DK1 vs MII Maple

Holy Diver

Holy Diver

New member
Hello everyone. I'm a long time reader, but first time poster. I need your advice. I have a chance to buy a Jackson DK1 or an ESP MII maple board with Duncans. They are both new, both in black, and about the same price. I can't decide which to get. I will change the EMGs in the DK1 to Duncans, by the way. Will you guys that have these guitars or have played them please give your opinions. Thanks in advance. This is a great forum.
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

I myself am not a big fan of Jackson's neck's, I can understand some sort of shredder would love it, but I just don't get along with them. Same for wizard necks btw. However ESP neck's are imo close to the nicest necks around, nice and chunky. I'd go for the ESP, for sure. It also looks a lot better than a jackson :p
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

I haven't tried these guitars but I think that you can't go wrong with either. They're both great guitars. But lets wait for some 1st hand XP.

Welcome aboard!;)
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

If the specs and price are about the same the only thing left to do is to try for yourself and see which you like best. IMO you should prioritize feel before tone... tone can be changed/improved by pick ups, amps etc. If you're playing with high gain and hot pick ups it really doesnt make that much of a difference, but neck shape and scale lengt and that sort of thing is very important for the 'feel', if it's comfortable to play etc.
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

Leveller said:
If the specs and price are about the same the only thing left to do is to try for yourself and see which you like best. IMO you should prioritize feel before tone... tone can be changed/improved by pick ups, amps etc. If you're playing with high gain and hot pick ups it really doesnt make that much of a difference, but neck shape and scale lengt and that sort of thing is very important for the 'feel', if it's comfortable to play etc.
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I wish I could try them out, but they are from an online dealer who is giving me a great price. Since I have never played either it is hard for me to decide. I understand that the ESP has extra-jumbo frets, and I am wondering if that may be problem. I prefer 6105 size, and I know both of these guitars are far from that. I'm sure I could get used to the larger ones, though.
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

Letthesinbegin said:
I myself am not a big fan of Jackson's neck's, I can understand some sort of shredder would love it, but I just don't get along with them. Same for wizard necks btw. However ESP neck's are imo close to the nicest necks around, nice and chunky. I'd go for the ESP, for sure. It also looks a lot better than a jackson :p
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Jacksons are not among the thinner necks on a super strats, they are more of a medium neck. I haven't found too many guitars that compare in quailty to a U.S. Jackson, especially out of the the super strat style guitars.
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

I had a feeling this was going to go the Jackson way. lol Any ESP fans out there?
 
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Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

Btw I haven't played the ESP but the the DK1s are great guitars! My friend has one and I love it.
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

Is the ESP bolt on also? I think they have both bolt and neck thru on some of the MIIs. I played a neck thru MI and it was pretty nice.. very slick and solid. I think I would lean to the ESP honestly.
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

suislidE03 said:
Is the ESP bolt on also? I think they have both bolt and neck thru on some of the MIIs. I played a neck thru MI and it was pretty nice.. very slick and solid. I think I would lean to the ESP honestly.
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The MII maple is a bolt-on like the DK1. I'm just wondering about the neck size and the fret size on the MII. Can anybody that has a MII maple board please give a review of it. I would really appreciate it.
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

I'd go with the ESP. It already has the duncans and you'll be hard pressed to find a nicer feeling neck anywhere. I have an old school M-255 and it is seriously awesome. I like it better than other, more expensive ESPs I've tried/owned. Put a JB in the neck of an M series and you'll have unstoppable solo tone.
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

Rowan said:
I'd go with the ESP. It already has the duncans and you'll be hard pressed to find a nicer feeling neck anywhere. I have an old school M-255 and it is seriously awesome. I like it better than other, more expensive ESPs I've tried/owned. Put a JB in the neck of an M series and you'll have unstoppable solo tone.
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Really? Do you find the frets to be too big or anything?
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

Holy Diver said:
I wish I could try them out, but they are from an online dealer who is giving me a great price. Since I have never played either it is hard for me to decide. I understand that the ESP has extra-jumbo frets, and I am wondering if that may be problem. I prefer 6105 size, and I know both of these guitars are far from that. I'm sure I could get used to the larger ones, though.
Click to expand...
I'm actually going thru the same debate, and the hang up is the extra jumbo size frets on the M-II as were I prefer medium frets. But how comfortable you are with the neck is the most important thing to consider, and whether you need a tone knob or not. You can always have the frets replaced somewhere down the road.
The neck on the M-II is .795 inches at the first fret and .866 inches at the 12 fret.
 
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Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

EL WHOPPO said:
I'm actually going thru the same debate, and the hang up is the extra jumbo size frets on the M-II as were I prefer medium frets. But how comfortable you are with the neck is the most important thing to consider, and whether you need a tone knob or not. You can always have the frets replaced somewhere down the road.
The neck on the M-II is .795 inches at the first fret and .866 inches at the 12 fret.
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Man, that is a pretty large neck. I didn't know it was that big. I don't know if I like that. I had trouble with the neck on the RR1 I used to have. It is the same size as a Soloist. Maybe I better go smaller than a SL2H or RR1. That leaves the Jackson KE2, WR1 or something with the "speed neck," or smaller like a DK1 or even an DK2M import. Unless I want to go Ibanez. lol
 
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Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

Wait.. what guitars do you own that you like the necks on? If those necks are too large then you must like pretty thin necks. The SLSMG has one of the thinnest (if not the thinnest) necks off the Jackson line with .735 at the THIRD fret and .810 at the 12th. Its near perfect for me, but I dunno if I can describe what to change.
 
Re: DK1 vs MII Maple

Holy Diver said:
Man, that is a pretty large neck. I didn't know it was that big. I don't know if I like that. I had trouble with the neck on the RR1 I used to have. It is the same size as a Soloist. Maybe I better go smaller than a SL2H or RR1. That leaves the Jackson KE2, WR1 or something with the "speed neck," or smaller like a DK1 or even an DK2M import. Unless I want to go Ibanez. lol
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An ESP "thin U" is like a schecter neck, maybe a hair thinner. The M-II has an ESP "extra thin flat" neck which is, like it says, thinner and flatter. I find it bordering on too thin at times. Man you must like playing on toothpicks
 
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