Grover Jackson

Grover Jackson
Born (1949-07-17) July 17, 1949
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Occupation luthier
Years active 1978-Present
Known for Jackson Guitars
GJ² Guitars

Grover Jackson is a luthier. He is best known for designing and making various guitar models at Jackson Guitars, such as Jackson Randy Rhoads and Jackson Soloist during the 1980s.

Biography

Jackson has been making guitars since 1973. In 1978, he started working at Wayne Charvel's guitar repair shop in Covina, California (while using a PO Box in neighboring San Dimas). Since Charvel's shop was almost bankrupted, Charvel eventually sold his interest to Grover Jackson on November 10, 1978, which gave Jackson control of the business and the Charvel brand. In 1980 he also launched the Jackson brand with the Randy Rhoads model.

Although Jackson and Charvel Guitars became popular with the rise of hard rock and heavy metal music in that era, Grover Jackson sold the Jackson/Charvel brand to the Japanese manufacturer IMC (International Music Corporation) of Fort Worth, Texas, in 1989, and eventually left the company in 1990.

From 1993 to 1996, Jackson worked for Washburn USA in Chicago. During this time he designed and supervised the "Chicago MG" and "Mercury" guitar and "Bantam" bass series.[1] These models were advertised as "Grover Jackson's design" along with his photo. He also worked with Dimebag Darrell to design and build his signature guitars (Washburn Dime series). Then he moved on to run the factory and supervise guitar designs for Rickenbacker from 1996 to 1999. This is also the same time Rickenbacker started adopting CNC router operation (late 1996 - 1997).[2] He also worked with several other manufacturers, such as G&L Musical Instruments, Tacoma Guitars and Sadowsky, throughout the late 1990s to 2000s. In around 2010, he worked for B.C. Rich to design and handcraft "Gunslinger" series guitar model.[3]

In from 2014 to 2015, there was an IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign to raise money for a documentary film about him. However it failed to reach its $250,000 goal.[4]

GJ² Guitars

In 2012, Jackson co-founded a guitar brand with Jon Gold, GJ² Guitars, in Orange County, California. His partner in this venture is former Fender Senior Vice President Jon Gold. Jackson maintains his lifelong commitment to the high quality USA made guitars. Majority of these guitars feature authentic superstrat design.

"Grover Jackson" guitar brand in Asian market

In the 1990s, many models were produced as Japanese market exclusives under "Grover Jackson" brand name. However ironically in this period of time Grover Jackson himself had nothing to do with the brand name. This was due to "Jackson" brand already being trademarked by another company in Japan and having to have a different name for the market. These were produced in the same factory as "Jackson Professional" series.[5]

Date of these models are identified from headstock as follows;

References

  1. ↑ The Wild & Weird History of the Electric Guitar, p. 208, at Google Books
  2. ↑ Paul D. Boyer "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass 50 Years as Rock's Bottom" p.64, Hal Leonard, ISBN 9781476886800
  3. ↑ "Premier Guitar: B.C.Rich Beginnings". Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  4. ↑ "The Grover Jackson Story – IndieGoGo Campaign". Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  5. ↑ "audiozone.dk". Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  6. ↑ "Player Online archive (Japanese)". Retrieved 2013-11-03.
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