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Music Man Cutlass HT SSS
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash
VS
Playability
68
Sound
78
Build
82
Value
66
Score
76
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
89
Value
66
Score
81
FIND IT ON:
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Music Man Cutlass HT SSS vs Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash

Reasons to Get
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS over Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash

Release Year
2022 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Boost vs Coil Tap
Increases the output of the pickup
Pickups
SSS vs HSH
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

Reasons to Get
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash over Music Man Cutlass HT SSS

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
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs Boost
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Pickups
HSH vs SSS
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
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

Other Key Differences
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS vs Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash

Bridge Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs Charvel Custom MF Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs Charvel Custom MF Single-Coil
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs Charvel Custom MF Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Figured Maple vs Flame Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Figured Maple vs Flame Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-2 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Compensated vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS vs Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash

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
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash is probably the better product overall with its final score of 81 compared to the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS's 76 score, although not by a lot.

The Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 6 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 Cutlass HT SSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 Cutlass HT SSS Overview

  • From Music Man's 2022 HT series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Figured Maple neck
  • Brulee & Raspberry Burst Figured Roasted Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Music Man Modern Tremolo bridge
  • HT Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash Overview

  • From Charvel's 2017 Artist Signature series
  • Guthrie Govan Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Caramelized Ash body
  • Caramelized Flame Maple neck
  • Caramelized Flame Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Charvel Custom MF Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Recessed Charvel Locking Tremolo Bridge bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Sperzel 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 Cutlass HT SSS

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

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

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 Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash

Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame 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.

Winner: Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash.

Pickup Configuration

The Music Man Cutlass HT SSS has an SSS configuration while the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash has HSH 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, HSH is a versatile pickup configuration that will give you the high output, full tone, and quiet sound of humbucker pickups, but with the possibility of using a single coil for cleaner tones. The disadvantage is that the middle single-coil pickup will have a noticeable lower volume, so you might want to adjust the height of the pickups. Another problem is that if you set the middle pickup too high, it might interfere with your picking hand.

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 Cutlass HT SSS has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

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 Cutlass HT SSS.

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.

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Music Man Cutlass HT SSS offers Boost.

A Boost will give your pickups more output, similar to an active pickup. It's great if you like to use a lot of output for heavy genres, but also like to use a cleaner tone often.

On the other hand, the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash comes with the following: 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.

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS's switch options
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash'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 Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS
Pickups 100
Sustain 55
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 78
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 81

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 Cutlass HT SSS compares to the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash.

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 Cutlass HT SSS 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 Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash comes with 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.

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.

Both in this comparison come with 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: 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: 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.

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 Cutlass HT SSS
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Boost Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Tap Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS
Quality of materials 81
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 82
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash
Quality of materials 81
Features 85
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 89

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 Cutlass HT SSS Nut Width
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Nut Width
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash Nut Width
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash 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 Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash, 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 Cutlass HT SSS and Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash'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 Cutlass HT SSS Neck Profile
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS's neck profile
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash Neck Profile
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash'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.

Both the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS and the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash have a C-shaped 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

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Fingerboard Radius
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS's Fingerboard radius
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash'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 Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash favors large hands more than the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Frets Size
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS's Frets Size
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash Frets Size
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash's Frets Size

The Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS'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 Cutlass HT SSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 65
Playability 68
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS vs Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash
General Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Caramelized Ash
Brand: Music Man Charvel
Year: 2022 2017
Configuration: SSS HSH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: HT Artist Signature
Colors: White, Sunburst, Black, Red Burst Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Caramelized Ash
Bridge: Music Man Modern Tremolo Recessed Charvel Locking Tremolo Bridge
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schaller M6-IND locking Sperzel Locking
Fretboard: Brulee & Raspberry Burst Figured Roasted Maple Caramelized Flame Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Figured Maple Caramelized Flame Maple
Decoration: Dot Ebony Ring with Maple Dot Center
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: HT Charvel Speed
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 10" 12" to 16"
Nut: Compensated Bone
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Charvel Custom MF Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Boost Coil Tap
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1