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Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster
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Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
74
Value
57
Score
72
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Playability
63
Sound
76
Build
67
Value
59
Score
69
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Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster vs Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster over Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster

Release Year
2014 vs 2004
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs LSR Roller
Good quality nut with rich tone
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes

Reasons to Get
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster over Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster

Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
59 vs 57
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster vs Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat vs Fender Hot Noiseless
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Custom ‘60s RWRP Single-Coil Strat vs Fender Hot Noiseless
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom '54 Single-Coil Strat vs Fender Hot Noiseless
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs LSR Roller
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster vs Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck 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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
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 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
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • 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

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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 Jeff Beck Stratocaster's 69 score, although not by a lot.

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

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Custom 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 Jeff Beck Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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 Jeff Beck Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2004 Artist series
  • Jeff Beck Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Hot Noiseless (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Hot Noiseless (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Hot Noiseless (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 2-Point American Series Synchronized Tremolo with Stainless Steel Saddles bridge
  • Jeff Beck C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking 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
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

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

Woods Used in the Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

Winner: Fender Jeff Beck 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.

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 Jeff Beck Stratocaster'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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster and Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster and Fender Jeff Beck 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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 55
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 76

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 Jeff Beck 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.

The Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster has 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.

On the other hand, the Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster comes with a LSR Roller nut. It's very different than the typical nut. Instead of a cut slot, it features ball bearings that allow the strings to move freely with almost no friction. It should help with tuning stability, although other types of well-cut nuts made of slippery materials can also do a good job keeping the guitar in tune.

Winner: Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster.

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

The Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster.

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 Jeff Beck Stratocaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
Quality of materials 66
Features 55
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster
Quality of materials 41
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 67

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
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 1mm (0.038'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Jeff Beck 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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster and Fender Jeff Beck 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 Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster's neck profile
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Jeff Beck 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.

Both the Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster and the Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster 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 Jeff Beck Stratocaster 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 Jeff Beck Stratocaster favors large hands more than the Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster.

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster and Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67
Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 60
Playability 63

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster vs Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster
General Fender Custom Robin Trower Signature Stratocaster Fender Jeff Beck Stratocaster
Brand: Fender Custom Fender
Year: 2014 2004
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Custom Artist Artist
Colors: White, Black, Red Burst White, Green
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Select Alder Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo 2-Point American Series Synchronized Tremolo with Stainless Steel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sperzel Trim-Lok Staggered Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking
Fretboard: Maple Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Abalone dot Ivory Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Large C Jeff Beck C
Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone LSR Roller
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Hot Noiseless (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom ‘60s RWRP Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Hot Noiseless (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom '54 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Hot Noiseless (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2