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Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
VS
Playability
75
Sound
70
Build
70
Value
57
Score
72
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
72
Value
59
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
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Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V vs Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA

Reasons to Get
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V over Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA

Release Year
2020 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Authentic 67 Flying V vs Washburn Parallaxe
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.6'' (40.6mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA over Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Washburn Parallaxe vs Authentic 67 Flying V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Locking vs Corian
Best tuning stability for intense tremolo usage
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.6'' (40.6mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Tremolo
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
59 vs 57
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V vs Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA

Bridge Pickup
Gibson Custombucker vs Fishman Fluence Modern
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gibson Custombucker vs Fishman Fluence Modern
Different Neck Pickup
Headstock
3-3 vs R6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Corian vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V vs Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V is the better choice.

The Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V meets 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA 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

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
  • 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.

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V Overview

  • From Gibson's 2020 Artist Collection series
  • Jimi Hendrix Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony, with 1-ply White Binding fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson Custombucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson Custombucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • ABR-1 Maestro Short Vibrola bridge
  • Authentic 67 Flying V Set neck
  • 22 Vintage frets
  • Kluson Single Line, Single Ring Tulip tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Overview

  • From Washburn's 2018 Parallaxe series
  • Michael Sweet Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Original Floyd Rose with GraphTech String Saver Saddles bridge
  • Washburn Parallaxe Set neck
  • 24 Medium frets
  • Black Grover Exclusive 18:1 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
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

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.

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 Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's online:

The Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V's pickups are Passive while the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V.

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 Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V's switch options
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA'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: Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V
Pickups 90
Sustain 65
Versatility 61
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 70
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Pickups 85
Sustain 75
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 79

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 Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V compares to the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA.

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 Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V has a Corian nut. It used to be the go-to nut for Gibson, but it's slowly being replaced by Graph Tech (Tusq). It's a synthetic material made to be similar to Bone, but it doesn't have the same self-lubricating properties, and it's less resistant.

On the other hand, the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA 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: Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA.

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 Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA'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: Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V's are Kluson Single Line, Single Ring Tulip while the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's are Black Grover Exclusive 18:1

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 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.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • 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

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 70
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Quality of materials 51
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 72

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V Nut Width
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V Nut Width
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Nut Width
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 40.6mm (1.6''). This is a 2.3mm (0.088'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA, 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 Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V's Scale Length
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V's Scale Length
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's Scale Length
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA'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 Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA has the longest scale: 25.5". The Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V 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 Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V Neck Profile
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V's neck profile
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Neck Profile
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA'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 Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V has a D type of 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.

The Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA, 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

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same 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 the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V and the Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V Frets Size
Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V's Frets Size
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA Frets Size
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA's Frets Size

The Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA has Medium frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V'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

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 75
Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V vs Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
General Gibson Jimi Hendrix 1969 Flying V Washburn V2FR-Michael Sweet USA
Brand: Gibson Washburn
Year: 2020 2018
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Collection Parallaxe
Colors: Black Yellow
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: ABR-1 Maestro Short Vibrola Original Floyd Rose with GraphTech String Saver Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Kluson Single Line, Single Ring Tulip Black Grover Exclusive 18:1
Fretboard: Ebony, with 1-ply White Binding Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Split Diamond in Mother of Pearl Parallaxe Inlay At 12Th
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Authentic 67 Flying V Washburn Parallaxe
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm) - 12th Fret: 1.01'' (25.7mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Vintage Nickel Silver 24 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Corian Locking
Nut Width: 40.6mm (1.6'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gibson Custombucker (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gibson Custombucker (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 1