Jackson Guitars has officially expanded its partnership with The Black Dahlia Murder guitarist Brandon Ellis, launching the highly anticipated Jackson Pro Plus Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly KE27.
Teased as early as 2023, this production model transforms the traditional Kelly shape into an absolute shred machine optimized for extreme technical precision. Sporting a striking Gold Crackle finish and loaded with unique custom hardware, the KE27 pushes the boundaries of modern metal guitar design.
Shifting Specifications: 27 Frets and a Custom Scale Length
While Ellis’ previous signature stuck closer to classic Jackson blueprints, the KE27 is a complete ground-up evolution. The headlining feature is its ultra-extended 27 stainless steel frets, giving guitarists uncompromised access to the highest registers.
To ensure the upper frets remain highly playable and tonally stable, Jackson utilized a custom 25.1-inch scale length. This slight deviation from the standard 25.5-inch scale balances string tension perfectly for Ellis’ lightning-fast lead style and heavy rhythm work.
Built for Speed and Stability
The core construction relies on a resonant Nyatoh body mated to a through-body maple neck. To withstand the heavy touring and aggressive playing styles typical of modern metal, the neck is reinforced with graphite rods and features a scarf joint.
The 12″–16″ compound-radius maple fingerboard offers the best of both worlds: a rounder feel near the nut for comfortable riffing, which gradually flattens out in the upper registers to prevent notes from choking during wide bends. The fretboard is dressed with classic black sharkfin inlays and a Floyd Rose R2 locking nut, providing a slightly narrower string spacing preferred by Ellis for rapid-fire alternate picking.
Custom Seymour Duncan Dyad Electronics
The tonal heart of the KE27 is the brand-new Seymour Duncan Signature Dyad Parallel Axis bridge humbucker. Built around a unique hybrid coil design and a singular bar magnet, this pickup is engineered to deliver massive output while retaining note definition and clarity under extreme high-gain amplification.
For softer passages and expressive soloing, the neck position is loaded with a hum-free Seymour Duncan PA-STK pickup. Control-wise, the guitar is refreshingly simple yet highly versatile:
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A 3-way toggle switch for quick pickup selection.
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A master push-pull Volume control that splits the bridge humbucker from traditional series wiring to a brighter, lower-output parallel mode (all while maintaining full hum cancellation).
Rounding out the hardware is a top-mounted Gotoh GE1996T double-locking tremolo system, widely regarded by guitar tech communities for its exceptional tuning stability during severe dive bombs.
Pricing and Availability
The Jackson Pro Plus Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly KE27 is available now in its signature Gold Crackle finish for $2,199/£1,799.
Guitar World Verdict & Review Score
Review Score: 9.2 / 10
The Verdict: The Jackson Brandon Ellis Kelly KE27 is a brilliantly executed evolution of an iconic shape. By pairing 27 stainless steel frets with a thoughtful 25.1″ scale length and highly articulate custom Seymour Duncan pickups, Jackson has created an uncompromising weapon for modern shredders. The premium Gotoh tremolo and stunning Gold Crackle finish make the $2,199 price tag highly competitive for a pro-tier instrument.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does the guitar have 27 frets instead of the usual 24?
The 27-fret design allows guitarists to reach higher pitches (up to a high G on the E string) without having to rely on artificial harmonics. It opens up new melodic possibilities for technical metal solos.
What is the benefit of a 25.1″ scale length?
Standard Jackson guitars usually feature a 25.5″ scale length. By shortening it slightly to 25.1″, the frets in the highest register (frets 24 to 27) are spaced slightly closer together, making them easier to play accurately. It also introduces a slightly looser string tension, perfect for fast lead playing.
What does the push-pull volume pot do on the KE27?
The push-pull switch changes the wiring of the Seymour Duncan Dyad bridge pickup. In the standard position, it operates in high-output “series” mode. When pulled up, it switches to “parallel” mode, which thins out the tone slightly for a brighter, lower-output sound that mimics a single-coil but without any of the background hum.
What wood is the Jackson KE27 made of?
The body wings are made from Nyatoh (a tonewood known for its warm, mahogany-like characteristics), and the neck is a through-body Maple piece reinforced with Graphite for maximum stability against climate changes.
You can view the full listing and technical specs directly on the Jackson Guitars Product Page.
#Brandon Ellis #Jackson #Kelly KE27
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