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Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline
Ibanez ART120QA
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
57
Value
75
Score
65
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Playability
73
Sound
62
Build
50
Value
72
Score
62
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline vs Ibanez ART120QA Specs Comparison
Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline Ibanez ART120QA
General
Brand: Fender Squier Ibanez
Year: 2018 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Classic Vibe ART
Colors: Natural, 3-Color Sunburst Sunburst, Black Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: Soft Maple Poplar
Bridge: 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Strat Strings-Through-Body Hardtail Gibraltar Performer
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Vintage-Style Ibanez
Fretboard: Maple Purpleheart
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot White block
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: Modern C ART
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12"
Nut: Bone Plastic
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender Designed Wide Range Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Classic Elite (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fender Designed Wide Range Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Classic Elite (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline and Ibanez ART120QA pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline and Ibanez ART120QA's switch options

Reasons to Get
Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline over Ibanez ART120QA

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
75 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez ART120QA over Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple Art Grain vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2020 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) 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

Other Key Differences
Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline vs Ibanez ART120QA

Bridge Pickup
Fender Designed Wide Range Humbucking vs Classic Elite
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Designed Wide Range Humbucking vs Classic Elite
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Purpleheart
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline vs Ibanez ART120QA

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
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

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Ibanez ART120QA Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Hand Size Comfortability

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

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Ibanez ART120QA:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez ART120QA meets only 4. 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 Telecaster Thinline
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez ART120QA
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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 Ibanez ART120QA

Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

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.

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

Both pickup configurations are HH. 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

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

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.

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 Telecaster Thinline.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline
Pickups 60
Sustain 85
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 67
Ibanez ART120QA
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 62

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 Telecaster Thinline compares to the Ibanez ART120QA.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline is built in Indonesia while the Ibanez ART120QA 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 Telecaster Thinline

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 Telecaster Thinline 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 Ibanez ART120QA comes with 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.

Winner: Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline.

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 Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline's are Vintage-Style while the Ibanez ART120QA's are Ibanez

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.

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline has 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.

On the other hand, the Ibanez ART120QA comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline
  • 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 Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez ART120QA
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 57
Ibanez ART120QA
Quality of materials 45
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 50

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 Telecaster Thinline Nut Width
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline Nut Width
Ibanez ART120QA Nut Width
Ibanez ART120QA Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez ART120QA has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez ART120QA, 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 Telecaster Thinline's Scale Length
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline's Scale Length
Ibanez ART120QA's Scale Length
Ibanez ART120QA'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 Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline has the longest scale: 25.5". The Ibanez ART120QA is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) 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 Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline Neck Profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline's neck profile
Ibanez ART120QA Neck Profile
Ibanez ART120QA'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 Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline and the Ibanez ART120QA 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 Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline's Fingerboard radius
Ibanez ART120QA Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez ART120QA'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 Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez ART120QA'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 Ibanez ART120QA.

Fret Size

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline Frets Size
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline's Frets Size
Ibanez ART120QA Frets Size
Ibanez ART120QA's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez ART120QA'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 Classic Vibe 70s Telecaster Thinline
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Ibanez ART120QA
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73