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Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple
Ibanez RGMS8
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Playability
73
Sound
76
Build
74
Value
59
Score
74
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Playability
78
Sound
66
Build
55
Value
71
Score
66
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Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple vs Ibanez RGMS8

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple over Ibanez RGMS8

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Scale Length
25.5" vs 27" to 25.5"
Easier to adapt to
Compound Radius
9.5" to 12" vs 16"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
1959 D vs Wizard III-8 for Multi Scale
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups Brand
Fender Custom vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Strings
6 vs 8
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 2.165'' (55mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Relic vs Poly
Looks like an old and slightly beaten up instrument
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGMS8 over Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple

Release Year
2019 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Scale Length
27" to 25.5" vs 25.5"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Neck Profile
Wizard III-8 for Multi Scale vs 1959 D
Thin neck for playing fast
Strings
8 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
2.165'' (55mm) 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
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Value Score
71 vs 59
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple vs Ibanez RGMS8

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat vs Array-8 MS
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat vs Array-8 MS
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Nyatoh
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Jatoba
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 4-4
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple vs Ibanez RGMS8

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

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
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Ibanez RGMS8's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Ibanez RGMS8 has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple is the better choice.

The Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RGMS8 meets only 4. 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez RGMS8
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2015 Postmodern series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 2-Piece Select Ash body
  • Quartersawn Maple neck
  • Round-Laminated Quartersawn Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Dual-Mag II Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • 1959 D Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Ibanez RGMS8 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2019 RG series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 8 strings
  • 27" to 25.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Nyatoh body
  • Maple/Walnut neck
  • Jatoba fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Array-8 MS (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Array-8 MS (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Mono-rail bridge
  • Wizard III-8 for Multi Scale Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Weight between 7.4lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.5lbs (3.9kgs)
  • 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

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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple

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 Ibanez RGMS8

Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
Jatoba
Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.

Winner: Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple has an SSS configuration while the Ibanez RGMS8 has HH pickups.

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.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

The Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez RGMS8. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Funk and similar genres.

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: Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple.

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.

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple's switch options
Ibanez RGMS8 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGMS8'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 Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 76
Ibanez RGMS8
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 62
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 66

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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple compares to the Ibanez RGMS8.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple is built in United States while the Ibanez RGMS8 is made in Indonesia.

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.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

Winner: Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple

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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple 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 Ibanez RGMS8 comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple.

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.

The Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple's brige is a 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.

On the other hand, the Ibanez RGMS8's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple's are Vintage-Style while the Ibanez RGMS8's are Ibanez

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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez RGMS8
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple
Quality of materials 56
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74
Ibanez RGMS8
Quality of materials 41
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 55

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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple Nut Width
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple Nut Width
Ibanez RGMS8 Nut Width
Ibanez RGMS8 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RGMS8 has the wider nut with 55mm (2.165'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 13.1mm (0.515'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RGMS8, 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple's Scale Length
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple's Scale Length
Ibanez RGMS8's Scale Length
Ibanez RGMS8's 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, the Ibanez RGMS8 features a multi-scale of 27" to 25.5" while the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple has a regular scale of 25.5".

A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

On the other hand, the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple's 25.5" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple Neck Profile
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple's neck profile
Ibanez RGMS8 Neck Profile
Ibanez RGMS8'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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple has a D type of neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

The Ibanez RGMS8, on the other hand, has a Wizard neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple Fretboard Compound Radius
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple's Compound Fretboard Radius
Ibanez RGMS8 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RGMS8'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 Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple 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 Ibanez RGMS8 favors large hands more than the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple.

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez RGMS8:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple and Ibanez RGMS8 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Ibanez RGMS8
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 90
Playability 78

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple vs Ibanez RGMS8
General Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Maple Ibanez RGMS8
Brand: Fender Custom Ibanez
Year: 2015 2019
Configuration: SSS HH
Strings: 6 8
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: Postmodern RG
Colors: Gold, Sunburst, Natural Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: 2-Piece Select Ash Nyatoh
Bridge: Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo Mono-rail
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Ibanez
Fretboard: Round-Laminated Quartersawn Maple Jatoba
Neck Material: Quartersawn Maple Maple/Walnut
Decoration: Micarta Black Dot White split off-set dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 27" to 25.5"
Shape: 1959 D Wizard III-8 for Multi Scale
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" to 12" 16"
Nut: Bone Plastic
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 55mm (2.165'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Array-8 MS (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Dual-Mag II Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Array-8 MS (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1