Swap
Swap
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
VS
Playability
67
Sound
77
Build
69
Value
61
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability
80
Sound
74
Build
77
Value
62
Score
77
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA vs Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Reasons to Get
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA over Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Washburn Nuno Bettencourt vs Speed
Comfortable neck that works for most people
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 Fixed
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT over Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA

Release Year
2017 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
Neck Profile
Speed vs Washburn Nuno Bettencourt
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Fixed vs Floyd Rose
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
Value Score
62 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA vs Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Bridge Pickup
Bill Lawrence L-500 vs Seymour Duncan JB SH-4
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Birdseye Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Locking vs Black Tusq XL
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA vs Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N
Same Neck Pickup
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
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 Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT 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 USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

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 USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT is the better choice.

The Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage 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 Vintage USA
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 Vintage 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 1000 Series Original bridge
  • Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Grover Exclusive 18:1 Chrome tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Overview

  • From Jackson's 2017 Artist Signature series
  • Scott Ian Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TonePros Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Style with Gotoh Stop Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Neck-Through neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Die-Cast 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 Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA

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

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.

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 Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Tie.

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.

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

We found the same or similar pickups to the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

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

Switch Options

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.

They both share the following switching options:

Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA and Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA and Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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: Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 77
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 49
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 74

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 Vintage USA compares to the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT.

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 Vintage 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 Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT comes with a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

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 Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage 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 Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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: Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA's are Grover Exclusive 18:1 Chrome while the Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT's are Gotoh Die-Cast

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 Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA 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 USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT 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 USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage 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
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 69
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
Quality of materials 61
Features 70
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77

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 Vintage USA Nut Width
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Nut Width
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage 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 Vintage 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 Vintage USA's Scale Length
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA's Scale Length
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT's Scale Length
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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 Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA has the longest scale: 25.5". The Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT 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

Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA Neck Profile
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA's neck profile
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Neck Profile
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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 Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA 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 Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT, 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

Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA Fingerboard Radius
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA's Fingerboard radius
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT'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 USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT 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 Vintage USA:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA Frets Size
Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA's Frets Size
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT Frets Size
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT's Frets Size

The Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage 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 Vintage USA
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 70
Playability 67
Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 90
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA vs Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
General Washburn N4-Nuno Vintage USA Jackson USA Signature Scott Ian King V KVT
Brand: Washburn Jackson
Year: 2010 2017
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Nuno Bettencourt Artist Signature
Colors: Natural Matte Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: Floyd Rose 1000 Series Original TonePros Adjustable Tune-O-Matic Style with Gotoh Stop Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Neck-Through
Tuners: Grover Exclusive 18:1 Chrome Gotoh Die-Cast
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: Birdseye Maple 5-Bolt Stephen's Extended Cutaway Mahogany
Decoration: Dots Mother of Pearl Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Washburn Nuno Bettencourt Speed
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Locking Black Tusq XL
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Bill Lawrence L-500 (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan JB SH-4 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive) Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 0 1