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Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
VS
Playability
70
Sound
77
Build
70
Value
57
Score
72
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Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
62
Value
68
Score
68
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Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster vs Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster over Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Mexico
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2018 vs 1997
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Jimmie Vaughan Custom C vs Fender Soft V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Width
1.62'' (41.1mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Aged vs Poly
Paint has been artificially aged

Reasons to Get
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat over Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Fender Soft V vs Jimmie Vaughan Custom C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.62'' (41.1mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Poly vs Aged
Resistant paint that ages well
Value Score
68 vs 57
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster vs Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound JLV Strat vs Fender Tex-Mex
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP JLV Strat vs Fender Tex-Mex
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound JLV Strat vs Fender Tex-Mex
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Bone vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster vs Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard 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
Number of Frets
21
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
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster is the better choice.

The Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat 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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2018 Custom Artist series
  • Jimmie Vaughan Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • 2-Piece Select Alder body
  • Rift Sawn Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound JLV Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP JLV Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound JLV Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Jimmie Vaughan Custom C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Overview

  • From Fender's 1997 Artist series
  • Jimmie Vaughan Signature
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Tex-Mex (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Tex-Mex (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Tex-Mex (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Fender Soft V Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.6lbs (3.4kgs) and 7.85lbs (3.6kgs)
  • 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
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.

Winner: Tie.

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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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.

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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster and Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster and Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 77
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster compares to the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster is built in United States while the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat is made in Mexico.

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.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster

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 Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster has 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.

On the other hand, the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat comes with 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.

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

Both come with regular tuners. Both come with Vintage-Style.

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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
  • 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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 70
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 62

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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Nut Width
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.1mm (1.62''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat, 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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster and Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster's neck profile
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Neck Profile
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat'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 Jimmie Vaughan 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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat, 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 Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster 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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster and the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat 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.

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 Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat favors large hands more than the Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster.

Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster's Frets Size
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat Frets Size
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat's Frets Size

The Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat's Medium Jumbo 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 Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster vs Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
General Fender Custom Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster Fender Jimmie Vaughan Tex-Mex Strat
Brand: Fender Custom Fender
Year: 2018 1997
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Mexico
Series: Custom Artist Artist
Colors: Gold, White, Sunburst White
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: 2-Piece Select Alder Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Maple Maple
Neck Material: Rift Sawn Maple Maple
Decoration: Micarta Black Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Jimmie Vaughan Custom C Fender Soft V
Frets: 21 Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 41.1mm (1.62'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound JLV Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Tex-Mex (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP JLV Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Tex-Mex (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound JLV Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Tex-Mex (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2