Jackson Guitars LTD Legend Series Signature Marty Friedman Kelly KE-1

This guitar belongs to the Jackson Legend Series Limited Edition range: the “LTD” designation here refers to the limited edition, not to the ESP LTD brand.

Marty Friedman's Kelly Reclaims Its Place in the Legend Series

With this KE-1, Jackson brings back a particularly sought-after signature model from the late 1990s. This goes beyond simple aesthetic inspiration: this reissue was developed from the original instrument in order to recapture its essential characteristics and visual identity. The white “1” on the side of the body is one of the most recognizable details of this reproduction.

The Legend Series celebrates instruments associated with several major figures in metal. The KE-1 holds a unique place in the lineup: that of an intentionally stripped-down signature electric guitar, where the neck-through construction, bridge pickup and fixed bridge all serve the same pursuit of precision. It will appeal both to fans of Marty Friedman's universe and to musicians drawn to this specialized configuration.

For Guitarists Who Prioritize Phrasing and Precision

This Jackson Kelly seems particularly well suited to intermediate and advanced guitarists working on articulate riffs, melodic solos and expressive bends. Its specifications naturally lend themselves to hard rock, heavy metal and thrash. A motivated beginner can also take it on, provided they are looking for a guitar with a strong character rather than a configuration offering multiple pickup positions. This focus stems from its construction and minimalist electronics.

The 12- to 16-inch compound-radius key retains a more pronounced curve near the nut before gradually flattening out toward the upper frets. This geometry offers an interesting compromise between chord work and lead playing. The 24 jumbo frets and neck-through construction complete a design geared toward fluidity, especially when phrases extend into the upper register.

A Seymour Duncan JB for Biting Rhythms and Singing Solos

The Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 installed at the bridge sets the tone. This humbucker combines pronounced lows, detailed highs and an emphasis on the upper mids. With a distorted sound, this character adds definition to chords and helps lead notes retain a singing presence. Its output level effectively drives the amplification without limiting its appeal to extreme distortion alone.

The controls are reduced to a volume knob, with no selector to interrupt your playing. To vary their expression, players therefore rely on their picking attack, volume and amplifier settings. This configuration does not seek to reproduce the tonal range of a multi-pickup guitar; it favors a distinctive bridge voice that is immediately available.

The alder body and three-piece maple neck-through construction form the instrument's mechanical foundation. Jackson highlights the sustain and upper-fret access provided by this construction. The Kahler 7330 is indeed a fixed bridge, with no vibrato: it complements this architecture with a stable platform for hard picking and bends while preserving a direct playing approach.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To retain the original string gauge, choose a set of six nickel-plated steel electric guitar strings ranging from 0.009 to 0.042 inches / 0.229 to 1.067 mm. As the Jackson KE-1 foam-core case is included, there is no need to add generic protection whose fit to the Kelly shape would be uncertain.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	H	Body	Alder
Category	Extreme	Bridge / tailpiece	Fixed
Left handed	No	Electronics	Passive
Strings	Steel	Electroacoustic	No
Nbr of strings	6	Color	Black
Fingerboard	Ebony	Finishing	Glossy
Nbrs of frets	24	Hardware	Black

Type	solid-body electric guitar	Nut width	42.86 mm / 1.6875 inches
Format	Jackson Kelly	Headstock	pointed Jackson, six-in-line tuners
Wood	alder	Headstock binding	white, single-ply
Decoration	white “1” on the side of the body	Truss rod	dual-action, headstock adjustment
Construction	neck-through	Bridge	fixed Kahler 7330 Series
Material	three-piece maple	Tuners	Jackson
Key	ebony	Hardware finishing	Black
Neck binding	white, single-ply	Control knob	dome-shaped
Scale length	25.5 inches / 648 mm	Strap buttons	standard, non-locking
Compound radius	12 to 16 inches / 304.8 to 406.4 mm	Configuration	one humbucker, H
Number of frets	24	Bridge pickup	Seymour Duncan JB TB-4
Fret size	jumbo	Pickup color	Black
Key inlays	pearloid sharkfin	Control	master volume
Side dots	Black	Selector switch	none
Nut	graphite