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Fender James Burton Telecaster
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT
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Playability
68
Sound
69
Build
67
Value
58
Score
68
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Playability
78
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
72
Score
67
FIND IT ON:
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Fender James Burton Telecaster vs LTD MH-200QM NT

Reasons to Get
Fender James Burton Telecaster over LTD MH-200QM NT

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Vintage vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Pickup Mods
Series Split vs Coil Split
Connects pickups in series to imitate a humbucker
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT over Fender James Burton Telecaster

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2019 vs 2006
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Vintage
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Series Split
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
72 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender James Burton Telecaster vs LTD MH-200QM NT

Bridge Pickup
Fender Specially Designed James Burton vs ESP Designed LH-150B
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Specially Designed James Burton vs ESP Designed LH-150N
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Jatoba
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender James Burton Telecaster vs LTD MH-200QM NT

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
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 Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 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 the Fender James Burton Telecaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 68 compared to the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender James Burton Telecaster wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

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

ESP LTD MH-200QM NT
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • 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.

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 >

ESP LTD MH-200QM NT Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2019 MH series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Roasted Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ESP Designed LH-150B (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: ESP Designed LH-150N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TOM w/ String Thru bridge
  • Thin U Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD 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

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 ESP LTD MH-200QM NT

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

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.

Winner: ESP LTD MH-200QM NT.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender James Burton Telecaster has an SSS configuration while the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT 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 Fender James Burton Telecaster has pickups from a more specialized brand than the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT. 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 Funk 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: Fender James Burton Telecaster.

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 Fender James Burton Telecaster gives you 5 switch options while the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT gives you 3. This means that the Fender James Burton Telecaster gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Fender James Burton Telecaster offers 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.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT comes with the following: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Fender James Burton Telecaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender James Burton Telecaster's switch options
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT'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
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 67

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 ESP LTD MH-200QM NT.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender James Burton Telecaster is built in United States while the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT is made in Indonesia.

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.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Fender James Burton Telecaster

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 ESP LTD MH-200QM NT comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Fender James Burton Telecaster.

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

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender James Burton Telecaster's are Deluxe Cast/Sealed with Pearl Buttons while the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT's are LTD

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
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT
  • Expensive Wood
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender James Burton Telecaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 67
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT
Quality of materials 45
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 57

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
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

Fender James Burton Telecaster and ESP LTD MH-200QM NT'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
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT Neck Profile
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT'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 Fender James Burton Telecaster and the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT 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

Fender James Burton Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender James Burton Telecaster's Fingerboard radius
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT'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 James Burton Telecaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the ESP LTD MH-200QM NT'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 MH-200QM NT.

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 ESP LTD MH-200QM NT.

Fender James Burton Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender James Burton Telecaster Frets Size
Fender James Burton Telecaster's Frets Size
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT Frets Size
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT's Frets Size

The ESP LTD MH-200QM NT has XL 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
ESP LTD MH-200QM NT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender James Burton Telecaster vs LTD MH-200QM NT
General Fender James Burton Telecaster LTD MH-200QM NT
Brand: Fender ESP LTD
Year: 2006 2019
Configuration: SSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Artist MH
Colors: Blue Patterns, Red Patterns Red
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Mahogany
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Series Strings-Thru-Body Strat with Block-Style Saddles TOM w/ String Thru
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Deluxe Cast/Sealed with Pearl Buttons LTD
Fretboard: Maple Roasted Jatoba
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Offset Blocks
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: James Burton U Thin U
Frets: 21 Vintage Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 13.78"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Plastic
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Specially Designed James Burton (Single Coil / Passive) ESP Designed LH-150B (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Specially Designed James Burton (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Specially Designed James Burton (Single Coil / Passive) ESP Designed LH-150N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Series Split Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1