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Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
VS
Playability
75
Sound
77
Build
68
Value
73
Score
73
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Playability
78
Sound
81
Build
74
Value
78
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label vs Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label over Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7

Decorative Top
Poplar Burl vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Nitro Wizard-7 vs Speed
Thin neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Multi-Voicing
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.775'' (19.7mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.835'' (21.2mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.75'' (44.5mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 over Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label

Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Speed vs Nitro Wizard-7
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Plastic
Good tuning stability with rich tone
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs Coil Split
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.75'' (44.5mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
78 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label vs Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7

Bridge Pickup
Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7 vs Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7 vs Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Flame Maple vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Panga Panga vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
7 vs 3-4
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label vs Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7

Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
7
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 is the better choice.

The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label meets only 5. 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
  • 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 RGD series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar Burl top
  • Layered Ash & Nyatoh body
  • Panga Panga/Walnut neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Mono-rail bridge
  • Nitro Wizard-7 Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 Pro series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 7 strings
  • 26.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash body
  • 3-Piece Maple/Wenge/Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Hipshot 7 Fixed .175 bridge
  • Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • Weight between 6.9lbs (3.1kgs) and 7.7lbs (3.5kgs)
  • 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label

Panga Panga wood pattern used for guitar building
Panga Panga
Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame Maple

Panga Panga is an African wood very similar to Wenge. It comes in a very dark color with tight grain. Its tonality favors the low-to-mid frequencies.

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Woods Used in the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
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.

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.

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.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7's online:

The Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label's pickups are Passive while the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7'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: 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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label gives you 3. This means that the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label offers 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.

On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 comes with the following: 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label's switch options
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 77
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 81

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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label compares to the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label is built in Indonesia while the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 is made in South Korea.

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.

South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 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: Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7.

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

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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label
Quality of materials 55
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 68
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
Quality of materials 61
Features 85
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 74

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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label Nut Width
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 44.5mm (1.75''). This is a 3.5mm (0.14'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label, 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label and Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7'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 26.5".

This scale is close to the popular 25.50" length, but adding an additional inch allows you to tune your strings lower while keeping the action low without causing fret buzz. This is useful for lower tunings, 7-string, or even classical guitars.

You want to avoid such a long scale if you don't plan to play in low tunings since the longer scale also means the frets are more separated, making it harder to play fast, especially for small hands.

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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label Neck Profile
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label's neck profile
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Neck Profile
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7'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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label has a Wizard type of neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label's Fingerboard radius
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7'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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label favors large hands more than the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7.

Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label and Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 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 RGD71ALPA Axion Label
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label vs Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
General Ibanez RGD71ALPA Axion Label Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
Brand: Ibanez Jackson
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 7
Made in: Indonesia South Korea
Series: RGD Pro
Colors: Black Burst Patterns Blue
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Layered Ash & Nyatoh Ash
Bridge: Mono-rail Hipshot 7 Fixed .175
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Gotoh Locking
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Panga Panga/Walnut 3-Piece Maple/Wenge/Maple
Decoration: White Step off-set dot Offset Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 26.5" 26.5"
Shape: Nitro Wizard-7 Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 12" to 16"
Nut: Plastic Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 48mm (1.89'') 44.5mm (1.75'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7 (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Bare Knuckle Aftermath-7 (Humbucker / Passive) Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1