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Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass
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Playability
75
Sound
75
Build
60
Value
80
Score
70
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Playability
72
Sound
79
Build
74
Value
75
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH vs Fender Nate Mendel P Bass Specs Comparison
Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH Fender Nate Mendel P Bass
General
Brand: Fender Squier Fender
Year: 2022 2018
Configuration: HH S
Strings: 4 4
Made in: Indonesia United States
Series: Contemporary Precision Bass
Colors: Gold, Blue Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Ash
Bridge: 4-Saddle Standard Fender HiMass with Chrome-Plated Zinc Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Fender '70s Vintage-Style Stamped Open-Gear
Fretboard: Roasted Maple Rosewood
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot White Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 34" 34"
Shape: Bass C Shape Bass Slim C
Frets: 20 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 7.25"
Nut: Graphite Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 38.1mm (1.5'') 41mm (1.615'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup: Fender Seymour Duncan Basslines SPB-3 Quarter Pound Split Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 0 Way 0 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome

Reasons to Get
Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH over Fender Nate Mendel P Bass

Release Year
2022 vs 2018
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 Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
HH vs S
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.5'' (38.1mm) vs 1.615'' (41mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Poly vs Nitro
Resistant paint that ages well
Preamp
Active vs Passive
More versatile and customizable tonal palette than a Passive preamp
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
80 vs 75
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass over Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Pickups
S vs HH
For twangy sounds and simplicity
Nut Width
1.615'' (41mm) vs 1.5'' (38.1mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Poly
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster
Preamp
Passive vs Active
Doesn't require a battery, so it's more dependable
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Avg. Weight
9.313lbs (4.2kgs) vs 9.5lbs (4.3kgs)
Tends to be lighter
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH vs Fender Nate Mendel P Bass

Body Wood
Poplar vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Roasted Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH vs Fender Nate Mendel P Bass

Headstock
4
Same Headstock
Strings
4
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Number of Frets
20
Same maximum octave
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
34'' (863.6mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Retainer Bar
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH Prices

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Hand Size Comfortability

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH.

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

Both meet 3 out of our 6 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 bass to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Nate Mendel P Bass
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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 the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

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 Nate Mendel P Bass

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

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.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Winner: Fender Nate Mendel P Bass.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH has an HH configuration while the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass has S 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, A single single-coil pickup is not a configuration commonly found in modern electric guitars because it lacks versatility. But if you only want a guitar that sounds very thin and twangy, this might be good enough.

Pickups Quality

The Fender Nate Mendel P Bass pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass 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.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH's pickups are Active while the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass's are Passive.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Preamp Circuit

A preamp in an electric bass functions as an electronic circuit that acts as an interface between the bass's pickups and the amplifier. Its main purpose is to amplify and customize the bass's initial signal before it reaches the amplifier, offering enhanced control over factors like tone, volume, and sound attributes. Preamps typically come equipped with tone adjustments, equalization options, and sometimes built-in effects, empowering bass players to fine-tune their sound to suit their personal preferences and the musical environment.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH's preamp is Active while the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass's is Passive.

Active: Unlike passive basses, which rely solely on passive pickups and tone controls, active preamps require a power source, typically a 9-volt battery, to operate. The active preamp offers several advantages, including the ability to boost or cut specific frequencies, resulting in a more versatile and customizable tonal palette. Active basses are favored in genres where precise tonal sculpting and extended tonal options are essential, such as jazz fusion or progressive rock. However, they do require occasional battery replacement or recharging to ensure optimal performance.

Passive: A bass with a passive preamp lacks an onboard electronic circuit for tone shaping and signal boosting. Instead, it relies solely on passive pickups and basic tone controls, typically consisting of volume and tone knobs. Passive preamps don't require an external power source like batteries, making them low-maintenance and dependable. While they offer a simpler and more straightforward tonal character, passive basses are appreciated for their warm and vintage sound, often favored in genres like classic rock, blues, and funk. They are an excellent choice for musicians who value the simplicity and timeless appeal of their instrument's tone without the need for active electronic components.

Winner: Fender Nate Mendel P Bass.

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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH
Pickups 65
Sustain 85
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 75
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 79

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 Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH compares to the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH is built in Indonesia while the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass is made in United States.

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.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Fender Nate Mendel P Bass

Nut Material

If you want your bass 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 Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH has a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

On the other hand, the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass 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 Nate Mendel P Bass.

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.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH's are Vintage-Style while the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass's are Fender '70s Vintage-Style Stamped Open-Gear

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a bass 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 Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH
  • Active Preamp
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Active Preamp
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH
Quality of materials 46
Features 70
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 60
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass
Quality of materials 66
Features 70
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 74

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 bass 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 bass feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH Nut Width
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH Nut Width
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass Nut Width
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass has the wider nut with 41mm (1.615'') vs 38.1mm (1.5''). This is a 2.9mm (0.115'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass, 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 Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH and Fender Nate Mendel P Bass'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 34".

This is a scale used for baritones and guitars with more than 6 strings. Since the scale is so long, the tension of the strings will be higher. This means that bending will require a lot more strength than with a shorter scale. However, it also allows you to use really low tunings without causing fret buzz and without needing to increase your string gauge too much.

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 Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH Neck Profile
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH's neck profile
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass Neck Profile
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass'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 Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH and the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass 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 Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH's Fingerboard radius
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass Fingerboard Radius
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass's Fingerboard radius

Most bass 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 Nate Mendel P Bass's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass 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 Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH.

Fret Size

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH Frets Size
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH's Frets Size
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass Frets Size
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Fender Nate Mendel P Bass's Medium Jumbo 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 Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75
Fender Nate Mendel P Bass
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 72