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PRS NF 53
Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
VS
Playability
70
Sound
72
Build
68
Value
60
Score
70
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Playability
77
Sound
79
Build
68
Value
75
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
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PRS NF 53 vs Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Specs Comparison
PRS NF 53 Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
General
Brand: PRS Jackson
Year: 2024 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: NF Pro
Colors: White, Black, Blue, Natural Brown Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Swamp Ash Mahogany
Bridge: Body Floyd Rose 1000 Series Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: PRS Vintage-Style Non-Locking Tuners with Wing Buttons Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Maple Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Birds Alumiloid Piranha Tooth
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Pattern 53 Jackson Standard
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.875'' (22.2mm) - 12th Fret: 0.969'' (24.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 12" to 16"
Nut: Bone Locking
Nut Width: 41.7mm (1.641'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Narrowfield DD (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Narrowfield DD (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No Yes
Hardware Color: Chrome Black
Show Diagrams Comparison
PRS NF 53 and Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS NF 53 and Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's switch options

Reasons to Get
PRS NF 53 over Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2024 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Pattern 53 vs Jackson Standard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.875'' (22.2mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.969'' (24.6mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.641'' (41.7mm) 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

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH over PRS NF 53

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 10"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Jackson Standard vs Pattern 53
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.875'' (22.2mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.969'' (24.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.641'' (41.7mm)
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
Avg. Weight
7.075lbs (3.2kgs) vs 7.594lbs (3.4kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
75 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
PRS NF 53 vs Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH

Bridge Pickup
Narrowfield DD vs Seymour Duncan Distortion TB-6
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Narrowfield DD vs Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
PRS NF 53 vs Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
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
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
Swamp Ash vs Flame Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns

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
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Prices

    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

    After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

    PRS NF 53:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The PRS NF 53 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH 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

    PRS NF 53
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    • Comfortable shape
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners
    • Easy-to-use bridge

    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 PRS NF 53

    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.

    Woods Used in the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH

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

    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: Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH.

    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 PRS NF 53 has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

    We found the same or similar pickups to the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's online:

    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: PRS NF 53.

    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 Soloist SL2FM MAH.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    PRS NF 53
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 54
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 72
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 64
    Tuning Stability 85
    Sound 79

    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 PRS NF 53 compares to the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The PRS NF 53 is built in United States while the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH 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: PRS NF 53

    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 PRS NF 53 has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

    On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH comes with 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.

    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 PRS NF 53's brige 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.

    On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's 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.

    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 Soloist SL2FM MAH.

    Tuners

    Both come with regular tuners. The PRS NF 53's are PRS Vintage-Style Non-Locking Tuners with Wing Buttons while the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's are Jackson Sealed Die-Cast

    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 PRS NF 53 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 Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH comes with 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.

    Winner: Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH.

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

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    PRS NF 53
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Bone 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
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    • Expensive Wood
    • Locking Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Neck-Through Build
    • Tremolo
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Strap Lock
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Retainer Bar

    Final Build Quality Scores

    PRS NF 53
    Quality of materials 60
    Features 50
    Quality Control 95
    Build Quality 68
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    Quality of materials 45
    Features 85
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 68

    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

    PRS NF 53 Nut Width
    PRS NF 53 Nut Width
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Nut Width
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 41.7mm (1.641''). This is a 1.2mm (0.047'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

    Scale Length

    PRS NF 53 and Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH'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

    PRS NF 53 Neck Profile
    PRS NF 53's neck profile
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Neck Profile
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH'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 PRS NF 53 has a C type of 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.

    The Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH, on the other hand, has a D 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.

    Fretboard Radius

    PRS NF 53 Fingerboard Radius
    PRS NF 53's Fingerboard radius
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Fretboard Compound Radius
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's Compound 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.

    In this case, the Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH 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

    PRS NF 53 Frets Size
    PRS NF 53's Frets Size
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH Frets Size
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH's Frets Size

    The Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the PRS NF 53'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

    PRS NF 53
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
    Chord Playability 75
    Solo Playability 65
    Playability 70
    Jackson Pro Series Soloist SL2FM MAH
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
    Chord Playability 60
    Solo Playability 100
    Playability 77