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Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple
VS
Playability
70
Sound
76
Build
83
Value
61
Score
76
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
90
Value
66
Score
81
FIND IT ON:
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Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass vs Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple

Reasons to Get
Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass over Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple

Release Year
2020 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Jason Richardson vs Charvel Speed
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs Coil Tap
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Pickups
HH vs HSH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle

Reasons to Get
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple over Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass

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 15"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Charvel Speed vs Jason Richardson
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Tap vs Coil Split
Lowers output of humbucker coil to create a single coil sound
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSH vs HH
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Value Score
66 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass vs Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple

Bridge Pickup
Music Man Custom Humbucker vs Charvel Custom MF Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Music Man Custom Humbucker vs Charvel Custom MF Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Figured Maple vs Flame Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony 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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass vs Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple

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
24
Same maximum octave
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
Decorative Top
Buckeye Burl vs Flame Maple
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
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

Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass Prices

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Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple 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 Flame Maple is probably the better product overall with its final score of 81 compared to the Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass's 76 score, although not by a lot.

The Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass in every aspect.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple is the better choice.

The Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple
  • 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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass Overview

  • From Music Man's 2020 Jason Richardson series
  • Jason Richardson Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15" Fretboard Radius
  • Buckeye Burl top
  • Alder body
  • Figured Roasted Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Custom Music Man floating tremolo bridge
  • Jason Richardson Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple Overview

  • From Charvel's 2015 Artist Signature series
  • Guthrie Govan Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Caramelized Basswood 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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass

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

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

Woods Used in the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple

Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame Maple
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

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

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.

Winner: Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass.

Pickup Configuration

The Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass has an HH configuration while the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple has HSH pickups.

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.

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.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple gives you 5 switch options while the Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass gives you 3. This means that the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass offers 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.

On the other hand, the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple 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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass's switch options
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple'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 Flame Maple.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass
Pickups 85
Sustain 65
Versatility 79
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 76
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple
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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass compares to the Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple.

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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass 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 Flame Maple 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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split 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 Flame Maple
  • 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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass
Quality of materials 80
Features 70
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 83
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple
Quality of materials 85
Features 85
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 90

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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass Nut Width
Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass Nut Width
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple Nut Width
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass, 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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass and Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple'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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass Neck Profile
Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass's neck profile
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple Neck Profile
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple'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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass 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 Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple, 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

Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass Fingerboard Radius
Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass's Fingerboard radius
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple'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 Flame Maple 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.

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 .

Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass Frets Size
Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass's Frets Size
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple Frets Size
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple's Frets Size

The Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass'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 Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70
Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass vs Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple
General Music Man Jason Richardson 6-String Cutlass Charvel Guthrie Govan USA Signature HSH Flame Maple
Brand: Music Man Charvel
Year: 2020 2015
Configuration: HH HSH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Jason Richardson Artist Signature
Colors: Red, Natural Burst Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Caramelized Basswood
Bridge: Custom Music Man floating tremolo Recessed Charvel Locking Tremolo Bridge
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schaller M6-IND locking Sperzel Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Caramelized Flame Maple
Neck Material: Figured Roasted Maple Caramelized Flame Maple
Decoration: Dot Inlay Ebony Ring with Maple Dot Center
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Jason Richardson Charvel Speed
Frets: 24 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 15" 12" to 16"
Nut: Compensated Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Charvel Custom MF Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Charvel Custom MF Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split Coil Tap
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1