Swap
Swap
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
VS
Playability
70
Sound
80
Build
85
Value
63
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability
73
Sound
68
Build
73
Value
56
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature vs Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Reasons to Get
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature over Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Decorative Top
Big Leaf Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Retainer Bar
Yes vs None
Assists you so tuning doesn't change when locking the nut
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Wolfgang Backshape vs Doyle Spec. Ultra Slim D Shaped
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
EVH vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Killswitch vs None
Cuts out the pickups instantly
Switch Positions
3 vs 0
More tone options
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs H
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Value Score
63 vs 56
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator over EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature

Release Year
2022 vs 2017
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
Neck Profile
Doyle Spec. Ultra Slim D Shaped vs Wolfgang Backshape
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Pickups
H vs HH
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
Number of Frets
27 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle

Other Key Differences
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature vs Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Bridge Pickup
Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking vs Von Frankenstein MONSTER
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Richlite
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature vs Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Floyd Rose
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature is the better choice.

The EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature meets 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator meets only 2. 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

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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.

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature Overview

  • From EVH's 2017 Wolfgang USA series
  • Eddie Van Halen Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Big Leaf Maple top
  • Basswood body
  • Quartersawn Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang AL3 Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • EVH-Branded Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo with EVH D-Tuna bridge
  • Wolfgang Backshape Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Vintage Stainless Steel frets
  • EVH-Branded Gotoh tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Overview

  • From Dean's 2022 Artist series
  • Doyle Wolfgang Von Frankenstein Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Mahogany neck
  • Richlite fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Von Frankenstein MONSTER (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • FU Custom bridge
  • Doyle Spec. Ultra Slim D Shaped Neck-Through neck
  • 27 Jumbo frets
  • Schaller M6 Mini 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 the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Richlite wood pattern used for guitar building
Richlite

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.

It's very similar to Ebony, but it is much cheaper to make. The main reason is that it is made from resin-infused paper. It is very durable and soft, so it's often used for fretboards and tops.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature has an HH configuration while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator has H pickups.

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.

On the other hand, A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

Pickups Quality

The EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

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: EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature.

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 EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature gives you 3 switch options while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator gives you 0. This means that the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature comes with some kind of pickup modification: Killswitch.

A Killswitch lets you disengage the pickups instantly. It can be useful when playing live, and it allows you to create some cool sound effects by using the switch rapidly.

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature pickups switch and push knobs diagram
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature's switch options

The Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator doesn't come with pickup switching 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: EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature.

Final Sound Quality Scores

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 80
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 47
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 68

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 EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature compares to the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator.

Country of Origin

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

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.

In this case, both have Locking nuts. 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.

However, only the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature has a retainer bar for the locking nut, which is a helpful addition. Without it, the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator's strings will change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'll have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly.

Winner: EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature.

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 EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature 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: EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature.

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: 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.

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 EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature's are EVH-Branded Gotoh while the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator's are Schaller M6 Mini

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 EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature has 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.

On the other hand, the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator comes with 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.

Winner: Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Killswitch Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature
Quality of materials 75
Features 80
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 85
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
Quality of materials 49
Features 70
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 73

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

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature Nut Width
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature Nut Width
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Nut Width
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 1.1mm (0.043'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature and Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator'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

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature Neck Profile
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature's neck profile
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Neck Profile
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator'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 EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature has a C type of 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.

The Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature Fretboard Compound Radius
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature's Compound Fretboard Radius
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Fingerboard Radius
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator'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 EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen 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 Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator favors large hands more than the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature Frets Size
EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature's Frets Size
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator Frets Size
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator's Frets Size

The Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature'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

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature vs Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
General EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature Dean USA Doyle Signature Annihilator
Brand: EVH Dean
Year: 2017 2022
Configuration: HH H
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Wolfgang USA Artist
Colors: White Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Mahogany
Bridge: EVH-Branded Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo with EVH D-Tuna FU Custom
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: EVH-Branded Gotoh Schaller M6 Mini
Fretboard: Ebony Richlite
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple 3 Piece Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Block Pearloid Doyle Bats
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Wolfgang Backshape Doyle Spec. Ultra Slim D Shaped
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Vintage Stainless Steel 27 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Von Frankenstein MONSTER (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Direct Mount EVH Wolfgang AL3 Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 0 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Killswitch None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0