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Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32
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Playability
70
Sound
69
Build
59
Value
76
Score
66
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
55
Value
77
Score
67
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS vs Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32

Reasons to Get
Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS over Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2019 vs 2014
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Modern C vs Speed
Comfortable neck that works for most people
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
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Floyd Rose
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Reasons to Get
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 over Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS

Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 9.5"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Speed vs Modern C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
24 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Floyd Rose vs Tremolo
Allows intense vibratos and techniques like Dive Bombs
Value Score
77 vs 76
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS vs Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32

Bridge Pickup
Fender Designed Alnico Humbucking vs Jackson High-Output Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil vs Jackson High-Output Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Purpleheart
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Locking
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS vs Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32

Body Wood
Poplar
Same Body Wood
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
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 vs Jumbo
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
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 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 Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 67 compared to the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS's 66 score, although not by a lot.

The Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS is the better choice.

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2019 Classic Vibe series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.55lbs (3.4kgs) and 7.75lbs (3.5kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 Overview

  • From Jackson's 2014 JS series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Purpleheart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson Double-Locking Tremolo bridge
  • Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed 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
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.

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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

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 Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32

Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart

Purpleheart (also known as Amaranth) is a hard, dense wood with a brilliant tone. As its name suggests, the purple color makes this wood look exotic.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS has an HSS configuration while the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 has HH 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, 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32. 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 Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS.

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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS gives you 5 switch options while the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 gives you 3. This means that the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS's switch options
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32'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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 69
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32
Pickups 55
Sustain 80
Versatility 69
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 72

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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS compares to the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS is built in Indonesia while the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 is made in China.

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.

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.

Winner: Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS

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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS 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 Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 comes with a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS'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 Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32's is a Floyd Rose. This is a double-locking bridge system that allows you to perform techniques like dive bombs and pinch harmonics. The locking nut allows your guitar to stay in tune even after the most intense tremolo usage. The disadvantage is that it takes more work to change the strings and set up everything correctly.

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: Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS's are Vintage-Style while the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32's are Jackson Sealed 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
  • Bone 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32
  • Locking Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • 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 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 59
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32
Quality of materials 41
Features 70
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 55

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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Nut Width
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Nut Width
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 Nut Width
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32, 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS and Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32'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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Neck Profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS's neck profile
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 Neck Profile
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32'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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS 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 Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32, on the other hand, has a D neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

Fretboard Radius

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS's Fingerboard radius
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32's Compound Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

Hand Size Comfortability

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

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

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS and Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS vs Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32
General Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Jackson JS Series Warrior JS32
Brand: Fender Squier Jackson
Year: 2019 2014
Configuration: HSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Classic Vibe JS
Colors: Black, Brown White, Black, Black Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Poplar
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo Floyd Rose Licensed Jackson Double-Locking Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Jackson Sealed Die-Cast
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Purpleheart
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot Pearloid Sharkfin
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C Speed
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12" to 16"
Nut: Bone Locking
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.9mm (1.688'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 1