Head to head
Ibanez AZES40 vs Jackson JS Series Dinky JS11Q
The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets ($300 - $500 against Under $300), and the pickup layouts differ (HSS against HH). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 24 rows that actually differ marked out.
AZES40
Purist Blue
Nine pickup sounds from three pickups, and a short scale that suits smaller hands
JS Series Dinky JS11Q
Transparent Red, Austin Bazaar bundle without amplifier
The same JS11Q in red — but check what is in the box before you choose
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Score profile
Six editorial axes, overlaid. Where one shape sits outside the other, that is where the instrument gains ground.
- Ibanez AZES408.5
- Jackson JS Series Dinky JS11Q6.8
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Specification by specification
| AZES40 | JS Series Dinky JS11Q | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Ibanez | Jackson |
| Model | AZES40 | JS Series Dinky JS11Q |
| Finish | Purist Blue | Transparent Red, Austin Bazaar bundle without amplifier |
| Instrument | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Fretline score | 8.5 / 10 | 6.8 / 10 |
| Value for money | 9 / 10 | 8 / 10 |
| Amazon rating | 4.5 / 5 (95) | — |
| Price | $300 - $500 | Under $300 |
| Type | Electric guitar | Electric guitar |
| Body | AZ double cutaway | Dinky solidbody |
| Body wood | Poplar | Poplar |
| Top | — | Quilted art-grain veneer |
| Neck joint | Bolt-on | Bolt-on speed neck, scarf joint with graphite reinforcement |
| Neck wood | Maple (AZES profile) | Maple |
| Scale length | 25" (635 mm) | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Jatoba with white dot inlays | Amaranth |
| Radius | 9.84" (250 mm) | 12" (305 mm) |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Fret size | Medium | Jumbo |
| Nut | — | Black plastic |
| Nut width | 42 mm | 1.6875" (42.86 mm) |
| Bridge | T106 tremolo with comfort round steel saddles | Synchronised fulcrum tremolo |
| Tuners | Ibanez machine heads with split shafts | Die-cast |
| Neck pickup | Essentials single-coil (passive, ceramic) | Jackson high-output ceramic humbucking |
| Bridge pickup | Accord humbucker (passive, ceramic) | Jackson high-output ceramic humbucking |
| Configuration | HSS | HH |
| Electronics | Passive, dyna-MIX9 switching with Alter switch | Passive, ceramic magnets |
| Controls | Volume, tone, alter switch | Volume, tone |
| Switching | Five-way selector plus alter switch, giving nine pickup combinations | 3-way toggle |
| Orientation | Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Skill level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner |
| Styles | Rock, Blues, Pop, Funk, Indie, Metal | Metal, Rock, Punk, Prog |
| In the box | — | Gig bag, Clip-on tuner, Strap, Instrument cable, Picks, Austin Bazaar instructional DVD |
A marked row is one where the two differ. A highlighted cell is the stronger figure where one can be judged objectively. Empty cells are specifications the manufacturer does not publish — never estimates.
Which one should you buy?
Computed from the specifications and our editorial scores for these two instruments only. It is not a general ranking.
Most versatile
Ibanez AZES40Highest editorial versatility score, backed by pickup layout and switching.
Most comfortable
Ibanez AZES40Highest editorial comfort score: neck profile, radius and body ergonomics.
Best for beginners
Ibanez AZES40Strongest overall score among the instruments we rate as beginner-friendly.
Best for the studio
Ibanez AZES40Build and tone scores combined, with credit for tuning-stability hardware that matters when tracking.
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Want a third opinion?
The comparator takes as many instruments as you like, not just two, and recomputes the whole table and every conclusion as you add them.
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