Swap
Swap
Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
VS
Playability
70
Sound
80
Build
75
Value
60
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability
68
Sound
74
Build
72
Value
61
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake vs Joe Duplantier USA Signature

Reasons to Get
Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake over Joe Duplantier USA Signature

Release Year
2018 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
HS vs HH
High output with bright neck cleans
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs

Reasons to Get
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature over Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
HH vs HS
High output without hum
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Value Score
61 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake vs Joe Duplantier USA Signature

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Custom Design Warren DeMartini vs Charvel Custom MF Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole vs Charvel Custom MF Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Locking vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake vs Joe Duplantier USA Signature

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.77'' (19.6mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
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
Compound Radius
12" to 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature is the better choice.

The Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake meets only 4. 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 USA Signature Snake
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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 Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake Overview

  • From Charvel's 2018 Artist Signature series
  • Warren DeMartini Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Quartersawn Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom Design Warren DeMartini (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking 2-Point Tremolo bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature Overview

  • From Charvel's 2014 Artist Signature series
  • Joe Duplantier Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Fully Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stop Tailpiece bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Charvel-Branded Die-Cast Locking 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 the Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake

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 Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

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: Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature.

Pickup Configuration

The Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake has an HS configuration while the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature has HH pickups.

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.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

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.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake's and use them on any guitar:

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: Tie.

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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake's switch options
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature'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 Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 80
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 52
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 74

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 USA Signature Snake compares to the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature.

Country of Origin

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

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

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 Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake has 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.

On the other hand, the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to 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.

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.

The Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

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: Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake.

Tuners

The Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature 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 Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature.

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 Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake
  • Made in United States
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake
Quality of materials 51
Features 75
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 75
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
Quality of materials 51
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 72

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 USA Signature Snake Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42.9mm (1.688'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake and Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature'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 USA Signature Snake Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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.

Both the Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake and the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature have a C-shaped 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.

Fretboard Radius

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake's Compound Fretboard 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.

Both have a compound radius. This means both offer you the best craftsmanship when it comes to fretboard design. You'll have an arc to help you play chords close to the nut, while also having a flat design at the higher frets for faster soloing and easier bends.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake Frets Size
Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake's Frets Size
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature Frets Size
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature's Frets Size

The Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature's Medium 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 USA Signature Snake
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 68

Specs Side-by-Side

Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake vs Joe Duplantier USA Signature
General Charvel Warren DeMartini USA Signature Snake Joe Duplantier USA Signature
Brand: Charvel Charvel
Year: 2018 2014
Configuration: HS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Signature Artist Signature
Colors: Green Patterns Black, Gray Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking 2-Point Tremolo Fully Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stop Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh Die-Cast Charvel-Branded Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Maple Ebony
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Black Dot Gojira G Pearl
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Charvel Speed Charvel Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.77'' (19.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.77'' (19.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12" to 16"
Nut: Locking Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Custom Design Warren DeMartini (Humbucker / Passive) Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole (Single Coil / Passive) Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0