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Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
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Playability
75
Sound
82
Build
62
Value
73
Score
73
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Playability
73
Sound
68
Build
73
Value
56
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd vs USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Reasons to Get
Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd over USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Neck Profile
Eric Peterson Spec. C Shaped vs Doyle Spec. Ultra Slim D Shaped
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
EMG vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Switch Positions
3 vs 0
More tone options
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs H
High output without hum
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
73 vs 56
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator over Eric Peterson Z Floyd

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs South Korea
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2022 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Doyle Spec. Ultra Slim D Shaped vs Eric Peterson Spec. C Shaped
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Pickups
H vs HH
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
Number of Frets
27 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd vs USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Bridge Pickup
EMG 81 vs Von Frankenstein MONSTER
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Richlite
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd vs USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Floyd Rose
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Retainer Bar
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

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 Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd is the better choice.

The Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd meets 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator 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 Eric Peterson Z Floyd
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • 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.

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd Overview

  • From Dean's 2019 Artist series
  • Eric Peterson Signature
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Eastern Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 (Korean) bridge
  • Eric Peterson Spec. C Shaped Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Grover tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Overview

  • From Dean's 2022 Artist series
  • Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Mahogany neck
  • Richlite fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Von Frankenstein MONSTER (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • FU Custom bridge
  • Doyle Spec. Ultra Slim D Shaped Neck-Through neck
  • 27 Jumbo frets
  • Schaller M6 Mini 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

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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 Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

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.

Woods Used in the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Richlite wood pattern used for guitar building
Richlite

It's very similar to Ebony, but it is much cheaper to make. The main reason is that it is made from resin-infused paper. It is very durable and soft, so it's often used for fretboards and tops.

Winner: Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd.

Pickup Configuration

The Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd has an HH configuration while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator has H 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, 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

The Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Heavy Metal and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd's and use them on any guitar:

The Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd's pickups are Active while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator's are Passive.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd.

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 Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd gives you 3 switch options while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator gives you 0. This means that the Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd 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.

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd's switch options

The Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator doesn't come with pickup switching 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: Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd
Pickups 100
Sustain 85
Versatility 56
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 82
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 47
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 68

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 Eric Peterson Z Floyd compares to the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd is built in South Korea while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator is made in United States.

South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

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: Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

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.

Unfortunately, neither of them have a retainer bar for the nut, which would be a helpful addition. Without it, the strings will change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'll 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 Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd's are Grover while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator's are Schaller M6 Mini

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 Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd has a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

On the other hand, the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator 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: Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in South Korea
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 62
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
Quality of materials 49
Features 70
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 73

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

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd 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 43mm (1.693'').

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

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd's Scale Length
Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd's Scale Length
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator's Scale Length
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator's 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 Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator has the longest scale: 25.5". The Dean Eric Peterson Z 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

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd Neck Profile
Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd's neck profile
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Neck Profile
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator'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 Dean Eric Peterson Z 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 Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator, 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

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same 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 the Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd and the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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 Eric Peterson Z Floyd:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd and Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Frets Size
Both have a similar Jumbo 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.

Final Playability Scores

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd vs USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
General Dean Eric Peterson Z Floyd USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
Brand: Dean Dean
Year: 2019 2022
Configuration: HH H
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea United States
Series: Artist Artist
Colors: Black Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Eastern Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose 1000 (Korean) FU Custom
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Neck-Through
Tuners: Grover Schaller M6 Mini
Fretboard: Ebony Richlite
Neck Material: 3 Piece Maple 3 Piece Mahogany
Decoration: Pearl Diamond Pearloid Doyle Bats
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Eric Peterson Spec. C Shaped Doyle Spec. Ultra Slim D Shaped
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 27 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active) Von Frankenstein MONSTER (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: EMG 85 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 0 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 0