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Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6
Schecter Reaper-6
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Playability
77
Sound
85
Build
82
Value
66
Score
81
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Playability
78
Sound
69
Build
60
Value
74
Score
69
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Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 vs Schecter Reaper-6 Specs Comparison
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 Schecter Reaper-6
General
Brand: Jackson Schecter
Year: 2016 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Artist Signature Reaper
Colors: White, Black, Red Black Burst, Blue Burst, Orange Burst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Swamp Ash
Bridge: Floyd Rose Pro (Recessed) Schecter Custom Hardtail w/ String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Set
Tuners: Planet Waves Auto-Trim Schecter
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple Maple/Walnut Multi-ply w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Pearloid Offset/Reverse Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Jackson Standard Ultra Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.787'' (20mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 14"
Nut: Locking Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Direct Mount Chris Broderick Designed Custom DiMarzio (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter Diamond Decimator (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Direct Mount Chris Broderick Designed Custom DiMarzio (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter Diamond Decimator (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split, Killswitch Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: Yes No
Hardware Color: Black Black & Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6's switch options
Schecter Reaper-6 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Reaper-6's switch options

Reasons to Get
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 over Schecter Reaper-6

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Profile
Jackson Standard vs Ultra Thin C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups Brand
DiMarzio vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs Coil Split
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Schecter Reaper-6 over Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6

Release Year
2019 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Ultra Thin C vs Jackson Standard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Multiple
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small 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
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
74 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 vs Schecter Reaper-6

Bridge Pickup
Direct Mount Chris Broderick Designed Custom DiMarzio vs Schecter Diamond Decimator
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Direct Mount Chris Broderick Designed Custom DiMarzio vs Schecter Diamond Decimator
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Nut Material
Locking vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 vs Schecter Reaper-6

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
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
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
1/8 Plain Maple vs Burl
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 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 Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 favors large hands more than the Schecter Reaper-6. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Reaper-6:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Schecter Reaper-6 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Reaper-6
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Both

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

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.

Woods Used in the Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

Woods Used in the Schecter Reaper-6

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

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

The Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Schecter Reaper-6. 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 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: Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6.

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.

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 offers Coil Split, Killswitch.

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.

A Killswitch lets you disengage the pickups instantly. It can be useful when playing live, and it allows you to create some cool sound effects by using the switch rapidly.

On the other hand, the Schecter Reaper-6 comes with the following: 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.

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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 79
Tuning Stability 95
Sound 85
Schecter Reaper-6
Pickups 55
Sustain 85
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 69

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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 compares to the Schecter Reaper-6.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 is built in United States while the Schecter Reaper-6 is made in Indonesia.

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.

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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6

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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 has 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.

On the other hand, the Schecter Reaper-6 comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

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.

The Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Schecter Reaper-6'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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6.

Tuners

The Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 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.

Nevertheless, the Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6.

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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 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 Schecter Reaper-6 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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Coil Split, Killswitch Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Reaper-6
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • 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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6
Quality of materials 55
Features 90
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 82
Schecter Reaper-6
Quality of materials 55
Features 55
Quality Control 70
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

Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 Nut Width
Schecter Reaper-6 Nut Width
Schecter Reaper-6 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6, 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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 and Schecter Reaper-6'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

Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 Neck Profile
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6's neck profile
Schecter Reaper-6 Neck Profile
Schecter Reaper-6'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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 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 Schecter Reaper-6, 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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 Fingerboard Radius
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Reaper-6 Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Reaper-6'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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Schecter Reaper-6's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Schecter Reaper-6.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Fret Size

Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6 Frets Size
Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6's Frets Size
Schecter Reaper-6 Frets Size
Schecter Reaper-6's Frets Size

The Schecter Reaper-6 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Jackson USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6's 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 USA Signature Chris Broderick Soloist 6
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 100
Playability 77
Schecter Reaper-6
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78