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Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7
VS
Playability
78
Sound
81
Build
74
Value
78
Score
78
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Playability
77
Sound
83
Build
70
Value
77
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
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Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 vs Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 over Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7

Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Avg. Weight
7.3lbs (3.3kgs) vs 8.3lbs (3.8kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
78 vs 77
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 over Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7

Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs

Other Key Differences
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 vs Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7

Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 vs Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7

Bridge Pickup
Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7
Same Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-4
Same Headstock
Strings
7
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
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
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm)
Same neck comfortability
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
1.75'' (44.5mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Active
More output
Compound Radius
12" to 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile Type
D
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
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

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • 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

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Prices

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Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7's 77 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

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 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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 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

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

New Player Friendliness

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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

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 >

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 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
  • Floyd Rose 1000 Series 7-String Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) bridge
  • Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh tuners
  • Weight between 7.4lbs (3.4kgs) and 9.2lbs (4.2kgs)
  • 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
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
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.

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.

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.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7's online:

Both use Active pickups. These pickups use an additional 9v battery to be able to increase their output for high gain tones. This is why they're popular among heavy metal guitarists. Their disadvantage is that you need batteries for the pickups, so you'll need to spend money on batteries and time swapping them. Also, the clean tones aren't as clean as other pickups because they'll have really hot output.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: 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.

They both share the following switching options:

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 and Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 and Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7'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: Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 81
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 77
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 83

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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 compares to the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7.

Country of Origin

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

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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 has 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).

On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

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

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7'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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7's is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7.

Tuners

The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 has the best tuners of the two because they are 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.

Nevertheless, the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7.

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
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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in South Korea
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar

Final Build Quality Scores

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
Quality of materials 61
Features 85
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 74
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7
Quality of materials 51
Features 85
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 70

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

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 44.5mm (1.75'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 7-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

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

Scale Length

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 and Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7'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

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 and the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 have a D-shaped 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

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.

Both have a compound radius. This means both offer you the best craftsmanship when it comes to fretboard design. You'll have an arc to help you play chords close to the nut, while also having a flat design at the higher frets for faster soloing and easier bends.

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 .

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 and Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7 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

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 vs Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7
General Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash HT7 Pro Series Dinky DK Modern Ash FR7
Brand: Jackson Jackson
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 7
Made in: South Korea South Korea
Series: Pro Pro
Colors: Blue Green
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Ash Ash
Bridge: Hipshot 7 Fixed .175 Floyd Rose 1000 Series 7-String Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh Locking Gotoh
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: 3-Piece Maple/Wenge/Maple 3-Piece Maple/Wenge/Maple
Decoration: Offset Pearloid Dot Offset Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 26.5" 26.5"
Shape: Speed Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12" to 16"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Locking
Nut Width: 44.5mm (1.75'') 44.5mm (1.75'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7 (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7 (Humbucker / Active) Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-CO7 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Multi-Voicing Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1