Jackson USA Custom Shop Soloist 1989 - All Original & rare "Rising Sun" GLOW IN THE DARK Finish

Rising Sun alone is rare. Rising Sun front-and-back is rarer. Rising Sun with a glow/light-reactive finish is much rarer. A Rising Sun glow example with a glowing headstock logo, painted pickup covers, and reverse MOP sharkfins is what I would describe as extremely low-production, possibly a one-off. No public production total is documented for this exact configuration, but within the already small 1989 Jackson USA Custom Shop window, this glowing monster sits firmly in rare Custom Shop territory!

What we have here is a 1989 Jackson USA Custom Shop Soloist Custom, serial number J5422 — an original late-’80s Ontario-era Jackson with a Rising Sun custom glow graphic running across the front and back of the body, pickup covers finished into the same visual concept, and a glow-reactive Jackson logo on the headstock tying the whole package together.

The J5422 serial places it within Jackson’s documented 1989 J-serial neck-through range, running from J5008 to J5657 — only 650 serial numbers in total, covering Jackson USA neck-through instruments broadly, not just Soloists. That puts this guitar inside a very small production window from one of the most respected eras of the brand, when highly optioned custom builds still carried the unmistakable identity of the original Jackson USA shop.

The specs are exceptional even by late-’80s Jackson standards: USA neck-through construction, ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl reverse sharkfin inlays, full front-and-back body graphic, glow/light-reactive finish, glow-reactive headstock logo, painted pickup covers, original Floyd Rose tremolo and black hardware. This is a full-spec Custom Shop build, loaded with nearly every visual and functional weapon available at the time — loud, deliberate, theatrical and completely unapologetic.

The electronics add another important layer to the guitar. It retains its original passive Jackson pickups, paired with the (also original) Jackson JE-1200 active mid-boost preamp, currently running through an 18V dual-battery config for extra headroom. That setup keeps the natural attack and character of passive pickups, while adding the onboard push, midrange focus and added sustain that made these late-’80s Jackson active systems so effective. It gives the guitar a wider voice than the looks might suggest: sharp and articulate when needed, but capable of getting thicker, hotter and more aggressive without losing definition.

This is a fully original guitar, with the finish, hardware, pickups and original late-’80s Jackson molded hardshell case, with embossed Jackson logo and black plush interior, all original to the guitar. It shows honest signs of use, as expected from a guitar of this age. The original metal spring-cavity backplate is currently missing, and there is an approximately 1 cm section of binding missing at the very tip of the headstock — please see the photos and video to understand exactly what this refers to. There is no structural damage: the neck is straight and solid, and the mechanics and electronics work as they should.

A unique late-’80s Jackson Custom Shop monster with the right originality, the right scars and the kind of presence that only makes sense once the lights go down.

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Serial Number: J5422
Includes: OHSC + one guitar built for shredding, cursed to glow after dark!
Weight: 4.275kg / 9.42lbs
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The pictures/videos in the listings are of the actual item so please have a look for an idea of the cosmetic condition. As they are used they may have some scratches, wear, dents and marks to the finish. If you would like to know more about this specific instrument, or have general questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

PLEASE NOTE: All import duties, customs fees, and procedures are the buyer's responsibility - please be aware of the requirements for your country.