Swap
Swap
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Gibson Les Paul Studio
VS
Playability
73
Sound
75
Build
77
Value
60
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
Musician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability
73
Sound
75
Build
70
Value
68
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
Musician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 vs Gibson Les Paul Studio

Reasons to Get
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 over Gibson Les Paul Studio

Neck Profile
Speed vs Slim Taper
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm) vs 0.92'' (23.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
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

Reasons to Get
Gibson Les Paul Studio over Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Release Year
2019 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Slim Taper vs Speed
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs None
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.775'' (19.7mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.835'' (21.2mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
68 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 vs Gibson Les Paul Studio

Bridge Pickup
EMG MF Signature vs Gibson 498T
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
EMG MF Signature vs Gibson 490R
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 vs Gibson Les Paul Studio

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Decorative Top
3/4 Plain Maple vs Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Prices

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Gibson Les Paul Studio's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Gibson Les Paul Studio has the upper hand when it comes to 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?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 is the better choice.

The Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Les Paul Studio meets only 4. 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 USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Les Paul Studio
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Overview

  • From Jackson's 2017 Artist Signature series
  • Marty Friedman Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 3/4 Plain Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG MF Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: EMG MF Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TonePros Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Style with Gotoh Stop Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Schaller Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Gibson Les Paul Studio Overview

  • From Gibson's 2019 Modern Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Maple top
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Gibson 498T (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Gibson 490R (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • Slim Taper Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Regular Tuners tuners
  • Weight between 7.9lbs (3.6kgs) and 8.95lbs (4.1kgs)
  • 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

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

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.

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.

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: 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.

Only the Gibson Les Paul Studio 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.

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1's switch options
Gibson Les Paul Studio pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Les Paul Studio'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: Gibson Les Paul Studio.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 53
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 75
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75

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 USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 compares to the Gibson Les Paul Studio.

Country of Origin

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

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

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 USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 has 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.

On the other hand, the Gibson Les Paul Studio comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

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.

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

The Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 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.

Winner: Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1.

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 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: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Les Paul Studio
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Quality of materials 65
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Quality of materials 60
Features 60
Quality Control 90
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 USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul Studio Nut Width
Gibson Les Paul Studio Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Les Paul Studio 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 Gibson Les Paul Studio, 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 USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 and Gibson Les Paul Studio'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 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker 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

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Neck Profile
Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1's neck profile
Gibson Les Paul Studio Neck Profile
Gibson Les Paul Studio'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 USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 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 Gibson Les Paul Studio, 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

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same 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 the Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 and the Gibson Les Paul Studio have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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 USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Gibson Les Paul Studio:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 and Gibson Les Paul Studio Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 vs Gibson Les Paul Studio
General Jackson USA Signature Marty Friedman MF-1 Gibson Les Paul Studio
Brand: Jackson Gibson
Year: 2017 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Signature Modern Collection
Colors: Black Black, Brown Burst, Red, Orange Burst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: TonePros Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Style with Gotoh Stop Tailpiece Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Schaller Locking Regular Tuners
Fretboard: Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Block Acrylic Trapezoids
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Speed Slim Taper
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: EMG MF Signature (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson 498T (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: EMG MF Signature (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson 490R (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Speed
Pickup Mods: None Coil Tap
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 2