Jackson Pro Plus Series Soloist™ SLA2 HT, Ebony Fingerboard, Gloss Black

Quick Product Summary

The Jackson Pro Plus Series Soloist SLA2 HT in Gloss Black takes the classic neck-through Soloist formula and pairs it with the stability and simplicity of a fixed bridge, creating a serious performance guitar for players who want speed, tuning reliability and tonal versatility without a floating tremolo.

Its arched nyatoh Soloist body is built around a three-piece maple/walnut/maple neck-through structure with graphite reinforcement. An oiled neck finish, sculpted upper-fret access and bound ebony fingerboard create the smooth, unrestricted feel that has helped make the Soloist one of Jackson's defining high-performance designs.

The 12"-16" compound-radius ebony fingerboard carries 24 jumbo stainless-steel frets and Luminlay side dots, giving technical players a fast upper register alongside excellent fret durability and clear position reference on darker stages.

Direct-mounted Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 and '59 SH-1N humbuckers are controlled through five-way switching, opening up both full humbucker sounds and selected coil combinations. Add an HT6 string-through hardtail, Jackson locking tuners and locking strap buttons, and the SLA2 HT becomes a particularly practical professional-level Jackson for rehearsing, recording and live use.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Jackson
Model	Pro Plus Series Soloist SLA2 HT
Model Number	2914507503
Finish	Gloss Black
Condition	New
Body	Arched Nyatoh Soloist
Neck	3-Piece Maple/Walnut/Maple Neck-Through
Fingerboard	Bound Ebony
Frets	24 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Pickups	Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 / '59 SH-1N
Bridge	Jackson HT6 String-Through Hardtail
Tuners	Jackson Locking
Included	Jackson Gig Bag
Main Appeal	Premium neck-through Soloist with hardtail stability
Best For	Metal, hard rock, progressive, technical lead and recording

What's Included?

• Jackson Pro Plus Series Soloist SLA2 HT in Gloss Black

• Jackson Gig Bag – Part No. 2991512106

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Every new guitar sold by Fair Deal Music is checked before leaving us so obvious functional or setup issues can be identified prior to dispatch.

Our assessment includes:

• Neck relief and playing action

• Stainless-steel fret condition

• Nut and string alignment

• Pickup output and balance

• Five-way switching

• Volume and tone operation

• Output connection

• Locking tuner function

• HT6 bridge and saddle adjustment

• Intonation

• Locking strap button operation

• General tuning stability

• Overall structural and visual condition

The guitar is checked and set up to a suitable playing condition before leaving Fair Deal Music.

As with any wooden instrument, setup can shift slightly during delivery due to changes in temperature and humidity. Minor adjustment can occasionally be required after arrival as the guitar settles into its new environment.

Service / Setup Work

The SLA2 HT is checked before dispatch for suitable neck relief, action, intonation, tuning stability and overall playability.

Its fixed HT6 bridge makes future string-gauge and tuning changes considerably easier to manage than on a floating double-locking tremolo.

Substantial permanent changes in tuning or string gauge can still require corresponding adjustment to neck relief and intonation.

Why Choose The Jackson Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 HT?

Neck-Through Soloist Construction

The three-piece maple/walnut/maple neck runs through the body rather than attaching through a conventional bolt-on joint. Combined with the sculpted upper-fret area, this creates the smooth access expected from a proper Jackson Soloist and makes the full 24-fret range particularly easy to reach.

24 Jumbo Stainless-Steel Frets

Stainless-steel fretwire provides a smooth surface for bending and vibrato while offering excellent resistance to normal fret wear. For players who practise heavily, record frequently or gig regularly, this is a meaningful long-term upgrade over conventional nickel-silver fretwire.

Seymour Duncan JB And '59 Pickups

The JB TB-4 bridge pickup provides the output, upper-mid presence and harmonic response that works so well for rock and metal, while the '59 SH-1N neck pickup gives leads and cleaner passages a more open, rounded character. Together they make the SLA2 HT far more versatile than a guitar voiced purely for extreme gain.

Five-Way Switching

Jackson expands the conventional HH layout with five pickup settings. Alongside the full bridge, dual-pickup and full neck sounds, the intermediate positions combine selected coils for leaner, clearer tones suited to clean passages, lower-gain rhythm work and layered recordings.

HT6 Hardtail Bridge

The Jackson HT6 string-through-body hardtail gives the SLA2 HT a major practical advantage for players who value stable tuning and simple maintenance. There is no floating bridge to rebalance, making restringing and changes such as Drop D considerably more straightforward.

Locking Tuners

Jackson sealed die-cast locking tuners simplify restringing and help minimise unnecessary string movement around the tuner post. Combined with the hardtail bridge, they make this one of the more straightforward high-performance Jackson configurations to live with.

Luminlay Side Dots

Luminlay side markers provide a useful visual reference in low-light stage environments. It is a small detail, but exactly the kind of practical feature that becomes valuable when a guitar is being used professionally.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Jackson SLA2 HT vs Jackson SLA2 With Floyd Rose

The standard Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 shares the neck-through concept, ebony board, stainless frets and JB/'59 pickup pairing but uses a recessed Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo. Choose the Floyd Rose version if dive bombs, flutters and wide pitch effects are essential. Choose the SLA2 HT if tuning flexibility, easy restringing and fixed-bridge stability matter more.

SLA2 HT vs Jackson Pro Plus Dinky MDK HT6 MS

The MDK HT6 MS takes a more modern extended-scale approach with 25.5"-26.5" multi-scale geometry, active Fishman Fluence electronics and bolt-on construction. The SLA2 HT is the stronger choice for players who prefer a traditional 25.5" scale, passive Seymour Duncan pickups and the smooth upper access of a neck-through Soloist.

SLA2 HT vs Charvel Pro-Mod Plus Dinky DK24 HH HT

Charvel's Dinky platform offers a hot-rodded bolt-on feel and similarly modern 24-fret performance. The Jackson distinguishes itself through its neck-through construction and classic Soloist architecture, making it particularly appealing to players who want the distinctly Jackson interpretation of a professional hardtail superstrat.

SLA2 HT vs Jackson MJ Series Soloist SL2

The Japanese-built MJ Series SL2 moves further up the Jackson range with an alder body, JB/Jazz pickup combination and Gotoh double-locking tremolo. The MJ makes sense for players specifically wanting Japanese construction and locking-tremolo capability, while the Pro Plus SLA2 HT offers stainless frets, five-way electronics and considerably simpler hardtail ownership.

Who Is It For?

The Jackson Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 HT is particularly well suited to:

• Experienced rock and metal guitarists

• Progressive and technical players

• Rhythm guitarists using alternative tunings

• Lead players wanting 24 stainless-steel frets

• Guitarists who prefer fixed bridges

• Players who dislike floating-tremolo maintenance

• Recording musicians

• Touring and gigging players

• Guitarists upgrading from Jackson JS, X or Pro Series models

• Players wanting passive Seymour Duncan electronics

• Musicians looking for a professional neck-through superstrat

Playing Styles & Applications

The SLA2 HT is an obvious fit for metal, hard rock, progressive rock and modern technical guitar, but the JB/'59 pairing keeps it useful well outside exclusively heavy styles.

For higher-gain rhythm work, the JB bridge humbucker delivers the focused attack needed for palm-muted riffs and fast picking. The fixed bridge also gives the right hand a solid, predictable platform without the movement associated with a floating tremolo.

Switch to the '59 neck pickup and the guitar becomes smoother and rounder for lead work. The intermediate switching positions are particularly useful for cleaner sounds and layered studio arrangements where a full humbucker can occupy too much space.

Why Choose A Hardtail Soloist Instead Of A Floyd Rose?

A hardtail makes particular sense if you rarely use a tremolo arm or regularly change tuning.

Floating tremolos balance string tension against springs inside the guitar. Change the string gauge or tuning and the bridge balance changes with it. The SLA2 HT's fixed bridge removes that complication, making quick Drop D changes, restringing and general maintenance much easier.

You still retain the features that matter most to the Soloist playing experience: neck-through construction, 24 frets, compound-radius ebony board and excellent upper-register access.

Looking for advice on choosing between a Jackson hardtail and Floyd Rose Soloist? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context

The Jackson Soloist debuted in 1984, developing the sleek double-cutaway, neck-through high-performance guitar concept that had been taking shape at Jackson during the early 1980s.

Its combination of neck-through construction, 24-fret access and performance-focused fingerboard geometry helped establish a template that would become closely associated with shred, hard rock and metal guitar design.

The modern Pro Plus SLA2 HT retains those essential Soloist ideas but adapts them for players who want today's practical performance features. Stainless-steel frets, Luminlay side dots, locking tuners and expanded five-way electronics bring the platform up to date.

Crucially, the HT version proves that the Soloist concept does not depend on a locking tremolo. For players whose priority is fast neck access and stable hardtail performance, it can actually be the more practical interpretation of the design.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Model	Pro Plus Series Soloist SLA2 HT
Model Number	2914507503
UPC	885978976065
Series	Pro Plus
Orientation	Right-Handed
Number of Strings	6
Finish	Gloss Black
Body Shape	Soloist
Body Material	Nyatoh
Body Profile	Arched
Body Finish	Gloss
Neck Material	3-Piece Maple/Walnut/Maple
Neck Construction	Neck-Through-Body with Graphite Reinforcement
Neck Finish	Oiled
Scale Length	25.5" / 648 mm
Fingerboard	Ebony
Fingerboard Binding	White
Fingerboard Radius	12"-16" Compound
Number of Frets	24
Fret Size	Jumbo Stainless Steel
Nut Material	Black Plastic
Nut Width	1.6875" / 42.86 mm
Position Inlays	Pearloid Piranha Tooth
Side Dots	Luminlay
Headstock	Jackson Pointed 6-In-Line
Headstock Binding	White
Truss Rod	Dual-Action with Wheel
Truss Rod Adjustment	Heel-Mounted Adjustment Wheel
Bridge Pickup	Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 Direct Mount
Neck Pickup	Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N Direct Mount
Pickup Configuration	HH
Controls	Volume, Tone
Switching	5-Position Blade
Position 1	Bridge Pickup
Position 2	Bridge Outer Coil + Neck Inner Coil
Position 3	Bridge + Neck
Position 4	Bridge Inner Coil + Neck Outer Coil
Position 5	Neck Pickup
Bridge	Jackson HT6 String-Through-Body Hardtail
Tuning Machines	Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking
Hardware Finish	Black
Pickguard	None
Control Knobs	Dome-Style
Switch Tip	Black
Strap Buttons	Jackson Locking
Factory Strings	Nickel-Plated Steel .009–.042
Case / Gig Bag	Jackson Gig Bag Included

Specification Note

Individual guitar weight naturally varies between instruments and has not been supplied for the specific guitar.

If exact weight is important to you, contact our team and we can advise on the individual instrument available.

Compatibility & Recommended Pairings

The Jackson Pro Plus Soloist SLA2 HT pairs particularly well with:

• High-gain valve amplifiers

• Modern digital modellers

• Professional audio interfaces

• Overdrive and clean boost pedals

• Noise gates

• Delay and reverb

• Pedal tuners

• Quality instrument cables

• Replacement .009–.042 string sets

• Heavier strings for dedicated lower-tuning setups

The supplied Jackson Gig Bag provides everyday transport protection, so there is no immediate requirement to purchase a separate gig bag.

Power Requirements

The Seymour Duncan JB and '59 humbuckers are passive, so the SLA2 HT requires no battery.

Connect the guitar to an amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or audio interface using a standard ¼-inch instrument cable.

Fair Deal Music Expert Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Jackson Pro Plus Series Soloist SLA2 HT in Gloss Black is one of the more practical interpretations of the modern Soloist for players who want genuine high-performance specification without needing a locking tremolo.

The neck-through construction, ebony fingerboard and jumbo stainless-steel frets give it the feel expected from a serious performance instrument, while the JB/'59 combination offers enough tonal flexibility to make it useful well beyond extreme metal.

The hardtail bridge and locking tuners are the standout ownership benefits. They give players much of the premium Soloist experience while making tuning changes, string replacement and day-to-day setup significantly easier.

Best suited for: Serious rock and metal players, technical guitarists and musicians wanting premium neck-through performance with fixed-bridge stability.

Customers usually upgrade from: Jackson JS, X and Pro Series models, intermediate superstrats or floating-tremolo guitars that no longer suit their needs.

Most commonly paired with: High-gain or modelling amplification, overdrive or boost, noise gate, delay and reverb.

Our tip: If your playing involves regular Drop D or other tuning changes and your tremolo arm rarely leaves the case, the SLA2 HT is likely to make considerably more sense than the Floyd Rose version.

Showroom feedback: The combination of neck-through upper access, stainless frets and a hardtail makes the SLA2 HT feel purpose-built for players who value precision and reliability rather than unnecessary complication.

Want a closer look at the individual guitar before ordering? Ask our team about a video demonstration and we'll be happy to help where possible.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

Based in Birmingham, our knowledgeable musician-led team can help whether you're comparing Jackson Soloist models, deciding between hardtail and Floyd Rose bridges or building a complete professional rock and metal setup.

Buying from Fair Deal Music gives you:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

• Carefully checked new and pre-owned musical equipment

• A large Birmingham showroom

• Friendly support before and after your purchase

• Secure online ordering

• UK delivery options

• Decades of experience supplying musicians

• Help choosing compatible amplification, strings, cases and accessories

• New and pre-owned instrument expertise

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should choose the SLA2 HT instead of the Floyd Rose SLA2?

Choose the HT if tuning stability, simple restringing and easy tuning changes matter more to you than dive bombs and wide tremolo effects.

Is the SLA2 HT suitable for lower tunings?

Yes. Its fixed bridge makes alternative tunings considerably easier to manage than on a floating tremolo. A permanent move to much lower tunings may still benefit from heavier strings and a corresponding setup.

Are the Seymour Duncan pickups active?

No. The JB and '59 are passive humbuckers, so no battery is required.

What is the advantage of the five-way switching?

It gives you full humbucker sounds alongside selected coil combinations, providing clearer and leaner tones for clean playing, lower-gain parts and layered recording.

Are stainless-steel frets worth having?

For players who practise or perform regularly, they are a meaningful upgrade. They are highly resistant to fret wear and provide an exceptionally smooth surface for bends and vibrato.

Why use locking tuners on a fixed-bridge guitar?

Locking tuners make string changes quicker and reduce the amount of string wrapped around each tuner post. They are useful for convenience and consistency even when no tremolo is fitted.

Is the SLA2 HT only for metal?

No. Metal and hard rock are obvious strengths, but the passive JB/'59 pickup combination and five-way switching also make it useful for progressive rock, alternative styles, cleaner recording and general high-performance guitar work.

What are Luminlay side dots?

They are glow-in-the-dark side position markers designed to remain visible in low-light environments, particularly useful when performing on dark stages.

Is the gig bag included?

Yes. Jackson supplies a dedicated gig bag with the SLA2 HT.

What is the main difference between a Soloist and a Dinky?

The Soloist is traditionally associated with neck-through construction, whereas many Dinky models use bolt-on necks. The SLA2 HT follows that classic Soloist architecture with the neck structure continuing through the body.