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Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM
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Playability
67
Sound
77
Build
70
Value
56
Score
71
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Playability
73
Sound
81
Build
89
Value
66
Score
81
FIND IT ON:
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Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA vs Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM

Reasons to Get
Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA over Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM

Number of Frets
22 vs 24
Warmer neck pickup
Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Tremolo
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs

Reasons to Get
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM over Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2019 vs 2010
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Value Score
66 vs 56
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA vs Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM

Bridge Pickup
Bill Lawrence L-500 vs Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N vs Seymour Duncan APH-1N
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Birdseye Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Flame Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA vs Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume 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 Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM is probably the better product overall with its final score of 81 compared to the Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA's 71 score, which is a significant difference.

The Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA in every aspect.

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

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM is the better choice.

The Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA 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

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA Overview

  • From Washburn's 2010 Nuno Bettencourt series
  • Nuno Bettencourt Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Birdseye Maple 5-Bolt Stephen's Extended Cutaway neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Bill Lawrence L-500 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Original bridge
  • Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Mixed Gotoh / Grover Exclusive 18:1 Chrome tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM Overview

  • From Charvel's 2019 USA Select series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Caramelized Maple neck
  • Caramelized Flame Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Gotoh Custom 510 Tremolo Bridge with Brass Block and Titanium Saddles bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Sperzel 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 Both

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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 Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA

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

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

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Woods Used in the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM

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

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

Winner: Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA.

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 Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM'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: Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA.

Versatility Comparison

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

Switch Options

The Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM gives you 5 switch options while the Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA gives you 3. This means that the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA's switch options
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM's switch options

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

Winner: Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 77
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM
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 Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA compares to the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM.

Country of Origin

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

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA has 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.

On the other hand, the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM 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.

In this comparison, the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM 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: Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM.

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 Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA's brige is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

On the other hand, the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM'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: Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA.

Tuners

The Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM 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.

Nevertheless, the Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA has a locking nut, so it should have even better tune stability and doesn't need locking tuners.

Winner: Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM.

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
Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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 Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 70
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM
Quality of materials 81
Features 85
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 89

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

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA Nut Width
Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA Nut Width
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM Nut Width
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.9mm (1.688''). This is a 0.1mm (0.0050000000000001'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA and Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM'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

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA Neck Profile
Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA's neck profile
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM Neck Profile
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM'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 Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA and the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM 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

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA Fingerboard Radius
Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA's Fingerboard radius
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM's Compound Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM 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 .

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA Frets Size
Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA's Frets Size
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM Frets Size
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM's Frets Size

The Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA's Medium 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

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 70
Playability 67
Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA vs Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM
General Washburn N4-Nuno Authentic USA Charvel USA Select DK24 HH 2PT CM
Brand: Washburn Charvel
Year: 2010 2019
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Nuno Bettencourt USA Select
Colors: Natural Matte Purple, White Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: Floyd Rose Original Gotoh Custom 510 Tremolo Bridge with Brass Block and Titanium Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Mixed Gotoh / Grover Exclusive 18:1 Chrome Sperzel Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Caramelized Flame Maple
Neck Material: Birdseye Maple 5-Bolt Stephen's Extended Cutaway Caramelized Maple
Decoration: Dots 4mm Pearl Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Charvel Speed
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Locking Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Bill Lawrence L-500 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan Full Shred SH-10B (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1