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Washburn SDFSB Deluxe
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth
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Playability
67
Sound
64
Build
56
Value
77
Score
62
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Playability
73
Sound
64
Build
59
Value
70
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
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Washburn SDFSB Deluxe vs Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth

Reasons to Get
Washburn SDFSB Deluxe over Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs HH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
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
77 vs 70
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth over Washburn SDFSB Deluxe

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Plastic
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
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
Washburn SDFSB Deluxe vs Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth

Bridge Pickup
Washburn Humbucker vs Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Sonamaster+ vs Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Okoume vs Flame Maple
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Richlite vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Washburn SDFSB Deluxe vs Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth

Strings
6
Same playing style
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth is probably the better product overall with its final score of 65 compared to the Washburn SDFSB Deluxe's 62 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth wins when it comes to playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Washburn SDFSB Deluxe 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?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Washburn SDFSB Deluxe
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 SDFSB Deluxe Overview

  • From Washburn's 2021 Sonamaster series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Okoume body
  • Maple neck
  • Techwood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Washburn Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: (/)
  • Neck pickup: Sonamaster+ (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Vintage Tremolo bridge
  • Washburn Sonamaster Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2021 Artist Collection series
  • Emily Wolfe Signature
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Layered Maple body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • 60s SlimTaper C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Rotomatic tuners
  • Weight between 8.35lbs (3.8kgs) and 8.8lbs (4kgs)
  • 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 SDFSB Deluxe

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Richlite wood pattern used for guitar building
Richlite
Okoume wood pattern used for guitar building
Okoume

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.

It's very similar to Ebony, but it is much cheaper to make. The main reason is that it is made from resin-infused paper. It is very durable and soft, so it's often used for fretboards and tops.

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.

Woods Used in the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Flame Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Flame Maple

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.

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

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

Winner: Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth.

Pickup Configuration

The Washburn SDFSB Deluxe has an HSS configuration while the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth has HH pickups.

HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

On the other hand, 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

None of these use a specialized pickup brand for their pickups. Some of the best guitars on the market come with pickups from brands like EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. You might want to replace your pickups eventually if you want to get the best sound out of any of these instruments.

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

The Washburn SDFSB Deluxe gives you 5 switch options while the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth gives you 3. This means that the Washburn SDFSB Deluxe 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.

Washburn SDFSB Deluxe pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Washburn SDFSB Deluxe's switch options
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth'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 SDFSB Deluxe.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Washburn SDFSB Deluxe
Pickups 60
Sustain 65
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 60
Sound 64
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 64

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 SDFSB Deluxe compares to the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Washburn SDFSB Deluxe is built in Indonesia while the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth is made in China.

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.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Winner: Washburn SDFSB Deluxe

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 SDFSB Deluxe has 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.

On the other hand, the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth 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: Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth.

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 SDFSB Deluxe'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 Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth'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

Both come with regular tuners. The Washburn SDFSB Deluxe's are Die-Cast while the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth's are Grover Rotomatic

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 SDFSB Deluxe 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 Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Washburn SDFSB Deluxe.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Washburn SDFSB Deluxe
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Washburn SDFSB Deluxe
Quality of materials 48
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 56
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth
Quality of materials 61
Features 55
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 59

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 SDFSB Deluxe Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43mm (1.693'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Washburn SDFSB Deluxe's Scale Length
Washburn SDFSB Deluxe's Scale Length
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth's Scale Length
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth'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 SDFSB Deluxe has the longest scale: 25.5". The Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth 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 SDFSB Deluxe Neck Profile
Washburn SDFSB Deluxe's neck profile
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth Neck Profile
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth'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 SDFSB Deluxe and the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth 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 SDFSB Deluxe Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same 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.

Both the Washburn SDFSB Deluxe and the Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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 SDFSB Deluxe:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Washburn SDFSB Deluxe Frets Size
Washburn SDFSB Deluxe's Frets Size
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth Frets Size
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth's Frets Size

The Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Washburn SDFSB Deluxe'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 SDFSB Deluxe
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 70
Playability 67
Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Washburn SDFSB Deluxe vs Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth
General Washburn SDFSB Deluxe Epiphone Emily Wolfe Sheraton Stealth
Brand: Washburn Epiphone
Year: 2021 2021
Configuration: HSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Sonamaster Artist Collection
Colors: Sunburst Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Semi-Hollow
Body Material: Okoume Layered Maple
Bridge: Vintage Tremolo Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Die-Cast Grover Rotomatic
Fretboard: Techwood Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Dots Block Mother of Pearl with Lightning Bolt
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Washburn Sonamaster 60s SlimTaper C
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Plastic Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Washburn Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Sonamaster+ (Single Coil / Passive) Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1