Jackson PC1-E: Phil Collen's Pre-Worn Rock Machine
Jackson Pro Series Phil Collen PC1-E: A Mexican-made signature shredder with infinite sustain, DiMarzio pickups, and a factory-distressed finish
Def Leppard’s Phil Collen has spent over four decades dodging pyrotechnics, sweating under stadium lights, and aggressively thrashing his guitars across global stages. For the rest of us who don't have forty years to naturally age a high-end instrument, Jackson has mercifully stepped in. Enter the Jackson Pro Series Signature Phil Collen PC1-E in Worn Black—a guitar that allows you to buy your way straight into that battered, road-hardened aesthetic without ever leaving your bedroom.
Priced at $2199.99 (£1,699.00), this Mexican-made shredder brings the iconic vibe of Collen's USA models down to a more attainable price bracket. It delivers world-class hardware, infinite sustain, and a distressed finish that screams, "I've seen things," even if the only thing it has seen is the inside of its included foam core case.
Factory-Applied Mojo (With Strategic Exceptions)
The PC1-E is built around a resonant mahogany Dinky body, thoroughly slathered in a Worn Black nitrocellulose finish. Jackson has kindly pre-bashed and scuffed the body for you, providing all the visual credibility of a seasoned touring veteran right out of the box.
However, in a stroke of absolute practical genius, the "worn" concept stops at the neck joint. Jackson wisely realized that while a beaten-up body looks incredibly rock-and-roll, a dented neck is just a nightmare to play. Therefore, the gorgeous bolt-on caramelized maple neck and luxurious ebony fingerboard have been spared the relic treatment.
Reinforced with dual graphite rods, this oiled neck features a player-friendly 12”-16” compound radius and 24 jumbo frets. It’s round near the nut for comfortable chording and perfectly flat up high for effortless bends and blistering, pristine lead work.
Stadium-Sized Tone and Infinite Sustain
A killer look is nothing without the tone to back it up, and the PC1-E’s electronics are undeniably premium. The HSS configuration is built to scream:
- Bridge: A ridiculously high-output DiMarzio X2N DP102 humbucker, ready to push any amp into glorious, stadium-sized overdrive.
- Middle: A DiMarzio Sugar Chakra DP427BK single-coil that retains clarity and articulation for cleaner, more nuanced passages.
- Neck: The legendary PC1 Sustainer Driver.
Powered by an active 18-volt battery system, the neck pickup doubles as a sustainer that chemically alters the physics of your guitar strings, granting you near-infinite, singing sustain. With dedicated controls for intensity and an on/off switch—plus a fundamental/harmonic/blend toggle—you can hold a single wailing note until the venue cuts your power.
Add in a 5-way pickup selector and a push/pull coil split on the volume knob, and the tonal palette here is staggering.
Touring-Grade Hardware
To round out the ultimate 80s-inspired workhorse, Jackson has equipped the PC1-E with striking gold hardware that offsets the matte, beaten-up black body beautifully.
A recessed Floyd Rose 1000 Series double-locking tremolo lets you dive-bomb into the abyss without throwing your tuning out of whack. Jackson’s own sealed die-cast locking tuners provide extra stability, and glow-in-the-dark Luminlay side dots mean you’ll never lose your place on a pitch-black stage.
The guitar ships with a premium Jackson Foam Core case, ensuring this meticulously pre-ruined masterpiece stays exactly the right amount of ruined while in transit.
Jackson Pro Series Phil Collen PC1-E Specifications:
Body & Construction
- Body Material: Mahogany
- Body Finish: Distressed Nitrocellulose Lacquer (Worn Black)
- Body Shape: Dinky
Neck & Fingerboard
- Neck Material: Caramelized Maple with Graphite Reinforcement
- Neck Finish: Oiled
- Fingerboard: Ebony, 12" to 16" Compound Radius
- Frets: 24, Jumbo
- Inlays & Markers: Single Pearloid Sharkfin (12th fret), Luminlay Side Dots
- Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm)
- Nut Width: 1.6875" (42.86 mm)
- Headstock: Licensed Reversed Fender Stratocaster
Hardware & Electronics
- Bridge: Floyd Rose 1000 Series Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed)
- String Nut: Floyd Rose 1000 Series Locking
- Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking
- Hardware Finish: Gold
- Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio X2N DP102
- Middle Pickup: DiMarzio Sugar Chakra DP427BK
- Neck Pickup: PC1 Sustainer Driver (18-Volt System)
- Controls: Volume (Push/Pull Coil Split), Tone, Intensity, Active Sustainer On/Off, Fundamental/Harmonic/Blend Switch
- Included: Jackson Foam Core Case
Our Thoughts
The Jackson Pro Series Phil Collen PC1-E is a triumphant shred machine that punches well above its weight, offering a staggering array of tones and gloriously addictive infinite sustain.
It delivers top-tier hardware and effortless playability that will satisfy even the most demanding lead players. Sure, explaining to your family why you just paid over two grand for an instrument that looks like it was dragged across a stadium parking lot in 1987 might take a little finesse.
But once you plug it in, flip on the sustainer, and let a single pinch harmonic ring out for three consecutive minutes, you'll know every scuff, scratch, and dollar was entirely worth it.
- +Factory distressed finish delivers vintage aesthetic without the wear-and-tear journey
- +PC1 Sustainer Driver delivers near-infinite sustain and harmonic control
- +Premium DiMarzio pickups offer staggering tonal versatility
- +Floyd Rose 1000 tremolo holds tuning through aggressive dive-bombs
- +Neck left pristine for optimal playability despite body relic treatment
- +Compound radius fingerboard balances comfort and lead precision
- +Sealed locking tuners and Luminlay dots enhance stage reliability
- −$2,199.99 price point is steep for a Mexican-made model versus USA alternatives
- −Distressed finish aesthetic may not suit all player preferences or styles
What makes the PC1 Sustainer Driver different from a standard neck pickup?
The PC1 Sustainer Driver is an active pickup powered by an 18-volt battery system that chemically alters string physics to produce near-infinite, singing sustain. It includes dedicated controls for intensity, an on/off switch, and a fundamental/harmonic/blend toggle, letting you hold single notes for extended periods.
Is the entire guitar distressed, or just parts of it?
Only the body receives the full Worn Black distressed nitrocellulose finish for aesthetic impact. The neck—including the caramelized maple neck and ebony fingerboard—is deliberately left pristine and oiled, avoiding the playability issues a relic'd neck would create.
What are the pickup specifications and tonal range?
The HSS configuration pairs a DiMarzio X2N DP102 bridge humbucker for high-output overdrive tone, a DiMarzio Sugar Chakra DP427BK middle single-coil for clarity, and the active PC1 Sustainer Driver neck pickup. A 5-way selector and push/pull coil split provide extensive tonal palette options.
Does this guitar come with a case?
Yes, the PC1-E ships with a premium Jackson Foam Core case designed to protect the guitar during transport while preserving its distressed finish.
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