Show Full Spec Comparison
| Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG | Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Brand: | Jackson | Fender Squier |
| Year: | 2024 | 2018 |
| Configuration: | HH | HH |
| Strings: | 6 | 6 |
| Made in: | South Korea | China |
| Series: | Pro | Contemporary |
| Colors: | Burst | Green, Gray |
| Left-Handed Version: | No | No |
| Body | ||
| Type: | Solid Body | Solid Body |
| Body Material: | Nyatoh | Poplar |
| Bridge: | EverTune F6 Model | 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed |
| Neck | ||
| Neck Joint: | Set | Bolt-On |
| Tuners: | Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking | Standard Die-Cast |
| Fretboard: | Ebony | Indian Laurel |
| Neck Material: | 3-Piece Nato | Maple |
| Decoration: | None | Cream Dot |
| Scale Size: | 25.5" | 25.5" |
| Shape: | Speed | Modern C |
| Thickness: | 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) | 1st Fret: - 12th Fret: |
| Frets: | 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver | 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver |
| Fretboard Radius: | 12" | 12" |
| Nut: | Plastic | Synthetic Bone |
| Nut Width: | 41.9mm (1.65'') | 43mm (1.693'') |
| Electronics | ||
| Bridge Pickups: | EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) | Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) |
| Middle Pickup: | ||
| Neck Pickup: | EMG 85 (Humbucker / Active) | Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) |
| Switch: | 3 Way | 3 Way |
| Knobs: | Dome | Bell |
| Pickup Mods: | None | None |
| Volume Controls: | 2 | 1 |
| Tone Controls: | 0 | 1 |
| Hardware | ||
| Strap Lock: | No | No |
| Hardware Color: | Black | Black & Chrome |
Show Diagrams Comparison
Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG over Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST over Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG
Other Key Differences
Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG vs Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
Shared Features
Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG vs Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
Common Weaknesses
- Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
- Weight Relief
- High-Quality Frets
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Strap Lock
- 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- Active/Passive Preamp
Price History Comparison
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Prices
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Hand Size Comfortability
And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST favors large hands more than the Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.
Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG:
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST:
Beginner Friendliness
The Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG- Comfortable shape
- Locking tuners
- Tall frets
- Narrow nut
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable fretboard
- Short scale
- Easy-to-use bridge
New Player Friendliness
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST- Comfortable shape
- Easy-to-use bridge
- Tall frets
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable fretboard
- Narrow nut
- Short scale
- Locking tuners
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 Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG
Nato a hard and dense wood similar to Mahogany, but cheaper and not quite as hard. Tone-wise, it's also similar, but it doesn't have quite the same attack as 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.
Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.
Woods Used in the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
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.
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.
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.
Winner: Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG.
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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST. 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 Heavy Metal and similar genres.
You can purchase similar pickups to the Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG's and use them on any guitar:
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: Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG.
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.
When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.
Winner: Tie.
Final Sound Quality Scores
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 Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG compares to the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST.
Country of Origin
The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG is built in South Korea while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST is made in China.
South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.
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: Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG
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 Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG 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 Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST comes with a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.
Winner: Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST.
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 Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG's brige is a Evertune. It will keep your guitar in tune and intonated until the next string swap. If you really like extremely subtle vibratos, this might not be the bridge for you because you won't be able to perform them as well. However, the fact that you won't need to tune your guitar is a huge advantage that many people will gladly pay the extra price for.
On the other hand, the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's 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.
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 Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG.
Tuners
The Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG 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: Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG.
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 Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG has a 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.
On the other hand, the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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: Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST.
Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:
Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Top Brand Pickups
- Stays in Tune (Evertune)
- Luminescent Inlay
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- Made in South Korea
- No High-Quality Nut
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
- Synthetic Bone Nut
- 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 Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
Final Build Quality Scores
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
The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 1.1mm (0.043'') difference
This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.
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
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 Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG 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 Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST, 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
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 the Jackson Pro Series Signature Diamond Rowe Monarkh DR12MG and the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.
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.
