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ESP LTD JR-208
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
VS
Playability
75
Sound
67
Build
55
Value
71
Score
66
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Playability
82
Sound
71
Build
62
Value
77
Score
72
FIND IT ON:
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LTD JR-208 vs Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS

Reasons to Get
LTD JR-208 over Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Scale Length
27" vs 28" to 26"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Jackson Standard
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS over ESP LTD JR-208

Scale Length
28" to 26" vs 27"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 15.75"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Jackson Standard vs Thin U
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups Brand
EMG vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
77 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
LTD JR-208 vs Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS

Bridge Pickup
ESP Designed LH-308B vs EMG 909
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
ESP Designed LH-308N vs EMG 909
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Jatoba vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
LTD JR-208 vs Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
4-4
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
8
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
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
Nut Width
2.126'' (54mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • 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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Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the ESP LTD JR-208's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the ESP LTD JR-208 in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS is the better choice.

The Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP LTD JR-208 meets only 4. 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.

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

Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 >

Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 X series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 28" to 26"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 909 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 909 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Staggered Individual Saddles bridge
  • Jackson Standard Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • 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

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.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD JR-208

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

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 Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

Winner: ESP LTD JR-208.

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 Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS 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 Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's online:

The ESP LTD JR-208's pickups are Passive while the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS'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: Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS.

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.

Only the ESP LTD JR-208 comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

ESP LTD JR-208 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD JR-208's switch options
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS'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
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 49
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71

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 Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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.

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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The ESP LTD JR-208's are LTD while the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's are Jackson Sealed Die-Cast

Winner: Tie.

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 Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS 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: Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS.

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
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • 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
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
Quality of materials 41
Features 75
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62

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
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 54mm (2.126'').

This is considered a wide width for a 8-string guitar. It gives your fingers the extra space you need to play without muting accidentally, but this also makes bar chords harder to perform, especially if you have small hands.

Scale Length

ESP LTD JR-208's Scale Length
ESP LTD JR-208's Scale Length
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's Scale Length
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS'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.

In this case, the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS features a multi-scale of 28" to 26" while the ESP LTD JR-208 has a regular scale of 27".

A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD JR-208's 27" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This is a scale used for baritones and guitars with more than 6 strings. Since the scale is so long, the tension of the strings will be higher. This means that bending will require a lot more strength than with a shorter scale. However, it also allows you to use really low tunings without causing fret buzz and without needing to increase your string gauge too much.

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
ESP LTD JR-208's neck profile
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Neck Profile
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's 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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The ESP LTD JR-208 has a U type of 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.

The Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

ESP LTD JR-208 Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD JR-208's Fingerboard radius
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's Compound Fretboard 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 Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

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 Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS.

ESP LTD JR-208:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD JR-208 Frets Size
ESP LTD JR-208's Frets Size
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Frets Size
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's Frets Size

The ESP LTD JR-208 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

ESP LTD JR-208
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 100
Playability 82

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD JR-208 vs Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
General LTD JR-208 Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
Brand: ESP LTD Jackson
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 8 8
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Signature X
Colors: Blue Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Poplar
Bridge: LTD Fixed Bridge w/ string thru Staggered Individual Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: LTD Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Roasted Jatoba Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Offset Blocks
Scale Size: 27" 28" to 26"
Shape: Thin U Jackson Standard
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 54mm (2.126'') 54mm (2.126'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: ESP Designed LH-308B (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 909 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: ESP Designed LH-308N (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 909 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1