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Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M
VS
Playability
70
Sound
74
Build
59
Value
73
Score
68
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Playability
70
Sound
82
Build
64
Value
77
Score
72
FIND IT ON:
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Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM vs Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M

Reasons to Get
Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM over Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M

Neck Profile
Jackson Thin D vs Charvel Speed
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs HH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.77'' (19.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Avg. Weight
7.975lbs (3.6kgs) vs 8.225lbs (3.7kgs)
Tends to be lighter

Reasons to Get
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M over Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM

Country of Manufacturing
Mexico vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Profile
Charvel Speed vs Jackson Thin D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.77'' (19.6mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Value Score
77 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM vs Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M

Bridge Pickup
Jackson High-Output Humbucking vs Seymour Duncan JB TB-4
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Jackson Single-Coil vs Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Alder
Different Body Wood

Shared Features
Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM vs Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm)
Same neck comfortability
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Floyd Rose
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Compound Radius
12" to 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
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

  • Retainer Bar
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Compound Radius Fretboard

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 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 Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM has the upper hand when it comes to.

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 4 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

Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 Artist Signature series
  • Adrian Smith Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Jackson Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) bridge
  • Jackson Thin D Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 7.7lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.25lbs (3.7kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M Overview

  • From Charvel's 2020 Pro-Mod series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple 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
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 Series Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Charvel-Branded Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 8.05lbs (3.7kgs) and 8.4lbs (3.8kgs)
  • 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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM

Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM has an HSS configuration while the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M has HH pickups.

HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

On the other hand, 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 Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M pickups from a more specialized brand than the Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM. 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.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M'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: Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M.

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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM gives you 5 switch options while the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M gives you 3. This means that the Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M 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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM's switch options
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M'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: Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 74
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 74
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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM compares to the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM is built in China while the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M is made in Mexico.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M

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.

Both models come with a retainer bar, which is helpful when changing the strings on a double-locking tremolo. Without it, the strings would change pitch once you lock down the nut, so you'd have to make more micro-adjustments at the bridge to tune it correctly

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: 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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM's are Jackson Sealed Die-Cast while the Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M's are Charvel-Branded Die-Cast

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
Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM
  • Locking Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM
Quality of materials 41
Features 75
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 59
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M
Quality of materials 41
Features 80
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 64

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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM 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 42.9mm (1.688'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM and Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M'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 25.5".

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

Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM Neck Profile
Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM's neck profile
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M Neck Profile
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M'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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM 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 Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M, 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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM'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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM and Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M 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 X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM vs Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M
General Jackson X Series Signature Adrian Smith SDXM Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Style 1 HH FR M
Brand: Jackson Charvel
Year: 2020 2020
Configuration: HSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Mexico
Series: Artist Signature Pro-Mod
Colors: White White, Blue, Pink
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Alder
Bridge: Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) Floyd Rose 1000 Series Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed)
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Charvel-Branded Die-Cast
Fretboard: Maple Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Jackson Thin D Charvel Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.77'' (19.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12" to 16"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Jackson Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Jackson Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1