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Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
55
Value
77
Score
67
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Playability
78
Sound
81
Build
59
Value
78
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 vs Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer

Reasons to Get
Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 over Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer

Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Speed vs Slim Taper
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm) vs 0.92'' (23.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.75'' (44.5mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer over Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32

Decorative Top
Figured Maple Veneer vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Slim Taper vs Speed
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Gibson vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.775'' (19.7mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.835'' (21.2mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.75'' (44.5mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
78 vs 77
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 vs Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer

Bridge Pickup
Jackson High-Output Humbucking vs Gibson USA BurstBucker 2
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Jackson High-Output Humbucking vs Gibson USA BurstBucker 1
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Purpleheart vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 vs Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Floyd Rose
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 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 Kelly JS32 is the better choice.

The Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer meets only 3. 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 Kelly JS32
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Kelly JS32 Overview

  • From Jackson's 2014 JS series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Purpleheart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson Double-Locking Tremolo bridge
  • Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2021 Artist Collection series
  • Brendon Small Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Figured Maple Veneer top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony; white binding fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson USA BurstBucker 2 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson USA BurstBucker 1 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose FRT-1000 bridge
  • Slim Taper Set neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Grover Mini Rotomatic 18:1 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 the Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart
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.

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.

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 Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

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.

Winner: Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

The Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer pickups from a more specialized brand than the Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

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: Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

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

Only the Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32's switch options
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer'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: Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 72
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 81

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 Kelly JS32 compares to the Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

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: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Locking nuts. 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.

Unfortunately, neither of them have a retainer bar for the nut, which would be a helpful addition. Without it, the strings will change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'll have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly.

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: 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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32's are Jackson Sealed Die-Cast while the Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer's are Grover Mini Rotomatic 18:1

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 Kelly JS32 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 Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32
  • Locking Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32
Quality of materials 41
Features 70
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 55
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer
Quality of materials 53
Features 65
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 59

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 Kelly JS32 Nut Width
Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 Nut Width
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer Nut Width
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer has the wider nut with 44.5mm (1.75'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 1.6mm (0.062'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer, 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 Kelly JS32's Scale Length
Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32's Scale Length
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer's Scale Length
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer'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 Kelly JS32 has the longest scale: 25.5". The Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) 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 Kelly JS32 Neck Profile
Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32's neck profile
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer Neck Profile
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer'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 Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 has a D type of 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.

The Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer, on the other hand, has a C neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32's Compound Fretboard Radius
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer Fingerboard Radius
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer'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 Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 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 .

Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 and Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer 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 Kelly JS32
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73
Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 vs Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer
General Jackson JS Series Kelly JS32 Epiphone Brendon Small GhostHorse Explorer
Brand: Jackson Epiphone
Year: 2014 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: JS Artist Collection
Colors: White, Red Green Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson Double-Locking Tremolo Floyd Rose FRT-1000
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Grover Mini Rotomatic 18:1
Fretboard: Purpleheart Ebony; white binding
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Sharkfin Dot; Icarus Spaceship at 12th fret
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Speed Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 44.5mm (1.75'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson USA BurstBucker 2 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson USA BurstBucker 1 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 0