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Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe
Schecter Corsair 2020
VS
Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
68
Value
61
Score
71
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Playability
75
Sound
66
Build
69
Value
70
Score
70
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Side to side spec comparison >

Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe vs Schecter Corsair 2020

Reasons to Get
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe over Schecter Corsair 2020

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Pickups Brand
Gibson vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.88'' (22.4mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
1'' (25.4mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Schecter Corsair 2020 over Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe

Release Year
2021 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.88'' (22.4mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 1'' (25.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Avg. Weight
8.375lbs (3.8kgs) vs 9.525lbs (4.3kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
70 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe vs Schecter Corsair 2020

Bridge Pickup
Gibson Mini Humbucker vs Schecter Diamond 78
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gibson Mini Humbucker vs Schecter Diamond 78
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Maple
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe vs Schecter Corsair 2020

Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Maple vs Poplar Burl Veneer
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Locking Tuners
  • 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

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Schecter Corsair 2020's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe wins when it comes to sound. On the other hand, the Schecter Corsair 2020 has the upper hand when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Schecter Corsair 2020 is easier to play.

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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Corsair 2020
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe Overview

  • From Gibson's 2019 Original Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Rosewood, Cream Binding fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson Mini Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson Mini Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Rounded C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage Keystone tuners
  • Weight between 9.15lbs (4.2kgs) and 9.9lbs (4.5kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Corsair 2020 Overview

  • From Schecter's 2021 Corsair series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar Burl Veneer top
  • Maple body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter Diamond 78 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter Diamond 78 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tremolo Roller Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Thin C Set neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Grover Rotomatic 18:1 tuners
  • Weight between 7.6lbs (3.4kgs) and 9.15lbs (4.2kgs)
  • 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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe

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.

Woods Used in the Schecter Corsair 2020

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

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

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.

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

The Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Schecter Corsair 2020. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe.

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 Schecter Corsair 2020 comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe's switch options
Schecter Corsair 2020 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Corsair 2020'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: Schecter Corsair 2020.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Schecter Corsair 2020
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 66

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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe compares to the Schecter Corsair 2020.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe is built in United States while the Schecter Corsair 2020 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: Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Ivory Tusq nuts. 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.

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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe'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 Schecter Corsair 2020's is a Bigsby Tremolo. Bigsby tremolos are built differently than regular tremolos. They have a stiffer arm, which is something a lot of people like because the arm won't wiggle around a lot. On the other hand, this type of tremolo is more complicated to restring and it might not be as newbie-friendly as other simpler tremolos.

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: Schecter Corsair 2020.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe's are Vintage Keystone while the Schecter Corsair 2020's are Grover Rotomatic 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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Corsair 2020
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe
Quality of materials 60
Features 50
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 68
Schecter Corsair 2020
Quality of materials 68
Features 65
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 69

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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe Nut Width
Schecter Corsair 2020 Nut Width
Schecter Corsair 2020 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe, 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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe and Schecter Corsair 2020'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 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe Neck Profile
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe's neck profile
Schecter Corsair 2020 Neck Profile
Schecter Corsair 2020'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 Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe and the Schecter Corsair 2020 have a C-shaped 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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe Fingerboard Radius
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Corsair 2020 Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Corsair 2020'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 Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Schecter Corsair 2020'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 Schecter Corsair 2020.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe favors large hands more than the Schecter Corsair 2020.

Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Corsair 2020:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe Frets Size
Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe's Frets Size
Schecter Corsair 2020 Frets Size
Schecter Corsair 2020's Frets Size

The Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Schecter Corsair 2020's Medium 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 Les Paul 70s Deluxe
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Schecter Corsair 2020
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe vs Schecter Corsair 2020
General Gibson Les Paul 70s Deluxe Schecter Corsair 2020
Brand: Gibson Schecter
Year: 2019 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Original Collection Corsair
Colors: Gold, 70s Cherry Sunburst Gold
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Semi-Hollow
Body Material: Mahogany Maple
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic Tremolo Roller Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Vintage Keystone Grover Rotomatic 18:1
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood, Cream Binding Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Acrylic Trapezoids Blocks
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Rounded C Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) - 12th Fret: 1'' (25.4mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 14"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gibson Mini Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter Diamond 78 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gibson Mini Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter Diamond 78 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Speed
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2