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Ibanez NDM5
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle
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Playability
72
Sound
70
Build
55
Value
71
Score
66
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Playability
77
Sound
73
Build
60
Value
75
Score
70
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Ibanez NDM5 vs Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle

Reasons to Get
Ibanez NDM5 over Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickups
P90P90 vs HSS
Vintage tone with decent versatility
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Reasons to Get
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle over Ibanez NDM5

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 9"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Nut Material
Locking vs Plastic
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs P90P90
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Value Score
75 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez NDM5 vs Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan P90 Stack vs Jackson High-Output Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan P90 Stack vs Jackson High-Output Mini Rail Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez NDM5 vs Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle

Body Wood
Basswood
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
D
Thin and flat neck for playing fast

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • 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 Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle is probably the better product overall with its final score of 70 compared to the Ibanez NDM5's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Ibanez NDM5 in every aspect.

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?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Ibanez NDM5 is the better choice.

The Ibanez NDM5 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle 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

Ibanez NDM5
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • 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.

Ibanez NDM5 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2020 NDM series
  • Noodles Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan P90 Stack (P90/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • F106 bridge
  • NDM Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 X series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Jackson High-Output Mini Rail Humbucking (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson High-Output Mini Rail Humbucking (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) bridge
  • Jackson Standard Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 7.1lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.45lbs (3.4kgs)
  • 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
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

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.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Ibanez NDM5

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.

Woods Used in the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

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.

Winner: Ibanez NDM5.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez NDM5 has an P90P90 configuration while the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle has HSS pickups.

P90P90 gives you two P90s for a crunchy vintage tone. The tone sits somewhere in the middle between typical single-coils and humbuckers. They also produce less hum than single-coils, but they don't cancel it completely like humbuckers.

On the other hand, HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

Pickups Quality

The Ibanez NDM5 has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Blues and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Ibanez NDM5's and use them on any guitar:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Ibanez NDM5.

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 Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez NDM5 gives you 3. This means that the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Ibanez NDM5 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez NDM5's switch options
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle'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: Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez NDM5
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 70
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 73

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 Ibanez NDM5 compares to the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez NDM5 is built in Indonesia while the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle is made in China.

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.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Winner: Ibanez NDM5

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 Ibanez NDM5 has 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.

On the other hand, the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

Winner: Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle.

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 Ibanez NDM5'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 Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle's is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

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: Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Ibanez NDM5's are Ibanez while the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle'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 Ibanez NDM5 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 SL3X DX Crackle 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 SL3X DX Crackle.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez NDM5
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • 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 SL3X DX Crackle
  • Locking Nut
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez NDM5
Quality of materials 46
Features 50
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 55
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle
Quality of materials 41
Features 80
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 60

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

Ibanez NDM5 Nut Width
Ibanez NDM5 Nut Width
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle Nut Width
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Ibanez NDM5 and Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle'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 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

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

Ibanez NDM5 Neck Profile
Ibanez NDM5's neck profile
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle Neck Profile
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle'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.

Both the Ibanez NDM5 and the Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle have a D-shaped 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

Ibanez NDM5 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez NDM5's Fingerboard radius
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle'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 SL3X DX Crackle 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.

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

Ibanez NDM5:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez NDM5 Frets Size
Ibanez NDM5's Frets Size
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle Frets Size
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle's Frets Size

The Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez NDM5's Medium 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

Ibanez NDM5
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72
Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 100
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez NDM5 vs Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle
General Ibanez NDM5 Jackson X Series Soloist SL3X DX Crackle
Brand: Ibanez Jackson
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: P90P90 HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: NDM X
Colors: Sunburst Gold, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Basswood
Bridge: F106 Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: Ibanez Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Ebony Laurel
Neck Material: 3pc Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot Pearloid Sharkfin
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: NDM Jackson Standard
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9" 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan P90 Stack (P90 / Passive) Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Jackson High-Output Mini Rail Humbucking (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan P90 Stack (P90 / Passive) Jackson High-Output Mini Rail Humbucking (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1