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Dean Z Select
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl
VS
Playability
77
Sound
72
Build
57
Value
74
Score
69
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
75
Value
76
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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Dean Z Select vs Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl

Reasons to Get
Dean Z Select over Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl

Neck Profile
V vs Charvel Speed
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume 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 Tremolo
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

Reasons to Get
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl over Dean Z Select

Decorative Top
Poplar Burl vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2022 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Charvel Speed vs V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Pickup Mods
Parallel Split vs None
Connects pickups in parallel to brighten tone
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
76 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Dean Z Select vs Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan SH-5 vs Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Dean Z Select vs Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl

Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan APH-1N
Same Neck Pickup
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Dean Z Select Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Dean Z Select's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Dean Z Select has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl is the better choice.

The Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean Z Select 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 Select
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Dean Z Select Overview

  • From Dean's 2019 Select series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan SH-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (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 tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl Overview

  • From Charvel's 2022 Pro-Mod series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar Burl top
  • Alder body
  • Caramelized Maple neck
  • Caramelized Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Gotoh Custom 510 Tremolo bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Charvel-Branded Die-Cast Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.3lbs (3.3kgs) and 7.45lbs (3.4kgs)
  • 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 the Dean Z Select

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.

Woods Used in the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Dean Z Select.

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 Z Select 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 Z Select's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl's online:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Dean Z Select.

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 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl gives you 5 switch options while the Dean Z Select gives you 3. This means that the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl comes with some kind of pickup modification: Parallel Split.

The Parallel Split feature allows it to split and connect some of the pickups in parallel. When wired in parallel, the result is a very bright tone. This is the wire technique used in most Stratocaster guitars, and it's what gives them their signature transparent and clear sound. This is because the pickups' inputs and outputs are wired together, which reduces the signal's travel distance to the output jack.

Dean Z Select pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Dean Z Select's switch options
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl'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: Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Dean Z Select
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 72
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 81

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 Select compares to the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Dean Z Select is built in Indonesia while the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl is made in Mexico.

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.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

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 Z Select 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 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl 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: Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl.

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 Z Select'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 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl's is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl 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: Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl.

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 Z Select 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 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean Z Select
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl
  • Locking Tuners
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Parallel Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Dean Z Select
Quality of materials 51
Features 50
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 57
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl
Quality of materials 65
Features 85
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 75

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 Select Nut Width
Dean Z Select Nut Width
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl Nut Width
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Dean Z Select 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 Z Select, 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 Z Select's Scale Length
Dean Z Select's Scale Length
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl's Scale Length
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl'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 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl has the longest scale: 25.5". The Dean Z Select 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 Z Select Neck Profile
Dean Z Select's neck profile
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl Neck Profile
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl'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 Select 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 Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl, 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 Select Fingerboard Radius
Dean Z Select's Fingerboard radius
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl's Compound Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

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 Select favors large hands more than the Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl.

Dean Z Select:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Dean Z Select and Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl 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 Select
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77
Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Dean Z Select vs Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl
General Dean Z Select Charvel Pro-Mod DK24 HH 2PT CM Poplar Burl
Brand: Dean Charvel
Year: 2019 2022
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Mexico
Series: Select Pro-Mod
Colors: Black Black Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Alder
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic (With Z Plate) Gotoh Custom 510 Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Grover Charvel-Branded Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Caramelized Maple
Neck Material: 3 Piece Mahogany Caramelized Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Block 4mm Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: V Charvel Speed
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan SH-5 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: None Parallel Split
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 1