A gear battle between a Skervesen Raptor and a Mayones Duvell Elite. Find out which guitar scores higher for construction, play-ability, and sound. For information on how I derive my scores, check out: • Mansplaining Gear Battles
Amazing review ! It's intelligent, clear and constructive. I watched a lot about these two brands and so far this video is the best, first because you don't just play extreme metal and let us discover a various panel of sounds, second because you take time to talk about everything in details, third for the groovy metal riff in the beginning.
2500-4k really isn't alot of money even for a 16 year old with no overhead working part time and living at home for free. A kid can make 1k a month with light work and if he or she works on weekends 10 hour shifts he or she easily can pull 1.5k a month. When I was 16 I was working on the highway as an electrician and going to school at night. On prevailing wage jobs me and other guys were pulling 35-45 per hour plus any overtime we can handle. By the end of the month I was pulling in 3-4k clear! I worked extremely hard. Money is easy to make when the effort is put in the right places. For example serving ice cream cones and living at mom and dads house at age 29 as a college drop out isn't very lucrative unless you plan to turn things around by finding a passion or niche and making a business out of it. I would knock on peoples doors and ask to wash windows in my early teens, mow the grass and I would power wash houses I would hit up on the beach. From the age 12 on I always had money in my pocket.
Awesome review! I got into guitars again after seeing the beautiful Skervesen galleries. Somehow though I got a Mayones first. I wonder as part of your review if you could talk about the process of getting these guitars? I have found that that's a huge determining factor in the experience - if the luthier is easy or hard to work with in designing the guitar and delivering on time. Thanks for the well-made review!
I know 5 months late but anyone I know who ordered a custom Skervesen said the process is painless and they answer endless emails but you have to be reasonable and not change your mind mid build. People have ordered all kinds of customizations. I would say play a few of the production models and see what you like and tailor it your specs from there
Thank you for this review! I really like the high gain lead tone you were getting on the first play through. May I ask what Kemper profile you were using? Also, how thin or thick are the necks on those guitars?
The tone is one I got on Rig Exchange for free. It's the first one in my video @ ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wPRUZDbmnyw.html (Orange Roockerverb 3). The neck radius for each is as follows... Mayones: Width at nut - 43.5 mm Width XII fret - 54.0 mm Width XXIV fret - 58.0 mm Thickness I fret - 20.0 mm Thickness XII fret - 21.0 mm Skervesen doesn't offer measurements anywhere I can see but they do say the following: "Comparing to other manufacturers we have a slightly different neck profile, which is of our own authorship. Profile of our neck is variable, which means that the shape is different at the beginning of the neck and different at the end of the neck, near the body. It’s flat on the first neck positions and in it’s lowest part is designated for the thumb. It is made so to ensure the convenience of playing. It changes on high positions and on the top part of the neck, it’s not flat anymore, it has big radius, which makes our necks very comfortable, especially for 7 and 8 strings. The neck in relation to the body has an angle opposite to what can be seen. You can see it by looking at the side of the neck, where it is in the pocket from the players position. Our necks are profiled in such a way so that people playing on thin necks wouldn’t feel any discomfort."
Love the tone of the Nailbomb! Is that the Alnico or Ceramic version? Which do you think are the best BKP pickups for the neck (Nailbomb, Cold Sweat, etc.)? Thanks!
Very good video. Nice test and very good production quality. But there is one thing that drives me nuts: The picture on the wall. Strings that are not cut drive me crazy, I would not be able to work in this room for more than an hour :-D
Incredible review with the perfect blend of specs, playing, build and comments. I have both and they are amazing. I am closer to the Mayones because the guitar feels better in my hands. Just a personal preference. I have a Mayones Duvell that just arrived 2020 Koa with the birds eye maple. The guitar is sonically above my Duvell elite blue gothic. It was very expensive but the grain, craftsmanship is so high it's unbelievable. By the way I have the same CH90 monitor? And practically the same setup and I have that same difusser that is on your desk. Amazon.. 🤣
This is a great comparison. I have two Mayones. 1 is a John Browne signature and the other is a custom with a zebra wood body, triple A koa top, bubinga neck with a birds eye maple fretbaord. Both are amazing guitars and play like butter just like my old Parker Fly's. I am going to pick up a Skervesen Raptor 6 because I have always wanted to grab one to try them out compared to the swan I have. They look like they play awesome and they sound great but I know that subjective because it goes down to the strings,pickups, wood, player style and amp. Thank you for this video
Sure thing! It is definitely very subjective. That's why I tried to mention the kinds of things that I tend to like when I do reviews so people can kind of weigh it against what my individual biases.
@@MusicWithMarky It is definitely hard to be objective because no matter what we all have a personal preference but in reality with either guitar someone goes with it is a solid choice. The problem is these guitars are readily available to try out. You either need to know someone one or travel to a boutique shop.
Great video! I've got 2 Skervs myself and have played a few Mayones and they're both great brands, you cant go wrong with either. I'm trying to find the right Duvell currently but I dont suppose you'd be interested in selling that Raptor? It's pretty close to how I'd have a custom specced out. PM me if we can work something out!
My Regius is perfect for me since it feels like a PRS and ESP Horizon lovechild, my friend said his Duvell felt like an Ibanez with a chunkier neck. How do Skervs feel?
Great video. Skervesen is a bit older than you said though. It was started in 2011 I believe (but guitars designs were quite different from today). I own two Raptors and I've played a few times with my friend's Duvell Elite. They are all very very nice guitars, but the Mayones was significantly heavier than my raptors. My first raptor is 2.8kg ! Also the neck shape is different. To me the Mayones feels really great but the neck on my first raptor is very asymetric and I looove it. But on my new raptor it's not.. it's a more classic c shape. The neck carving is handmade so that must be why, in some way, they are all "unique". How are the necks on yours ?
On the Raptor it's very comfortable... Perhaps a bit asymmetric. The 8 string is a totally different experience, but I'm very happy with the shape for that kind of instrument.
Great great great review, very informative. Beautiful axes. To me Mayones is more of a seasoned connoisseur and Skervesen is his younger energetic cousin :P
Mayones reminds me of PRS where it's proven and can deliver top notch consistency but they won't stray too far from their designs, my Regius and previous PRS core models even feel similar. Skerv just seems more willing to experiment and something I'd have to try first.
You kinda need to compare guitars with the same pickups in them, the Bare Knuckle pups have kind of advantage on the Duncan set in my opinion. Great review though.
Apples to apples, per se. I don't have the knowledge to switch them out myself and def can't afford to swap a bunch of times, unfortunately. Hopefully someday I'll have a bazillion followers and can do things that way. Thanks for checking out the vid and taking the time to comment.
ESP custom shops are quality. 👍 Very Nice builds. Attention to detail is important. I’ve stepped away from the Ibanez realm once ESP Custom shops started coming through our studio. (Well played ESP!) My personal preference does not take away from Ibanez builds. Nice, quality, simple guitars. Just not for me any longer. Skervesen took my heart 5years ago. If I had to choose one guitar & get rid of the rest of my collection, Playability & Tone!!!! Skervesen wins in every aspect. I still like picking up a ESP US Custom shop pretty regularly. They are very stable instruments & sound great. However, There will always be a Skervesen at my disposal.
@@PalkoChris yeah I have an ESP Eclipse E-II great guitar but I'd love to try the Skervsen 7 Swan and Raptor as well as Mayones 7 string guitars. Price wise on par with ESP Customs 5-9k and Jackson customs but less than PRS high end customs.
Music With Marky don’t bother with them, their owners cut and run with the money. The worst part is that they still took the orders made on their website in spite of the fact that they had filed for bankruptcy.
Just out of curiosity, do you have any videos that explain your sustain test - which notes/chords you let ring out and how you arrive at "average sustain" for each instrument?
I talk about it a bit I'm the explanation video that's linked in the description. It's something I can go into more detail on if people are curious, for sure. I might do a big ol sustain battle video with 10 guitars or something.
@@MusicWithMarky Ah! I'd missed that vid. Thanks. Just watched it. A friendly suggestion from a fellow gear nerd: Don't just pick a single note played on the 12th fret - pick several across the 6-7 strings. Reason being: every guitar (even two "identical" guitars, same make and model) resonates differently. That's just the nature of wood. If a particular instrument has a sympathetic frequency that matches, say, E, then any/all E's played on that guitar likely won't sustain well, because the guitar's vibration is canceling out the string's. But play an A or a G on that same instrument and it may ring out for days. As a result, I don't think you can really tell if a given guitar model has overall good sustain or not if you're only testing a single note or fret each time. Just my $0.02! I really enjoy your vids overall!
@@MusicWithMarky I like how PRS is an older brand that still keeps up with the really high end gear circle of guys into Mayones/Skerv/etc. without going away too much from their designs. Really nice selection these days.
Probably because PRS use better woods. Single piece necks, bodies. Mostly mahogany. These are laminates upon laminates upon laminates.... Visually pleasing to someone, but to me a laminated necks are a big NO. Especially over 500€ range.
I've owned several guitars of both of them and I can tell that Mayones is a bit ahead of Skervesen in terms of quality. You're playing a regular Elite duvell that is quite a normal guitar, but when you go up to the custom shop... then the expensive regius are better than the Skervies, the attack and the sustain is better. Then, I'm not a fan of duvells so that might be myself being biased. Both of them have top notch consistency tho!
@@MusicWithMarky I found the same, which really shocked me, as I never really liked the look of headless before. Then a guy in GuitarGuitar UK got me to try a Strandberg. I wasn't overly keen, but then I saw a Hydra on the wall and asked to try that. Immediately loved it, even ahead of other Mayones models.
How do you like the Schaller Hannes bridge versus the hipshot bridge? I've heard great things about both individually but wouldn't know which one to put in a custom order
Being a recent owner of mayones guitars this is a pretty accurate and objective review, l love the craftsmanship and look of the duvell. And being an Ibanez and charvel guy primarily I'm kind of torn with mayones. I've noticed with mayones guitars they tend to have a very noticeable buzz when played no matter how the action is set, No one really mentions this, you can hear it in videos that l've watched. But until you play one you won't understand. It's a trait that you have to get used to or accept. Because these guitars are handmade they will vary a bit more distinctly than a mass produced guitar.. Some can be set up wuth really well with low action and some will be just okay. So as expensive as these guitars are and how long they take to be made pray that you don't get an okay one. But the craftsmanship is impeccable. And you are absolutely right on about the turning stability of the duvell. Both of the ones l have drift out of tune while playing. Meanwhile l have a cheap 200 Ibanez rg hard tail that never goes out of tune while playing. Tuning issues shouldn't happen at that price point IMHO. But it is what is. Great video.
"Because these guitars are handmade they will vary a bit more distinctly than a mass produced guitar.. Some can be set up wuth really well with low action and some will be just okay." Really? You really think that Mayones is some kind of cheap and lazy factory? They know how to make guitars properly and with heart. They do not produce "okay" guitars. Every Mayones guitar is amazing and totally worth the price.
Dave Kowal As am I. However my comment mentioned nothing about craftsmanship, attention to detail or dedication. I merely agreed with what the content creator alluded to in his video about tuning issues as my experience is similar. Not sure why you had such a strong reaction. I have many guitars that don’t hold running well but l don’t gig so it doesn’t matter. Kind of shocked that both of my duvells have the same issue. But my setius does not.
I waited the grueling 10 months for a custom Skervesen in 2014, and exactly 1 month ago (Oct 2020), I put a down payment on a second one. I currently own over 20 high end guitars, including ESP, Jackson USA, Ibanez Prestige, 6 Kiesels (which are great BTW) but NONE of them hold a candle to my Skervesen. Incidentally, I'm an American living in Mons, Belgium.... and about 2 years ago, I discovered "Omega Music", which is the largest distributor of Mayones guitars in the world. They also carry Suhr, as well as Ormsby. They also get a regular supply of special edition guitars too... Chome Boys, Hammet Quiji, Frankenstrats.... lots of cool stuff. Check them out. I played them all.... for hours. Mayones is great, but they felt too "large-bodied", and a bit "mass produced".... but still, excellent quality. Suhr was also quite good, but incredibly "boring" and lacked any "originality". Ormsby? To my surprise, they were awful. Poor quality, finish flaws.... just not acceptable at that price point. I assumed Ormsby was on par with Kiesel.... I was wrong. It re-confirmed what I already knew. Skervesen is hands down, the finest guitar that money can buy. Only for the most discerning guitarist, that has had everything, and wants the best.... period. There is nothing on the planet better. There are "more expensive" guitars, of course.... but there are none "better". For reasonable price, efficiency in build, excellent quality, a "smart buy", etc..... buy a Kiesel. If you are willing to give up all convenience, willing to wait, and willing to spend money and buy the best guitar money can buy..... Contact Jarek (the owner/founder) at Skervesen. Skervesens "start" around $2800 US. They do include some very nice options as standard, so you don't "need" to upgrade anything unless you want to. My First Skervesen Swan-6 multiscale was optioned out at just shy of $4000. This most recent one (4AP Soul-6 multiscale) was kept minimal, and ended up around $3200. The wait is awful. The experience is nerve-racking..... but the "payoff" is the finest guitar in existence.
That's a heck of an endorsement and I have to say I might agree. My original PRS is still my favorite guitar, but none they've built since impress me like itl. Every Skerv I have played is as good as the last. I am familiar with Omega Music too. I hope to make a trip there one day. I bought one of my Mayones via Reverb from them, if I recall. Thanks for checking out the vid!
@@MusicWithMarky I'm not a PRS, Gibson, Fender, etc sort of guy. While Inappreciate the nostalgia, generally speaking, I enjoy more modern and "metal-oriented" guitars. Admittedly, I've never played one of the $10k+ PRS guitars.... but I've heard they are quite good for those that appreciate those style guitars. My 2014 Skervesen was a "splurge/risk" for me. I didn't "need" that special of a guitar, I just wanted one..... so I risked it. What I learned..... is that all the guitars I had that I "believed" were great..... weren't so great anymore. This Summer (2021), Jarek has invited me to pick up my new Skervesen in person. Super great guy. Looking forward to the 13-hour trek from Mons, Belgium.... to Gdansk, Poland
@@ninefourteener that's going to be a fun trip for you! For me, PRS is not a classic instrument. I got my first one only a couple years into the company's existence. They were the new kid on the block. I'm like you with the fender/gibson brands, though. I only have the one fender acoustasaonic I much prefer the newer metal type brands too.
Haha. I feel like I heard some story about the owner leaving man his guitars to start this company. I don't remember the details but maybe the tongue in cheek name is some reference to that situation.
I have a Skervesen and a Mayones and the Mayones blows it away, there is no comparison, one feels like a regular guitar, the Mayones is a ferrari guitar. I'll even sell the Skeversen at some point.
interesting, I've heard the same where people say Mayones is more consistent than Skerv as well. I think my Mayones is a cut above the ESP standards I've had and the USA Jackson soloist, and equal to my Aristides and this gem of a 05 PRS Standard 22 I had.
@@MusicWithMarky nice, i only have a schecter c1 fr s in 6 and legator ninja in 7. looking to get a skervy 8 or 7 as my next one. these 2 companies, aristides and kiesel are what im torn between though
That's fair. The pickups have so much to do with the sound. But I'm trying to compare them as standard configurations they commonly sell. And, of course there are the playability and construction factors.
Not to my ears, but the thing about these great battle videos is that I hopefully gave you enough samples that you get to see what you would prefer for your own purchase. :)