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Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition
VS
Playability
72
Sound
65
Build
54
Value
74
Score
64
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
75
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH vs 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition

Reasons to Get
Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH over 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition

Type of Frets
Medium vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition over Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2022 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Avg. Weight
7.85lbs (3.6kgs) vs 7.938lbs (3.6kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Value Score
75 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH vs 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition

Bridge Pickup
Standard Humbucking vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Standard Humbucking vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Nyatoh
Different Body Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH vs 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel
Same Fretboard 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
Number of Frets
21
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

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
  • 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 Gold Edition Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition is probably the better product overall with its final score of 65 compared to the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH is easier to play.

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 Gold Edition is the better choice.

The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH 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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition
  • 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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2017 Affinity Series series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Standard Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 7.688lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.188lbs (3.7kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold 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
  • Indian Laurel 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 7.65lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.05lbs (3.7kgs)
  • 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
Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

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.

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold 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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH has an HH configuration while the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition has SS pickups.

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.

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 Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer 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 Gold 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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

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

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's switch options
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition's switch options

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

Winner: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 65
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition
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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH compares to the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH is built in China while the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition is made in Indonesia.

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

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: Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition

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 Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH 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 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition 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.

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

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's are Standard Die-Cast while the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition'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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • 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
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition
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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Nut Width
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition Nut Width
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH 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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH, 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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH and Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition'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 Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Neck Profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's neck profile
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition Neck Profile
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition'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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH and the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition 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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition'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 Gold Edition's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH'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 Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH.

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 Gold Edition favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH.

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Frets Size
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's Frets Size
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition Frets Size
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition's Frets Size

The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's Medium frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH vs 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition
General Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH 40th Anniversary Telecaster Gold Edition
Brand: Fender Squier Fender Squier
Year: 2017 2022
Configuration: HH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Indonesia
Series: Affinity Series 40th Anniversary Vintage
Colors: White, Black Black, Green
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Nyatoh
Bridge: 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail 3-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Tele
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Standard Die-Cast Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Dot Pearloid Block
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C C Shape
Frets: 21 Medium Nickel Silver 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1