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Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash
ESP LTD AS-1FR
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
65
Value
73
Score
73
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Playability
75
Sound
82
Build
72
Value
71
Score
76
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Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash vs LTD AS-1FR

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash over LTD AS-1FR

Release Year
2020 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Speed vs Custom U
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
73 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD AS-1FR over Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Retainer Bar
Yes vs None
Assists you so tuning doesn't change when locking the nut
Neck Profile
Custom U vs Speed
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash vs LTD AS-1FR

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 vs Seymour Duncan JB SH-4
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Pau Ferro
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash vs LTD AS-1FR

Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N
Same Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Floyd Rose
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • 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 the ESP LTD AS-1FR is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP LTD AS-1FR wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash is the better choice.

The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the ESP LTD AS-1FR meets only 3. 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 DK2 Ash
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD AS-1FR
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • 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 DK2 Ash Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 Pro series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 Series Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) bridge
  • Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 6.85lbs (3.1kgs) and 7.95lbs (3.6kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

ESP LTD AS-1FR Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2016 Signature series
  • Alex Skolnick Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Full Thickness Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 bridge
  • Custom U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Grover 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

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

Woods Used in the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

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.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD AS-1FR

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

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: Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash.

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.

However, the ESP LTD AS-1FR has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP LTD AS-1FR's online:

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: ESP LTD AS-1FR.

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 DK2 Ash gives you 5 switch options while the ESP LTD AS-1FR gives you 3. This means that the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the ESP LTD AS-1FR comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's switch options
ESP LTD AS-1FR pickups switch and push knobs diagram
ESP LTD AS-1FR'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 DK2 Ash.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 81
ESP LTD AS-1FR
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 71
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 82

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 DK2 Ash compares to the ESP LTD AS-1FR.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash is built in South Korea while the ESP LTD AS-1FR is made in Indonesia.

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.

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.

In this case, both have Locking nuts. 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.

However, only the ESP LTD AS-1FR has a retainer bar for the locking nut, which is a helpful addition. Without it, the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's strings will change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'll have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly.

Winner: ESP LTD AS-1FR.

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: 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: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's are Jackson Sealed Die-Cast while the ESP LTD AS-1FR's are Grover

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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash 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 ESP LTD AS-1FR 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: Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand 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 Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD AS-1FR
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash
Quality of materials 41
Features 80
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 65
ESP LTD AS-1FR
Quality of materials 60
Features 75
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 72

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 DK2 Ash Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash Nut Width
ESP LTD AS-1FR Nut Width
ESP LTD AS-1FR Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the ESP LTD AS-1FR 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 ESP LTD AS-1FR, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's Scale Length
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's Scale Length
ESP LTD AS-1FR's Scale Length
ESP LTD AS-1FR'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.

The Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash has the longest scale: 25.5". The ESP LTD AS-1FR is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

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 DK2 Ash Neck Profile
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's neck profile
ESP LTD AS-1FR Neck Profile
ESP LTD AS-1FR'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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash has a D type of 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.

The ESP LTD AS-1FR, on the other hand, has a U neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

Fretboard Radius

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's Compound Fretboard Radius
ESP LTD AS-1FR Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD AS-1FR'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 Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash 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 ESP LTD AS-1FR favors large hands more than the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash.

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD AS-1FR:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash Frets Size
Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's Frets Size
ESP LTD AS-1FR Frets Size
ESP LTD AS-1FR's Frets Size

The ESP LTD AS-1FR has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash's Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73
ESP LTD AS-1FR
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash vs LTD AS-1FR
General Jackson Pro Series Dinky DK2 Ash LTD AS-1FR
Brand: Jackson ESP LTD
Year: 2020 2016
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea Indonesia
Series: Pro Signature
Colors: White, Green Black Aqua Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Ash Full Thickness Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose 1000 Series Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) Floyd Rose 1000
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Grover
Fretboard: Ebony Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Maple 3pc Maple
Decoration: Offset Pearloid Dot Blocks
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Speed Custom U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1