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Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
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Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
60
Value
72
Score
67
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
75
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top vs Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top over Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Fender vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HSS vs SS
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Avg. Weight
8.075lbs (3.7kgs) vs 9lbs (4.1kgs)
Tends to be lighter

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster over Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top

Release Year
2019 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
SS vs HSS
Beautiful cleans
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Value Score
75 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top vs Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Pine
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top vs Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top is probably the better product overall with its final score of 67 compared to the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

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?

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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Overview

  • From Fender's 2018 Player series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Standard Cast/Sealed tuners
  • Weight between 7.6lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.55lbs (3.9kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2019 Classic Vibe series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Pine body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Chrome Barrel Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight around 9lbs (4.1kgs)
  • 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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

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 Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster

Pine wood pattern used for guitar building
Pine

Some guitarists don't like Pine because they think it's too soft and dents easily. However, there are many types of pines, and the hardest pine is the one used for guitar building. The general opinion is that it tends to give a nice round and balanced sound.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top has an HSS configuration while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster has SS pickups.

HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

On the other hand, 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.

Pickups Quality

The Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Hard Rock and similar genres.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

The Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster gives you 3. This means that the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

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

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top's switch options
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Pickups 70
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 67

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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top compares to the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top is built in Mexico while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster is made in Indonesia.

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.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top 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 Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster comes with 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.

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.

The Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top's are Standard Cast/Sealed while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's are Vintage-Style

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • 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 Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
  • Bone Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
Quality of materials 55
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 57

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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

Scale Length

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top and Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Neck Profile
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top's neck profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top and the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top 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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top and the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster have the same fretboard radius of 9.5". This is the most common radius for Stratocaster guitars. It's considered curved when compared to most other models. This allows you to play chords very easily without muting strings accidentally and gives you more space between strings for fingerpicking. However, this curve also gives the guitar less allowance for lower action. If you bend too hard at the high frets, some of your notes might get muted because the curve will make the string fret out.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

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

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Frets Size
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top's Frets Size
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster Frets Size
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top'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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top vs Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
General Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster
Brand: Fender Fender Squier
Year: 2018 2019
Configuration: HSS SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Indonesia
Series: Player Classic Vibe
Colors: Brown Burst, Sunburst Burst White, Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Pine
Bridge: 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Chrome Barrel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Standard Cast/Sealed Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Maple
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 1