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Solar A1.8AAN
ESP LTD JR-208
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
72
Value
70
Score
75
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Playability
75
Sound
67
Build
55
Value
71
Score
66
FIND IT ON:
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Solar A1.8AAN vs LTD JR-208

Reasons to Get
Solar A1.8AAN over LTD JR-208

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Solar C Shape vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs Coil Split
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Evertune vs Fixed
Fixed bridge that will keep the guitar in tune forever
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD JR-208 over Solar A1.8AAN

Neck Profile
Thin U vs Solar C Shape
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Multi-Voicing
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Bridge
Fixed vs Evertune
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Value Score
71 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Solar A1.8AAN vs LTD JR-208

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern vs ESP Designed LH-308B
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern vs ESP Designed LH-308N
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Jatoba
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R8 vs 4-4
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Solar A1.8AAN vs LTD JR-208

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Nut Material
Plastic
Same Nut Material
Strings
8
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
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
2.126'' (54mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Solar A1.8AAN is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the ESP LTD JR-208's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Solar A1.8AAN wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the ESP LTD JR-208 has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Solar A1.8AAN.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Solar A1.8AAN
  • Comfortable shape
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD JR-208
  • 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.

Solar A1.8AAN Overview

  • From Solar's 2022 Type A series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Evertune F-Type bridge
  • Solar C Shape Set neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Solar 18:1 Locking Type tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP LTD JR-208 Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2020 Signature series
  • Javier Reyes Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Roasted Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ESP Designed LH-308B (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: ESP Designed LH-308N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • LTD Fixed Bridge w/ string thru bridge
  • Thin U Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD 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 Solar A1.8AAN

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD JR-208

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

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: 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 Solar A1.8AAN has pickups from a more specialized brand than the ESP LTD JR-208. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Heavy Metal and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Solar A1.8AAN's and use them on any guitar:

The Solar A1.8AAN's pickups are Active while the ESP LTD JR-208's are Passive.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Solar A1.8AAN.

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 Solar A1.8AAN offers Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD JR-208 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.

Solar A1.8AAN pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Solar A1.8AAN's switch options
ESP LTD JR-208 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD JR-208'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: ESP LTD JR-208.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Solar A1.8AAN
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 100
Sound 81
ESP LTD JR-208
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 67

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 Solar A1.8AAN compares to the ESP LTD JR-208.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

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: 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.

In this case, both have Plastic nuts. 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.

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.

In this comparison, the Solar A1.8AAN is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Solar A1.8AAN.

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 Solar A1.8AAN's brige is a Evertune. It will keep your guitar in tune and intonated until the next string swap. If you really like extremely subtle vibratos, this might not be the bridge for you because you won't be able to perform them as well. However, the fact that you won't need to tune your guitar is a huge advantage that many people will gladly pay the extra price for.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD JR-208'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: Solar A1.8AAN.

Tuners

The Solar A1.8AAN 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: Solar A1.8AAN.

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 Solar A1.8AAN has a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD JR-208 comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: ESP LTD JR-208.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Solar A1.8AAN
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD JR-208
  • Expensive Wood
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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

Solar A1.8AAN
Quality of materials 66
Features 70
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 72
ESP LTD JR-208
Quality of materials 41
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 55

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

Solar A1.8AAN Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 54mm (2.126'').

This is considered a wide width for a 8-string guitar. It gives your fingers the extra space you need to play without muting accidentally, but this also makes bar chords harder to perform, especially if you have small hands.

Scale Length

Solar A1.8AAN and ESP LTD JR-208'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 27".

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

Solar A1.8AAN Neck Profile
Solar A1.8AAN's neck profile
ESP LTD JR-208 Neck Profile
ESP LTD JR-208'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 Solar A1.8AAN 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 ESP LTD JR-208, on the other hand, has a U neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

Fretboard Radius

Solar A1.8AAN Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Solar A1.8AAN and the ESP LTD JR-208 have the same fretboard radius of 15.75". It's a radius that makes playing single notes (and bending, vibrato, sliding, etc) easier than on a classic Les Paul guitar. However, it's still more curved than some baritone and 7+ strings guitars.

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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the ESP LTD JR-208 favors large hands more than the Solar A1.8AAN.

Solar A1.8AAN:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD JR-208:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Solar A1.8AAN and ESP LTD JR-208 Frets Size
Both have a similar XL Jumbo fret size

Both have a XL Jumbo fret size. These are really tall frets made like this so you don't meet any resistance when playing techniques like vibrato, bending, tapping, etc. They should make the guitar easier to play, but you have to be careful not to get the notes out of pitch by pressing down too hard, which might happen since the fretboard will be too low to stop your hand.

Final Playability Scores

Solar A1.8AAN
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73
ESP LTD JR-208
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Solar A1.8AAN vs LTD JR-208
General Solar A1.8AAN LTD JR-208
Brand: Solar ESP LTD
Year: 2022 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 8 8
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Type A Signature
Colors: Natural Matte Blue
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Evertune F-Type LTD Fixed Bridge w/ string thru
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Solar 18:1 Locking Type LTD
Fretboard: Ebony Roasted Jatoba
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Solar Logo on 12th Fret Offset Blocks
Scale Size: 27" 27"
Shape: Solar C Shape Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm)
Frets: 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 15.75"
Nut: Plastic Plastic
Nut Width: 54mm (2.126'') 54mm (2.126'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) ESP Designed LH-308B (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) ESP Designed LH-308N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1