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Ibanez KIKO10BP
ESP LTD Alexi-200
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Playability
77
Sound
84
Build
62
Value
74
Score
74
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Playability
77
Sound
69
Build
59
Value
73
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez KIKO10BP vs LTD Alexi-200

Reasons to Get
Ibanez KIKO10BP over LTD Alexi-200

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2007
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
KIKO10P vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
DiMarzio vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Switch Positions
5 vs 0
More tone options
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
HSH vs H
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
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
0.88'' (22.4mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Edge Zero II vs Floyd Rose
Intense vibrato effects and cheaper than Edge Zero
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
74 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD Alexi-200 over Ibanez KIKO10BP

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Thin U vs KIKO10P
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups
H vs HSH
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
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 0.88'' (22.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Edge Zero II
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Ibanez KIKO10BP vs LTD Alexi-200

Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio KIKO original vs ESP Designed LH-301B
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Jatoba
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Ibanez KIKO10BP vs LTD Alexi-200

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Retainer Bar
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 Ibanez KIKO10BP is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the ESP LTD Alexi-200's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez KIKO10BP wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the ESP LTD Alexi-200 has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Ibanez KIKO10BP.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Ibanez KIKO10BP is the better choice.

The Ibanez KIKO10BP meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP LTD Alexi-200 meets only 3. 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 KIKO10BP
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD Alexi-200
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • 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.

Ibanez KIKO10BP Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 KIKO series
  • Kiko Loureiro Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Alder body
  • Maple/Walnut neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Edge-Zero II bridge
  • KIKO10P Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP LTD Alexi-200 Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2007 Signature series
  • Alexi Laiho Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Roasted Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: ESP Designed LH-301B (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • Floyd Rose Special bridge
  • Thin U Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo frets
  • LTD tuners
  • Weight around 6.75lbs (3.1kgs)
  • 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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

Woods Used in the Ibanez KIKO10BP

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD Alexi-200

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez KIKO10BP has an HSH configuration while the ESP LTD Alexi-200 has H 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, A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

Pickups Quality

The Ibanez KIKO10BP has pickups from a more specialized brand than the ESP LTD Alexi-200. 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: Ibanez KIKO10BP.

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 KIKO10BP gives you 5 switch options while the ESP LTD Alexi-200 gives you 0. This means that the Ibanez KIKO10BP gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Ibanez KIKO10BP 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.

Ibanez KIKO10BP pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez KIKO10BP's switch options

The ESP LTD Alexi-200 doesn't come with pickup switching 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 KIKO10BP.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez KIKO10BP
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 84
ESP LTD Alexi-200
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 57
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 69

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 KIKO10BP compares to the ESP LTD Alexi-200.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

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: 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.

In this case, both have Locking nuts. 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.

Both models come with a retainer bar, which is helpful when changing the strings on a double-locking tremolo. Without it, the strings would change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'd have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly

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.

The Ibanez KIKO10BP's brige is a Edge Zero II. This is a cheaper version of Ibanez's Edge Zero bridges. It comes with the same locking stud bolts that lock down into the body and provide better stabilization, and with easier adjustment of the springs without having to remove the backplate thanks to a thumb-screw. However, the intonation in this cheaper version will require additional work.

Edge Zero IIs that come with the ZPS3 Zero Point system have two extra springs that help return the tremolo to the neutral position faster. These bridges offer tons of versatility, but they also require more work than simpler tremolos to set up.

On the other hand, the ESP LTD Alexi-200'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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Ibanez KIKO10BP's are Ibanez while the ESP LTD Alexi-200's are LTD

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 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.

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez KIKO10BP
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD Alexi-200
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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 Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez KIKO10BP
Quality of materials 45
Features 65
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 62
ESP LTD Alexi-200
Quality of materials 41
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 59

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 KIKO10BP Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Ibanez KIKO10BP and ESP LTD Alexi-200'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 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

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 KIKO10BP Neck Profile
Ibanez KIKO10BP's neck profile
ESP LTD Alexi-200 Neck Profile
ESP LTD Alexi-200'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 KIKO10BP 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 LTD Alexi-200, 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 KIKO10BP Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez KIKO10BP's Fingerboard radius
ESP LTD Alexi-200 Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD Alexi-200'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 LTD Alexi-200's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez KIKO10BP'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 KIKO10BP.

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 ESP LTD Alexi-200 favors large hands more than the Ibanez KIKO10BP. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Ibanez KIKO10BP:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD Alexi-200:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez KIKO10BP Frets Size
Ibanez KIKO10BP's Frets Size
ESP LTD Alexi-200 Frets Size
ESP LTD Alexi-200's Frets Size

The ESP LTD Alexi-200 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez KIKO10BP'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 KIKO10BP
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77
ESP LTD Alexi-200
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez KIKO10BP vs LTD Alexi-200
General Ibanez KIKO10BP LTD Alexi-200
Brand: Ibanez ESP LTD
Year: 2021 2007
Configuration: HSH H
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: KIKO Signature
Colors: Gray Burst Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Edge-Zero II Floyd Rose Special
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Ibanez LTD
Fretboard: Rosewood Roasted Jatoba
Neck Material: Maple/Walnut Maple
Decoration: KIKO special Shark Teeth
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: KIKO10P Thin U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 13.78"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original (Humbucker / Passive) ESP Designed LH-301B (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 0 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0