE J (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 0
Knobs: Dome
Volume Controls: 1
Tone Controls: 4
Hardware
Strap Lock: No
Hardware Color: Black & Gold

Our Scores and Tone Evaluation

Playability 75
Sound 75
Build quality 62
Value for money 76
Overall Score 71
Tone Evaluation
  • Heavy Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • Country
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass
  • Active Preamp
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Price Overview

Its average competitor's price is $500, which means that the Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass costs around 80% more than the competition. It might be due to it having additional features, but know that you can find cheaper similar alternatives. This takes into account all instruments of the same category in our database with 5 strings and Fixed bridge that are made in China.

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User Reviews & Feedback

Not all instruments are created equally. That's why it's important to have different opinions. Here's what our users who have played this instrument say. If you've played it before, help others by voting below!

Weight

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Tuning stability

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Neck access to high frets

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Neck profile shape

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Fret edges

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Pickups noise

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Hand Size Comfortability

After taking into account the neck profile, scale size, fretboard radius, and nut width, we can conclude that the Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass's construction is balanced for most hand sizes.

Nevertheless, this comes down in the end to personal preference. Make sure you test this bass—or another one with similar characteristics—before buying.

Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass meets 4 out of our 6 criteria items for beginner friendliness, which means that it's a good bass to start with as a complete beginner. 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 to get used to.

New Player Friendliness

Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Videos

Adam Blackstone Introduces His Signature “Gladys” Pro Series Concert Bass | Jackson Guitars
Jackson Pro Series Adam Blackstone Signature "Gladys" Concert Bass
New 2024 Release: Jackson Adam Blackstone Gladys Pro Series Concert 5 String Bass #bassist #shorts
Jackson “Gladys” Adam Blackstone Bass Functional Demo for Online Sales
Demoing the Adam Blackstone signature model bass
Adam Blackstone "Gladys" Jackson Pro Series Signature Concert™ Bass, Maple Fingerboard, Black Stone
Review Bajo Jackson Pro Concert series, Adam Blackstone signature "Gladys"
The Bass made for the SUPER BOWL! (Bass Tales Ep.7 w/ Adam Blackstone)
Watch ADAM BLACKSTONE, ROBERT GLASPER &more perform “NAUTILUS” at the 2024 GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony
Adam Blackstone: Lil Drummer Boy | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

Playability

Scale Length

Scale length is the distance the strings will span between the bridge and the nut. It can tell you a lot about the overall playability and tone of the instrument. A longer scale length means longer distance between frets, brighter tone and more string tension—which means lower action, but more difficult bending of the strings.

Here's the Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass's 34" scale length compared to other common sizes:

Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass Scale Length Comparison
Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass's scale length (at the top) compared to other popular sizes

This is considered a long scale bass, and it's the most popular choice for several reasons. Even though it might be more difficult to play than short scale basses due to their increased string tension, their punchier low-end results in a clear and defined bass tone that can cut through in a mix, making them well-suited for genres like rock, metal, and funk.

Neck Profile

Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass Neck Profile
Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass's neck profile

The neck profile tells you the thickness (neck depth) and shape in cross section. Every difference will completely change the feeling and comfortability of the neck. This is a highly subjective thing, but most players indeed prefer certain types of necks (like Cs and Ds) because they feel nice in most hands.

It has a C type neck. C-shaped necks like this have been the most popular for the last years. The reason is that they feel good in most hands. It's generally a thin neck that doesn't get in your way when playing fast, but that also has enough mass to give your hands a comfortable grip for chords if they aren't too big.

Thin necks like this make it easier to move your hand across the neck and it helps when playing fast solos, especially if you like to leave your thumb free while playing high on the fretboard. However, thinner necks are also weaker and will need adjustment more often than a thicker neck.

Fretboard Radius

When it comes to fingerboard radius, personal preference will dictate which one is better for you. However, most people seem to agree that a more curved (lower) radius will make it easier to play chords while a less curved (higher) radius is better for soloing and bending.

Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass's Compound Fretboard Radius

The Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass has a compound fingerboard radius of 9" to 16".

A compound radius is the best you can get because you'll get the best of both worlds. It starts curved at the nut, but it flattens as you get closer to the body. This means that you'll get great comfortability for chords on the first few frets, but also a flatter fretboard for playing solos without problems on the higher frets.

Playability compared to main competitors

34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.875'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
34'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.75'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
35'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.75'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
35'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.75'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius

Nut Width

Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass Nut Width
Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass Nut Width

The Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass has a nut width of 47.6mm (1.875''). This is considered a wide width for a 5-string bass. A wider nut provides more space between the strings, making it easier for players to execute techniques like slap bass and tapping, which require extra room for precision. However, players with smaller hands might find it challenging to comfortably reach across the wider fretboard, as it requires a wider stretch between the fingers.

Frets

The Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass has 21 frets. Even though 24 frets has become really popular, there's still a good reason to get fewer frets; the pickup at the neck position will be further away from the bridge. This makes the neck pickup achieve a warmer tone. You might want this if you're playing Jazz or similar genres.

However, if you don't care about the warmer neck pickup, more frets will always be better. It's always nice to have the option to play higher notes if you want to.

It comes with nickel silver frets, so they won't last as long as stainless steel frets. If you use your instrument a lot, you might need to replace the frets after a few years. But this is unlikely as most people change instruments before this happens.

Fret Size

Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass Fret Size Comparison
Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass's fret size (in orange) compared to other popular sizes

Finally, let's talk about fret size. Some people prefer tall frets because it's easier to press the strings and perform bends since there's less friction against the fretboard. On the other hand, some people like shorter frets because they like to touch the fretboard when playing, or because they got heavy hands and tend to press too much on the string and alter the of the note pitch accidently.

The Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass's frets are Jumbo size. This is a tall fret size that is becoming increasingly popular because it makes it easier to press down the strings cleanly. With this fret size, you won't feel the fretboard when playing, so if you press down too hard, you will get the notes out of pitch. However, this is something you can overcome by getting used to the taller size.

Playability Score

Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Tone

Wood will have little influence in the final tone of an electric guitar or bass. Instead, the hardware, especially the pickups, will be the most important thing to look at. Bur first, let's see the quality of the wood.

Wood

Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar Body
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple Neck, Fretboard

Poplar Body: It's similar to Alder in terms of tone as it has a fat low-end with strong mids, but it's a lot cheaper and softer. It's a bit heavier so it's mostly used for tops.

Maple Neck and Fretboard: This is one of the most popular types of wood used in all kinds of guitars. It's heavy, strong and compact, which makes it great for necks. However, it's also used for fretboards, bodies and tops due to its light color, resistance and beautiful patterns. When it comes to tone, it highlights the mid and high frequencies.

Pickups

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with pickups from one of the top brands. This doesn't mean you will get bad pickups, but you might want to consider a pickup upgrade after some time.

These are passive pickups, so you can expect a rounder sound and a moderade level of output.

Preamp

The preamp is an electronic circuit that serves as an intermediary between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its primary function is to boost and shape the bass's raw signal before it reaches the amplifier. This allows for greater control over the bass's tone, volume, and other sound characteristics. Preamps often include tone controls, equalization settings, and sometimes even onboard effects, enabling bassists to tailor their sound to their preferences and the musical context.

This bass has a Active preamp. Unlike passive basses, which rely solely on passive pickups and tone controls, active preamps require a power source, typically a 9-volt battery, to operate. The active preamp offers several advantages, including the ability to boost or cut specific frequencies, resulting in a more versatile and customizable tonal palette. Active basses are favored in genres where precise tonal sculpting and extended tonal options are essential, such as jazz fusion or progressive rock. However, they do require occasional battery replacement or recharging to ensure optimal performance.

The Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass's configuration is SS. This is the classic Telecaster configuration and it's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

Versatility

Unfortunately, it doesn't come with more options for coil split or coil tapping. This makes it less versatile than some competitors.

What music genre is it good for?

As a 5 strings, Solid Body bass with SS configuration and Passive pickups, we'd recommend it for genres like Funk or similar. However, you can use almost any bass for any genre. This is just the typical type of music for this particular one.

Sound Score

Pickups 75
Sustain 70
Versatility 81
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 75

Build Quality

Country of Origin

Knowing where the instrument is produced is a good way to know how well it's built. Some manufacturing countries are known for having higher quality standards. For example, most expensive instruments are made in the US or Japan, but there are some exceptionally great countries—like South Korea—that are building a good reputation.

The Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass is made in China. So you can expect lower build quality when compared to others made in Korea, Japan or the United States. Guitars made in this country are meant for mass production, which translates into less attention to detail and quality control. This doesn't mean the product is made poorly at all. Chinese products have a bad reputation since long ago, but they've definitely improved a lot the last few years.

Bridge

Jackson HiMass: The advantage of fixed bridges is that they don't require any kind of set-up. This makes it extremely easy when changing strings because you don't need to adjust anything besides tuning the guitar. Also, the fact that the bridge is directly attached to the body will help to increase sustain. The disadvantage is the lack of versatility since you can't create the same vibrato effects as with tremolo bridges.

Nut Material

Another important thing to analyze is the nut material, as it's one of the most important aspects that can affect the sound and playability of your bass. A well-cut nut will make sure it stays in tune and will make it more comfortable to play.

In this case, the Jackson Adam Blackstone Pro Gladys Concert Bass has 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.

Neck Joint

The neck joint is the part where the neck of the bass meets the body. There are three main techniques to attach both parts together: Set-In, Bolt-On and Neck-Through. The latter two provide different advantages, although neck-throughs are the most expensive.

This bass has a Bolt-On neck joint. Even though this type of neck was looked down upon for a long time, nowadays bolt-on necks are well built and provide just as much sustain as any other join method. First of all, it's cheap to make because it consists of simply 4 bolts that attach the neck to the body. And you can travel with the guitar more easily, swap out the neck if you damage it, or upgrade to a more comfortable neck later on.

Build Quality Score

Quality of materials 46
Features 80
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 62