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Dean Z 79
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White
VS
Playability
77
Sound
72
Build
54
Value
73
Score
68
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Playability
80
Sound
76
Build
74
Value
62
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
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Dean Z 79 vs USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White

Reasons to Get
Dean Z 79 over USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White

Release Year
2021 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
V vs Michael Amott Spec. C Shaped
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.6'' (624.8mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
73 vs 62
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White over Z 79

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs India
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Profile
Michael Amott Spec. C Shaped vs V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Scale Length
24.6'' (624.8mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
Dean Z 79 vs USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White

Bridge Pickup
USA DMT Time Capsule vs USA DMT Amott Tyrant
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Plastic vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Dean Z 79 vs USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White

Neck Pickup
USA DMT Time Capsule
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Dean Z 79's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Dean Z 79 has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White is the better choice.

The Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean Z 79 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

Dean Z 79
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut

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 Z 79 Overview

  • From Dean's 2021 Classic series
  • Made in India
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Eastern Mahogany body
  • Eastern Mahogany neck
  • Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: USA DMT Time Capsule (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: USA DMT Time Capsule (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tune-O-Matic (With Z Plate) bridge
  • V Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Grover 18:1 tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White Overview

  • From Dean's 2019 Artist series
  • Michael Amott Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.6"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: USA DMT Amott Tyrant (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: USA DMT Time Capsule (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tune-O-Matic (String Thru w/Ferrules) bridge
  • Michael Amott Spec. C Shaped Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel 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

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 Z 79

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.

Woods Used in the Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White

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.

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.

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.

They both share the following switching options:

Dean Z 79 and Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Dean Z 79 and Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White'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 Z 79.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Dean Z 79
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 72
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 47
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76

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 Z 79 compares to the Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Dean Z 79 is built in India while the Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White is made in United States.

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.

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 Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White

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 Z 79 has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White.

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: 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: Tie.

Tuners

The Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White 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.

Winner: Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White.

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 Z 79
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in India
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Dean Z 79
Quality of materials 51
Features 50
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 54
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White
Quality of materials 61
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74

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 Z 79 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 Z 79's Scale Length
Dean Z 79's Scale Length
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White's Scale Length
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White'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 Z 79 has the longest scale: 24.75". The Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White is only 24.6" long. This is a 0.15'' (3.8mm) 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 Z 79 Neck Profile
Dean Z 79's neck profile
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White Neck Profile
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White'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 Z 79 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 Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White, 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 Z 79 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 Z 79 and the Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White 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 Z 79 favors large hands more than the Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White.

Dean Z 79:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Dean Z 79 and Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White 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 Z 79
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77
Dean USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White
Bending & Vibrato Ease 100
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Dean Z 79 vs USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White
General Dean Z 79 USA Michael Amott Tyrant Burgundy/White
Brand: Dean Dean
Year: 2021 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: India United States
Series: Classic Artist
Colors: Natural Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Eastern Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic (With Z Plate) Tune-O-Matic (String Thru w/Ferrules)
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover 18:1 Sperzel Locking
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: Eastern Mahogany 3 Piece Maple
Decoration: Abalone dot Pearl Valknut
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.6"
Shape: V Michael Amott Spec. C Shaped
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Plastic Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: USA DMT Time Capsule (Humbucker / Passive) USA DMT Amott Tyrant (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: USA DMT Time Capsule (Humbucker / Passive) USA DMT Time Capsule (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 0