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Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
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Playability
67
Sound
77
Build
65
Value
75
Score
70
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Playability
67
Sound
79
Build
70
Value
72
Score
72
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster vs JV Modified '60s Stratocaster

Reasons to Get
Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster over JV Modified '60s Stratocaster

Neck Profile
Modern C vs Thick Soft V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
75 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster over Aerodyne Special Stratocaster

Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Neck Profile
Thick Soft V vs Modern C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Pickup Mods
Parallel Split vs None
Connects pickups in parallel to brighten tone
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster vs JV Modified '60s Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster vs Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster vs Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster vs Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster vs JV Modified '60s Stratocaster

Body Wood
Basswood
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
SSS
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster is the better choice.

The Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2022 Aerodyne series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Babicz Z-Series FCH-2 Point Trem bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking (all short posts) tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2022 JV Modified series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles bridge
  • Thick Soft V Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.05lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.7lbs (3.5kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are SSS. SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

Pickups Quality

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's online:

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster comes with some kind of pickup modification: Parallel Split.

The Parallel Split feature allows it to split and connect some of the pickups in parallel. When wired in parallel, the result is a very bright tone. This is the wire technique used in most Stratocaster guitars, and it's what gives them their signature transparent and clear sound. This is because the pickups' inputs and outputs are wired together, which reduces the signal's travel distance to the output jack.

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster's switch options
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 77
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster compares to the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Japan.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster has a Synthetic Bone nut. Bone is the best natural material for guitar nuts. However, its tonal properties can be inconsistent. That's the problem that synthetic bone fixes. This is much better than using a plastic nut because the nut is more slippery—which helps with tuning stability—, and it gives your open strings rich harmonics.

On the other hand, the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

They both have locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Parallel Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 65
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 65
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 70
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 70

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 1.1mm (0.043'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster and Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster's neck profile
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster, on the other hand, has a V neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster's Fingerboard radius
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster favors large hands more than the Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster.

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster and Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 70
Playability 67
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster vs JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
General Fender Aerodyne Special Stratocaster JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2022 2022
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Japan
Series: Aerodyne JV Modified
Colors: White, Blue, Brown Burst White
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Basswood
Bridge: Babicz Z-Series FCH-2 Point Trem 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Deluxe Cast/Sealed Locking (all short posts) Vintage-Style Locking
Fretboard: Rosewood Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Pearloid Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C Thick Soft V
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Aerodyne Special Single-Coil Stratocaster (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None Parallel Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2