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Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM
VS
Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
64
Value
69
Score
69
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Playability
75
Sound
80
Build
67
Value
79
Score
74
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Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster vs Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM

Reasons to Get
Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster over Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM

Release Year
2022 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Heavy Relic vs Poly
Looks like an old and heavily beaten up instrument
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM over Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Vintage
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 7.25"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 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
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Paint Finish
Poly vs Heavy Relic
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
79 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster vs Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Joe Strummer Single-Coil Tele vs Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom Joe Strummer Single-Coil Tele vs Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster vs Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM

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
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • 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 Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster's 69 score, although not by a lot.

The Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster in every aspect.

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 Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM is the better choice.

The Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster meets only 4. 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 Joe Strummer Telecaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM
  • 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 Joe Strummer Telecaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2022 Artist series
  • Joe Strummer Signature
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Slab Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Joe Strummer Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Joe Strummer Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele bridge
  • '60s C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage frets
  • Fender Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.3lbs (3.3kgs) and 7.55lbs (3.4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM Overview

  • From Charvel's 2021 Pro-Mod series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Caramelized Maple neck
  • Caramelized Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Charvel HT6 String-Through-Body Hardtail with Brass Saddles bridge
  • Charvel Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Charvel-Branded Die-Cast 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 Joe Strummer Telecaster

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 Joe Strummer Telecaster.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster has an SS configuration while the Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM has HH pickups.

SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

On the other hand, Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

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 Joe Strummer Telecaster has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM's online:

The Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster's pickups are Passive while the Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster.

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 Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM comes with some kind of pickup modification: Multi-Voicing.

Multi-Voicing means the pickups come with multiple ''voices'', which means they can change the tone and gain by a simple switch or knob. Piezo, Fishman and similar are considered multi-voicing pickups.

Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster's switch options
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM'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: Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 72
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM
Pickups 85
Sustain 90
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 80

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 Joe Strummer Telecaster compares to the Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in Mexico.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

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 Joe Strummer Telecaster 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 Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

Winner: Tie.

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: 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

The Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM 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: Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM.

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 Joe Strummer Telecaster
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM
  • Locking Tuners
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Multi-Voicing Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster
Quality of materials 66
Features 50
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 64
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM
Quality of materials 51
Features 80
Quality Control 70
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 Joe Strummer Telecaster Nut Width
Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster Nut Width
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM Nut Width
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM 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 Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM, 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 Joe Strummer Telecaster and Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM'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 Joe Strummer Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster's neck profile
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM Neck Profile
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM'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 Joe Strummer Telecaster and the Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM 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 Joe Strummer Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster's Fingerboard radius
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM Fretboard Compound Radius
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM's Compound 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.

In this case, the Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM 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.

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 Joe Strummer Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster Frets Size
Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster's Frets Size
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM Frets Size
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM's Frets Size

The Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Joe Strummer 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 Joe Strummer Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72
Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster vs Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM
General Fender Joe Strummer Telecaster Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 24 HH HT CM
Brand: Fender Charvel
Year: 2022 2021
Configuration: SS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Mexico
Series: Artist Pro-Mod
Colors: Black White, Blue, Black Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele Charvel HT6 String-Through-Body Hardtail with Brass Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Fender Vintage-Style Charvel-Branded Die-Cast Locking
Fretboard: Slab Rosewood Caramelized Maple
Neck Material: Maple Caramelized Maple
Decoration: White Pearloid Dot 4mm Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: '60s C Charvel Speed
Frets: 21 Vintage Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 7.25" 12" to 16"
Nut: Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Joe Strummer Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive) Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Joe Strummer Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive) Fishman Fluence Open Core PRF-COC (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None Multi-Voicing
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1