Swap
Swap
Music Man Albert Lee
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster
VS
Playability
68
Sound
75
Build
80
Value
64
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
Musician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability
75
Sound
76
Build
78
Value
61
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

Music Man Albert Lee vs Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster

Reasons to Get
Music Man Albert Lee over Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Albert Lee vs Speed
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Compensated vs Plastic
Fixes intonation issues
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Value Score
64 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster over Music Man Albert Lee

Decorative Top
1/8 Quilt Maple Top vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2020 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 10"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Speed vs Albert Lee
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Other Key Differences
Music Man Albert Lee vs Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Albert Lee Custom Single Coil vs DiMarzio Rob Caggiano Signature
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Albert Lee Custom Single Coil vs DiMarzio Air Norton
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Figured Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Figured Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-2 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Compensated vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Music Man Albert Lee vs Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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 Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Music Man Albert Lee's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster wins when it comes to sound, playability. On the other hand, the Music Man Albert Lee has the upper hand when it comes to build quality, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Music Man Albert Lee is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 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

Music Man Albert Lee
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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.

Music Man Albert Lee Overview

  • From Music Man's 2015 Albert Lee series
  • Albert Lee Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Southern Ash body
  • Figured Maple neck
  • Figured Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Albert Lee Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Seymour Duncan Albert Lee Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Albert Lee Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Music Man vintage tremolo bridge
  • Albert Lee Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster Overview

  • From Jackson's 2020 Artist Signature series
  • Rob Caggiano Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • 1/8 Quilt Maple Top top
  • Alder body
  • Quartersawn Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Rob Caggiano Signature (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Air Norton (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • TonePros TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Locking Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Die-Cast Locking 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 the Music Man Albert Lee

Figured Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Figured Maple
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

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 Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

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: Music Man Albert Lee.

Pickup Configuration

The Music Man Albert Lee has an SSS configuration while the Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster has HH pickups.

SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

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

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 Music Man Albert Lee has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster'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: Music Man Albert Lee.

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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

Music Man Albert Lee pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Music Man Albert Lee's switch options
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster'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: Music Man Albert Lee.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Music Man Albert Lee
Pickups 100
Sustain 55
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 75
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 76

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 Music Man Albert Lee compares to the Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster.

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 Music Man Albert Lee has a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

On the other hand, the Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Music Man Albert Lee.

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 Music Man Albert Lee 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: Music Man Albert Lee.

Bridge

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

The Music Man Albert Lee's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

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

They both have 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: 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
Music Man Albert Lee
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • 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 Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Music Man Albert Lee
Quality of materials 81
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 80
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster
Quality of materials 55
Features 80
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 78

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

Music Man Albert Lee Nut Width
Music Man Albert Lee Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 1.6mm (0.063'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Music Man Albert Lee and Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster'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

Music Man Albert Lee Neck Profile
Music Man Albert Lee's neck profile
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster Neck Profile
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster'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 Music Man Albert Lee 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 Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Music Man Albert Lee Fingerboard Radius
Music Man Albert Lee's Fingerboard radius
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster'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.

In this case, the Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster 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 Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster favors large hands more than the Music Man Albert Lee. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Music Man Albert Lee:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Music Man Albert Lee Frets Size
Music Man Albert Lee's Frets Size
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster Frets Size
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster's Frets Size

The Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Music Man Albert Lee's Medium 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

Music Man Albert Lee
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 65
Playability 68
Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Music Man Albert Lee vs Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster
General Music Man Albert Lee Jackson USA Signature Rob Caggiano Shadowcaster
Brand: Music Man Jackson
Year: 2015 2020
Configuration: SSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Albert Lee Artist Signature
Colors: Gray Purple
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Southern Ash Alder
Bridge: Music Man vintage tremolo TonePros TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Locking Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schaller M6-IND locking Sperzel Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Figured Maple Ebony
Neck Material: Figured Maple Quartersawn Maple
Decoration: Black Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Albert Lee Speed
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 12" to 16"
Nut: Compensated Plastic
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Albert Lee Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) DiMarzio Rob Caggiano Signature (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Seymour Duncan Albert Lee Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Albert Lee Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) DiMarzio Air Norton (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1