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Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta
ESP LTD F Black Metal
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Playability
73
Sound
70
Build
57
Value
72
Score
67
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Playability
80
Sound
78
Build
77
Value
78
Score
78
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Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta vs LTD F Black Metal

Reasons to Get
Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta over LTD F Black Metal

Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
K-Speed SlimTaper vs Extra Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Nut Width
1.68'' (42.7mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
12.6'' (320mm) vs 13.78'' (350mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
ESP LTD F Black Metal over Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
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
Extra Thin U vs K-Speed SlimTaper
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
EMG vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Killswitch vs None
Cuts out the pickups instantly
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.68'' (42.7mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Fretboard Radius
13.78'' (350mm) vs 12.6'' (320mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
78 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta vs LTD F Black Metal

Bridge Pickup
Kramer 85-T Double Black Open Coil Humbucker vs EMG 81
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta vs LTD F Black Metal

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Nut Material
Locking
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
H
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
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
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Strap Lock
  • 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 F Black Metal is probably the better product overall with its final score of 78 compared to the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta's 67 score, which is a significant difference.

The ESP LTD F Black Metal wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta in every aspect.

However, there's still a reason to choose the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta instead. If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta is easier to play.

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

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

ESP LTD F Black Metal
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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.

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta Overview

  • From Kramer's 2020 Artist series
  • Snake Sabo Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12.6" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • 3 piece Maple, natural Satin finish neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Kramer 85-T Double Black Open Coil Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • Floyd Rose 1000 series Tremolo with EVH D-Tuna Drop D Tuning System bridge
  • K-Speed SlimTaper Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Black Chrome Mini Die Cast tuners
  • Weight between 7.4lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.45lbs (3.8kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

ESP LTD F Black Metal Overview

  • From ESP LTD's 2021 Black Metal series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • 3pc Maple neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • Floyd Rose 1000 bridge
  • Extra Thin U Neck-Through neck
  • 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel 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 Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

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.

Woods Used in the ESP LTD F Black Metal

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

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: ESP LTD F Black Metal.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are H. A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

Pickups Quality

The ESP LTD F Black Metal pickups from a more specialized brand than the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta. 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 Heavy Metal and similar genres.

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP LTD F Black Metal's online:

The Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta's pickups are Passive while the ESP LTD F Black Metal's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: ESP LTD F Black Metal.

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 ESP LTD F Black Metal comes with some kind of pickup modification: Killswitch.

A Killswitch lets you disengage the pickups instantly. It can be useful when playing live, and it allows you to create some cool sound effects by using the switch rapidly.

In this case, both of them lack pickup selector.

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: ESP LTD F Black Metal.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 70
ESP LTD F Black Metal
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 57
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 78

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 Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta compares to the ESP LTD F Black Metal.

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.

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 F Black Metal has a retainer bar for the locking nut, which is a helpful addition. Without it, the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta'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 F Black Metal.

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 ESP LTD F Black Metal 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: ESP LTD F Black Metal.

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 Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta's are Black Chrome Mini Die Cast while the ESP LTD F Black Metal'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 Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta 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 F Black Metal comes with Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

Winner: ESP LTD F Black Metal.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta
  • Locking Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD F Black Metal
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Killswitch Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta
Quality of materials 41
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 57
ESP LTD F Black Metal
Quality of materials 71
Features 85
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 77

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

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta Nut Width
Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta Nut Width
ESP LTD F Black Metal Nut Width
ESP LTD F Black Metal Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta has the wider nut with 42.7mm (1.68'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.7mm (0.026'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta and ESP LTD F Black Metal'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

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta Neck Profile
Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta's neck profile
ESP LTD F Black Metal Neck Profile
ESP LTD F Black Metal'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 Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta has a C type of 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.

The ESP LTD F Black Metal, 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

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta Fingerboard Radius
Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta's Fingerboard radius
ESP LTD F Black Metal Fingerboard Radius
ESP LTD F Black Metal'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 Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the ESP LTD F Black Metal'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 ESP LTD F Black Metal.

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 ESP LTD F Black Metal favors large hands more than the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP LTD F Black Metal:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta Frets Size
Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta's Frets Size
ESP LTD F Black Metal Frets Size
ESP LTD F Black Metal's Frets Size

The ESP LTD F Black Metal has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta'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

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
ESP LTD F Black Metal
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 90
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta vs LTD F Black Metal
General Kramer Snake Sabo Baretta LTD F Black Metal
Brand: Kramer ESP LTD
Year: 2020 2021
Configuration: H H
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Artist Black Metal
Colors: Green Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose 1000 series Tremolo with EVH D-Tuna Drop D Tuning System Floyd Rose 1000
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: Black Chrome Mini Die Cast Grover
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Macassar Ebony
Neck Material: 3 piece Maple, natural Satin finish 3pc Maple
Decoration: Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: K-Speed SlimTaper Extra Thin U
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12.6" 13.78"
Nut: Locking Locking
Nut Width: 42.7mm (1.68'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Kramer 85-T Double Black Open Coil Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup:
Switch: 0 Way 0 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None Killswitch
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 0