Jackson X Series Soloist SLAT8 Review – Introduction
As an experienced guitarist with a penchant for exploring diverse instruments, I recently had the pleasure of playing the Jackson X Series Soloist SLAT8 electric guitar. This 8-string beast promises to deliver the heavy, extended range tones that modern metal and progressive players crave. In this review, I’ll share my personal experience with the SLAT8, covering its strengths and weaknesses in detail.
First Impressions
Unboxing the Jackson X Series Soloist SLAT8 was an exciting experience. The guitar’s sleek, aggressive design immediately caught my eye. The model I tested featured a Gloss Black finish, which gives it a menacing and professional look. The body is crafted from basswood, offering a balanced weight that is neither too heavy nor too light.
The neck-through-body construction is one of the standout features of this guitar, contributing to both its aesthetic appeal and its tonal characteristics. The ebony fingerboard is adorned with piranha tooth inlays, adding a unique visual flair that complements the guitar’s modern metal vibe. Overall, the first impression was highly positive, with the SLAT8 exuding a sense of quality and craftsmanship.
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Playability
The playability of the Jackson SLAT8 is exceptional, especially considering its extended range. The neck is a one-piece maple design with graphite reinforcement, providing stability and durability. The slim, flat profile of the neck is incredibly comfortable, making it easier to navigate the extended 8-string fretboard.
The fingerboard radius is 12”-16” compound, which flattens out as you move up the neck. This design enhances playability, making it comfortable for both chording and soloing. The jumbo frets are well-finished, with no sharp edges, ensuring smooth playability across the entire neck.
One of the challenges with 8-string guitars is maintaining playability without making the neck feel too bulky. Jackson has done an excellent job in this regard, with the SLAT8 feeling surprisingly comfortable and manageable. The deep cutaways provide easy access to the upper frets, which is essential for lead playing.
Sound Quality
The Jackson SLAT8 is equipped with a pair of direct-mount Jackson uncovered humbucking pickups. These pickups are designed to handle high-gain settings while maintaining clarity and definition, making them ideal for heavy genres.
Clean Tones
In clean settings, the SLAT8 offers a rich, full-bodied sound. The neck pickup produces warm, mellow tones that are great for clean arpeggios and jazz-inspired chords. The bridge pickup delivers a brighter, more defined clean sound that works well for intricate clean passages and funk rhythms.
The extended range of the 8 strings allows for deep, resonant clean tones that add a new dimension to your playing. The lower strings provide a rich bass response, while the higher strings retain clarity and brightness. The overall clean tone is impressive, offering a balanced and articulate sound.
Distorted Tones
When it comes to distortion, the SLAT8 truly shines. The Jackson humbuckers deliver a powerful, aggressive tone that’s perfect for modern metal and progressive styles. The bridge pickup offers tight, articulate distortion with excellent note definition, even at high gain settings. It handles palm-muted chugs and fast, intricate riffs with ease, providing the punch and clarity needed for heavy music.
The neck pickup offers a smooth, creamy distortion that’s ideal for soloing. It has a rich, full-bodied tone that cuts through the mix beautifully, making it perfect for lead playing. The extended range of the 8 strings allows for deep, resonant low-end tones that add weight and power to your riffs, while the higher strings provide clear, singing highs.
Hardware and Features
The hardware on the Jackson SLAT8 is top-notch. The guitar features Jackson’s HT8 8-string hardtail bridge, which provides excellent tuning stability and sustain. The string-through-body design enhances the guitar’s resonance and sustain, making it perfect for heavy riffing and extended playing sessions.
The tuners are Jackson-branded die-cast models that offer reliable tuning stability. They are precise and hold tuning well, even with aggressive playing. For those who perform frequently, upgrading to locking tuners could provide even better tuning stability, but the stock tuners are more than adequate for most players.
One of the standout features of the SLAT8 is its scale length. At 26.5 inches, it provides the perfect balance for an 8-string guitar, allowing for tight, defined low-end tones without sacrificing playability. The longer scale length helps maintain string tension, which is crucial for achieving clear, articulate tones on the lower strings.
Build Quality and Durability
The build quality of the Jackson SLAT8 is impressive. The neck-through-body construction not only enhances the guitar’s sustain and resonance but also contributes to its overall durability. The finish is flawless, with no visible imperfections, and the hardware feels solid and reliable.
The ebony fingerboard is smooth and durable, providing a responsive playing surface that holds up well to regular use. The frets are well-seated and polished, ensuring comfortable playability. The overall construction is robust, making this guitar a reliable choice for both studio and stage use.
The body is made of basswood, which is known for its balanced tonal properties. It’s lightweight yet sturdy, making the guitar comfortable to play for extended periods. The combination of high-quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship ensures that the SLAT8 will withstand the rigors of regular use.
Ergonomics and Comfort
Despite being an 8-string guitar, the Jackson SLAT8 is surprisingly comfortable to play. The body contours fit comfortably against the body, and the guitar’s weight is well-distributed. The slim neck profile and compound radius fingerboard make it easy to navigate the extended range, providing a comfortable playing experience.
The deep cutaways provide excellent access to the upper frets, which is essential for lead playing. The neck-through-body construction ensures that the neck joint is smooth and unobtrusive, further enhancing playability. The guitar balances well when sitting or standing, making it suitable for a variety of playing styles.
Versatility
The Jackson SLAT8 is a highly versatile guitar, capable of covering a wide range of musical genres. While it’s designed with modern metal and progressive styles in mind, its clean tones and extended range make it suitable for other genres as well. The ability to achieve both tight, aggressive tones and rich, resonant clean sounds makes this guitar a valuable addition to any guitarist’s collection.
The 8-string configuration adds an extra layer of versatility, allowing for both deep, powerful low-end tones and clear, articulate highs. Whether you’re playing heavy riffs, intricate solos, or clean arpeggios, the SLAT8 can handle it all with ease.
Value for Money
Considering its high-end features and exceptional build quality, the Jackson SLAT8 offers excellent value for money. It’s priced competitively compared to other 8-string guitars in its class, and it delivers performance and versatility that rival more expensive instruments.
For both intermediate and professional players, the SLAT8 represents a solid investment. It’s a guitar that can handle the demands of live performance and studio recording, making it a versatile and reliable addition to any guitarist’s arsenal.
Areas for Improvement
While the Jackson SLAT8 is an outstanding guitar, there are a few areas where it could be improved. First, upgrading the stock tuners to locking tuners would provide even better tuning stability, especially for players who perform frequently or use aggressive playing techniques.
Secondly, while the pickups deliver excellent high-gain tones, players looking for more specific tonal qualities might consider upgrading to higher-end pickups. This could further enhance the guitar’s performance, particularly for more advanced players seeking a specific sound.
Lastly, offering more finish options could cater to a broader audience. While the Gloss Black finish is sleek and professional, additional color options would allow players to choose a look that best suits their personal style.
Conclusion – Jackson X Series Soloist SLAT8 Review
In conclusion, the Jackson X Series Soloist SLAT8 electric guitar is a remarkable instrument that combines stunning aesthetics, exceptional playability, and versatile sound quality. Its 8-string configuration and high-output pickups make it a powerhouse for modern metal and progressive styles. The build quality and hardware are top-notch, ensuring durability and reliability.
Despite a few minor areas for improvement, the SLAT8 offers excellent value for money. It’s a perfect choice for intermediate and professional players looking for a versatile and high-performance 8-string guitar. My time with the Jackson SLAT8 has been incredibly rewarding, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a quality extended-range electric guitar.
