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PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige
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Playability
78
Sound
75
Build
59
Value
71
Score
71
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Playability
77
Sound
81
Build
84
Value
71
Score
81
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PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN vs Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige Specs Comparison
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige
General
Brand: PRS Ibanez
Year: 2023 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 7 7
Made in: Indonesia Japan
Series: SE AZ
Colors: Black Burst, Natural Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Alder
Bridge: PRS Plate Style (String Through) Gotoh T1872S
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: PRS Designed Tuners Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads
Fretboard: Bound Ebony Roasted Maple
Neck Material: Maple w/ Satin Finish Roasted Maple
Decoration: Birds Black Dot
Scale Size: 26.5" 25.5"
Shape: Wide Thin AZ7 Oval C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.91'' (23.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.81'' (20.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.89'' (22.6mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 20" 12"
Nut: PRS Propietary Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 47mm (1.85'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scourge" (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scarlet" (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7 (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: Coil Tap Coil Tap
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN pickups switch and push knobs diagram
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's switch options
Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige's switch options

Reasons to Get
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN over Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige

Decorative Top
Beveled Maple Top w/ Quilted Maple or Walnut Veneer vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2023 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.81'' (20.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.91'' (23.1mm) vs 0.89'' (22.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.85'' (47mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
26.5'' (673.1mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
20'' (508mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige over PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.81'' (20.6mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.89'' (22.6mm) vs 0.91'' (23.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.85'' (47mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 26.5'' (673.1mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 20'' (508mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN vs Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scourge" vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Mark Holcomb "Scarlet" vs Seymour Duncan Hyperion 7
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Roasted Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-3 vs 7
Different Headstock
Nut Material
PRS Propietary vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN vs Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige

Strings
7
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

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    Hand Size Comfortability

    After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN 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

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Short scale

    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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN

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

    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.

    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.

    Woods Used in the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige

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

    Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

    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: PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN.

    Pickup Configuration

    Both pickup configurations are HH. 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.

    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 Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige gives you 5 switch options while the PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

    Both offer you the same type of pickup mod: 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.

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

    Winner: Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 64
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 75
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 82
    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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN compares to the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN is built in Indonesia while the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige is made in Japan.

    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.

    Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

    Winner: Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige

    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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN has a PRS Propietary nut. It's similar to TUSQ nuts, but they're not as hard, and the tone is not as bright. However, the material is self-lubricating, and it's usually well cut, so they have good tuning stability.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

    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.

    In this comparison, the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige 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: Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige.

    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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's brige 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.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige's 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.

    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

    The Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige has the best tuners of the two because they are 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: Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige.

    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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN has a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige comes with 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: Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige.

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

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
    • Expensive Wood
    • PRS Propietary Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Tap Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige
    • Stainless Steel Frets
    • Locking Tuners
    • Made in Japan
    • Black Tusq XL Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Tap Pickups
    • Luminescent Inlay
    • Tremolo
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
    Quality of materials 48
    Features 55
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 59
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige
    Quality of materials 81
    Features 75
    Quality Control 95
    Build Quality 84

    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

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN Nut Width
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN Nut Width
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige Nut Width
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige has the wider nut with 47mm (1.85'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 4.1mm (0.162'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

    Scale Length

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's Scale Length
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's Scale Length
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige's Scale Length
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige's 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.

    The PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN has the longest scale: 26.5". The Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige is only 25.5" long. This is a 1'' (25.4mm) scale length difference.

    This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

    This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

    Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

    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

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN Neck Profile
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's neck profile
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige Neck Profile
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige'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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN and the Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige 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

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN Fingerboard Radius
    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN's Fingerboard radius
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige Fingerboard Radius
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige'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 Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN'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 PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN.

    Fret Size

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN and Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige Frets Size
    Both have a similar Jumbo fret size

    Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.

    Final Playability Scores

    PRS SE Mark Holcomb SVN
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 60
    Solo Playability 90
    Playability 78
    Ibanez AZ24027 Prestige
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
    Chord Playability 60
    Solo Playability 90
    Playability 77