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Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
75
Score
65
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Playability
73
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
76
Score
66
FIND IT ON:
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Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition vs Sterling Axis Quilted Maple

Reasons to Get
Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition over Sterling Axis Quilted Maple

Neck Profile
C Shape vs Axis
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.84'' (21.3mm) vs 0.849'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.89'' (22.6mm) vs 0.939'' (23.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple over Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Neck Profile
Axis vs C Shape
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.849'' (21.6mm) vs 0.84'' (21.3mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.939'' (23.9mm) vs 0.89'' (22.6mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
76 vs 75
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition vs Sterling Axis Quilted Maple

Bridge Pickup
Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil vs Sterling Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil vs Sterling Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Nyatoh vs Jabon
Different Body Wood
Headstock
6 vs 4-2
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Compensated
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition vs Sterling Axis Quilted Maple

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple
Same Fretboard Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm)
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
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

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
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple is probably the better product overall with its final score of 66 compared to the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Sterling Axis Quilted Maple wins when it comes to playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition is the better choice.

The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple meets only 3. 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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2022 40th Anniversary Vintage series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Nyatoh 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 Strings-Through-Body Tele bridge
  • C Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.35lbs (3.3kgs) and 8.75lbs (4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sterling Axis Quilted Maple Overview

  • From Sterling's 2022 Axis series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilted Maple top
  • Jabon body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Hard Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Axis Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Die Cast 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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition

Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.

Woods Used in the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple

Jabon wood pattern used for guitar building
Jabon

Jabon is similar to Basswood and is often compared to Mahogany. It has a well-rounded sound.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition has an SS configuration while the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple 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

The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple. 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 Country 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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition.

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 Sterling Axis Quilted Maple gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition gives you 3. This means that the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple 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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition's switch options
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple'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: Sterling Axis Quilted Maple.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition
Pickups 70
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 67
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 67
Tuning Stability 65
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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition compares to the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple.

Country of Origin

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

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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition 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 Sterling Axis Quilted Maple comes with a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition's brige 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.

On the other hand, the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple's 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.

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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition's are Vintage Style while the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple's are Die Cast

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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 57
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
Quality of materials 50
Features 55
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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition 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 41.9mm (1.65'').

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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition and Sterling Axis Quilted Maple'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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition Neck Profile
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition's neck profile
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple Neck Profile
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple'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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition has a C type of 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.

The Sterling Axis Quilted Maple, on the other hand, has a Asymmetrical neck. Even though this neck shape looks like a poorly-made job, it's, in fact, the neck that most naturally adapts to the arc of your hand when grabbing a guitar neck. You'll notice that the lower part of your palm makes a more pronounced, deeper curve while the upper part makes a more subtle arch. This is the shape that adapts the best to that natural arch your hand makes while playing.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition's Fingerboard radius
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple Fingerboard Radius
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple'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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple.

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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition favors large hands more than the Sterling Axis Quilted Maple.

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition and Sterling Axis Quilted Maple Frets Size
Both have a similar Narrow Tall fret size

Both have a Narrow Tall fret size. Their height is very similar to Jumbo frets, but they have a narrower crown. They won't let you feel the fretboard when playing, which will make it easier to get clean notes. However, if you press down too hard you might get the notes out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition vs Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
General Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Vintage Edition Sterling Axis Quilted Maple
Brand: Fender Squier Sterling
Year: 2022 2022
Configuration: SS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: 40th Anniversary Vintage Axis
Colors: Brown Satin, Red Satin, Yellow Satin Blue, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Nyatoh Jabon
Bridge: 3-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Tele Fulcrum Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage Style Die Cast
Fretboard: Maple Hard Maple
Neck Material: Maple Hard Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Dot Markers
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: C Shape Axis
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.84'' (21.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.89'' (22.6mm) 1st Fret: 0.849'' (21.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.939'' (23.9mm)
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12"
Nut: Bone Compensated
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1