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Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
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Playability
73
Sound
82
Build
73
Value
71
Score
76
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Playability
80
Sound
76
Build
62
Value
83
Score
73
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Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence vs Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG

Reasons to Get
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence over Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
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
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
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 15'' (381mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG over Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
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
Fretboard Radius
15'' (381mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
83 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence vs Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern vs EMG 81
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Modern vs EMG 60
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Nut Material
Locking vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence vs Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • 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

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG is the better choice.

The Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence meets only 3. 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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence Overview

  • From Dean's 2021 Select series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Eastern Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 (Korean) bridge
  • Slim C Set neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Mini Grover 18:1 tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2020 Tribute series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Wsc Tune-O-Matic Bridge bridge
  • Harley Benton Slim Taper C Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Grover Locking Machine Heads 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

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
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.

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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

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 Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG 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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG'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: Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG.

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.

Only the Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence's switch options
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG'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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 71
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 82
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
Pickups 90
Sustain 90
Versatility 44
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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence compares to the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG.

Country of Origin

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

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.

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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence 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 Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG 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: 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.

In this comparison, the Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence.

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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's 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.

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: Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence.

Tuners

The Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG 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.

Nevertheless, the Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG.

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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence
Quality of materials 75
Features 65
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 73
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
Quality of materials 61
Features 60
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 62

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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence Nut Width
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence Nut Width
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Nut Width
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence 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 Zero Select Floyd 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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence's Scale Length
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence's Scale Length
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's Scale Length
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG'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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence has the longest scale: 25.5". The Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG 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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence Neck Profile
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence's neck profile
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Neck Profile
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG'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.

Both the Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence and the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG have a C-shaped 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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence Fingerboard Radius
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence's Fingerboard radius
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG'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 Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG'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 Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence Frets Size
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence's Frets Size
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG Frets Size
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG's Frets Size

The Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence'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 Zero Select Floyd Fluence
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73
Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence vs Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
General Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence Harley Benton EX-84 Modern EMG
Brand: Dean Harley Benton
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Select Tribute
Colors: Black Burst White, Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Eastern Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose 1000 (Korean) Wsc Tune-O-Matic Bridge
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Mini Grover 18:1 Grover Locking Machine Heads
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 3 Piece Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Ultra Diamond White Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Slim C Harley Benton Slim Taper C
Frets: 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 15"
Nut: Locking Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active) EMG 60 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 1