Swap
Swap
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT
Gibson 70s Explorer
VS
Playability
82
Sound
76
Build
77
Value
78
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoSweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
67
Value
61
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
Add to Compare
Add to Compare
Add more to comparison
Show Full Spec Comparison
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT vs Gibson 70s Explorer Specs Comparison
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT Gibson 70s Explorer
General
Brand: Jackson Gibson
Year: 2024 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 6
Made in: South Korea United States
Series: Pro Original Collection
Colors: Black White
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Mahogany
Bridge: Hipshot 7 Fixed .175 Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Set
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking Regular Tuners
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: 3-piece Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Sharkfin Acrylic Dots
Scale Size: 26.5" 24.75"
Shape: Jackson Standard Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 44.5mm (1.75'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Signature Noumenon (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson 70s Tribute (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Signature Noumenon (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson 70s Tribute (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 0 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: Yes No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT and Gibson 70s Explorer pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT and Gibson 70s Explorer's switch options

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT over Gibson 70s Explorer

Decorative Top
Sandblasted Ash vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2024 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Jackson Standard vs Slim Taper
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.92'' (23.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.75'' (44.5mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
78 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson 70s Explorer over Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs South Korea
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Slim Taper vs Jackson Standard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.75'' (44.5mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT vs Gibson 70s Explorer

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Signature Noumenon vs Gibson 70s Tribute
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Signature Noumenon vs Gibson 70s Tribute
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
7 vs 6
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT vs Gibson 70s Explorer

Nut Material
Ivory Tusq
Same Nut Material
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson 70s Explorer favors large hands more than the Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson 70s Explorer:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson 70s Explorer 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 Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Gibson 70s Explorer
  • 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 Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT

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

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.

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 Gibson 70s Explorer

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

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.

Winner: Gibson 70s 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

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.

However, the Gibson 70s Explorer has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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: Gibson 70s 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.

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: Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 52
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76
Gibson 70s Explorer
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72

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 Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT compares to the Gibson 70s Explorer.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT is built in South Korea while the Gibson 70s Explorer is made in United States.

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.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Gibson 70s Explorer

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 Ivory Tusq nuts. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT 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 Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT.

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 Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT 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 Gibson 70s 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 Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson 70s Explorer
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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

Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT
Quality of materials 65
Features 90
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 77
Gibson 70s Explorer
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 67

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 Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT Nut Width
Gibson 70s Explorer Nut Width
Gibson 70s Explorer Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT has the wider nut with 44.5mm (1.75'') vs 43mm (1.693''). This is a 1.5mm (0.057'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 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 Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT's Scale Length
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT's Scale Length
Gibson 70s Explorer's Scale Length
Gibson 70s 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 Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT has the longest scale: 26.5". The Gibson 70s Explorer is only 24.75" long. This is a 1.75'' (44.4mm) 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 Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT Neck Profile
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT's neck profile
Gibson 70s Explorer Neck Profile
Gibson 70s 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 Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT 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 Gibson 70s 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 Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT's Compound Fretboard Radius
Gibson 70s Explorer Fingerboard Radius
Gibson 70s 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 Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT 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.

Fret Size

Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT Frets Size
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT's Frets Size
Gibson 70s Explorer Frets Size
Gibson 70s Explorer's Frets Size

The Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson 70s Explorer's Medium 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

Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist SL7 HT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 100
Playability 82
Gibson 70s Explorer
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73