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Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
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Playability
67
Sound
79
Build
70
Value
72
Score
72
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Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
70
Value
60
Score
70
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Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster vs American Original 50s Stratocaster

Reasons to Get
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster over American Original 50s Stratocaster

Release Year
2022 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Parallel Split vs None
Connects pickups in parallel to brighten tone
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Avg. Weight
7.375lbs (3.3kgs) vs 7.969lbs (3.6kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
72 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster over JV Modified '60s Stratocaster

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle

Other Key Differences
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster vs American Original 50s Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat vs Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat vs Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat vs Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Alder
Different Body Wood

Shared Features
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster vs American Original 50s Stratocaster

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
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
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
SSS
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Number of Frets
21
Same maximum octave
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
V
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Vintage Tall
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
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster wins when it comes to sound, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster is the better choice.

The Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender American Original 50s 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2022 JV Modified series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Basswood body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles bridge
  • Thick Soft V Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.05lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.7lbs (3.5kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2018 American Original series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • 1-Piece Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Pure Vintage 6-Saddle Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Fender Soft V Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage Tall frets
  • Pure Vintage Single Line Fender Deluxe tuners
  • Weight between 7.938lbs (3.6kgs) and 8lbs (3.6kgs)
  • 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster

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.

Woods Used in the Fender American Original 50s 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.

Winner: Tie.

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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender American Original 50s 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.

Only the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster 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.

Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's switch options
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender American Original 50s 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster compares to the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster is built in Japan while the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster is made in United States.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

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

The Fender JV Modified '60s 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 JV Modified '60s 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Parallel Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
  • Made in United States
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 70
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 70
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
Quality of materials 61
Features 55
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 70

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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender American Original 50s 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 American Original 50s 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster and Fender American Original 50s 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's neck profile
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender American Original 50s 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster and the Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster have a V-shaped neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

Fretboard Radius

Fender JV Modified '60s 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster and the Fender American Original 50s 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 American Original 50s Stratocaster favors large hands more than the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster.

Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's Frets Size
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster's Frets Size

The Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster has Vintage Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster's Medium Jumbo 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 JV Modified '60s Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 67
Fender American Original 50s Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster vs American Original 50s Stratocaster
General Fender JV Modified '60s Stratocaster American Original 50s Stratocaster
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2022 2018
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan United States
Series: JV Modified American Original
Colors: White White, Sunburst, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Basswood Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles Pure Vintage 6-Saddle Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Locking Pure Vintage Single Line Fender Deluxe
Fretboard: Maple 1-Piece Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Thick Soft V Fender Soft V
Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Pure Vintage 59 Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Vintage-Style Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Pure Vintage 59 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: 2 2