Swap
Swap
Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS
VS
Playability
80
Sound
62
Build
54
Value
80
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Playability
68
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
79
Score
64
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logo
Add more to comparison

Squier Bullet Mustang HH vs Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS

Reasons to Get
Squier Bullet Mustang HH over Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS

Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Scale Length
24'' (609.6mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
80 vs 79
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS over Bullet Mustang HH

Release Year
2020 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HSS vs HH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24'' (609.6mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Squier Bullet Mustang HH vs Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS

Neck Pickup
Standard Humbucking vs Standard Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Plastic vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Bullet Mustang HH vs Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS

Bridge Pickup
Standard Humbucking
Same Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar
Same Body Wood
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
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
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
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
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

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
The Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH was discontinued. It was replaced by the Sonic Mustang HH. Check out our comparison.
The Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS was discontinued. It was replaced by the Sonic Stratocaster HSS. Check out our comparison.

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH is probably the better product overall with its final score of 65 compared to the Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH wins when it comes to playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS has the upper hand when it comes to sound, build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH.

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 Squier Bullet Mustang HH
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS
  • 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 Bullet Mustang HH Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2017 Bullet series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24"'' 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 Hardtail bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Standard Cast/Sealed tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2020 Bullet series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Standard 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
Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

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.

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH has an HH configuration while the Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS has HSS 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, 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.

Pickups Quality

None of these use a specialized pickup brand for their pickups. Some of the best guitars on the market come with pickups from brands like EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. You might want to replace your pickups eventually if you want to get the best sound out of any of these instruments.

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

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

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

Switch Options

The Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH gives you 3. This means that the Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS 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 Bullet Mustang HH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH's switch options
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS'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 Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 62
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 62
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 Bullet Mustang HH compares to the Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS.

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 Bullet Mustang HH has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS comes with 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.

Winner: Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS.

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 Bullet Mustang HH's are Standard Cast/Sealed while the Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS's are Standard 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 Bullet Mustang HH
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • 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 Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS
  • Synthetic 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 Bullet Mustang HH
Quality of materials 46
Features 50
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 54
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS
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 Bullet Mustang HH 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 Squier Bullet Mustang HH's Scale Length
Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH's Scale Length
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS's Scale Length
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS's 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.

The Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS has the longest scale: 25.5". The Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH is only 24" long. This is a 1.5'' (38.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

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 Bullet Mustang HH Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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 Bullet Mustang HH and the Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS 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 Bullet Mustang HH Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS'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 Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Squier Bullet Mustang 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 Bullet Mustang 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 Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH and Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier Bullet Mustang HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 80
Fender Squier Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 68

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier Bullet Mustang HH vs Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS
General Squier Bullet Mustang HH Bullet Stratocaster HT HSS
Brand: Fender Squier Fender Squier
Year: 2017 2020
Configuration: HH HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Indonesia
Series: Bullet Bullet
Colors: Black, Blue, Gray Black, Pink, Brown Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Poplar
Bridge: 6-Saddle Hardtail 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Standard Cast/Sealed Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Dot White Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 24" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C Modern C
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Plastic Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2