Salem! - Jackson JS22-7 DKA HT 7-String – Satin Black

Jackson JS Series Dinky JS22-7 DKA HT Seven-String in Satin Black

Meet Salem, a Jackson JS22-7 DKA HT, a purpose-built seven-string Dinky combining a 26.5-inch extended scale, compound-radius fingerboard, graphite-reinforced maple neck, high-output Jackson humbuckers and fixed string-through HT7 bridge.

Finished in understated Satin Black with matching black hardware, Salem arrived at The Stray Chord in excellent cosmetic condition but still received the same extensive fretwork and professional setup as every instrument passing through the workshop.

Following his rehabilitation and extended-range setup, Salem was successfully rehomed for £225.

About Salem

The Jackson JS22-7 DKA HT provides an accessible introduction to extended-range guitar without abandoning the features that define Jackson's modern instruments.

Its arched poplar Dinky body is compact and ergonomic, with the familiar double-cut shape providing excellent upper-fret access.

The bolt-on maple neck uses graphite reinforcement and scarf-joint construction for additional stability, particularly useful when combined with the longer 26.5-inch scale and increased tension of a seven-string setup.

Salem's amaranth fingerboard carries 24 jumbo frets and Jackson's distinctive piranha tooth inlays.

Its 12-to-16-inch compound radius becomes progressively flatter towards the upper frets. This provides a more rounded feel for chords and rhythm playing lower down the neck while creating a flatter surface for faster lead work and bending higher up.

The 26.5-inch scale length is another particularly important part of the JS22-7 specification. The additional length helps maintain tension and definition on the low B string without making the upper six strings feel excessively heavy.

Pickups & hardware

A pair of direct-mounted Jackson high-output seven-string humbuckers provides Salem's voice.

Designed with heavier styles in mind, they deliver plenty of output and attack while maintaining the definition necessary to prevent the extended low register from becoming indistinct under gain.

At the other end of the strings sits Jackson's fixed HT7 bridge with string-through-body construction.

The absence of a tremolo makes setup and alternate tuning considerably more straightforward while providing excellent tuning stability, making the JS22-7 particularly approachable for someone entering the world of seven-string guitars for the first time.

Restoration & setup

Although Salem arrived with virtually no significant cosmetic wear, every Stray receives the same attention to playability.

During his rehabilitation he received:

• Complete professional seven-string setup
• All 24 jumbo frets levelled
• Frets individually crowned
• Frets polished to a smooth finish
• Fret ends carefully dressed and rounded
• Amaranth fingerboard edges hand-rolled
• Fingerboard thoroughly cleaned and conditioned
• Electronics inspected and tested
• Jackson high-output humbuckers checked
• Pickup heights balanced across all seven strings
• Neck relief precisely adjusted
• HT7 bridge action optimised
• Full seven-string intonation
• Hardware inspected
• Fresh D'Addario seven-string nickel-wound set fitted
• Low B specifically set up for tight, articulate response
• Final electronics and playability inspection

The result was a considerably more refined JS22-7 with smooth fretwork, comfortable fingerboard edges and a properly balanced setup across the instrument's extended range.

Specifications

Salem's adoption

🖤 REHOMED 🖤

Some guitars shout for attention.

Salem never needed to.

Seven strings, Satin Black and that unmistakable Jackson headstock did all the talking.

After receiving extensive fretwork and a professional extended-range setup, Salem found his forever home and is no longer available for adoption.

His page remains permanently in The Stray Chord Rehomed Archive, documenting his rehabilitation and providing a reference for players researching the Jackson JS22-7 DKA HT seven-string guitar.

Rescue • Restore • Rehome