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Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW
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Playability
70
Sound
77
Build
70
Value
57
Score
72
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Playability
73
Sound
77
Build
77
Value
61
Score
76
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Side to side spec comparison >

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat vs American Custom Strat RW

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat over American Custom Strat RW

Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Aged
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW over Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat

Release Year
2020 vs 2004
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
9.5" to 12" vs 9.5"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Paint Finish
Aged vs Nitro
Paint has been artificially aged
Value Score
61 vs 57
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat vs American Custom Strat RW

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '69 Strat Single-Coil vs Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '64 Single-Coil Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '69 Strat Single-Coil vs Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP '64 Single-Coil Strat
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '69 Strat Single-Coil vs Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '64 Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Birdseye Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
R6 vs 6
Different Headstock

Shared Features
Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat vs American Custom Strat RW

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
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
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 Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat Prices

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Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2004 Custom Artist series
  • Jimi Hendrix Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • 2-Piece Select Alder body
  • Flat Sawn Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '69 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '69 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '69 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • 1966 Oval C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2020 American Custom series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 2-Piece Select Ash body
  • 2A Roasted Birdseye Maple neck
  • Round-Laminated Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '64 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP '64 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '64 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • 1960 Oval C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Sperzel Die-Cast with White Pearloid Buttons tuners
  • 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 the Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW

Birdseye Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Birdseye Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

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.

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.

Winner: Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW.

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.

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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat and Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat and Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 77
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 77

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 Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat compares to the Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW.

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 Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat's are Vintage-Style while the Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW's are Sperzel Die-Cast with White Pearloid Buttons

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 Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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 Custom American Custom Strat RW
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 70
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW
Quality of materials 66
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77

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 Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 41.9mm (1.65'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat and Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW'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 Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat Neck Profile
Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat's neck profile
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW Neck Profile
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW'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.

Both the Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat and the Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW have a C-shaped 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 Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat Fingerboard Radius
Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat's Fingerboard radius
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW Fretboard Compound Radius
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW's Compound 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.

In this case, the Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

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 Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat favors large hands more than the Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat and Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW Frets Size
Both have a similar Narrow Tall fret size

Both have a Narrow Tall fret size. Their height is very similar to Jumbo frets, but they have a narrower crown. They won't let you feel the fretboard when playing, which will make it easier to get clean notes. However, if you press down too hard you might get the notes out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Fender Custom American Custom Strat RW
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat vs American Custom Strat RW
General Fender Custom Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Strat American Custom Strat RW
Brand: Fender Custom Fender Custom
Year: 2004 2020
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Custom Artist American Custom
Colors: White, Black Sunburst, Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: 2-Piece Select Alder 2-Piece Select Ash
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Sperzel Die-Cast with White Pearloid Buttons
Fretboard: Maple Round-Laminated Rosewood
Neck Material: Flat Sawn Maple 2A Roasted Birdseye Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Mother of Pearl dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: 1966 Oval C 1960 Oval C
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5" to 12"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '69 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '64 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '69 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP '64 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '69 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '64 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2