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Jackson has gone and done it. Releasing 4 baritone guitars, the Jackson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 Baritone, included has given the guitar company a well-deserved seal of approval from countless baritone guitarists all over the world who are looking for something new to dig their picks in.
Their baritone line includes body shapes like the Kelly, the Warrior, and the Soloist. Since I’m not too interested in those, I’ll focus on the Monarkh.
And let me tell you this: The Jackson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 Baritone is a high-end electric guitar that packs a serious punch.
Why am I so Excited About the Jackson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 Baritone?
Whenever I feel like going window shopping online, Jackson is usually not on top of my list. In fact, it’s even lower than Ibanez and Steinberger for me. Mostly because it’s just not an exciting brand for me.
That all changed when I came across the Jackson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 Baritone.
I’m familiar with the Monarkh series but something was very different about the Jackson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 Baritone that I had to stop scrolling and click on it.
Here’s why I think this guitar deserves a lot of attention:
Unique Design: It has a distinctive arched top body made of nyatoh wood, giving it a sleek look and comfortable feel.
Powerful Sound: Equipped with Seymour Duncan pickups, this guitar can produce a wide range of tones from chunky rhythms to soaring leads. The baritone tuning (longer scale length) gives it extra depth and rumble.
Built for Performance: With 22 stainless steel frets and luminous side dots, it’s designed for smooth playing even on dark stages.
Cool Features: It has a kill switch button for creating stuttering effects and a versatile pickup selector for different sound options.
Quality Construction: The neck is reinforced with graphite for stability, and the bridge is designed for better tuning and sustain.
This looks like a fun machine to play riffs with. And if you play rhythm guitars for a metal band, this is probably the guitar for you. Let’s explore that further below:
The Jackson Monarkh Series Made Me Fall in Love with the Brand
There was a time when I’d never give Jackson a second look simply because the price range was way out of my budget. That and because they didn’t have the body shape I liked most which was the Les Paul body shape.
That changed when the Monarkh series came out. And I was a bit late to the game when I found out about the Monarkh. About 2 years too late. You see, aside from JB Music, there are no other guitar shops carrying the Jackson brand here in Davao City.
Another reason why I finally gave Jackson a second look was their inclusion of artists like:
- Rob Cavestany – Death Angel
- Scott Ian – Anthrax
- Phil Collen – Def Leppard
- David Ellefson – Megadeth
- Adrian Smith – Iron Maiden
These are high caliber musicians waving the Jackson flag and I love the music they’ve produced with their respective bands. Especially Adrian Smith and Rob Cavestany. Of course I’d have to get what they were using right?
The final kicker that really made me say I want myself a Jackson guitar was Marty Friedman. Hands down, Marty was my favorite guitarist out of all the guitarists who played under the Megadeth banner.
And in his hands was a Monarkh!
Yep, I had to get my hands on one.
I Didn’t Get One
Last year, November 2023, I had a chance to buy one when I went to SM Mall of Asia.
I didn’t.
My wife even told me I should get it just so I’d stop fantasizing about it.
I didn’t get it for two reasons: I was in love with the Squier Sonic Stratocaster HT H (Pink) and upon closer inspection I kinda thought the Monarkh looked a bit chunky in all the wrong places.
Oh, make that three reasons: I couldn’t agree with the Monarkh’s headstock. It looked okay and I felt that I’d eventually be able to live with its sharp profile. *Shrug*. I just didn’t get it because of those three reasons.
I also didn’t get the Pink Squier Sonic Stratocaster HT H for a whole set of other reasons. Mostly because as a new dad, I simply didn’t have extra funds to buy it.
A Closer Look a the Jackson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 Baritone’s Features
On paper, this guitar is perfect. I mean it’s perfect for me.
Three-piece maple set-neck construction with graphite reinforcement? Check!
22 jumbo stainless-steel frets? Present.
Jackson TOM style bridge with anchored tailpiece? I love me some extra tuning stability.
And here’s the kicker: it has an Arcade-Style “Kill Switch”! I’ve always wanted a kill switch equipped guitar. And here’s one that comes standard with it.
Perfect.
Just perfect.
Other notable features are:
Body
This guitar features an arched top, Monarkh body-shape made of Nyatoh wood and painted with a black satin finish.
To add to the elegance of the body, all of the hardware is finished in black from the bridge to the dome-style control knobs. The 3 way pickup switch is positioned where it should be, in the upper bout and completes the whole “Les Paul” look.
At first glance, the body doesn’t reveal much except it how beautifully elegant it looks. A closer look will reveal that it has an arcade-style kill switch right next to the volume knob.
Clever.
Oh yeah. There are no tone controls. Eddie Van Halen didn’t need one. I’ll follow his lead.
Neck
The neck is made of 3-piece maple with a set-neck graphite reinforcement for added strength and durability. It has a 27” scale length with 22 jumbo stainless steel frets and has a 12”-16” compound radius ebony fingerboard.
The truss rod is a dual-action wheel. One thing to be happy about is that there’s no truss rod cover on the head stock which really irritates me. A closer look will reveal the nearly invisible black sharkfin position inlays. It’s a subtle touch that really makes the price of the guitar seem worth it.
There are also Luminlay® side dots so you don’t lose your hand position while playing on dark stages. These dot markers are the only things on this guitar that’s not entirely black. Instead they look like tiny aquamarine dots.
Another feature that makes me really happy is the inclusion of a Graph Tech® TUSQ® nut.
Last but not least, the neck, like the body also has a black satin finish.
I wonder if they’ll come out with a more extreme 30” scale length?
Headstock
I’m totally in love with the headstock on this thing. It looks like a domed headstone which for me seems perfect for a metal riff machine. Jackson went the more conservative route with this guitar and landed a Jackpot.
It’s a 3 on 3 setup with Jackson® sealed Die-cast locking tuning machines.
The logo also has a smoked effect that gives it that dark elegant subtlety present all throughout the guitar.
The Jeckson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 baritone’s blacked out looks alone makes it a winner. But looks alone shouldn’t be the entire reason why someone would choose a thing right? So, here’s a look at what’s inside.
Pickups
The Jeckson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 Baritone is equipped with a Seymour Duncan® Nazgûl bridge pickup and a Seymour Duncan® Sentient neck pickup. Switching is done through a 3-way toggle switch (Bridge, Bridge and Neck, and Neck positions).
Miscellaneous
This guitar comes with a gig bag and is pre-strung with a set of .013 – .062 gauge nickel-plated steel strings.
Ouch!
Final Thoughts on the Jackson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 Baritone
This guitar seems perfect for metal and hard rock players who want a unique, powerful instrument. The baritone tuning and high-output pickups make it ideal for heavy, low-tuned riffs. However, it might be overkill for beginners or those who prefer lighter styles of music.
This is definitely not for lead guitar players.
Baritone guitars are for riffing and busy rhythm work.
The build quality appears excellent, with premium materials and attention to detail. The included gig bag is a nice touch, though serious players might want to invest in a hard case for better protection.
Overall, if you’re an experienced guitarist looking for a versatile, high-performance instrument with a distinctive sound and look, the Jackson Pro Plus XT Monarkh SC T6 Baritone is an excellent choice.
I would only recommend this if you tune down to drop A. that’s because a standard guitar can handle drop C to standard tuning.
It’s a bit of a stretch to say that a standard guitar can handle drop B. you’re going to need heavier gauge strings and it’ll feel floppy. So maybe getting a baritone guitar for a drop B tuning is ok.
Personally, I haven’t gone that low in my tunings.
And as beautiful as this guitar is, and no matter how much I love how it looks. I’m probably not going to get it.
It’s just not the right guitar for me since I play with standard tunings. And the .013 – .062 gauge strings are going to wreak havoc on my poor fingers. I’ve been so accustomed to .008s and .009s that these would definitely shred my fingertips.
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