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Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
VS
Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
74
Value
57
Score
72
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Playability
68
Sound
72
Build
69
Value
55
Score
70
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster vs Albert Collins Signature Telecaster

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster over Albert Collins Signature Telecaster

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
SSS vs SH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Value Score
57 vs 55
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster over Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster

Pickups
SH vs SSS
Very bright bridge tone and a very warm neck pickup
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster vs Albert Collins Signature Telecaster

Neck Pickup
Fender Custom '54 Single-Coil Strat vs Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Ash
Different Body Wood

Shared Features
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster vs Albert Collins Signature Telecaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat
Same Bridge Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Number of Frets
21
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
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 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
Medium Jumbo vs Vintage
You'll 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
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

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

The Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster 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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Tall frets
  • 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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2014 Custom Artist series
  • Robin Trower Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Select Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom ‘60s RWRP Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom '54 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Large C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Sperzel Trim-Lok Staggered tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2014 Custom Artist series
  • Albert Collins Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Select Ash body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Tele bridge
  • C Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage 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

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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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

Woods Used in the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster

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 Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster has an SSS configuration while the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster has SH 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, SH is a more versatile version of the classic telecaster (SS) configuration. The bridge pickup usually produces a bright and twangy tone, while the neck Humbucker gives you the warmer tone you'll need for more Jazzy/Bluish solos and chords.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster'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: Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster.

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

The Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster gives you 3. This means that the Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

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

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster's switch options
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster'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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
Pickups 90
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72

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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster compares to the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster.

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 Synthetic Bone nuts. 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.

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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster'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 Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster'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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster's are Sperzel Trim-Lok Staggered while the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster's are 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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
  • Made in United States
  • Synthetic 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 Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • 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 Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
Quality of materials 66
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 100
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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster 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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster and Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster'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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster's neck profile
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster'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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster and the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster 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 Robin Trower Signature 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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster and the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster 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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster's Frets Size
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster Frets Size
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster's Frets Size

The Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster's Vintage frets.

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

Final Playability Scores

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67
Fender Custom Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 68

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster vs Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
General Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster Albert Collins Signature Telecaster
Brand: Fender Custom Fender Custom
Year: 2014 2014
Configuration: SSS SH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Custom Artist Custom Artist
Colors: White, Black, Red Burst Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Select Alder Select Ash
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo 6-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Tele
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sperzel Trim-Lok Staggered Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Maple Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Abalone dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Large C C Shape
Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom ‘60s RWRP Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom '54 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Seymour Duncan '59 SH-1N (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 1