Adrian Smith, famed as the guitarist of the legendary rock band Iron Maiden, has collaborated with Jackson to bring forth a series of signature guitars that reflect his preferences and playing style.
These guitars are not just representations of Smith’s musical vision but are also instruments that offer versatility, reliability, and exceptional playability to musicians globally.
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Who Is Adrian Smith?
Adrian Smith has been an influential figure in rock and metal scenes since the 1980s, with his intricate solos and powerful riffs becoming defining elements of Iron Maiden’s sound.
Adrian Frederick Smith was born on 27 February 1957. Smith grew up in London and became interested in rock music at the age of 15. He bought his first record, Deep Purple’s Machine Head, and this led him to become friends with Dave Murray (future Iron Maiden guitarist). Together they formed a band called Stone Free, which consisted of Murray on guitar, Smith on vocals and their friend Dave McClaughlin on bongos.
After seeing the attention Murray was getting from girls, Smith took up the guitar, starting with an old Spanish guitar that once belonged to his brother. He then bought Murray’s old guitar for £5. He was influenced by musicians such as Johnny Winter and Pat Travers. He has said that he was inspired by blues rock rather than metal.
After leaving high school at 16, Smith formed a band called Evil Ways, which included Dave Murray on guitar. It was later renamed Urchin. Smith began writing his own material, including a song called “Countdown,” which evolved into “22 Acacia Avenue,” later included on Iron Maiden’s album The Number of the Beast (1982).
For two years, Smith worked as a waterman and fisheries inspector at Walthamstow Reservoirs.
Dave Murray left Urchin to join Iron Maiden. The band Iron Maiden was founded by bassist Steve Harris in the mid-1970s.
Urchin then signed to DJM Records and released the single “Black Leather Fantasy” in 1977.
Murray returned to Urchin shortly afterwards to record their next single, “She’s a Roller,” having been fired from Iron Maiden after a falling out with vocalist Dennis Wilcock. However, within six months Murray had returned to Iron Maiden. Smith was also offered a place in Iron Maiden when they were in the process of signing to EMI in 1979, but turned it down in order to continue playing in his own band.
Shortly after the breakup of Urchin (1980), Smith met Steve Harris and Dave Murray on the street in his local area, and they asked him to reconsider joining Iron Maiden as a replacement for guitarist Dennis Stratton. This time, Smith accepted the offer, and made his debut with the band on the Rockpop in Concert TV show in Munich on 8 November 1980.
The band then toured the UK and recorded the album Killers, released in 1981. On The Number of the Beast, Smith co-wrote the songs “Gangland” and “The Prisoner,” as well as “22 Acacia Avenue.” He then co-wrote songs with singer Bruce Dickinson on the next album, Piece of Mind.
Smith and Dave Murray combined their dual lead guitar playing. Smith, along with Steve Harris, also provides backing vocals for the band and sings lead on “Reach Out.”
By the time they released their third album, The Number of the Beast, in 1982, the band had firmly established themselves as heavy metal’s brightest stars.
The Number of the Beast also marked guitarist Adrian Smith’s first songwriting contribution to the band. A childhood friend of Dave Murray, Smith joined Iron Maiden in 1980 and recorded the album Killers in 1981.
While Iron Maiden took a short break in 1989, Smith released a solo album with the band ASAP (Adrian Smith And Project), entitled Silver and Gold, which was a commercial failure despite a club tour promoting it.
Adrian was unhappy with the direction the band were taking for their next release, No Prayer for the Dying. After releasing the more progressive albums Somewhere in Time (1986) and Seventh Son of a Seventh Son (1988), Steve Harris decided the band should take a more stripped-down approach to their music, which Smith felt was a step backwards.
Smith left Iron Maiden in 1990 during the album’s pre-production phase and was replaced by Janick Gers. No Prayer for the Dying contained one final song by Smith, co-written with Bruce Dickinson, called “Hooks in You.”
After leaving Maiden, Smith auditioned to replace Steve Clarke in Def Leppard. But the position eventually went to former Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell.
Smith joined Iron Maiden on stage at Donington Park in 1992 for “Running Free.” This performance was included on the live album Live at Donington.
That same year, he heard King’s X for the first time, and decided that he wanted to play in a band like that. He formed The Untouchables, which later became Psycho Motel. The band recorded two albums, State of Mind in 1995 and Welcome to the World in 1997, during which they supported Iron Maiden on the UK leg of The X Factour.
However, the project was put on hold when Smith joined Bruce Dickinson for his 1997 album Accident of Birth. He then became a full-time member of Dickinson’s solo project, embarking on two world tours.
In 1999, Smith rejoined Iron Maiden along with vocalist Bruce Dickinson, and the band has enjoyed renewed success.
Bruce talk about Adrian:
“When he left the band in 1990, I think everybody was a bit surprised at how much we missed him and certainly, I don’t think anybody had realized how much the fans would miss him – big time. I wouldn’t have rejoined Iron Maiden if he wasn’t in the band. I just don’t think it would have been complete without Adrian, and now, it’s great having three guitarists.”
The band went on a short tour, after which they recorded the album Brave New World with producer Kevin Shirley, which was released in 2000.
Adrian has released five more studio albums with Iron Maiden: Dance of Death (2003), A Matter of Life and Death (2006), The Final Frontier (2010), The Book of Souls (2015), and Senjutsu (2021).
Smith has said that his guitar playing improved after leaving the band in 1990, particularly while working with Roy Z, from whom he learned a lot.
Since returning to Iron Maiden, he has also continued to experiment with tuning, stating that he used drop D tuning in live performances of “Run to the Hills,” “Wrathchild,” “The Trooper” and “Hallowed Be Thy Name.”
Although Smith was previously known for writing shorter, more “commercial” tracks, he has written many longer songs since his return to the band, such as “Paschendale” from Dance of Death.
In 2011, Smith formed the side project Primal Rock Rebellion with Mikey Goodman. They released the album Awoken Broken in February 2012.
In 2020, Smith collaborated with Richie Kotzen under the name Smith/Kotzen. Ultimate Classic Rock described the project’s sound as a mix of blues, traditional R&B and hard rock. Their self-titled debut album was released in March 2021.
With timeless songs and thrilling live performances, Iron Maiden continues to record and tour the world.
Jackson USA Signature Adrian Smith San Dimas Series (SD, SDM, SDQM)
The collaboration between Adrian Smith and Jackson began with a shared passion for creating high-quality guitars. The idea was to manifest Adrian’s musical vision into tangible instruments that would cater to musicians globally.
Adrian Smith, with his profound knowledge of guitar dynamics and sound, played a pivotal role in guiding the design, features, and tonal characteristics of his signature models.
He was keen on having guitars that were not only sonically versatile but also visually striking, reflecting his onstage presence and personality.
Adrian Smith’s USA Signature San Dimas models are built to meet the high-quality standards synonymous with Jackson’s craftsmanship. They are well-suited for musicians who are into rock and metal genres but can also cater to a broad range of musical styles due to their versatility.
“Jackson sent me a prototype to try out. I got it out of the box and played it for about three years. That was my main guitar. I said I just like the way it is. It’s the quality of the workmanship.”
“To be honest, if I have to mess around with a guitar too much, I kind of lose interest in it. It’s got to be basically right, or just out of the box {where} I can just take them and plug them in and play straight away. And that’s the consistency of them.”
– Adrian Smith about his Jackson signature models.
The San Dimas models feature a balanced and ergonomic design that provides smooth movement and reach across the entire neck. The body contours are made for long playing sessions, providing comfort and reducing fatigue.
Not only do these instruments sound exceptional, they also look stunning, enhancing the overall playing experience.
The USA Signature Adrian Smith San Dimas® features a resonant, lightweight alder body and bolt-on, quarter-sawn maple neck with a hand-rubbed urethane back for smooth playability and a pair of stable graphite rods.
The 12″-16″ compound radius maple fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets and black dot inlays is ideal for heavy chords and fast, punchy solos. The truss rod adjustment wheel on the heel allows for quick and easy neck contour adjustments.
The DiMarzio® Super Distortion® DP100 humbucker in the bridge adds the perfect blend of power and tone with thick, boosted mids, powerful lows, and fat highs. The Samarium Cobalt Noiseless Single-Coil Strat® in the middle and neck delivers the authentic, silent click of a Stratocaster® with incredible dynamics and magnetic response.
A five-way selector switch along with separate volume and tone controls offer endless tonal possibilities. While the Floyd Rose® Original double-locking tremolo system keeps the guitar in tune during the roughest playing.
Adrian Smith’s USA Signature San Dimas guitars are built to provide reliability and durability. The quality of construction ensures that these guitars will withstand the rigors of intense playing, whether during rehearsals, recording or live performance. These are instruments built for those who seek uncompromising quality and reliable performance.
Specification Table
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| BODY | |
| Body Material | Ontano |
| Body Finish | Gloss |
| Body Shape | San Dimas® Style 1 |
| NECK | |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Neck Material | Quartersawn Maple |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On with Graphite Reinforcement |
| Neck Finish | Hand-Rubbed Urethane |
| Scale Length | 25.5″ (64.77 cm) |
| Fingerboard Material | Maple |
| Fingerboard Radius | 12″-16″ Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm) |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
| Fret Size | Jumbo |
| Nut Material | Floyd Rose® Original Locking |
| Nut Width | 1.625″ (41.3 mm) |
| Position Inlays | A Punto Nero |
| Truss Rod | Dual-Action |
| Truss Rod Nut | Heel-Mount Truss Rod Adjustment Wheel |
| ELECTRONICS | |
| Bridge Pickup | DiMarzio® Super Distortion® DP100 |
| Middle Pickup | Samarium Cobalt Noiseless™ (SCN) Single-Coil Strat® |
| Neck Pickup | Samarium Cobalt Noiseless™ (SCN) Single-Coil Strat® |
| Controls | Volume, Tone |
| Switching | 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup |
| Configuration | HSS |
| HARDWARE | |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose® Original Double-Locking Tremolo |
| Hardware Finish | Black |
| Tuning Machines | Jackson® Sealed Die-Cast |
| Pickguard | 1-Ply |
| Control Knobs | Dome-Style |
| Switch Tip | Black |
| Neck Plate | Jackson® |
Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith (SDX, SDXM, SDXQM)
The X Series Signature Adrian Smith models are designed for those looking for quality at a more affordable price. These models maintain a standard of craftsmanship, making them a valuable choice for both beginners and experienced players.
Like the San Dimas models, the X Series also offers versatile sound options. Whether you prefer clean, ambient sounds or aggressive, distorted tones, these guitars have you covered.
The ergonomic design reduces playing strain, allowing players to focus on their creativity and technique.
The Adrian Smith X Series models are built to withstand the rigors of regular playing, delivering durability and consistent performance.
The Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith features a San Dimas® poplar body with an elegant quilted maple top, a graphite-reinforced bolt-on maple neck, and a 12″-16″ radius composite maple fingerboard with 22 jumbo frets, black dot inlays, and a licensed Fender® Strat® headstock.
The X Series Adrian Smith features an HSS pickup configuration and features a high-output Jackson humbucker in the bridge, a single-coil in the middle, and a single-coil in the neck with five-way blade switching and volume and tone controls. The Floyd Rose® Special dual-locking, non-recessed tremolo bridge provides unmatched stability and consistent tuning.
Specification Table
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| BODY | |
| Body Material | Pioppo |
| Body Finish | Gloss |
| Body Shape | San Dimas® |
| NECK | |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On with Graphite Reinforcement |
| Neck Finish | Satin |
| Scale Length | 25.5″ (64.77 cm) |
| Fingerboard Material | Maple |
| Fingerboard Radius | 12″-16″ Compound Radius (304.8 mm to 406.4 mm) |
| Number of Frets | 22 |
| Fret Size | Jumbo |
| Nut Material | Floyd Rose® Locking |
| Nut Width | 1.6875″ (42.86 mm) |
| Position Inlays | A Punto Nero |
| Truss Rod | Dual-Action |
| Truss Rod Nut | Vintage-Style Butt Adjust |
| ELECTRONICS | |
| Bridge Pickup | Jackson® High-Output Humbucking |
| Middle Pickup | Jackson® Single-Coil |
| Neck Pickup | Jackson® Single-Coil |
| Controls | Volume, Tone |
| Switching | 5-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup, Position 3. Middle Pickup, Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup, Position 5. Neck Pickup |
| Configuration | HSS |
| HARDWARE | |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose® Special Double-Locking Tremolo |
| Hardware Finish | Black |
| Tuning Machines | Jackson® Sealed Die-Cast |
| Pickguard | 1-Ply |
| Control Knobs | Dome-Style |
| Neck Plate | Jackson® |