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ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
VS
Playability
80
Sound
79
Build
80
Value
65
Score
80
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Playability
68
Sound
74
Build
72
Value
61
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed vs Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature

Reasons to Get
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed over Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature

Decorative Top
Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Charvel Speed
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.77'' (19.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
65 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature over ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Charvel Speed vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.77'' (19.6mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Other Key Differences
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed vs Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Will Adler Signature vs Charvel Custom MF Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Will Adler Signature vs Charvel Custom MF Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed vs Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed is probably the better product overall with its final score of 80 compared to the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature in every aspect.

However, there's still a reason to choose the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature instead. If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature is the better choice.

The Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed meets only 5. 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 Will Adler Warbird Distressed
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
  • 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.

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed Overview

  • From ESP's 2014 Signature series
  • Will Adler Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Will Adler Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Will Adler Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TOM Bridge & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature Overview

  • From Charvel's 2014 Artist Signature series
  • Joe Duplantier Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Fully Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stop Tailpiece bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Charvel-Branded Die-Cast 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

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 ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed

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.

You can purchase similar pickups to the ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed's and use them on any guitar:

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

Winner: 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.

Only the ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed 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.

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed's switch options
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature'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: ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed.

Final Sound Quality Scores

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 61
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 79
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 52
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 74

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 Will Adler Warbird Distressed compares to the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed is built in Japan while the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature is made in United States.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

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: 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 Will Adler Warbird Distressed 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 Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

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

They both have 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: Tie.

Neck Joint

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

The ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed has a Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

On the other hand, the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature 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: ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed
Quality of materials 65
Features 75
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 80
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
Quality of materials 51
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 72

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 Will Adler Warbird Distressed Nut Width
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed Nut Width
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature Nut Width
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed 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 ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed's Scale Length
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed's Scale Length
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature's Scale Length
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature'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 Joe Duplantier USA Signature has the longest scale: 25.5". The ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed 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

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed Neck Profile
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed's neck profile
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature Neck Profile
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature'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 ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed has a U type of 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.

The Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature, 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

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed Fingerboard Radius
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed's Fingerboard radius
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature'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 Joe Duplantier USA Signature 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 ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed favors large hands more than the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature.

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed Frets Size
ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed's Frets Size
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature Frets Size
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature's Frets Size

The ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature's Medium 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

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80
Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 68

Specs Side-by-Side

ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed vs Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
General ESP Will Adler Warbird Distressed Charvel Joe Duplantier USA Signature
Brand: ESP Charvel
Year: 2014 2014
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan United States
Series: Signature Artist Signature
Colors: Black Black, Gray Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: TOM Bridge & Tailpiece Fully Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stop Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Bolt-On
Tuners: Sperzel Locking Charvel-Branded Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 3pc Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Warbird graphics Gojira G Pearl
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Thin U Charvel Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.77'' (19.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Bone Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Will Adler Signature (Humbucker / Passive) Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Will Adler Signature (Humbucker / Passive) Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 0