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Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM
ESP Kamikaze-4
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
88
Value
71
Score
81
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Playability
70
Sound
82
Build
74
Value
60
Score
75
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Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM vs ESP Kamikaze-4

Reasons to Get
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM over ESP Kamikaze-4

Decorative Top
Ash vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2021 vs 2013
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Charvel Speed vs GL Original U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs Coil Split
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
HSH vs HS
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Value Score
71 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
ESP Kamikaze-4 over Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
GL Original U vs Charvel Speed
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Coil Tap
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Pickups
HS vs HSH
High output with bright neck cleans
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
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
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM vs ESP Kamikaze-4

Bridge Pickup
Charvel Custom Humbucking vs Seymour Duncan Signature George Lynch “The Hunter”
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Charvel Custom Humbucking vs ESP SS-120
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Maple
Different Body Wood
Headstock
6 vs R6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM vs ESP Kamikaze-4

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume 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
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

ESP Kamikaze-4 Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM is probably the better product overall with its final score of 81 compared to the ESP Kamikaze-4's 75 score, although not by a lot.

The Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the ESP Kamikaze-4 has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM is the better choice.

The Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP Kamikaze-4 meets only 3. 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

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

ESP Kamikaze-4
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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.

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM Overview

  • From Charvel's 2021 Artist Signature series
  • Guthrie Govan Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash top
  • Basswood body
  • Caramelized Maple neck
  • Caramelized Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Charvel Custom Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Charvel Custom Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Charvel Custom Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Recessed Charvel Locking Tremolo Bridge bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP Kamikaze-4 Overview

  • From ESP's 2013 Signature series
  • George Lynch Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Signature George Lynch “The Hunter” (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: ESP SS-120 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • GL Original U Bolt-On neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh 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 Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM

Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

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: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM has an HSH configuration while the ESP Kamikaze-4 has HS pickups.

HSH is a versatile pickup configuration that will give you the high output, full tone, and quiet sound of humbucker pickups, but with the possibility of using a single coil for cleaner tones. The disadvantage is that the middle single-coil pickup will have a noticeable lower volume, so you might want to adjust the height of the pickups. Another problem is that if you set the middle pickup too high, it might interfere with your picking hand.

On the other hand, An HS configuration gives you a bridge pickup with a lot of output for playing distortion parts, but you'll also have the bright sound of a Tele or Strat neck pickup for your clean tones.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the ESP Kamikaze-4 has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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: ESP Kamikaze-4.

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 Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM gives you 5 switch options while the ESP Kamikaze-4 gives you 3. This means that the Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM offers Coil Tap.

Coil Tap is similar to Coil Split but it works a bit differently. Instead of completely cancelling one of the coils of the humbucker, it only cuts part of the output once activated. Some people believe this gives the split pickups a more real single-coil sound.

On the other hand, the ESP Kamikaze-4 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.

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM's switch options
ESP Kamikaze-4 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP Kamikaze-4'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: Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 81
ESP Kamikaze-4
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 82

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 Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM compares to the ESP Kamikaze-4.

Country of Origin

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

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

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 Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the ESP Kamikaze-4 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: Tie.

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 Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM 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: Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM.

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 Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM'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 ESP Kamikaze-4'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: ESP Kamikaze-4.

Tuners

The Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM 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.

Nevertheless, the ESP Kamikaze-4 has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM.

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.

Both have 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.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Kamikaze-4
  • Made in Japan
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM
Quality of materials 85
Features 85
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 88
ESP Kamikaze-4
Quality of materials 51
Features 70
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74

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

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM Nut Width
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM Nut Width
ESP Kamikaze-4 Nut Width
ESP Kamikaze-4 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP Kamikaze-4 has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the ESP Kamikaze-4, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM and ESP Kamikaze-4'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

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM Neck Profile
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM's neck profile
ESP Kamikaze-4 Neck Profile
ESP Kamikaze-4'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 Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM 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 Kamikaze-4, 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

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM's Compound Fretboard Radius
ESP Kamikaze-4 Fingerboard Radius
ESP Kamikaze-4's Fingerboard 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 Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM 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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the ESP Kamikaze-4 favors large hands more than the Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM.

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP Kamikaze-4:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM Frets Size
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM's Frets Size
ESP Kamikaze-4 Frets Size
ESP Kamikaze-4's Frets Size

The ESP Kamikaze-4 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM's Jumbo 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

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73
ESP Kamikaze-4
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM vs ESP Kamikaze-4
General Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature MJ San Dimas SD24 CM ESP Kamikaze-4
Brand: Charvel ESP
Year: 2021 2013
Configuration: HSH HS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Artist Signature Signature
Colors: Sunburst Green Patterns
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Maple
Bridge: Recessed Charvel Locking Tremolo Bridge Floyd Rose Original
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh Locking Gotoh
Fretboard: Caramelized Maple Maple
Neck Material: Caramelized Maple Maple
Decoration: Crème Dots Offset Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Charvel Speed GL Original U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.77'' (19.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Locking
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Charvel Custom Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Signature George Lynch “The Hunter” (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Charvel Custom Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Charvel Custom Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) ESP SS-120 (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0