Dean Cadillac X Floyd vs Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT
Reasons to Get
Dean Cadillac X Floyd over Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT
Reasons to Get
Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT over Dean Cadillac X Floyd
Other Key Differences
Dean Cadillac X Floyd vs Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT
Shared Features
Dean Cadillac X Floyd vs Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT
Common Strengths
- High-Quality Nut
Common Weaknesses
- Neck-Through Build
- Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
- Weight Relief
- Stays in Tune (Evertune)
- High-Quality Frets
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- Active/Passive Preamp
Table of Contents
Price History Comparison
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Which One is Better Overall?
After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Dean Cadillac X Floyd's 67 score, although not by a lot.
The Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Dean Cadillac X Floyd has the upper hand when it comes to playability, 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 Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT is the better choice.
The Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean Cadillac X Floyd meets only 2. 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
Dean Cadillac X Floyd- Tall frets
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable shape
- Comfortable fretboard
- Narrow nut
- Short scale
- Locking tuners
- Easy-to-use bridge
New Player Friendliness
Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT- Comfortable shape
- Easy-to-use bridge
- Locking tuners
- Tall frets
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable fretboard
- 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.
Dean Cadillac X Floyd Overview
- From Dean's 2021 X series
- Made in India
- 6 strings
- 24.75"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Eastern Mahogany body
- Maple neck
- Indian Rosewood fretboard
- Bridge pickup: DMT Design (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: DMT Design (Humbucker/Passive)
- 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Floyd Rose FR20 bridge
- C Bolt-On neck
- 22 Jumbo frets
- Sealed Die Cast tuners
- Compare Specs >
Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT Overview
- From Jackson's 2021 Artist Signature series
- Misha Mansoor Signature
- Made in Japan
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 20" Fretboard Radius
- Basswood body
- Caramelized Maple neck
- Caramelized Maple fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Bare Knuckle Ragnarok (Humbucker/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Bare Knuckle Trilogy Suite Single Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Bare Knuckle Trilogy Suite Single Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- Gotoh Custom 510 Tremolo bridge
- Speed Bolt-On neck
- 22 Jumbo frets
- Gotoh 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 Both
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 Dean Cadillac X Floyd
Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.
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.
Woods Used in the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT
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: Dean Cadillac X Floyd.
Pickup Configuration
The Dean Cadillac X Floyd has an HH configuration while the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT has HSS pickups.
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.
On the other hand, HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.
Pickups Quality
The Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT pickups from a more specialized brand than the Dean Cadillac X Floyd. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.
We found the same or similar pickups to the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT'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: Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT.
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 Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT gives you 5 switch options while the Dean Cadillac X Floyd gives you 3. This means that the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve
Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.
When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.
Winner: Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT.
Final Sound Quality Scores
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 Dean Cadillac X Floyd compares to the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT.
Country of Origin
The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Dean Cadillac X Floyd is built in India while the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT is made in Japan.
India is not a popular country for building electric guitars, but it's where some respectable brands build other instruments. You can expect an affordable price and nice build quality, similar to Indonesia.
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: Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT
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 Dean Cadillac X Floyd 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 Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT 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 Dean Cadillac X Floyd'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 Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT's 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.
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: Dean Cadillac X Floyd.
Tuners
The Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT 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 Dean Cadillac X Floyd has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.
Winner: Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT.
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:
Dean Cadillac X Floyd
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in India
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT
- Locking Tuners
- Made in Japan
- Black Tusq XL Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Expensive Woods
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Final Build Quality Scores
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
The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Dean Cadillac X Floyd 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 Dean Cadillac X Floyd, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.
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.
The Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT has the longest scale: 25.5". The Dean Cadillac X Floyd is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.
This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.
This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.
Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).
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
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 Dean Cadillac X Floyd 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 Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.
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.
In this case, the Dean Cadillac X Floyd's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT.
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 .
Dean Cadillac X Floyd:
Jackson MJ Series Signature Misha Mansoor So-Cal 2PT:
Fret Size
Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.
