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Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster
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Playability
73
Sound
79
Build
75
Value
61
Score
76
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Playability
73
Sound
77
Build
69
Value
63
Score
73
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Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood vs Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood over Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster

Compound Radius
9.5" to 12" vs 7.25"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
1959 D vs 60s C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Parallel Split vs None
Connects pickups in parallel to brighten tone
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
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 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster over Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood

Weight Relief
Yes vs None
Lighter Body
Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
60s C vs 1959 D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) 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
63 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood vs Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat vs Fender Custom-Voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single-Coil Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Dual-Mag II Strat vs Fender Custom-Voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single-Coil Strat
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat vs Fender Custom-Voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Ash
Different Body Wood

Shared Features
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood vs Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood
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
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
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 Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • 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 Rosewood 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 Rosewood is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood.

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 Rosewood is the better choice.

The Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster meets only 5. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Rosewood Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2019 Postmodern series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" to 12" Fretboard Radius
  • 2-Piece Select Alder body
  • Rift Sawn Maple neck
  • Round-Laminated Rosewood 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 >

Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2020 Artist series
  • Kenny Wayne Shepherd Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Chambered Ash body
  • Quartersawn Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom-Voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom-Voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom-Voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Graph Tech Saddles bridge
  • 60s C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style 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 Both

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

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.

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster

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.

Winner: Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster.

Pickup Configuration

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

Pickups Quality

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

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

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

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

Switch Options

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

Only the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood comes with some kind of pickup modification: Parallel Split.

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

They both share the following switching options:

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood and Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood and Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster's switch options

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

Winner: Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 79
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster
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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood compares to the Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd 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. 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Parallel Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Weight Relief
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood
Quality of materials 56
Features 70
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 75
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 95
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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood Nut Width
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood Nut Width
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 0.1mm (0.004'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood and Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood Neck Profile
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood's neck profile
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood 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 Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd 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 Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood Fretboard Compound Radius
Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood's Compound Fretboard Radius
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster's Fingerboard radius

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

In this case, the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood 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 Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster favors large hands more than the Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood.

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood and Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster 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 Rosewood
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood vs Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster
General Fender Custom Postmodern Strat Journeyman Relic Rosewood Fender Kenny Wayne Shepherd Stratocaster
Brand: Fender Custom Fender
Year: 2019 2020
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Postmodern Artist
Colors: White, Sunburst, Black Blue
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: 2-Piece Select Alder Chambered Ash
Bridge: Custom Shop Vintage Synchronized Tremolo 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Graph Tech Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Round-Laminated Rosewood Rosewood
Neck Material: Rift Sawn Maple Quartersawn Maple
Decoration: Vintage Clay Dot White Pearloid Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: 1959 D 60s C
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 21 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" to 12" 7.25"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Custom-Voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound RWRP Dual-Mag II Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Custom-Voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound Dual-Mag II Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Custom-Voiced Kenny Wayne Shepherd Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Parallel Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2