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Ibanez FTM33
ESP Vulture
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Playability
75
Sound
80
Build
65
Value
63
Score
73
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Playability
80
Sound
79
Build
75
Value
63
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez FTM33 vs ESP Vulture

Reasons to Get
Ibanez FTM33 over ESP Vulture

Release Year
2021 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
FTM vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Strings
8 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
2.165'' (55mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Scale Length
27'' (685.8mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
ESP Vulture over Ibanez FTM33

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Thin U vs FTM
Comfortable neck with more grip
Strings
6 vs 8
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 2.165'' (55mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 27'' (685.8mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output

Other Key Differences
Ibanez FTM33 vs ESP Vulture

Bridge Pickup
Lundgren Model M8P vs EMG JH James Hetfield
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Lundgren Model M8P vs EMG JH James Hetfield
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-4 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez FTM33 vs ESP Vulture

Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • 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 ESP Vulture is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Ibanez FTM33's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP Vulture wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Ibanez FTM33 has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the ESP Vulture.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP Vulture is the better choice.

The ESP Vulture meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez FTM33 meets only 4. 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 FTM33
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

ESP Vulture
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

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 FTM33 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 FTM series
  • Fredrik Thordendal Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 27"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash wing body
  • 7pc Maple/Walnut w/KTS™ TITANIUM rods neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Lundgren Model M8P (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Lundgren Model M8P (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • FX Edge III-8 bridge
  • FTM Neck-Through neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP Vulture Overview

  • From ESP's 2016 Signature series
  • James Hetfield Signature
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 1Pc Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker/Active)
  • 2 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking 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 FTM33

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

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.

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.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the ESP Vulture

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 ESP Vulture 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 ESP Vulture's online:

The Ibanez FTM33's pickups are Passive while the ESP Vulture'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: ESP Vulture.

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:

Ibanez FTM33 and ESP Vulture pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez FTM33 and ESP Vulture'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 FTM33.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez FTM33
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 61
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 80
ESP Vulture
Pickups 100
Sustain 90
Versatility 44
Tuning Stability 80
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 Ibanez FTM33 compares to the ESP Vulture.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez FTM33 is built in Indonesia while the ESP Vulture is made in Japan.

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.

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.

Winner: ESP Vulture

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 FTM33 has 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.

On the other hand, the ESP Vulture comes with 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.

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

The ESP Vulture 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 Ibanez FTM33 has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: ESP Vulture.

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 FTM33 has a 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.

On the other hand, the ESP Vulture 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 FTM33.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez FTM33
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Vulture
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez FTM33
Quality of materials 46
Features 65
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 65
ESP Vulture
Quality of materials 61
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 75

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 FTM33 Nut Width
Ibanez FTM33 Nut Width
ESP Vulture Nut Width
ESP Vulture Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez FTM33 has the wider nut with 55mm (2.165'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 13mm (0.511'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez FTM33, 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 FTM33's Scale Length
Ibanez FTM33's Scale Length
ESP Vulture's Scale Length
ESP Vulture'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 FTM33 has the longest scale: 27". The ESP Vulture is only 24.75" long. This is a 2.25'' (57.2mm) 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 FTM33 Neck Profile
Ibanez FTM33's neck profile
ESP Vulture Neck Profile
ESP Vulture'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 FTM33 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 ESP Vulture, on the other hand, has a U neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez FTM33 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez FTM33's Fingerboard radius
ESP Vulture Fingerboard Radius
ESP Vulture'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 ESP Vulture's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez FTM33'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 Ibanez FTM33.

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 Ibanez FTM33 favors large hands more than the ESP Vulture.

Ibanez FTM33:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP Vulture:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez FTM33 Frets Size
Ibanez FTM33's Frets Size
ESP Vulture Frets Size
ESP Vulture's Frets Size

The ESP Vulture has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez FTM33's 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

Ibanez FTM33
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75
ESP Vulture
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez FTM33 vs ESP Vulture
General Ibanez FTM33 ESP Vulture
Brand: Ibanez ESP
Year: 2021 2016
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 8 6
Made in: Indonesia Japan
Series: FTM Signature
Colors: Black Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Ash wing Mahogany
Bridge: FX Edge III-8 Tonepros Locking TOM & Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Set
Tuners: Ibanez Gotoh Locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: 7pc Maple/Walnut w/KTS™ TITANIUM rods 1Pc Mahogany
Decoration: Dots with V at 12th
Scale Size: 27" 24.75"
Shape: FTM Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 12"
Nut: Locking Bone
Nut Width: 55mm (2.165'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Lundgren Model M8P (Humbucker / Passive) EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Lundgren Model M8P (Humbucker / Passive) EMG JH James Hetfield (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 1 0