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Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood
Harley Benton ST-62MN
VS
Playability
70
Sound
74
Build
74
Value
58
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Playability
70
Sound
72
Build
55
Value
81
Score
66
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood vs Harley Benton ST-62MN

Reasons to Get
Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood over Harley Benton ST-62MN

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Compound Radius
7.25" to 9.5" vs 13.78"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton ST-62MN over Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
81 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood vs Harley Benton ST-62MN

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '59 Single-Coil Strat vs Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '59 Single-Coil Strat vs Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '59 Single-Coil Strat vs Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Basswood
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood vs Harley Benton ST-62MN

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
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 vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • 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

Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Harley Benton ST-62MN's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Harley Benton ST-62MN 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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood is the better choice.

The Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Harley Benton ST-62MN 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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Harley Benton ST-62MN
  • 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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood Overview

  • From Fender Custom's 2018 Vintage Custom series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" to 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Select Alder body
  • Rift Sawn Maple neck
  • 3A Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • 1959 C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Harley Benton ST-62MN Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2018 Vintage series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 13.78" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Harley Benton Tremolo bridge
  • Harley Benton C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Kluson-Style Machine Heads 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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

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 Harley Benton ST-62MN

Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Winner: Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood.

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.

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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood and Harley Benton ST-62MN pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood and Harley Benton ST-62MN'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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74
Harley Benton ST-62MN
Pickups 100
Sustain 55
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 60
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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood compares to the Harley Benton ST-62MN.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood is built in United States while the Harley Benton ST-62MN is made in China.

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.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Winner: Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood

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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood 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 Harley Benton ST-62MN 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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood.

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. The Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood's are Vintage-Style while the Harley Benton ST-62MN's are Kluson-Style Machine Heads

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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood
  • 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
Harley Benton ST-62MN
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood
Quality of materials 56
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 74
Harley Benton ST-62MN
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 55
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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood Nut Width
Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood Nut Width
Harley Benton ST-62MN Nut Width
Harley Benton ST-62MN Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Harley Benton ST-62MN 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 Harley Benton ST-62MN, 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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood and Harley Benton ST-62MN'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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood Neck Profile
Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood's neck profile
Harley Benton ST-62MN Neck Profile
Harley Benton ST-62MN'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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood and the Harley Benton ST-62MN 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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood Fretboard Compound Radius
Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood's Compound Fretboard Radius
Harley Benton ST-62MN Fingerboard Radius
Harley Benton ST-62MN'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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster 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 Harley Benton ST-62MN favors large hands more than the Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Harley Benton ST-62MN:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood Frets Size
Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood's Frets Size
Harley Benton ST-62MN Frets Size
Harley Benton ST-62MN's Frets Size

The Harley Benton ST-62MN has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood's Medium 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 Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Harley Benton ST-62MN
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood vs Harley Benton ST-62MN
General Fender Custom Vintage Custom 1959 Stratocaster Rosewood Harley Benton ST-62MN
Brand: Fender Custom Harley Benton
Year: 2018 2018
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States China
Series: Vintage Custom Vintage
Colors: Sunburst White, Black, Pink
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Select Alder Basswood
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo Harley Benton Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Kluson-Style Machine Heads
Fretboard: 3A Rosewood Maple
Neck Material: Rift Sawn Maple Maple
Decoration: Vintage Clay Dot Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: 1959 C Harley Benton C
Frets: 21 Medium Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 7.25" to 9.5" 13.78"
Nut: Bone Plastic
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Hand-Wound '59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2