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ESP LTD Ron Wood
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
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Playability
72
Sound
75
Build
59
Value
74
Score
69
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Playability
70
Sound
73
Build
65
Value
69
Score
69
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LTD Ron Wood vs Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster

Reasons to Get
LTD Ron Wood over Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster

Release Year
2014 vs 2009
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Vintage
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
SH vs SS
Very bright bridge tone and a very warm neck pickup
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
9.843'' (250mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
74 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster over ESP LTD Ron Wood

Type of Frets
Vintage vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
SS vs SH
Beautiful cleans
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 9.843'' (250mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
LTD Ron Wood vs Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Hot Tele vs Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole RWRP
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N vs Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
LTD Ron Wood vs Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
U
Comfortable neck with more grip
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • 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

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that both instruments scored 69 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the ESP LTD Ron Wood has the upper hand when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the ESP LTD Ron Wood is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP LTD Ron Wood is the better choice.

The ESP LTD Ron Wood meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster 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

ESP LTD Ron Wood
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

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.

ESP LTD Ron Wood Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2014 Signature series
  • Ron Wood Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.843" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Hot Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • LTD Fixed bridge
  • Custom U Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • LTD Vintage tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2009 Artist series
  • Ritchie Blackmore Signature
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Graduated Scalloped Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole RWRP (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Ritchie Blackmore U Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage frets
  • Fender Vintage F Stamped 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

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster

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: Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster.

Pickup Configuration

The ESP LTD Ron Wood has an SH configuration while the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster has SS pickups.

SH is a more versatile version of the classic telecaster (SS) configuration. The bridge pickup usually produces a bright and twangy tone, while the neck Humbucker gives you the warmer tone you'll need for more Jazzy/Bluish solos and chords.

On the other hand, SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

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 Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster 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 ESP LTD Ron Wood's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster'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: Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster.

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.

ESP LTD Ron Wood pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD Ron Wood's switch options
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster'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: Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP LTD Ron Wood
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 66
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 73

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 ESP LTD Ron Wood compares to the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The ESP LTD Ron Wood is built in Indonesia while the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster 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 ESP LTD Ron Wood has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

On the other hand, the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster comes with a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

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 ESP LTD Ron Wood'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 Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster'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

Both come with regular tuners. The ESP LTD Ron Wood's are LTD Vintage while the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster's are Fender Vintage F Stamped

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a 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: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD Ron Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP LTD Ron Wood
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 59
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
Quality of materials 66
Features 55
Quality Control 75
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

ESP LTD Ron Wood 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 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

ESP LTD Ron Wood and Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster's Scale Length
Both have the same 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, both have a scale length of 25.5".

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

ESP LTD Ron Wood Neck Profile
ESP LTD Ron Wood's neck profile
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster'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 ESP LTD Ron Wood and the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster have a U-shaped neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

Fretboard Radius

ESP LTD Ron Wood Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD Ron Wood's Fingerboard radius
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster'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 Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the ESP LTD Ron Wood'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 ESP LTD Ron Wood.

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 Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster favors large hands more than the ESP LTD Ron Wood.

ESP LTD Ron Wood:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP LTD Ron Wood Frets Size
ESP LTD Ron Wood's Frets Size
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster's Frets Size

The ESP LTD Ron Wood has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster's Vintage 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

ESP LTD Ron Wood
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72
Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 100
Solo Playability 50
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

LTD Ron Wood vs Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
General LTD Ron Wood Fender Ritchie Blackmore Stratocaster
Brand: ESP LTD Fender
Year: 2014 2009
Configuration: SH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Mexico
Series: Signature Artist
Colors: Black White
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: LTD Fixed 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: LTD Vintage Fender Vintage F Stamped
Fretboard: Maple Graduated Scalloped Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Dots White Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Custom U Ritchie Blackmore U
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.843" 7.25"
Nut: Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Hot Tele (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole RWRP (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Non-Active Dummy (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Strat SSL-4 Flat Pole (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2