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Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
Schecter Damien Platinum-9
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Playability
82
Sound
71
Build
62
Value
77
Score
72
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Playability
75
Sound
72
Build
57
Value
73
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
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Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS vs Schecter Damien Platinum-9

Reasons to Get
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS over Schecter Damien Platinum-9

Release Year
2020 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Scale Length
28" to 26" vs 30"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 20"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Jackson Standard vs Thin C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Strings
8 vs 9
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
2.126'' (54mm) vs 2.5'' (63.5mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Value Score
77 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Schecter Damien Platinum-9 over Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Scale Length
30" vs 28" to 26"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
Thin C vs Jackson Standard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Graphite vs Plastic
Self-Lubricating nut for good tuning stability
Strings
9 vs 8
Allows you to play lower notes
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
2.5'' (63.5mm) vs 2.126'' (54mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle

Other Key Differences
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS vs Schecter Damien Platinum-9

Body Wood
Poplar vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-4 vs 5-4
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Graphite
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS vs Schecter Damien Platinum-9

Bridge Pickup
EMG 909
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
EMG 909
Same Neck Pickup
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
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • 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

Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Schecter Damien Platinum-9 Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Schecter Damien Platinum-9's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Schecter Damien Platinum-9 has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS is the better choice.

The Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter Damien Platinum-9 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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Damien Platinum-9
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 X series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 28" to 26"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 909 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 909 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Staggered Individual Saddles bridge
  • Jackson Standard Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Damien Platinum-9 Overview

  • From Schecter's 2015 Damien series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 9 strings
  • 30"'' scale
  • 20" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 909 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 909 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Hipshot Hardtail (.125) w/ String Thru Body bridge
  • Thin C Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • Grover 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

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.

Woods Used in the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

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.

Woods Used in the Schecter Damien Platinum-9

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

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.

Winner: Schecter Damien Platinum-9.

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.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Schecter Damien Platinum-9's online:

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: 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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS and Schecter Damien Platinum-9 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS and Schecter Damien Platinum-9'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 49
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71
Schecter Damien Platinum-9
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 49
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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS compares to the Schecter Damien Platinum-9.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS is built in Indonesia while the Schecter Damien Platinum-9 is made in South 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.

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.

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.

The Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS 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 Schecter Damien Platinum-9 comes with a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

Winner: Schecter Damien Platinum-9.

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

Both come with regular tuners. The Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's are Jackson Sealed Die-Cast while the Schecter Damien Platinum-9's are Grover

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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS 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 Damien Platinum-9 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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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
Schecter Damien Platinum-9
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in South Korea
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
Quality of materials 41
Features 75
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62
Schecter Damien Platinum-9
Quality of materials 51
Features 50
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 57

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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Nut Width
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Nut Width
Schecter Damien Platinum-9 Nut Width
Schecter Damien Platinum-9 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter Damien Platinum-9 has the wider nut with 63.5mm (2.5'') vs 54mm (2.126''). This is a 9.5mm (0.374'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter Damien Platinum-9, 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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's Scale Length
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's Scale Length
Schecter Damien Platinum-9's Scale Length
Schecter Damien Platinum-9'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.

In this case, the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS features a multi-scale of 28" to 26" while the Schecter Damien Platinum-9 has a regular scale of 30".

A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

On the other hand, the Schecter Damien Platinum-9's 30" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.

This is a scale used for baritones and guitars with more than 6 strings. Since the scale is so long, the tension of the strings will be higher. This means that bending will require a lot more strength than with a shorter scale. However, it also allows you to use really low tunings without causing fret buzz and without needing to increase your string gauge too much.

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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Neck Profile
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's neck profile
Schecter Damien Platinum-9 Neck Profile
Schecter Damien Platinum-9'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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS 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 Damien Platinum-9, 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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's Compound Fretboard Radius
Schecter Damien Platinum-9 Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Damien Platinum-9'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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS 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 are balanced for most hand sizes.

Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Damien Platinum-9:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Frets Size
Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS's Frets Size
Schecter Damien Platinum-9 Frets Size
Schecter Damien Platinum-9's Frets Size

The Schecter Damien Platinum-9 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS'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 X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 100
Playability 82
Schecter Damien Platinum-9
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS vs Schecter Damien Platinum-9
General Jackson X Series Soloist Arch Top SLAT8 MS Schecter Damien Platinum-9
Brand: Jackson Schecter
Year: 2020 2015
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 8 9
Made in: Indonesia South Korea
Series: X Damien
Colors: Black Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Mahogany
Bridge: Staggered Individual Saddles Hipshot Hardtail (.125) w/ String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Set
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Grover
Fretboard: Laurel Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Platinum Bats
Scale Size: 28" to 26" 30"
Shape: Jackson Standard Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 20"
Nut: Plastic Graphite
Nut Width: 54mm (2.126'') 63.5mm (2.5'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: EMG 909 (Humbucker / Active) EMG 909 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: EMG 909 (Humbucker / Active) EMG 909 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1