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Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH
VS
Playability
75
Sound
65
Build
52
Value
74
Score
64
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Playability
77
Sound
71
Build
64
Value
76
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT vs X Series Soloist SLX LH

Reasons to Get
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT over X Series Soloist SLX LH

Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.875'' (47.6mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH over JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2020 vs 2018
From a more recent year
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
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.775'' (19.7mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.835'' (21.2mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.875'' (47.6mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
76 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT vs X Series Soloist SLX LH

Bridge Pickup
Jackson High-Output 7-String Humbucking vs Duncan Designed HB-103B
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Jackson High-Output 7-String Humbucking vs Duncan Designed HB-103N
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Purpleheart vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-4 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT vs X Series Soloist SLX LH

Body Wood
Poplar
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Compound Radius
12" to 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile Type
D
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Compound Radius Fretboard

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH 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 SLX LH is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT 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 Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT is the better choice.

The Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH 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

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH
  • 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.

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT Overview

  • From Jackson's 2018 JS series
  • Made in China
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Purpleheart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output 7-String Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson High-Output 7-String Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Jackson HT7 String-Through-Body Hardtail bridge
  • Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 X series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Duncan Designed HB-103B (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Duncan Designed HB-103N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) 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
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

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.

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.

Woods Used in the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT

Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart

Purpleheart (also known as Amaranth) is a hard, dense wood with a brilliant tone. As its name suggests, the purple color makes this wood look exotic.

Woods Used in the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH

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: 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

None of these use a specialized pickup brand for their pickups. Some of the best guitars on the market come with pickups from brands like EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. You might want to replace your pickups eventually if you want to get the best sound out of any of these instruments.

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: 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

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

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

They both share the following switching options:

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT and Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT and Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH'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 SLX LH.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 65
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 85
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 Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT compares to the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT is built in China while the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH is made in Indonesia.

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.

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: Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH

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 Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT 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 SLX LH 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 SLX LH.

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 Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT'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 SLX LH'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 SLX LH.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. Both come with 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 Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT 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 SLX LH 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 SLX LH.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH
  • Locking Nut
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT
Quality of materials 41
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 52
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH
Quality of materials 41
Features 80
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 64

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

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT Nut Width
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT Nut Width
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH Nut Width
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT has the wider nut with 47.6mm (1.875'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 4.7mm (0.187'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT's Scale Length
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT's Scale Length
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH's Scale Length
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH'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 Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT has the longest scale: 26.5". The Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH is only 25.5" long. This is a 1'' (25.4mm) 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

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT Neck Profile
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT's neck profile
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH Neck Profile
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH'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 Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT and the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH 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

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT'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.

Both have a compound radius. This means both offer you the best craftsmanship when it comes to fretboard design. You'll have an arc to help you play chords close to the nut, while also having a flat design at the higher frets for faster soloing and easier bends.

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 .

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT and Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH Frets Size
Both have a similar Jumbo fret size

Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.

Final Playability Scores

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX LH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 100
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT vs X Series Soloist SLX LH
General Jackson JS Series Dinky Arch Top JS32-7 DKA HT X Series Soloist SLX LH
Brand: Jackson Jackson
Year: 2018 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 6
Made in: China Indonesia
Series: JS X
Colors: White Black Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Poplar
Bridge: Jackson HT7 String-Through-Body Hardtail Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Purpleheart Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Piranha Tooth (Small Sharkfin) Pearloid Sharkfin
Scale Size: 26.5" 25.5"
Shape: Speed Jackson Standard
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic Locking
Nut Width: 47.6mm (1.875'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Jackson High-Output 7-String Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Duncan Designed HB-103B (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Jackson High-Output 7-String Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Duncan Designed HB-103N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1