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Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87
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Playability
70
Sound
77
Build
64
Value
70
Score
70
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Playability
77
Sound
79
Build
65
Value
74
Score
74
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Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull vs LTD M-1 Custom '87 Specs Comparison
Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull LTD M-1 Custom '87
General
Brand: Charvel ESP LTD
Year: 2015 2020
Configuration: H H
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Indonesia
Series: Artist Signature '87 Series Guitars
Colors: Red Patterns Black, Blue, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking 2-Point Tremolo Floyd Rose 1000
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: Charvel-Branded Die-Cast LTD
Fretboard: Maple Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple 3pc Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Offset Mini Blocks
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Charvel Speed Extra Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.77'' (19.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.748'' (19mm) - 12th Fret: 0.827'' (21mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 13.78"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Seymour Duncan Custom Design Warren DeMartini (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup:
Switch: 0 Way 0 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split, Boost
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 0
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome

Reasons to Get
Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull over LTD M-1 Custom '87

Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 13.78"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Charvel Speed vs Extra Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.77'' (19.6mm) vs 0.748'' (19mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.827'' (21mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 over Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull

Release Year
2020 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Extra Thin U vs Charvel Speed
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Multiple vs None
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.748'' (19mm) vs 0.77'' (19.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.827'' (21mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
74 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull vs LTD M-1 Custom '87

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Custom Design Warren DeMartini vs Seymour Duncan Distortion SH-6
Different Bridge Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull vs LTD M-1 Custom '87

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Pickups
H
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Floyd Rose
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Retainer Bar
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull Prices

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Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 favors large hands more than the Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull.

Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 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 Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

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 ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Winner: ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are H. A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

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 Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87's online:

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: Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split, Boost.

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.

A Boost will give your pickups more output, similar to an active pickup. It's great if you like to use a lot of output for heavy genres, but also like to use a cleaner tone often.

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 52
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 77
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 79

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 Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull compares to the ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull is built in Mexico while the ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 is made in Indonesia.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

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.

In this case, both have Locking nuts. 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.

Both models come with a retainer bar, which is helpful when changing the strings on a double-locking tremolo. Without it, the strings would change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'd have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly

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.

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.

Both come with a similar bridge: 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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull's are Charvel-Branded Die-Cast while the ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87's are LTD

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 Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull 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 ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 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: ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Coil Split, Boost Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull
Quality of materials 41
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 64
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87
Quality of materials 41
Features 80
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 65

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 Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull Nut Width
Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull Nut Width
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 Nut Width
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 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 LTD M-1 Custom '87, 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 Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull and ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87'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 Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull Neck Profile
Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull's neck profile
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 Neck Profile
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87'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 Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull 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 LTD M-1 Custom '87, 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 Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull's Compound Fretboard Radius
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87'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 Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull 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.

Fret Size

Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull Frets Size
Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull's Frets Size
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 Frets Size
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87's Frets Size

The ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Charvel Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull'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 Warren DeMartini Signature Pro-Mod Blood and Skull
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70
ESP LTD M-1 Custom '87
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77