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ESP LTD JR-608
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale
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Playability
78
Sound
79
Build
77
Value
68
Score
78
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Playability
78
Sound
80
Build
70
Value
76
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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LTD JR-608 vs M-1008 Multi-Scale

Reasons to Get
LTD JR-608 over M-1008 Multi-Scale

Scale Length
27" vs 27" to 25.5"
Easier to adapt to
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
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
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

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale over JR-608

Scale Length
27" to 25.5" vs 27"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Multi-Voicing
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Avg. Weight
7.8lbs (3.5kgs) vs 9.425lbs (4.3kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Value Score
76 vs 68
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
LTD JR-608 vs M-1008 Multi-Scale

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker vs Seymour Duncan Nazgul
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker vs Seymour Duncan Sentient
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Headstock
4-4 vs 8
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
LTD JR-608 vs M-1008 Multi-Scale

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
8
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
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
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
Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs Flamed Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP LTD JR-608 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale's 76 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP LTD JR-608 wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale has the upper hand when it comes to sound, value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 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-608
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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-608 Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2020 Signature series
  • Javier Reyes Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Swamp Ash body
  • 5Pc Walnut/Maple/Padauk neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Hipshot w/ String Thru bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • Weight between 9.05lbs (4.1kgs) and 9.8lbs (4.4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2020 M series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 27" to 25.5"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 5pc Maple/Purple Heart neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Nazgul (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot w/ String Thru bridge
  • Thin U Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.3lbs (3.3kgs) 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
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

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.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD JR-608

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

Winner: Tie.

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

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

You can purchase similar pickups to the ESP LTD JR-608's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale's online:

The ESP LTD JR-608's pickups are Active while the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale's are Passive.

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: Tie.

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

The ESP LTD JR-608 gives you 5 switch options while the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale gives you 3. This means that the ESP LTD JR-608 gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The ESP LTD JR-608 offers 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.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale comes with the following: 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-608 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD JR-608's switch options
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale'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 M-1008 Multi-Scale.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP LTD JR-608
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 79
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 80

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-608 compares to the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale.

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.

The ESP LTD JR-608 has a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

On the other hand, the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

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

They both have 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: 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-608 has a 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.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale comes with 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.

Winner: ESP LTD JR-608.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD JR-608
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP LTD JR-608
Quality of materials 65
Features 80
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 77
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale
Quality of materials 65
Features 70
Quality Control 75
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-608 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-608's Scale Length
ESP LTD JR-608's Scale Length
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale's Scale Length
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale'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 ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale features a multi-scale of 27" to 25.5" while the ESP LTD JR-608 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-608'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-608 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-608 and the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale 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-608 Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD JR-608's Fingerboard radius
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale'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 JR-608's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale'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 M-1008 Multi-Scale.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor large hands .

ESP LTD JR-608:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD JR-608 and ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale 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-608
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78
ESP LTD M-1008 Multi-Scale
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD JR-608 vs M-1008 Multi-Scale
General LTD JR-608 M-1008 Multi-Scale
Brand: ESP LTD ESP LTD
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 8 8
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Signature M
Colors: Faded Blue Sunburst Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Swamp Ash Mahogany
Bridge: Hipshot w/ String Thru Hipshot w/ String Thru
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Bolt-On
Tuners: LTD Locking LTD Locking
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: 5Pc Walnut/Maple/Padauk 5pc Maple/Purple Heart
Decoration: Offset Blocks Offset Dots
Scale Size: 27" 27" to 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: 13.78" 15.75"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Bone
Nut Width: 54mm (2.126'') 54mm (2.126'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Seymour Duncan Nazgul (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1