Swap
Swap
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler
Schecter Ultra-III
VS
Playability
77
Sound
82
Build
70
Value
66
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability
73
Sound
69
Build
65
Value
74
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
Musician's Friend logoSweetwater logoAmazon logo
Add more to comparison

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler vs Schecter Ultra-III

Reasons to Get
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler over Schecter Ultra-III

Decorative Top
Burled Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2009
From a more recent year
Scale Length
27" to 25.5" vs 25.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
Slim D vs Thin C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Pickups
HH vs HHH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Kahler vs Bigsby Tremolo
Intense vibratos and can be locked to stop floating
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Schecter Ultra-III over Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Scale Length
25.5" vs 27" to 25.5"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
Thin C vs Slim D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HHH vs HH
High output without hum and tons of tone versatility
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Kahler
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
74 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler vs Schecter Ultra-III

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Sentient vs Schecter Diamond Mini FilterTron
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Nazgul vs Schecter Diamond Mini FilterTron
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Locking vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler vs Schecter Ultra-III

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
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

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

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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 Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Schecter Ultra-III's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Schecter Ultra-III has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Schecter Ultra-III is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Ultra-III is the better choice.

The Schecter Ultra-III meets 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler 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 Multiscale Kahler
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Ultra-III
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Multiscale Kahler Overview

  • From Dean's 2021 Select series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 27" to 25.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Burled Maple top
  • Eastern Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Nazgul (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Kahler Multiscale Trem bridge
  • Slim D Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Grover 18:1 tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Ultra-III Overview

  • From Schecter's 2009 Retro series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany 3-pc neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter Diamond Mini FilterTron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Schecter Diamond Mini FilterTron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter Diamond Mini FilterTron (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Bigsby Flat Top B50 w/ Roller TOM bridge
  • Thin C Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Grover tuners
  • Weight between 8.35lbs (3.8kgs) and 9.1lbs (4.1kgs)
  • 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 ML Select Multiscale Kahler

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 Schecter Ultra-III

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler has an HH configuration while the Schecter Ultra-III has HHH 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 triple Humbucker (HHH) can be intimidating at first, but it's one of the combinations that offer the most tone versatility. You'll be able to have from a lot of output for Hard Rock genres, to warm and clean sounds that are more common in Jazz.

Pickups Quality

The Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Schecter Ultra-III. 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 Hard Rock and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler'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: Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler.

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 Schecter Ultra-III gives you 5 switch options while the Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler gives you 3. This means that the Schecter Ultra-III gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: Coil Split.

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.

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler's switch options
Schecter Ultra-III pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Schecter Ultra-III'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: Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 79
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 82
Schecter Ultra-III
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 69

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 Multiscale Kahler compares to the Schecter Ultra-III.

Country of Origin

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

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.

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 Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler 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 Schecter Ultra-III 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 ML Select Multiscale Kahler's brige is a Kahler. It's a floating tremolo very similar to Floyd Rose but less popular. The main difference is that you can lock it to the body, which essentially turns it into a fixed bridge. Some heavy metal players prefer this bridge over Floyd Rose because it won't move and get out of pitch when they palm mute.

On the other hand, the Schecter Ultra-III's is a Bigsby Tremolo. Bigsby tremolos are built differently than regular tremolos. They have a stiffer arm, which is something a lot of people like because the arm won't wiggle around a lot. On the other hand, this type of tremolo is more complicated to restring and it might not be as newbie-friendly as other simpler tremolos.

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 ML Select Multiscale Kahler's are Grover 18:1 while the Schecter Ultra-III's are Grover

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 ML Select Multiscale Kahler 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 Schecter Ultra-III comes with 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: Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in South Korea
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Ultra-III
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler
Quality of materials 55
Features 70
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 70
Schecter Ultra-III
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 70
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

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler Nut Width
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler Nut Width
Schecter Ultra-III Nut Width
Schecter Ultra-III Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler, 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 Multiscale Kahler's Scale Length
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler's Scale Length
Schecter Ultra-III's Scale Length
Schecter Ultra-III'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.

In this case, the Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler features a multi-scale of 27" to 25.5" while the Schecter Ultra-III has a regular scale of 25.5".

A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

On the other hand, the Schecter Ultra-III's 25.5" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.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

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler Neck Profile
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler's neck profile
Schecter Ultra-III Neck Profile
Schecter Ultra-III'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 Multiscale Kahler has a D type of 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.

The Schecter Ultra-III, 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 Multiscale Kahler Fingerboard Radius
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Ultra-III Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Ultra-III'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 Schecter Ultra-III's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler'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 Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

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 Multiscale Kahler favors large hands more than the Schecter Ultra-III. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Ultra-III:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler Frets Size
Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler's Frets Size
Schecter Ultra-III Frets Size
Schecter Ultra-III's Frets Size

The Schecter Ultra-III has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler'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

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77
Schecter Ultra-III
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler vs Schecter Ultra-III
General Dean ML Select Multiscale Kahler Schecter Ultra-III
Brand: Dean Schecter
Year: 2021 2009
Configuration: HH HHH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea South Korea
Series: Select Retro
Colors: Black Burst Blue, Red, Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Eastern Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Kahler Multiscale Trem Bigsby Flat Top B50 w/ Roller TOM
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Grover 18:1 Grover
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: 3 Piece Maple Mahogany 3-pc
Decoration: Pearloid Small Offset Dot Pearl Blocks
Scale Size: 27" to 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Slim D Thin C
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 14"
Nut: Locking Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Sentient (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter Diamond Mini FilterTron (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Schecter Diamond Mini FilterTron (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Nazgul (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter Diamond Mini FilterTron (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1