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Sterling Axis Flame Maple
Ibanez XPTB620
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Playability
73
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
76
Score
66
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Playability
77
Sound
79
Build
65
Value
74
Score
74
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Sterling Axis Flame Maple vs Ibanez XPTB620

Reasons to Get
Sterling Axis Flame Maple over Ibanez XPTB620

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
Axis vs Wizard III
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.849'' (21.6mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.939'' (23.9mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Edge Zero II
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
76 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez XPTB620 over Sterling Axis Flame Maple

Neck Profile
Wizard III vs Axis
Thin neck for playing fast
Pickups Brand
DiMarzio vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.849'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.939'' (23.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
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
Edge Zero II vs Tremolo
Intense vibrato effects and cheaper than Edge Zero
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Sterling Axis Flame Maple vs Ibanez XPTB620

Bridge Pickup
Sterling Humbucker vs DiMarzio D Activator
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Sterling Humbucker vs DiMarzio D Activator
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Jabon vs Okoume
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-2 vs R6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Compensated vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Sterling Axis Flame Maple vs Ibanez XPTB620

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
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
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
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 XPTB620 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Sterling Axis Flame Maple's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez XPTB620 wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Sterling Axis Flame Maple has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

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 Sterling Axis Flame Maple is the better choice.

The Sterling Axis Flame Maple meets 3 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez XPTB620 meets only 2. 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

Sterling Axis Flame Maple
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez XPTB620
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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.

Sterling Axis Flame Maple Overview

  • From Sterling's 2021 Axis series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Jabon body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Hard Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Axis Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Die Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez XPTB620 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 X series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Okoume body
  • Maple/Walnut neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio D Activator (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio D Activator (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Edge-Zero II bridge
  • Wizard III Neck-Through neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh 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 Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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.

Woods Used in the Sterling Axis Flame Maple

Jabon wood pattern used for guitar building
Jabon

Jabon is similar to Basswood and is often compared to Mahogany. It has a well-rounded sound.

Woods Used in the Ibanez XPTB620

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Okoume wood pattern used for guitar building
Okoume

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.

Okoume is an affordable wood and one of the first to replace Mahogany when the prohibitions started. It's generally softer than Mahogany and the tone has warmer lows.

Winner: Ibanez XPTB620.

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

The Ibanez XPTB620 pickups from a more specialized brand than the Sterling Axis Flame Maple. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Ibanez XPTB620'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: Ibanez XPTB620.

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 Sterling Axis Flame Maple gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez XPTB620 gives you 3. This means that the Sterling Axis Flame Maple gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

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

Sterling Axis Flame Maple pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Sterling Axis Flame Maple's switch options
Ibanez XPTB620 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez XPTB620'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: Sterling Axis Flame Maple.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Sterling Axis Flame Maple
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 67
Ibanez XPTB620
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 79

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 Sterling Axis Flame Maple compares to the Ibanez XPTB620.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Indonesia.

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.

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 Sterling Axis Flame Maple 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 Ibanez XPTB620 comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, 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.

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 Sterling Axis Flame Maple'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 XPTB620's is a Edge Zero II. This is a cheaper version of Ibanez's Edge Zero bridges. It comes with the same locking stud bolts that lock down into the body and provide better stabilization, and with easier adjustment of the springs without having to remove the backplate thanks to a thumb-screw. However, the intonation in this cheaper version will require additional work.

Edge Zero IIs that come with the ZPS3 Zero Point system have two extra springs that help return the tremolo to the neutral position faster. These bridges offer tons of versatility, but they also require more work than simpler tremolos to set up.

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: Ibanez XPTB620.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Sterling Axis Flame Maple's are Die Cast while the Ibanez XPTB620's are Gotoh machine heads

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.

The Sterling Axis Flame Maple has 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.

On the other hand, the Ibanez XPTB620 comes with Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

Winner: Ibanez XPTB620.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Axis Flame Maple
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • 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 XPTB620
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Sterling Axis Flame Maple
Quality of materials 50
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 57
Ibanez XPTB620
Quality of materials 51
Features 70
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 65

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

Sterling Axis Flame Maple Nut Width
Sterling Axis Flame Maple Nut Width
Ibanez XPTB620 Nut Width
Ibanez XPTB620 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez XPTB620 has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 1.1mm (0.043'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez XPTB620, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Sterling Axis Flame Maple and Ibanez XPTB620'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

Sterling Axis Flame Maple Neck Profile
Sterling Axis Flame Maple's neck profile
Ibanez XPTB620 Neck Profile
Ibanez XPTB620'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 Sterling Axis Flame Maple has a Asymmetrical type of neck. Even though this neck shape looks like a poorly-made job, it's, in fact, the neck that most naturally adapts to the arc of your hand when grabbing a guitar neck. You'll notice that the lower part of your palm makes a more pronounced, deeper curve while the upper part makes a more subtle arch. This is the shape that adapts the best to that natural arch your hand makes while playing.

The Ibanez XPTB620, on the other hand, has a Wizard neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

Fretboard Radius

Sterling Axis Flame Maple Fingerboard Radius
Sterling Axis Flame Maple's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez XPTB620 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez XPTB620'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 Sterling Axis Flame Maple's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez XPTB620'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 XPTB620.

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.

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 .

Sterling Axis Flame Maple:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez XPTB620:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Sterling Axis Flame Maple and Ibanez XPTB620 Frets Size
Both have a similar Narrow Tall fret size

Both have a Narrow Tall fret size. Their height is very similar to Jumbo frets, but they have a narrower crown. They won't let you feel the fretboard when playing, which will make it easier to get clean notes. However, if you press down too hard you might get the notes out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Sterling Axis Flame Maple
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Ibanez XPTB620
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 100
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Sterling Axis Flame Maple vs Ibanez XPTB620
General Sterling Axis Flame Maple Ibanez XPTB620
Brand: Sterling Ibanez
Year: 2021 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Axis X
Colors: Gold, Blue Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Jabon Okoume
Bridge: Fulcrum Tremolo Edge-Zero II
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: Die Cast Gotoh machine heads
Fretboard: Hard Maple Ebony
Neck Material: Hard Maple Maple/Walnut
Decoration: Dot Markers
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Axis Wizard III
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.849'' (21.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.939'' (23.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm)
Frets: 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 15.75"
Nut: Compensated Locking
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio D Activator (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio D Activator (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1