Swap
Swap
Sterling Axis Flame Maple
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion
VS
Playability
73
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
76
Score
66
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability
77
Sound
75
Build
69
Value
74
Score
74
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

Sterling Axis Flame Maple vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion

Reasons to Get
Sterling Axis Flame Maple over Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Axis vs Speed
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Nut Material
Compensated vs Plastic
Fixes intonation issues
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.849'' (21.6mm) vs 0.775'' (19.7mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.939'' (23.9mm) vs 0.835'' (21.2mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Value Score
76 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion over Sterling Axis Flame Maple

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Speed vs Axis
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups Brand
DiMarzio vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.775'' (19.7mm) vs 0.849'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.835'' (21.2mm) vs 0.939'' (23.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone

Other Key Differences
Sterling Axis Flame Maple vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion

Bridge Pickup
Sterling Humbucker vs DiMarzio Mark Morton Signature Dominion
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Sterling Humbucker vs DiMarzio Mark Morton Signature Dominion
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Jabon vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-2 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Compensated vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Sterling Axis Flame Maple vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion 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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion 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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion is the better choice.

The Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Sterling Axis Flame Maple meets only 3. 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

Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • 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.

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 >

Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion Overview

  • From Jackson's 2014 Artist Signature series
  • Mark Morton Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Mark Morton Signature Dominion (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Mark Morton Signature Dominion (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Neck-Through neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast 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 Sterling Axis Flame Maple

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Jabon wood pattern used for guitar building
Jabon

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.

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

Woods Used in the Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion

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

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.

Winner: Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion.

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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion 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.

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: Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion.

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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion 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

Only the Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion comes with some kind of pickup modification: 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.

Sterling Axis Flame Maple pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Sterling Axis Flame Maple's switch options
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion'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
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 63
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 75

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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion.

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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Sterling Axis Flame Maple.

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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion'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

The Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion 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: Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion.

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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion 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: Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion.

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
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Sterling Axis Flame Maple
Quality of materials 50
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 57
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion
Quality of materials 41
Features 90
Quality Control 75
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

Sterling Axis Flame Maple Nut Width
Sterling Axis Flame Maple Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion Nut Width
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 1mm (0.038'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion, 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's Scale Length
Sterling Axis Flame Maple's Scale Length
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion's Scale Length
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion'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 Sterling Axis Flame Maple has the longest scale: 25.5". The Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) 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

Sterling Axis Flame Maple Neck Profile
Sterling Axis Flame Maple's neck profile
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion Neck Profile
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion'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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion, on the other hand, has a D 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.

Fretboard Radius

Sterling Axis Flame Maple Fingerboard Radius
Sterling Axis Flame Maple's Fingerboard radius
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion'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 Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion 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 .

Sterling Axis Flame Maple:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Sterling Axis Flame Maple Frets Size
Sterling Axis Flame Maple's Frets Size
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion Frets Size
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion's Frets Size

The Sterling Axis Flame Maple has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion'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

Sterling Axis Flame Maple
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Sterling Axis Flame Maple vs Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion
General Sterling Axis Flame Maple Jackson Pro Series Signature Mark Morton Dominion
Brand: Sterling Jackson
Year: 2021 2014
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Axis Artist Signature
Colors: Gold, Blue Gray Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Jabon Mahogany
Bridge: Fulcrum Tremolo Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: Die Cast Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Hard Maple Ebony
Neck Material: Hard Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Dot Markers Shark-Eye Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Axis Speed
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.849'' (21.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.939'' (23.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm)
Frets: 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Compensated Plastic
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Mark Morton Signature Dominion (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio Mark Morton Signature Dominion (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2