Examine the headstock of the guitar. Jackson guitars are known for their pointy-style headstock that typically is a solid color and includes "Jackson" in the company's cursive font. Jackson produces eight styles of electric guitars, six of which include this trademark headstock: the Dinky, the Kelly, the King V, the Rhoads, the Soloist and the Warrior. The traditional headstock used on these guitars either is aimed downward or upward, but it always features Jackson's trademark sharp angles. The guitar is either the Dominion or the San Dimas if it doesn't have a sharp headstock. The Dominion model features a Gibson-style headstock, with three tuners on either side. The San Dimas headstock is similar to a Fender Stratocaster.
Examine the position markers on the frets of the guitar. Jackson often uses its signature "shark fin," triangle-shaped fret markers. Almost all of Jackson's stock guitars use this style of position marker, with the exception of the San Dimas. The markers are thick, starting at the headstock end, and get pointier as they get closer to the guitar's body.
Examine the guitar's body shape. Many Jackson guitar bodies are pointy and sharp because the company was formed when heavy metal was one of the most popular musical genres of the time. The Warrior, for example, is shaped like an "X." The King V and Rhoads feature a "V" shape. All of Jackson guitars comprise a solid body.
Look at the guitar's pickups. Jackson guitars commonly use Jackson's humbucker-style covered pickup with "Jackson" lettering on its bottom. The other commonly used pickup on Jackson guitars is the Seymour Duncan open-style humbucker.
Look at the guitar's hardware. Jackson frequently uses Floyd Rose tremolo systems on its guitars. The Dinky, the Kelly, the King V, the Rhoads, the San Dimas, the Soloist and the Warrior body styles use Floyd Rose tremolos.