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Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
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Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
72
Value
62
Score
72
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Playability
80
Sound
74
Build
77
Value
62
Score
77
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Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP vs Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Reasons to Get
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP over Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Release Year
2022 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
SlimTaper with Volute vs Speed
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.775'' (19.7mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.91'' (23.1mm) vs 0.835'' (21.2mm)
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
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT over Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Speed vs SlimTaper with Volute
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm) vs 0.91'' (23.1mm)
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
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP vs Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Bridge Pickup
Dave Mustaine Signature Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor vs Seymour Duncan JB SH-4
Different Bridge Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP vs Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
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
Compound Radius
10" to 16" vs 12" to 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Narrow nut
  • 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.

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Overview

  • From Gibson's 2022 Artist Collection series
  • Dave Mustaine Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Dave Mustaine Signature Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • SlimTaper with Volute Set neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Mini Rotomatics with Kidney Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Overview

  • From Jackson's 2017 Artist Signature series
  • Scott Ian Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TonePros Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Style with Gotoh Stop Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Neck-Through neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Die-Cast 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

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

Woods Used in the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: 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.

However, the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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: Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP and Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP and Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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: Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
Pickups 85
Sustain 75
Versatility 56
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 49
Tuning Stability 70
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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP compares to the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT.

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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT 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

Both come with regular tuners. The Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's are Grover Mini Rotomatics with Kidney Buttons while the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT's are Gotoh 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.

The Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP has a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

On the other hand, the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT 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: Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
Quality of materials 61
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 72
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
Quality of materials 61
Features 70
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77

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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Nut Width
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP 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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's Scale Length
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's Scale Length
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT's Scale Length
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP has the longest scale: 25.5". The Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT 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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Neck Profile
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's neck profile
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Neck Profile
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP 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 Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT, 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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Fretboard Compound Radius
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's Compound Fretboard Radius
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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.

Both have a compound radius. This means both offer you the best craftsmanship when it comes to fretboard design. You'll have an arc to help you play chords close to the nut, while also having a flat design at the higher frets for faster soloing and easier bends.

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 Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP favors large hands more than the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT.

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Frets Size
Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP's Frets Size
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Frets Size
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT's Frets Size

The Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP'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

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 72
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 90
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP vs Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
General Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V EXP Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
Brand: Gibson Jackson
Year: 2022 2017
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Collection Artist Signature
Colors: Natural, Gray Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Nashville Tune-O-Matic TonePros Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Style with Gotoh Stop Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Neck-Through
Tuners: Grover Mini Rotomatics with Kidney Buttons Gotoh Die-Cast
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Teeth Mother of Pearl Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: SlimTaper with Volute Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.91'' (23.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm)
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" to 16" 12" to 16"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Dave Mustaine Signature Seymour Duncan Thrash Factor (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 1