The Jackson Monarkh JS22 is an affordable, aesthetically pleasing electric guitar with that classic Jackson look. Despite the budget-friendly price, it delivers a great sound that is suitable for heavier music genres and the value-for-price ratio is excellent.
I recently had the pleasure of testing out the Jackson Monarkh JS22 Single Cut solid body electric guitar. This affordable guitar boasts a striking design and impressive sound quality, making it an ideal choice for those looking to delve into heavier music styles.
In this review, I will be sharing my thoughts on the design, sound, pricing, and overall performance of the JS22. Also, you can check out my detailed video review on it through the link below:
Contents
Jackson Monarkh JS22
Verdict
The Jackson Monarkh JS22 is a budget-friendly electric guitar with a striking appeal that is built for heavier music styles. It offers good tonal quality for the given price and the build quality is solid, with a reinforced maple neck for long-term reliability. Built for fast playing, this guitar is not only good for beginners and intermediate players, but it can also serve as a good backup for advanced players.
Pros
- Affordable price with impressive sound and design
- Comfortable playability across the entire fretboard
- Aggressive tone suitable for heavier music styles
- Reinforced maple neck for long-term reliability
Cons
- Plastic nut material
- Tuning stability issues
Specs
The Jackson Monarkh JS22 features a 24.75″ scale length, a 12″-16″ compound radius, 22 Jumbo frets, a 1.625″ nut width, and 2 Humbucking Pickups. In terms of controls, you have the standard master volume, master tone, and a 3-way toggle pickup switch.
Design & Build Quality
The JS22 features a comfortable Single Cut solid body design with a pointed headstock that screams “metal.” The maple neck, amaranth fingerboard with white dot inlays, and nato body material all contribute to the guitar’s sleek and aggressive appearance.
The contour-cut heel allows for easy access to the highest registers on the fretboard, and the compound-radius fretboard ensures smooth playability across the entire neck. In addition, the graphite-reinforced maple neck provides long-term durability and resistance to twisting and warping. Granted, the plastic nut material is a bit of a letdown.
Sound & Performance
Just by looking at the JS22, you can already tell that it’s built to pump out aggressive tones that are perfect for heavier music styles. Equipped with a pair of humbucking pickups, this guitar delivers a wide tonal range with high output, exceptional clarity, and broad frequency response.
When paired with my Boss Katana MKII 50W amplifier, the JS22 easily transitioned from clean sounds to metal territory, providing a robust signal for further sculpting with pedals and amp tone controls.
Pricing
One of the most appealing aspects of the JS22 is its affordability. Despite a few minor drawbacks, such as the plastic nut material, the overall quality of the guitar far exceeds its price tag. The impressive sound and design make it a fantastic value for those looking to purchase a budget-friendly guitar without sacrificing performance.
Tuning Stability
The only significant issue I encountered while testing the JS22 was its tuning stability. I found that the guitar required frequent tuning, often needing adjustments after each take during recording sessions. While this may not be a deal-breaker for some, it is essential to be aware of this limitation and be prepared to check and adjust the tuning regularly.
Verdict
The Jackson Monarkh JS22 Single Cut solid body electric guitar offers incredible value, boasting powerful tone and impressive playability at an affordable price. Ideal for modern metal and versatile enough for various genres, this guitar can compete with more expensive models on the market. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly guitar with classic Jackson appeal, the JS22 is definitely worth considering.
