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Ibanez SML721
Sterling StingRay SR50
VS
Playability
78
Sound
71
Build
69
Value
78
Score
73
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Playability
70
Sound
66
Build
62
Value
71
Score
66
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Ibanez SML721 vs Sterling StingRay SR50

Reasons to Get
Ibanez SML721 over Sterling StingRay SR50

Fret Material
Gold vs Nickel Silver
Almost as durable as stainless steel with an exotic look
Release Year
2023 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25.5" to 25" vs 25.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
Wizard vs StingRay
Thin neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs None
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
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 71
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Sterling StingRay SR50 over Ibanez SML721

Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
25.5" vs 25.5" to 25"
Easier to adapt to
Neck Profile
StingRay vs Wizard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Compensated vs Plastic
Fixes intonation issues
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
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 Sterling StingRay SR50

Bridge Pickup
Q58 vs Sterling Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Q58 vs Sterling Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Nyatoh vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Headstock
6 vs 4-2
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Compensated
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez SML721 vs Sterling StingRay SR50

Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 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 SML721 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Sterling StingRay SR50's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez SML721 wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Sterling StingRay SR50 in every aspect.

However, there's still a reason to choose the Sterling StingRay SR50 instead. If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Sterling StingRay SR50 is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Sterling StingRay SR50 is the better choice.

The Sterling StingRay SR50 meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez SML721 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 SML721
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Sterling StingRay SR50
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Ibanez 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 >

Sterling StingRay SR50 Overview

  • From Sterling's 2017 StingRay series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Vintage Tremolo bridge
  • StingRay Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

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

Woods Used in Both

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

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.

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 Sterling StingRay SR50

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

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.

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

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

The Sterling StingRay SR50 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 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: Sterling StingRay SR50.

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 Sterling StingRay SR50 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
Sterling StingRay SR50 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Sterling StingRay SR50'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
Sterling StingRay SR50
Pickups 60
Sustain 65
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 66

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 Sterling StingRay SR50.

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 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 Sterling StingRay SR50 comes with a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

Winner: Sterling StingRay SR50.

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 Sterling StingRay SR50 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: Sterling StingRay SR50.

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 SML721's brige is a 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.

On the other hand, the Sterling StingRay SR50's is a 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 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
Sterling StingRay SR50
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • 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 SML721
Quality of materials 61
Features 75
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 69
Sterling StingRay SR50
Quality of materials 51
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62

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
Sterling StingRay SR50 Nut Width
Sterling StingRay SR50 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 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 1.1mm (0.043'') 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
Sterling StingRay SR50's Scale Length
Sterling StingRay SR50'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 Sterling StingRay SR50 has a regular scale of 25.5".

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 Sterling StingRay SR50's 25.5" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.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 SML721 Neck Profile
Ibanez SML721's neck profile
Sterling StingRay SR50 Neck Profile
Sterling StingRay SR50'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 Sterling StingRay SR50, 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
Sterling StingRay SR50 Fingerboard Radius
Sterling StingRay SR50'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 Sterling StingRay SR50'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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Ibanez SML721 favors large hands more than the Sterling StingRay SR50. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Ibanez SML721:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Sterling StingRay SR50:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez SML721 Frets Size
Ibanez SML721's Frets Size
Sterling StingRay SR50 Frets Size
Sterling StingRay SR50's Frets Size

The Ibanez SML721 has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Sterling StingRay SR50's Medium 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
Sterling StingRay SR50
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez SML721 vs Sterling StingRay SR50
General Ibanez SML721 Sterling StingRay SR50
Brand: Ibanez Sterling
Year: 2023 2017
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: S StingRay
Colors: Pink Yellow, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Nyatoh Poplar
Bridge: Mono-rail Vintage Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple/Walnut Roasted Maple
Decoration: Off-set white dot Dot Markers
Scale Size: 25.5" to 25" 25.5"
Shape: Wizard StingRay
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.71'' (18mm) - 12th Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Jumbo Gold 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 12"
Nut: Plastic Compensated
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Q58 (Humbucker / Passive) Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Q58 (Humbucker / Passive) Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1