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Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
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Playability
67
Sound
77
Build
75
Value
58
Score
73
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
69
Value
73
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic vs Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Specs Comparison
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
General
Brand: Fender Custom Fender
Year: 2017 2020
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Custom Artist American Professional II
Colors: White, Sunburst White, Sunburst, Black, Blue, Green, Brown, Gray Burst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: 2-Piece Select Ash Alder
Bridge: Blocked American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles, Pop-In Tremolo Arm and Cold-Rolled Steel Block
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Fender Vintage-Style Fender® Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered
Fretboard: 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple Neck Maple
Neck Material: Rift Sawn Maple Maple
Decoration: Micarta Black Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Soft V Deep C
Frets: 22 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Boost S-1 Switch
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's switch options
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster's switch options

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic over Fender American Professional II Stratocaster

Type of Frets
Vintage vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Soft V vs Deep C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Pickup Mods
Boost vs S-1 Switch
Increases the output of the pickup
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Relic vs Poly
Looks like an old and slightly beaten up instrument

Reasons to Get
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster over Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic

Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Vintage
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Deep C vs Soft V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
S-1 Switch vs Boost
Modifies the pickups
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Poly vs Relic
Resistant paint that ages well
Value Score
73 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic vs Fender American Professional II Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat vs Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat vs Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Vintage Noiseless Single-Coil Strat vs Fender V-Mod II Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Alder
Different Body Wood

Shared Features
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic vs Fender American Professional II Stratocaster

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
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
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Prices

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Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic favors large hands more than the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster.

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic 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 Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

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

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

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic

Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic.

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.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's and use them on any guitar:

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.

Both give you different pickup mod options.

The Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic offers Boost.

A Boost will give your pickups more output, similar to an active pickup. It's great if you like to use a lot of output for heavy genres, but also like to use a cleaner tone often.

On the other hand, the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster comes with the following: S-1 Switch.

An S-1 switch can do a lot of different pickup combinations. It can split them, connect them in series, parallel, add more pickups to each position, and more. Check out the diagram to know how it affects this model.

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

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 77
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 65
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 Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic compares to the Fender American Professional II 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 United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

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.

In this case, both have Bone nuts. 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.

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

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's are Fender Vintage-Style while the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster's are Fender® Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered

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 Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Boost Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • S-1 Switch Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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 Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
Quality of materials 66
Features 60
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 75
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
Quality of materials 61
Features 60
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 69

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 Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Nut Width
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Nut Width
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has the wider nut with 42.8mm (1.685'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 0.9mm (0.035'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender American Professional II 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 Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic and Fender American Professional II 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 Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Neck Profile
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's neck profile
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender American Professional II 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 Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic has a V type of 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.

The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster, on the other hand, has a C 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.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard 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.

Both the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic and the Fender American Professional II Stratocaster have the same fretboard radius of 9.5". This is the most common radius for Stratocaster guitars. It's considered curved when compared to most other models. This allows you to play chords very easily without muting strings accidentally and gives you more space between strings for fingerpicking. However, this curve also gives the guitar less allowance for lower action. If you bend too hard at the high frets, some of your notes might get muted because the curve will make the string fret out.

Fret Size

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic Frets Size
Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's Frets Size
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster's Frets Size

The Fender American Professional II Stratocaster has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic's Vintage frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Custom Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster Journeyman Relic
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 67
Fender American Professional II Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70