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Yamaha PAC212VQM
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl
VS
Playability
70
Sound
66
Build
55
Value
74
Score
64
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Playability
77
Sound
71
Build
60
Value
74
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
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Yamaha PAC212VQM vs Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl

Reasons to Get
Yamaha PAC212VQM over Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Pacifica C vs Jackson Standard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs HH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.823'' (20.9mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.902'' (22.9mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.614'' (41mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Reasons to Get
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl over Yamaha PAC212VQM

Release Year
2020 vs 2011
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 13.78"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Jackson Standard vs Pacifica C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Nut Material
Locking vs Plastic
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.823'' (20.9mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.902'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.614'' (41mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Tremolo
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs

Other Key Differences
Yamaha PAC212VQM vs Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl

Bridge Pickup
Alnico Humbucker vs Jackson High-Output Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Alnico Single Coil vs Jackson High-Output Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Yamaha PAC212VQM vs Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
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

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl is probably the better product overall with its final score of 69 compared to the Yamaha PAC212VQM's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Yamaha PAC212VQM has the upper hand when it comes to.

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 Yamaha PAC212VQM is the better choice.

The Yamaha PAC212VQM meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl 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

Yamaha PAC212VQM
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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.

Yamaha PAC212VQM Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2011 Pacifica series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Maple/Alder/Quilted Maple Laminated body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Alnico Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Alnico Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Alnico Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Vintage-Style Tremolo with Block Saddle bridge
  • Pacifica C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 X series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) bridge
  • Jackson Standard Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast 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 Yamaha PAC212VQM

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

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 Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

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.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Winner: Yamaha PAC212VQM.

Pickup Configuration

The Yamaha PAC212VQM has an HSS configuration while the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl has HH pickups.

HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

On the other hand, 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 Yamaha PAC212VQM has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl. 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: Yamaha PAC212VQM.

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

The Yamaha PAC212VQM gives you 5 switch options while the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl gives you 3. This means that the Yamaha PAC212VQM gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Yamaha PAC212VQM comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

Yamaha PAC212VQM pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Yamaha PAC212VQM's switch options
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl'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: Yamaha PAC212VQM.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Yamaha PAC212VQM
Pickups 60
Sustain 65
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 60
Sound 66
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 71

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 Yamaha PAC212VQM compares to the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl.

Country of Origin

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

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

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 Yamaha PAC212VQM 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 Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl 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: Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl.

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 Yamaha PAC212VQM's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl'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 X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Yamaha PAC212VQM's are Die-Cast while the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl'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 Yamaha PAC212VQM 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 X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl 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 X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha PAC212VQM
  • Expensive Wood
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl
  • Locking Nut
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Yamaha PAC212VQM
Quality of materials 50
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 55
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl
Quality of materials 41
Features 80
Quality Control 60
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

Yamaha PAC212VQM Nut Width
Yamaha PAC212VQM Nut Width
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl Nut Width
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 41mm (1.614''). This is a 1.9mm (0.074'') difference

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

Scale Length

Yamaha PAC212VQM and Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl'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

Yamaha PAC212VQM Neck Profile
Yamaha PAC212VQM's neck profile
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl Neck Profile
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl'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 Yamaha PAC212VQM 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 X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl, 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

Yamaha PAC212VQM Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha PAC212VQM's Fingerboard radius
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl'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 X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl 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 favor small hands .

Yamaha PAC212VQM:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Yamaha PAC212VQM Frets Size
Yamaha PAC212VQM's Frets Size
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl Frets Size
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl's Frets Size

The Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Yamaha PAC212VQM's Medium 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

Yamaha PAC212VQM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 100
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Yamaha PAC212VQM vs Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl
General Yamaha PAC212VQM Jackson X Series Soloist SLX DX Swirl
Brand: Yamaha Jackson
Year: 2011 2020
Configuration: HSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Pacifica X
Colors: Sunburst, Black, Red White Satin, Red Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Maple/Alder/Quilted Maple Laminated Basswood
Bridge: Vintage-Style Tremolo with Block Saddle Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: Die-Cast Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Rosewood Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Dots Pearloid Sharkfin
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Pacifica C Jackson Standard
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.823'' (20.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.902'' (22.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 13.78" 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic Locking
Nut Width: 41mm (1.614'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Alnico Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Alnico Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Alnico Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1