Jackson

Jackson Dinky JS11

Ranked #11 in Electric Guitars

321 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Even its fans call it "worth modding," meaning you pay for it twice. As a first or only guitar the Yamaha Pacifica 112V outlasts it comfortably.

Consolidated from 26 cited sources across 22 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

24 positive sources
1 mixed source
1 unconvinced source

See the sources

Flagged as a product to avoid

1 of 2 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.

Even its favorable coverage calls it "worth modding," meaning owners plan to replace stock components almost immediately and you pay for it twice; as a first or only guitar, the Yamaha Pacifica 112V outlasts it comfortably for similar money.
Flagged 10 September 2026

Why the boards include products to avoid

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Pros & cons

✓ Fast neck
✓ Solid entry-level shred guitar with good sound
✓ Hot humbuckers suited to metal
✓ Delivers all the proper appointments for the money
✓ Plays like a real instrument despite its budget station

✗ Owners plan to replace stock components almost immediately
✗ A first guitar that gets outgrown
✗ Slightly narrower tonal palette than the top value picks

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 5 articles, 16 video reviews and 5 community sources

24 positive sources

F Facebook Thomas Sundich · owner

Amazing with the floating Bridge on the Warrior how well the tuning stays so close and tight while the JS11 is for an affordable great Start guitar for a young teen it also holds tuning very well. Rate both guitar high with the exception that Jackson should have thought about placement of the volume knob on the warrior! Difficult spot when. Palm crunching and lower power cord playing. It’s simple in the way - volumn level always geting turned down ! I fixed that by simply using a black small hair tie and wrapping it around. ! Fixed !

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PMTVUK PMTVUK · 393K subscribers · Oct 2017

The Jackson Dinky JS11 from the Jackson JS series of guitars provides players of all levels with an affordable, versatile and extremely playable guitar that feels and sounds great.

Watch B Blogspot Article

The Alnico II Pro sounds surprisingly good in this guitar considering it's not one of my favourite Seymour Duncan neck models. I prefer the '59 or Jazz for some dynamic responses. I was expecting a Slash-esque tones but since I don't have a Slash set up to begin with, things turned out pleasant. The tones from this one are at least meeting my expectations. The Dimebucker is something I'm used to hearing & it's a welcomed inclusion here.

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The Guitar Chronicles The Guitar Chronicles · 244K subscribers · Jul 2019

Jackson JS11and JS12 are same only difference is total number of frets.Jackson JS11 has 22 frets and Jacskon JS12 has 24 Frets.

Watch F Facebook Facebook post

The Jackson JS11 Dinky is a solid entry-level shred guitar that usually sells for around $150-$160 new, with owners praising its fast neck and hot humbuckers for rock and metal. Most players agree it’s a great platform for mods, though the stock tremolo and nut can cause tuning issues that are easy to fix.

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Egitana Egitana · 94.7K subscribers · Jan 2023

As Jackson Dinky são um sucesso de vendas pelo preço, mas acima de tudo, pela qualidade. A prova está neste vídeo.

Watch B Bjørnholt Musik APS Article

Elguitar til begyndere og skoler til meget budgetvenlig pris, absolut value for money. Som altid justeret og sat op på vores eget værksted inden salg, en gratis service som du ikke får i mange webshops.

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Fret Not Guitar Reviews Fret Not Guitar Reviews · 17.3K subscribers · Aug 2026

The Jackson JS11 electric guitar, may be the best budget guitar A metal guitar for beginners, this metal guitar tone is great. Join our guitar review and check out this beginner guitar.

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Amrit Music Amrit Music · reviewer · Jan 2026

The Jackson Dinky JS11 delivers an aggressive tone. It delivers fast playablity. It’s a popular choice among metal students as well. Hard rock players can also try it out.

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Fret Not Guitar Reviews Fret Not Guitar Reviews · 17.3K subscribers · Sept 2026

Fret Not Guitar Reviews, the Jackson JS11 produces a rich, powerful sound that excels in both clean tones and distorted settings, making it ideal for high-energy performances. The fast-playing maple neck and compound radius fingerboard ensure maximum playability, allowing for comfortable action and access to higher frets.

Watch T Tiktok @bellamie17

It delivers powerful, aggressive tones and excellent value for beginners and intermediate guitarists.

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Sonic Canvas | Ásgeir Þrastarson Sonic Canvas | Ásgeir Þrastarson · 16.3K subscribers · May 2026

If you want a budget Jackson guitar with proper metal aesthetics and Jackson's iconic headstock, the JS series JS11 Dinky is an easy recommendation for any beginner looking to get into heavier playing without spending serious money.

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Guitar World Article · Nov 2022

“ Small issues aside, for beginners who love heavy music, I really can’t recommend the JS11 enough.

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Tarpley Music Tarpley Music · 10.2K subscribers · Mar 2025

Whether you're into rock, metal, or blues, the Jackson Dinky JS11 is crafted to meet your musical needs.

Watch F Facebook Andrew Campbell · owner

The JS11 is a SMOKER at a $200 price point. Reminds me a helluva lot of my 91 375 Deluxe.

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Davi90RTCB Davi90RTCB · 3.3K subscribers · Aug 2022

I didn't expect this guitar to be that good, must tell the truth.

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White Article

Very good price, fits the bill very well.

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Ben Powers Guitar Ben Powers Guitar · 3.3K subscribers · Jul 2022

IT'S FABULOUS! This one came from Musiciansfriend.com. This is NOT a sponsored video. I hope you enjoy it. Thank you for watching. Stay safe.

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Music Fun with Denny Music Fun with Denny · 2.5K subscribers · Feb 2023

So the answer to my question is, this Jackson JS11 is this Jackson JS11, works for me.

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Guitar Man3YT Guitar Man3YT · 1.7K subscribers · Jun 2020

This is a great guitar for $140. When I’m finished with it you want even recognize it. So keep watching for all the different videos of how I’m going to do it!

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Electric Guitar Gear Demos by Guitarman Electric Guitar Gear Demos by Guitarman · 700 subscribers · Jun 2022

High-Performance Guitar for a Low Price

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Peter Quinn Peter Quinn · 691 subscribers · Aug 2021

the nut, bridge saddles, machine heads), I was really blown away by the high quality of what you get for the price.

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Strings & Frets Strings & Frets · 338 subscribers · Oct 2023

🔊 Prepare to be blown away as we take you on a musical journey, exploring the unique tones and versatility that these guitars have to offer. Whether you're a seasoned guitarist or a curious beginner, this soundcheck will provide valuable insights into what makes the Jackson JS series stand out.

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AST Music AST Music · 45 subscribers · Feb 2022

You also get dual Jackson high-output humbucking pickups with ceramic magnets and three-way blade switching, a synchronised fulcrum tremolo bridge, black hardware and sealed die-cast tuners on a classic Jackson pointed headstock.The JS11 is a seriously high-performance guitar, oozing with Jackson attitude, for an amazingly low price.

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1 mixed source

F Facebook Facebook post

The Jackson Dinky JS11 is a budget-friendly entry-level guitar that owners say plays well for the price, often around $120-$200, though it needs a setup and hardware upgrades to really shine. It's praised for its fast neck and tuning stability, but most players recommend swapping the tuners, bridge, or pickups if you want pro-level tone.

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1 unconvinced source

Elmo Karjalainen Elmo Karjalainen · 89.6K subscribers · Mar 2026

This guitar did have some issues, and I'll just say straight off the bat that I'd not recommend it. So what's wrong with it? Let's see.

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Frequently asked questions

It ranks #11 of 19 on our electric guitars tier list, in D tier. That placement draws on 26 cited sources across 22 outlets.

1 of the 26 sources with a clear view is critical of it: Elmo Karjalainen. Owners plan to replace stock components almost immediately. A first guitar that gets outgrown. Slightly narrower tonal palette than the top value picks.