Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte - Overview and Best Prices

Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte Review
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  • From Jackson's 2016 Artist Signature series
  • Phil Collen Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Caramelized Mahogany body
  • Quartersawn Caramelized Flame Maple neck
  • Caramelized Flame Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Super 3 DP152 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: PC1 Sustainer Driver (Single Coil/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking Tremolo bridge
  • Phil Collen PC1 Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Side-By-Side Comparison
Show Specs
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte Specifications
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte
General
Brand: Jackson
Year: 2016
Configuration: HSS
Strings: 6
Made in: United States
Series: Artist Signature
Colors: Blue, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No
Body
Type: Solid Body
Body Material: Caramelized Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Caramelized Flame Maple
Neck Material: Quartersawn Caramelized Flame Maple
Decoration:
Scale Size: 25.5"
Shape: Phil Collen PC1
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.825'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.89'' (22.6mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16"
Nut: Locking
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: DiMarzio Super 3 DP152 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: PC1 Sustainer Driver (Single Coil / Active)
Switch: 5
Knobs: Dome
Pickup Mods: Sustainer
Volume Controls: 1
Tone Controls: 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No
Hardware Color: Black
Show Diagram
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte's switch options

Our Scores and Tone Evaluation

Playability 73
Sound 88
Build quality 74
Value for money 63
Overall Score 78
Tone Evaluation
  • Heavy Metal
  • Hard Rock
  • Jazz
  • Blues
  • Funk
  • Country
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Sustainer Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Price Overview

Its average competitor's price is $3420, which means that the Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte costs around 23% 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 6 strings and Double Locking bridge that are made in United States.

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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 speed (thickness)

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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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Pickups power

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Often Compared With

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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 USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte's construction favors people with relatively big hands.

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

Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte meets 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, which means that it's not recommended for complete beginners. 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 USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

Videos

Jackson Guitars Phil Collen Signature PC-1 Matte • SN: XN11367
Jackson Guitars PC-1 Phil Collen Signature • SN: 9068
Phil Collen on the USA Signature Limited Edition PC1 Claro Walnut | Featured Demo | Jackson Guitars
Jackson USA Satin Phil Collen Signature PC1 Electric Guitar
Jackson Guitars PC-1 Phil Collen Signature • SN: XN11182

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 USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte's 25.5" scale length compared to other common sizes:

Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte Scale Length Comparison
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte's scale length (at the top) compared to other popular sizes

This is the same scale length used in Stratocaster guitars, and it's one of the main reasons they have such a bright sound. It's considered a long scale when compared to most non-baritone guitars.

Since the distance between bridge and nut is relatively long, you'll need to give the strings more tension to get them in tune. This higher tension will allow for a couple of things. First, you can get a lower action (get the strings closer to the fretboard) because the strings won't 'wiggle' too much when pluck and won't cause fret buzz. This can allow you to use lower tunings without increasing your string gauge, and it will make it easier to press down the strings fast.

However, the frets will also have a wider separation between each other, which can make it harder to play, especially if you got small hands. The higher tension will also make the strings feel stiffer, so bending will require more strength.

More with the same scale length:

Neck Profile

Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte Neck Profile
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte'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.

The Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte's neck thickness is approximately 0.825'' (21mm) at the first fret, and 0.89'' (22.6mm) at the twelfth.

These measurements were taken either from the official Jackson website, or, in case this information wasn't provided, by researching multiple online marketplaces and forums where owners of this model have posted their measurements.

It has a Vintage type neck. This is a type of vintage neck, so it's thick and has a wider grip than most modern guitars. This is a very particular type of neck that usually only people with a specific taste for vintage guitars will like. We recommend you try this in person before buying if it's your first vintage neck. You might end up absolutely loving it or hating it.

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 USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte's Compound Fretboard Radius

The Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte has a compound fingerboard radius of 12" 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.

More with the same fretboard radius:

Playability compared to main competitors

25.5'' Scale Length
Vintage Neck Profile
1.688'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
25.5'' Scale Length
D Neck Profile
1.688'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
25.5'' Scale Length
D Neck Profile
1.688'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
25.5'' Scale Length
C Neck Profile
1.654'' Nut Width
Compound Fretboard Radius
25.5'' Scale Length
D Neck Profile
1.688'' Nut Width
12'' Fretboard Radius

Nut Width

Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte Nut Width

The Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte has a nut width of 42.9mm (1.688''). This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Frets

The Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte has 24 frets. A lot of people mistakenly believe that having more frets will always be better because it gives you a higher octave. This is certainly an advantage, but there's also a disadvantage to this.

Since the fretboard will be longer, the neck pickup will need to be placed closer to the bridge. And as you may know, the further away the neck pickup is from the bridge, the warmer it sounds. This means you'll have a brighter-sounding neck pickup when using a 24-fret guitar, even if you use the same pickup on a 22-fret guitar.

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.

More with the same amount of frets:

Fret Size

Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte Fret Size Comparison
Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte'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 USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte'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.

More with the same type of frets:

Playability Score

Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

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

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany Body
Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame Maple Neck, Fretboard

Mahogany Body: This is the type of wood found in many top-of-the-line guitars, so that's a positive point for the build quality. This red-looking wood Mahogany is found in Africa and Central America and has great sustain and a warm tone due to its high density. The downside about this type of wood is that it's relatively heavy.

Flame Maple Neck and Fretboard: This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Pickups

This guitar comes with pickups from one of the top brands: DiMarzio. So you can expect well built pickups with great sound that shouldn't need an upgrade anytime soon.

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

The Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte's configuration is HSS. If you play a lot with humbuckers in the bridge position, but would also love to have pristine cleans, this is a great configuration to have. The bridge humbucker will give you tons of output for playing distorted rhythm parts, while the single coils will give you a lot of tone options.

More with the same pickups

24 Frets
Floyd Rose Bridge
DiMarzio Super 3 DP152 Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 Middle Pickup
PC1 Sustainer Driver Neck Pickup
24 Frets
Floyd Rose Bridge
DiMarzio Super 3 DP152 Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 Middle Pickup
PC1 Sustainer Driver Neck Pickup
22 Frets
Floyd Rose Bridge
DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 Middle Pickup
DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 Neck Pickup
22 Frets
Floyd Rose Bridge
DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 Middle Pickup
DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 Neck Pickup
22 Frets
Fixed Bridge
DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 Middle Pickup
DiMarzio HS-2 DP116 Neck Pickup

Versatility

It gives you a good amount of tone options with its 5-way switch. You can use it to choose at least 5 different pickup combinations.

It has a Sustainer option. When activated, the pickups with this feature will give you unlimited sustain. You can create interesting harmonics and make your notes last as long as you want.

What music genre is it good for?

As a 6 strings, Solid Body guitar with HSS configuration and Passive pickups, we'd recommend it for genres like Hard Rock or similar. However, you can use almost any guitar for any genre. This is just the typical type of music for this particular one.

Sound Score

Pickups 85
Sustain 100
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 88

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 USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte is made in United States. Guitars made in the USA have the reputation of being the best instruments you can get. This statement isn't as accurate as a few years ago, but you should still expect top-quality from a guitar made in this country.

Bridge

Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking Tremolo: With this type of tremolo bridge, you'll be able to perform dive bombs and pinch harmonics without getting out of tune. This type of bridge gives you the best versatility, but it also makes it harder to set up your guitar correctly, especially when changing your strings.

More with the same type of bridge:

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 guitar. A well-cut nut will make sure it stays in tune and will make it more comfortable to play.

In this case, the Jackson USA Signature Phil Collen PC1 Matte has a Locking nut. Instead of the typical nut, this nut locks the strings in place and will make them stay in tune even after heavy tremolo use. This type of nut provides the best tune stability, but they also make the guitar more expensive.

It also comes with a retainer bar for the locking nut, which is a helpful addition. Without it, the strings would change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'd have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly.

More with the same nut material:

Neck Joint

The neck joint is the part where the neck of the guitar 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 guitar 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.

More with the same build:

Build Quality Score

Quality of materials 41
Features 80
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74