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ESP LTD JR-608
Ibanez RG80F
VS
Playability
78
Sound
79
Build
77
Value
68
Score
78
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Playability
75
Sound
75
Build
55
Value
73
Score
68
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LTD JR-608 vs Ibanez RG80F

Reasons to Get
LTD JR-608 over Ibanez RG80F

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Wizard II-8
Comfortable neck with more grip
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Plastic
Good tuning stability with rich tone
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
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
Nut Width
2.126'' (54mm) vs 2.165'' (55mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RG80F over ESP LTD JR-608

Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Wizard II-8 vs Thin U
Thin neck for playing fast
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
Nut Width
2.165'' (55mm) vs 2.126'' (54mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
73 vs 68
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
LTD JR-608 vs Ibanez RG80F

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker vs Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic-8
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker vs Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico-8
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Meranti
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
LTD JR-608 vs Ibanez RG80F

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
4-4
Same Headstock
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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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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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 Ibanez RG80F's 68 score, which is a significant difference.

The ESP LTD JR-608 wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Ibanez RG80F has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Ibanez RG80F is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP LTD JR-608 is the better choice.

The ESP LTD JR-608 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RG80F 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-608
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RG80F
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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-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 >

Ibanez RG80F Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 RG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Meranti body
  • Maple/Walnut neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic-8 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico-8 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • F108 bridge
  • Wizard II-8 Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Ibanez 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-608

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

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.

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 Ibanez RG80F

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Meranti wood pattern used for guitar building
Meranti

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Meranti is an affordable wood used mainly for affordable electric guitars. It's generally lighter and softer than Mahogany. Find out more about Meranti.

Winner: ESP LTD JR-608.

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 Ibanez RG80F's online:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

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 Ibanez RG80F 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 offer you the same type of pickup mod: 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-608 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD JR-608's switch options
Ibanez RG80F pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RG80F'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: Ibanez RG80F.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP LTD JR-608
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 79
Ibanez RG80F
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 75

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 Ibanez RG80F.

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 Ibanez RG80F comes with a Plastic nut. 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.

Winner: ESP LTD JR-608.

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

The ESP LTD JR-608 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 JR-608.

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 Ibanez RG80F 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
Ibanez RG80F
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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
Ibanez RG80F
Quality of materials 41
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 55

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
ESP LTD JR-608 Nut Width
Ibanez RG80F Nut Width
Ibanez RG80F Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RG80F has the wider nut with 55mm (2.165'') vs 54mm (2.126''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RG80F, 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-608 and Ibanez RG80F's Scale Length
Both have the same 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, both have a scale length of 27".

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
ESP LTD JR-608's neck profile
Ibanez RG80F Neck Profile
Ibanez RG80F'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-608 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 Ibanez RG80F, on the other hand, has a Wizard neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

Fretboard Radius

ESP LTD JR-608 Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD JR-608's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez RG80F Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RG80F'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 Ibanez RG80F'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 Ibanez RG80F.

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-608 favors large hands more than the Ibanez RG80F.

ESP LTD JR-608:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez RG80F:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD JR-608 Frets Size
ESP LTD JR-608's Frets Size
Ibanez RG80F Frets Size
Ibanez RG80F's Frets Size

The ESP LTD JR-608 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez RG80F'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-608
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78
Ibanez RG80F
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD JR-608 vs Ibanez RG80F
General LTD JR-608 Ibanez RG80F
Brand: ESP LTD Ibanez
Year: 2020 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 8 8
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Signature RG
Colors: Faded Blue Sunburst Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Swamp Ash Meranti
Bridge: Hipshot w/ String Thru F108
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Bolt-On
Tuners: LTD Locking Ibanez
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: 5Pc Walnut/Maple/Padauk Maple/Walnut
Decoration: Offset Blocks White Dot
Scale Size: 27" 27"
Shape: Thin U Wizard II-8
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: 13.78" 16"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Plastic
Nut Width: 54mm (2.126'') 55mm (2.165'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic-8 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Javier Reyes Open Core Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico-8 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1