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Fender James Burton Telecaster
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR
VS
Playability
68
Sound
69
Build
67
Value
58
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
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Playability
70
Sound
80
Build
70
Value
63
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Fender James Burton Telecaster vs Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR

Reasons to Get
Fender James Burton Telecaster over Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR

Type of Frets
Vintage vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
James Burton U vs Charvel Speed
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs None
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Reasons to Get
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR over Fender James Burton Telecaster

Release Year
2016 vs 2006
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
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 9.5"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Charvel Speed vs James Burton U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
DiMarzio vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) 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
Value Score
63 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender James Burton Telecaster vs Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR

Bridge Pickup
Fender Specially Designed James Burton vs DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Specially Designed James Burton vs DiMarzio PAF Pro DP151
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender James Burton Telecaster vs Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
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 Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Fender James Burton Telecaster's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Fender James Burton Telecaster in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender James Burton Telecaster is the better choice.

The Fender James Burton Telecaster meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender James Burton Telecaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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.

Fender James Burton Telecaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2006 Artist series
  • James Burton Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Specially Designed James Burton (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Specially Designed James Burton (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Specially Designed James Burton (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle American Series Strings-Thru-Body Strat with Block-Style Saddles bridge
  • James Burton U Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage frets
  • Deluxe Cast/Sealed with Pearl Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR Overview

  • From Charvel's 2016 USA Select series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Quartersawn Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio PAF Pro DP151 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking 2-Point Tremolo bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Charvel-Branded Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight around 8.35lbs (3.8kgs)
  • 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

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.

Woods Used in the Fender James Burton Telecaster

Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

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 Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender James Burton Telecaster has an SSS configuration while the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR has HH pickups.

SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

On the other hand, 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

The Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender James Burton Telecaster. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer 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.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR'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: Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR.

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 Fender James Burton Telecaster comes with some kind of pickup modification: Series Split.

The Series Split feature allows it to split and connect some of the pickups in series. When wired in series, the resulting tone is similar to a Humbucker's. The pickups will work together and produce a fuller tone with more output than single-coils, but less than Humbuckers.

Fender James Burton Telecaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender James Burton Telecaster's switch options
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR'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 James Burton Telecaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender James Burton Telecaster
Pickups 70
Sustain 65
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 69
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 65
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 80

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 Fender James Burton Telecaster compares to the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR.

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.

The Fender James Burton Telecaster has 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.

On the other hand, the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR comes with 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.

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 Fender James Burton Telecaster's brige is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR's 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.

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: Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender James Burton Telecaster's are Deluxe Cast/Sealed with Pearl Buttons while the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR's are Charvel-Branded Die-Cast

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
Fender James Burton Telecaster
  • Made in United States
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Series Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR
  • Made in United States
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender James Burton Telecaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 67
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR
Quality of materials 41
Features 75
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 70

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

Fender James Burton Telecaster Nut Width
Fender James Burton Telecaster Nut Width
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR Nut Width
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender James Burton Telecaster and Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR'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

Fender James Burton Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender James Burton Telecaster's neck profile
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR Neck Profile
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR'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 Fender James Burton Telecaster 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 USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR, 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

Fender James Burton Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender James Burton Telecaster's Fingerboard radius
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR'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 USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR 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 Fender James Burton Telecaster favors large hands more than the Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR.

Fender James Burton Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender James Burton Telecaster Frets Size
Fender James Burton Telecaster's Frets Size
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR Frets Size
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR's Frets Size

The Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender James Burton Telecaster'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

Fender James Burton Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 68
Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender James Burton Telecaster vs Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR
General Fender James Burton Telecaster Charvel USA Select San Dimas Style 2 HH FR
Brand: Fender Charvel
Year: 2006 2016
Configuration: SSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist USA Select
Colors: Blue Patterns, Red Patterns Black, Red, White Satin, Purple Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Series Strings-Thru-Body Strat with Block-Style Saddles Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking 2-Point Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Deluxe Cast/Sealed with Pearl Buttons Charvel-Branded Die-Cast
Fretboard: Maple Maple
Neck Material: Maple Quartersawn Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: James Burton U Charvel Speed
Frets: 21 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12" to 16"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Specially Designed James Burton (Single Coil / Passive) DiMarzio Super Distortion DP100 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Specially Designed James Burton (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Specially Designed James Burton (Single Coil / Passive) DiMarzio PAF Pro DP151 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Series Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0