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Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top
VS
Playability
77
Sound
79
Build
83
Value
70
Score
80
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Playability
75
Sound
72
Build
58
Value
73
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige vs Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige over Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs India
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2023 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
AZ Oval C vs V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
DiMarzio vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSH vs HH
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top over Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige

Neck Profile
V vs AZ Oval C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs HSH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
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
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
73 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige vs Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top

Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio The Tone Zone vs DMT Design
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
DiMarzio Air Norton vs DMT Design
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Roasted Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige vs Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
Flamed Maple (4mm) vs Flame Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige is probably the better product overall with its final score of 80 compared to the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top's 68 score, which is a significant difference.

The Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige is the better choice.

The Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top 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

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top
  • 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.

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2023 AZ series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple (4mm) top
  • Basswood body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Roasted Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio The Tone Zone (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: DiMarzio True Velvet (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Air Norton (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Gotoh T1502S bridge
  • AZ Oval C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top Overview

  • From Dean's 2018 Classic series
  • Made in India
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Eastern Mahogany body
  • Eastern Mahogany neck
  • Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DMT Design (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DMT Design (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Special bridge
  • V Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Grover 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 the Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

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 Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

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: Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige has an HSH configuration while the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top has HH pickups.

HSH is a versatile pickup configuration that will give you the high output, full tone, and quiet sound of humbucker pickups, but with the possibility of using a single coil for cleaner tones. The disadvantage is that the middle single-coil pickup will have a noticeable lower volume, so you might want to adjust the height of the pickups. Another problem is that if you set the middle pickup too high, it might interfere with your picking hand.

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 Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top. 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.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige's and use them on any guitar:

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: Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige.

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 Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige gives you 5 switch options while the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

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

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige's switch options
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top'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: Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 75
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 61
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 72

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 Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige compares to the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige is built in Japan while the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top is made in India.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

India is not a popular country for building electric guitars, but it's where some respectable brands build other instruments. You can expect an affordable price and nice build quality, similar to Indonesia.

Winner: Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige

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 Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige has a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

On the other hand, the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige.

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 Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige'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 Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top'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: Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top.

Tuners

The Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Nevertheless, the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige.

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 Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige has 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.

On the other hand, the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top comes with 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: Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in India
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • 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 Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige
Quality of materials 85
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 83
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top
Quality of materials 55
Features 60
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 58

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

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige Nut Width
Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige Nut Width
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top Nut Width
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top 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 Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige's Scale Length
Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige's Scale Length
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top's Scale Length
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top'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 Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige has the longest scale: 25.5". The Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top 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

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige Neck Profile
Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige's neck profile
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top Neck Profile
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top'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 Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige 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 Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top, on the other hand, has a V neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige 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 Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige and the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top 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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top favors large hands more than the Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige.

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige and Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top Frets Size
Both have a similar Jumbo fret size

Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.

Final Playability Scores

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77
Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige vs Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top
General Ibanez AZ2407F Prestige Dean ML 79 Floyd Flame Top
Brand: Ibanez Dean
Year: 2023 2018
Configuration: HSH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan India
Series: AZ Classic
Colors: Blue, Brown Orange
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Eastern Mahogany
Bridge: Gotoh T1502S Floyd Rose Special
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Grover
Fretboard: Roasted Maple Indian Rosewood
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Eastern Mahogany
Decoration: Abalone dot Abalone dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: AZ Oval C V
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.81'' (20.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.89'' (22.6mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio The Tone Zone (Humbucker / Passive) DMT Design (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio True Velvet (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio Air Norton (Humbucker / Passive) DMT Design (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1