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Ibanez KRYS10
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
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Playability
77
Sound
80
Build
79
Value
79
Score
79
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Playability
77
Sound
78
Build
79
Value
78
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
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Side to side spec comparison >

Ibanez KRYS10 vs Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6

Reasons to Get
Ibanez KRYS10 over Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6

Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.81'' (20.6mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.89'' (22.6mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.643'' (41.7mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
79 vs 78
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 over Ibanez KRYS10

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.81'' (20.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.89'' (22.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.643'' (41.7mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Ibanez KRYS10 vs Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Scott LePage Custom Series vs Schecter USA Solstice
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Scott LePage Custom Series vs Schecter USA Equinox
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Wenge
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
6 vs R6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez KRYS10 vs Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6

Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
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

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 KRYS10 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 79 compared to the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6's 78 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez KRYS10 wins when it comes to sound, value for the money. On the other hand, the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 has the upper hand when it comes to.

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

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 is the better choice.

The Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez KRYS10 meets only 6. 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 KRYS10
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 KRYS10 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2022 KRYS series
  • Scott LePage Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Scott LePage Custom Series (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Scott LePage Custom Series (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gotoh T1502 tremolo bridge
  • AZ Oval C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Overview

  • From Schecter's 2022 Artist series
  • Aaron Marshall Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Quarter Sawn Wenge neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Solstice (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Equinox (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Gotoh Vintage 2-Point Tremolo bridge
  • Thin C Bolt-On neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Hipshot Grip-Lock tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

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.

Woods Used in the Ibanez KRYS10

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

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.

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 Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6

Wenge wood pattern used for guitar building
Wenge
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Wenge is a stiff wood that comes with straight and tight grains. Its color is dark brown and the tonality emphasizes the low and mid-ends (warm) frequencies, similar to Rosewood.

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.

Winner: Ibanez KRYS10.

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.

The Ibanez KRYS10's pickups are Active while the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6's are Passive.

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: Tie.

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 Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez KRYS10 gives you 3. This means that the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Ibanez KRYS10 comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

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

Ibanez KRYS10 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez KRYS10's switch options
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6'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 KRYS10.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez KRYS10
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 74
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 80
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 78

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 KRYS10 compares to the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6.

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.

The Ibanez KRYS10 has a Ivory Tusq nut. 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.

On the other hand, the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to 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.

Both in this comparison come with 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: 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: 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.

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

They both have 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.

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 KRYS10
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez KRYS10
Quality of materials 86
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 79
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
Quality of materials 81
Features 80
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 79

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 KRYS10 Nut Width
Ibanez KRYS10 Nut Width
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Nut Width
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez KRYS10 has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.7mm (1.643''). This is a 0.3mm (0.011'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez KRYS10, 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 KRYS10 and Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6'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 KRYS10 Neck Profile
Ibanez KRYS10's neck profile
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Neck Profile
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6'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 Ibanez KRYS10 and the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 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

Ibanez KRYS10 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez KRYS10's Fingerboard radius
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Fretboard Compound Radius
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6's Compound 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.

In this case, the Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

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

Ibanez KRYS10:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez KRYS10 Frets Size
Ibanez KRYS10's Frets Size
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 Frets Size
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6's Frets Size

The Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6 has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez KRYS10'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 KRYS10
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77
Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez KRYS10 vs Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
General Ibanez KRYS10 Schecter Aaron Marshall AM-6
Brand: Ibanez Schecter
Year: 2022 2022
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: KRYS Artist
Colors: Gold Green
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Ash Basswood
Bridge: Gotoh T1502 tremolo Gotoh Vintage 2-Point Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Hipshot Grip-Lock
Fretboard: Ebony Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Quarter Sawn Wenge
Decoration: Off-set white block with KRYS special Aluminum Offset/Reverse Circles
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: AZ Oval C Thin C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.81'' (20.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.89'' (22.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 41.7mm (1.643'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Scott LePage Custom Series (Humbucker / Active) Schecter USA Solstice (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Scott LePage Custom Series (Humbucker / Active) Schecter USA Equinox (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1