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Schecter Traditional Pro
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige
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Playability
73
Sound
78
Build
65
Value
77
Score
72
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Playability
75
Sound
78
Build
69
Value
74
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
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Schecter Traditional Pro vs Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige

Reasons to Get
Schecter Traditional Pro over Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2023 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
Thin C vs Super Wizard
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.67'' (17mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 17'' (431.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
77 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige over Schecter Traditional Pro

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Profile
Super Wizard vs Thin C
Thinnest neck you can get for shredding
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.67'' (17mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
17'' (431.8mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Schecter Traditional Pro vs Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige

Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA Z-Plus vs DiMarzio The Tone Zone
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Schecter USA Z-Plus vs DiMarzio Air Norton
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Birdseye Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter Traditional Pro vs Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
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
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
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
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Schecter Traditional Pro's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Schecter Traditional Pro has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Schecter Traditional Pro is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Traditional Pro is the better choice.

The Schecter Traditional Pro meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige 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

Schecter Traditional Pro
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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.

Schecter Traditional Pro Overview

  • From Schecter's 2023 Traditional Pro series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Maple w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Z-Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Z-Plus (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Diamond Vintage Tremolo bridge
  • Thin C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Schecter Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.55lbs (3.4kgs) and 7.85lbs (3.6kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2016 RG series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 17" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash body
  • Maple/Walnut neck
  • Bound Birdseye Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio The Tone Zone (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Air Norton (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Gibraltar Standard II bridge
  • Super Wizard Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads 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 Schecter Traditional Pro

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
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.

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 Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige

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

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.

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: Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige.

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.

However, the Schecter Traditional Pro 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 Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige'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: Schecter Traditional Pro.

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.

Schecter Traditional Pro pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Schecter Traditional Pro's switch options
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige'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: Schecter Traditional Pro.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Traditional Pro
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 78
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige
Pickups 85
Sustain 85
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Schecter Traditional Pro compares to the Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Schecter Traditional Pro is built in Indonesia while the Ibanez RG652AHMFX 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 RG652AHMFX 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 Schecter Traditional Pro has 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).

On the other hand, the Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

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.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

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.

The Schecter Traditional Pro'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 Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige'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
Schecter Traditional Pro
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Schecter Traditional Pro
Quality of materials 60
Features 65
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 65
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige
Quality of materials 61
Features 60
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 69

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

Schecter Traditional Pro Nut Width
Schecter Traditional Pro Nut Width
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige Nut Width
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RG652AHMFX 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

Schecter Traditional Pro and Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige'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

Schecter Traditional Pro Neck Profile
Schecter Traditional Pro's neck profile
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige Neck Profile
Ibanez RG652AHMFX 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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Schecter Traditional Pro 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 Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige, on the other hand, has a Super Wizard neck. Ibanez is famous for this neck shape. They're similar to C-shaped necks, but they're even thinner. Some people like it because it gives them all the free room they need to play fast single notes (shredding). But some people prefer a thicker type of neck they can grab and rest their hands more comfortably.

Fretboard Radius

Schecter Traditional Pro Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Traditional Pro's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RG652AHMFX 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 Schecter Traditional Pro's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige'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 Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

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

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige favors large hands more than the Schecter Traditional Pro. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Schecter Traditional Pro:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Traditional Pro and Ibanez RG652AHMFX 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

Schecter Traditional Pro
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Traditional Pro vs Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige
General Schecter Traditional Pro Ibanez RG652AHMFX Prestige
Brand: Schecter Ibanez
Year: 2023 2016
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Japan
Series: Traditional Pro RG
Colors: Purple Burst Green, Purple
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Ash
Bridge: Diamond Vintage Tremolo Gibraltar Standard II
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schecter Locking Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads
Fretboard: Ebony Bound Birdseye Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Maple w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods Maple/Walnut
Decoration: Pearloid Dots Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Thin C Super Wizard
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.67'' (17mm) - 12th Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 14" 17"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Schecter USA Z-Plus (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio The Tone Zone (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Schecter USA Z-Plus (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Air Norton (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1