Video summary

22 or 24 FRETS on a GUITAR? NOW I FINALLY UNDERSTAND! | StrumentiMusicali.net

Main summary

Key takeaways

Product Review

Product(s) reviewed

A comparison of two very similar Charvel “Dinky/DK” style guitars—specifically the 22-fret vs 24-fret variants:

  • DK22 (22 frets) — referred to as “DK22”
  • DK24 (24 frets) — referred to as “DK24”

The reviewer states the guitars are pretty much identical aside from geometry changes related to the extra frets, and the presence of mini humbucker vs full humbucker (described early as “mini haker here and full Huer here,” with pickups also described as similar).

Key shared specs/features (as described)

  • Single-coil–type pickup setup discussed, including how pickup positions affect tone
  • Same body wood: Alder body
  • Neck wood: Caramelized/roasted Maple neck
  • Locking tuners
  • Same bridge family: “GOTO bridge” mentioned (exact model implied)
  • Core hardware/build largely the same, with differences driven mainly by fret count/geometry

Main differences (22 vs 24) mentioned

1) Geometry affects sound and feel

Even though the overall length from nut to bridge is the same, the internal geometry changes to accommodate two extra frets. This leads to differences in:

  • Pickup positions relative to the bridge/neck
  • Neck joint position (discussed in detail by the reviewer)

2) Pickup position shift

Pickup placement is described with approximate distance measurements:

  • DK24: pickup closer to the bridge, about ~13 cm from the DK22 bridge-pickup location
  • DK22: about ~15 cm

The reviewer emphasizes that small pickup-position differences create noticeable tone/character changes:

  • Moving pickups toward the bridge → clearer/brighter
  • Moving pickups farther from the bridge → mellower/warm/full

3) Neck joint shift (comfort/placement)

Neck joint placement is described as:

  • DK22 neck joint: around the 17th fret
  • DK24 neck joint: around the 19th fret

Ergonomic/playing effect:

  • DK22: feels closer/more comfortable
  • DK24: feels slightly longer/farther away, requiring playing a bit farther from the body

4) Different “vibe” and playing behavior

The reviewer claims it’s not only fret count—it also changes how chords and positions land during playing.

Example:

  • An F chord feels farther/wider on DK24 than on DK22.

Audio/tone findings (what they sound like)

The reviewer records multiple clips to compare “voices” under different pickup positions and gain.

General tone comparison (initial clip)

  • Overall: close, not “night and day”
  • Reviewer impressions:
    • DK22: slightly more fatness / 3D-like tone
    • DK24: slightly more bright / potentially a bit more compressed

Pickup-position dependent differences

With more complex pickup combinations (e.g., middle + neck, or “position two”):

  • Differences become more audible
  • Reviewer preference: DK22 more often for a classic character (“classic Strat kind of tone”)

With added effects

  • Tube Screamer used (and in another test, a compressor replaced with Tube Screamer).
  • With effects:
    • Both guitars remain strong
    • Differences are slight
    • Reviewer notes the biggest difference is heard more in position two

Lead/gain situation

  • DK24: described as brighter and more cutting through the mix
  • DK22: described as more body

The reviewer acknowledges DK24 may be more useful for certain lead/cut-through needs at that gain level.

Mix situation (final test)

In a mix context, the reviewer says the guitars are pretty much identical overall:

  • DK24: slightly more bright
  • DK22: slightly more fat

Final takeaway: feel/ergonomics matter more than pure tone.

Pros mentioned

  • Both guitars sound great and are very comparable in tone.
  • DK22
    • More comfortable for the reviewer (especially if used to 22-fret geometries)
    • Feels like it has a more vintage/classic Strat vibe
    • More body / 3D richness (to their ears)
  • DK24
    • Brighter and can be more cutting for lead/through-the-mix needs
    • Not considered a bad option

Cons mentioned

  • DK24 feel/ergonomics: feels farther away / more shred-oriented, requiring adjustment in chord/position reach
  • Tuning/climate acclimation issue: clips were “sometimes not perfectly in tune” because the guitars are brand new and may need time to acclimate to humidity/climate
  • Reviewer expresses a desire for more 22-fret model options from Charvel (implying limited availability)

Comparisons made

  • Pickup-position comparison to Fender Stratocaster:
    • Reviewer claims the 22-fret configuration matches a common Fender SC-style pickup geometry (worded as “pretty much the same as we can find on Fender SC Caster”)
  • Within-brand comparison:
    • DK22 vs DK24 treated as near-identical aside from fret/geometry-driven changes
  • Practical performance comparison:
    • Lead: DK24 cuts more
    • Rhythm/mix: both close, with DK24 leaning brighter and DK22 leaning fatter

Ratings / numerical scores

  • No star ratings or numeric review scores given.
  • Only approximate distances noted:
    • ~15 cm vs ~13 cm (pickup-position-related)
  • Price mentioned:
    • “around $1,000” (currency unspecified; refers to ~$1k)

Overall verdict / recommendation (concise)

  • Choose DK22 if you prioritize comfort, a more classic/vintage feel, and a fatter/3D voice.
  • Choose DK24 if you want more brightness and better lead cutting power (more “shred-friendly”), though tone differences are usually subtle in practice.

Final stance: both are excellent guitars, but the reviewer’s strongest differentiator is feel, recommending DK22 for players accustomed to 22-fret geometry.

Speaker breakdown

  • Single main speaker/reviewer (no clear multi-speaker panel).
  • All comments/preferences are attributed consistently to the same person, including demonstrations using Neural DSP/Quad Cortex tones and recorded clips.

Original video