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Dean ML Select Fluence
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
VS
Playability
77
Sound
77
Build
64
Value
73
Score
73
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
72
Value
59
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
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Dean ML Select Fluence vs Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA

Reasons to Get
Dean ML Select Fluence over Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA

Release Year
2021 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
V vs Washburn Parallaxe
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
73 vs 59
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA over Dean ML Select Fluence

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Washburn Parallaxe vs V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
Dean ML Select Fluence vs Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA

Headstock
3-3 vs R6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
NuBone vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Dean ML Select Fluence vs Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • 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

SET PRICE ALERT

Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Dean ML Select Fluence's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Dean ML Select Fluence has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Dean ML Select Fluence is the better choice.

The Dean ML Select Fluence meets 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA 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 ML Select Fluence
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
  • 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 ML Select Fluence Overview

  • From Dean's 2021 Select series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Eastern Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Eastern Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tune-O-Matic (With V Plate) bridge
  • V Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Grover 18:1 tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Overview

  • From Washburn's 2018 Parallaxe series
  • Michael Sweet Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Original Floyd Rose with GraphTech String Saver Saddles bridge
  • Washburn Parallaxe Set neck
  • 24 Medium frets
  • Black Grover Exclusive 18:1 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
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: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. 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.

However, the Dean ML Select Fluence has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Dean ML Select Fluence's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's online:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

Winner: Dean ML Select Fluence.

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.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

They both share the following switching options:

Dean ML Select Fluence and Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Dean ML Select Fluence and Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA'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: Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Dean ML Select Fluence
Pickups 90
Sustain 90
Versatility 58
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 77
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Pickups 85
Sustain 75
Versatility 69
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 Dean ML Select Fluence compares to the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Dean ML Select Fluence is built in Indonesia while the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA is made in United States.

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.

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: Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA

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 ML Select Fluence has a NuBone nut. It's made by the same company that makes TUSQ nuts. It's slightly softer but hard enough to give you a brighter sound when playing open strings. It's also self-lubricating, so it's good for tuning stability.

On the other hand, the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA 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.

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 ML Select Fluence's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA'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: Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Dean ML Select Fluence's are Grover 18:1 while the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's are Black Grover Exclusive 18:1

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.

Both have 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.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean ML Select Fluence
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • 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 ML Select Fluence
Quality of materials 61
Features 55
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 64
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Quality of materials 51
Features 65
Quality Control 100
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

Dean ML Select Fluence Nut Width
Dean ML Select Fluence Nut Width
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Nut Width
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Dean ML Select Fluence 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 ML Select Fluence, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Dean ML Select Fluence's Scale Length
Dean ML Select Fluence's Scale Length
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's Scale Length
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA'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 Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA has the longest scale: 25.5". The Dean ML Select Fluence 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 ML Select Fluence Neck Profile
Dean ML Select Fluence's neck profile
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Neck Profile
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA'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 ML Select Fluence has a V type of neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

The Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA, on the other hand, has a C 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

Dean ML Select Fluence 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 ML Select Fluence and the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA 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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Dean ML Select Fluence favors large hands more than the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA.

Dean ML Select Fluence:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Dean ML Select Fluence Frets Size
Dean ML Select Fluence's Frets Size
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Frets Size
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's Frets Size

The Dean ML Select Fluence has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's Medium 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

Dean ML Select Fluence
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Dean ML Select Fluence vs Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
General Dean ML Select Fluence Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Brand: Dean Washburn
Year: 2021 2018
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia United States
Series: Select Parallaxe
Colors: Black Satin Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Eastern Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic (With V Plate) Original Floyd Rose with GraphTech String Saver Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover 18:1 Black Grover Exclusive 18:1
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 3 Piece Eastern Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Ultra Parallaxe Inlay At 12Th
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: V Washburn Parallaxe
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: NuBone Locking
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 2 1