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ESP LTD JR-208
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune
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Playability
75
Sound
67
Build
55
Value
71
Score
66
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Playability
77
Sound
81
Build
70
Value
71
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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LTD JR-208 vs BW-1 Evertune

Reasons to Get
LTD JR-208 over BW-1 Evertune

Release Year
2020 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Multi-Voicing
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Strings
8 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Nut Width
2.126'' (54mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Evertune
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune over JR-208

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs Coil Split
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Strings
6 vs 8
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 2.126'' (54mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Evertune vs Fixed
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 27'' (685.8mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output

Other Key Differences
LTD JR-208 vs BW-1 Evertune

Bridge Pickup
ESP Designed LH-308B vs Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
ESP Designed LH-308N vs Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Jatoba vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-4 vs 3-3
Different Headstock

Shared Features
LTD JR-208 vs BW-1 Evertune

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm)
Same neck comfortability
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Neck Profile Type
U
Comfortable neck with more grip
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the ESP LTD JR-208's 66 score, which is a significant difference.

The ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the ESP LTD JR-208 has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD JR-208
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

ESP LTD JR-208 Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2020 Signature series
  • Javier Reyes Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Roasted Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ESP Designed LH-308B (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: ESP Designed LH-308N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • LTD Fixed Bridge w/ string thru bridge
  • Thin U Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2014 Signature series
  • Ben Weinman Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune (F model) bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • Weight between 8.05lbs (3.7kgs) and 8.3lbs (3.8kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD JR-208

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Winner: ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

The ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune pickups from a more specialized brand than the ESP LTD JR-208. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Heavy Metal and similar genres.

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune's online:

The ESP LTD JR-208's pickups are Passive while the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The ESP LTD JR-208 offers Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune comes with the following: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

ESP LTD JR-208 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD JR-208's switch options
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: ESP LTD JR-208.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP LTD JR-208
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 67
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 81

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the ESP LTD JR-208 compares to the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Plastic nuts. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The ESP LTD JR-208's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune's is a Evertune. It will keep your guitar in tune and intonated until the next string swap. If you really like extremely subtle vibratos, this might not be the bridge for you because you won't be able to perform them as well. However, the fact that you won't need to tune your guitar is a huge advantage that many people will gladly pay the extra price for.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune.

Tuners

The ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

The ESP LTD JR-208 has a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune comes with Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

Winner: ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD JR-208
  • Expensive Wood
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP LTD JR-208
Quality of materials 41
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 55
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune
Quality of materials 50
Features 80
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 70

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

ESP LTD JR-208 Nut Width
ESP LTD JR-208 Nut Width
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune Nut Width
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP LTD JR-208 has the wider nut with 54mm (2.126'') vs 43mm (1.693''). This is a 11mm (0.433'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the ESP LTD JR-208, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

ESP LTD JR-208's Scale Length
ESP LTD JR-208's Scale Length
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune's Scale Length
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The ESP LTD JR-208 has the longest scale: 27". The ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune is only 25.5" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

ESP LTD JR-208 Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the ESP LTD JR-208 and the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune have a U-shaped neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

Fretboard Radius

ESP LTD JR-208 Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD JR-208's Fingerboard radius
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the ESP LTD JR-208's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the ESP LTD JR-208.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the ESP LTD JR-208 favors large hands more than the ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune.

ESP LTD JR-208:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD JR-208 and ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune Frets Size
Both have a similar XL Jumbo fret size

Both have a XL Jumbo fret size. These are really tall frets made like this so you don't meet any resistance when playing techniques like vibrato, bending, tapping, etc. They should make the guitar easier to play, but you have to be careful not to get the notes out of pitch by pressing down too hard, which might happen since the fretboard will be too low to stop your hand.

Final Playability Scores

ESP LTD JR-208
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75
ESP LTD BW-1 Evertune
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD JR-208 vs BW-1 Evertune
General LTD JR-208 BW-1 Evertune
Brand: ESP LTD ESP LTD
Year: 2020 2014
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 8 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Signature Signature
Colors: Blue Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Semi-Hollow
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: LTD Fixed Bridge w/ string thru Evertune (F model)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: LTD LTD Locking
Fretboard: Roasted Jatoba Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Maple 3pc Maple
Decoration: Offset Blocks Offset Blocks
Scale Size: 27" 25.5"
Shape: Thin U Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 13.78"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 54mm (2.126'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: ESP Designed LH-308B (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: ESP Designed LH-308N (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Speed
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1