Head to head

Ibanez AZES40 vs Jackson X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS

The short answer is that the scale lengths are not the same (25" against 25.5"), and the bridges work in fundamentally different ways. Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 23 rows that actually differ marked out.

Ibanez

AZES40

Purist Blue

Nine pickup sounds from three pickups, and a short scale that suits smaller hands

8.5/104.5 (95)

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Jackson

X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS

Neon Green

A double-locking Floyd Rose and a compound radius, in the loudest finish Jackson makes

8.3/105.0 (6)

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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 X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS8.3

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

Ibanez AZES40 compared with Jackson X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS
	AZES40	X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS
Brand	Ibanez	Jackson
Model	AZES40	X Series Dinky DK3XR HSS
Finish	Purist Blue	Neon Green
Instrument	Electric guitar	Electric guitar
Fretline score	8.5 / 10	8.3 / 10
Value for money	9 / 10	9 / 10
Amazon rating	4.5 / 5 (95)	5.0 / 5 (6)
Price	$300 - $500	$300 - $500
Type	Electric guitar	Electric guitar
Body	AZ double cutaway	Dinky solidbody with sculpted shredder heel
Body wood	Poplar	Poplar
Neck joint	Bolt-on	Bolt-on, 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	Laurel
Radius	9.84" (250 mm)	12"-16" compound (304.8-406.4 mm)
Frets	22	24
Fret size	Medium	Jumbo
Nut	—	Floyd Rose Special locking
Nut width	42 mm	1.6875" (42.86 mm)
Bridge	T106 tremolo with comfort round steel saddles	Floyd Rose licensed Jackson double-locking tremolo
Tuners	Ibanez machine heads with split shafts	Jackson sealed die-cast
Neck pickup	Essentials single-coil (passive, ceramic)	Jackson single-coil
Bridge pickup	Accord humbucker (passive, ceramic)	Jackson high-output humbucking
Configuration	HSS	HSS
Electronics	Passive, dyna-MIX9 switching with Alter switch	Passive
Controls	Volume, tone, alter switch	Volume, tone
Switching	Five-way selector plus alter switch, giving nine pickup combinations	5-position blade
Orientation	Right-handed	Right-handed
Skill level	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Intermediate, Advanced
Styles	Rock, Blues, Pop, Funk, Indie, Metal	Metal, Rock, Prog, Punk
In the box	—	—

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.