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Ibanez SML721
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC
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Playability
78
Sound
71
Build
69
Value
78
Score
73
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Playability
72
Sound
74
Build
74
Value
63
Score
73
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Ibanez SML721 vs D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC

Reasons to Get
Ibanez SML721 over D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC

Fret Material
Gold vs Nickel Silver
Almost as durable as stainless steel with an exotic look
Release Year
2023 vs 2022
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25.5" to 25" vs 25"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
Wizard vs C-Shape
Thin neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs None
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HH vs P90P90
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
78 vs 63
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC over Ibanez SML721

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
C-Shape vs Wizard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Pickups
P90P90 vs HH
Vintage tone with decent versatility
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Ibanez SML721 vs D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC

Bridge Pickup
Q58 vs Seymour Duncan STK P-90
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Q58 vs Seymour Duncan STK P-90
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Nyatoh vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez SML721 vs D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 both instruments scored 73 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Ibanez SML721 has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

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?

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez SML721
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • 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 SML721 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2023 S series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5" to 25"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Nyatoh body
  • Maple/Walnut neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Q58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Q58 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Mono-rail bridge
  • Wizard Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo Gold frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC Overview

  • From D'Angelico's 2022 Deluxe series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Mahogany body
  • 3 piece: Maple/Walnut/Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan STK P-90 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gold Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • C-Shape Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover 509 Super Rotomatic, Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.1lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.5lbs (3.4kgs)
  • 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
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

Woods Used in the Ibanez SML721

Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.

Woods Used in the D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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: D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez SML721 has an HH configuration while the D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC has P90P90 pickups.

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.

On the other hand, P90P90 gives you two P90s for a crunchy vintage tone. The tone sits somewhere in the middle between typical single-coils and humbuckers. They also produce less hum than single-coils, but they don't cancel it completely like humbuckers.

Pickups Quality

The D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez SML721. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Jazz 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: D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC.

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 SML721 gives you 5 switch options while the D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez SML721 gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Ibanez SML721 comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Tap.

Coil Tap is similar to Coil Split but it works a bit differently. Instead of completely cancelling one of the coils of the humbucker, it only cuts part of the output once activated. Some people believe this gives the split pickups a more real single-coil sound.

Ibanez SML721 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez SML721's switch options
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC pickups switch and push knobs diagram
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC'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 SML721.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez SML721
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 71
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 49
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 74

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 SML721 compares to the D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez SML721 is built in Indonesia while the D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC 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 SML721 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 D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC 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: D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC.

Fret Material

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

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

Winner: D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC.

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.

The Ibanez SML721 has a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

On the other hand, the D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC 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 SML721.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez SML721
  • Gold Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez SML721
Quality of materials 61
Features 75
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 69
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC
Quality of materials 66
Features 70
Quality Control 85
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 SML721 Nut Width
Ibanez SML721 Nut Width
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC Nut Width
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez SML721 has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez SML721, 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 SML721's Scale Length
Ibanez SML721's Scale Length
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC's Scale Length
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC'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.

In this case, the Ibanez SML721 features a multi-scale of 25.5" to 25" while the D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC has a regular scale of 25".

A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

On the other hand, the D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC's 25" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This scale is close to a Les Paul (24.75''), but it's slightly longer for those who want more tension of the strings and a slightly brighter sound (but not as much as with a 25.5'' Stratocaster scale).

This longer scale will also mean the frets are slightly more separated, which can affect your speed when playing. However, since this increases the tension of the strings, it will also allow you to lower the action even further without getting fret buzz. It comes at the cost of making the strings feel stiffer, which makes bending more difficult, though.

However, remember that you can also change the tension of the strings by using different string gauges.

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 SML721 Neck Profile
Ibanez SML721's neck profile
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC Neck Profile
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC'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 SML721 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 D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC, on the other hand, has a C 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 SML721 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez SML721's Fingerboard radius
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC Fingerboard Radius
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC'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 D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez SML721'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 SML721.

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.

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 SML721:
Big Hands
Small Hands
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez SML721 Frets Size
Ibanez SML721's Frets Size
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC Frets Size
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC's Frets Size

The Ibanez SML721 has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC's Medium 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 SML721
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78
D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez SML721 vs D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC
General Ibanez SML721 D'Angelico Deluxe Mini DC
Brand: Ibanez D'Angelico
Year: 2023 2022
Configuration: HH P90P90
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia South Korea
Series: S Deluxe
Colors: Pink Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Semi-Hollow
Body Material: Nyatoh Laminated Mahogany
Bridge: Mono-rail Gold Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Grover 509 Super Rotomatic, Locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple/Walnut 3 piece: Maple/Walnut/Maple
Decoration: Off-set white dot Mother of Pearl Split Block
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 25"
Shape: Wizard C-Shape
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.71'' (18mm) - 12th Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Jumbo Gold 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 12"
Nut: Plastic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Q58 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan STK P-90 (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Q58 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan STK P-90 (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1