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Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
54
Value
74
Score
64
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Playability
83
Sound
69
Build
52
Value
78
Score
68
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Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST vs Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

Reasons to Get
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST over Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24'' (609.6mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST over Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

Release Year
2021 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
24'' (609.6mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Value Score
78 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST vs Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

Bridge Pickup
Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker vs Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker vs Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Maple vs Roasted Maple
Different Neck Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Graphite
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST vs Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

Body Wood
Poplar
Same Body 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
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
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
Narrow Tall vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • 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

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 Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST is probably the better product overall with its final score of 68 compared to the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST is the better choice.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2018 Contemporary series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Standard Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2021 Contemporary series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts tuners
  • Weight between 7.65lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.3lbs (3.8kgs)
  • 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

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

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 Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple

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.

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.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's pickups are Active while the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST'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.

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.

Only the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's switch options
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST'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 Contemporary Jaguar HH ST.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
Pickups 60
Sustain 90
Versatility 49
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 67
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 69

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 Jazzmaster HH ST compares to the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

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: 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 Contemporary Jaguar HH ST comes with 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.

Winner: Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST.

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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's are Standard Die-Cast while the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST's are Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts

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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
  • 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 Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • 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 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
Quality of materials 46
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 52

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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Nut Width
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Nut Width
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST Nut Width
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST, 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 Jazzmaster HH ST's Scale Length
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's Scale Length
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST's Scale Length
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST'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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST has the longest scale: 25.5". The Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST and the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST 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 Jazzmaster HH ST Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same 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.

Both the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST and the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST and Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 80
Playability 72
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
Bending & Vibrato Ease 100
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 83

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST vs Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
General Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
Brand: Fender Squier Fender Squier
Year: 2018 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Contemporary Contemporary
Colors: Green, Gray Gold, Blue Burst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Poplar
Bridge: 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Standard Die-Cast Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Roasted Maple
Decoration: Cream Dot Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 24"
Shape: Modern C Modern C
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Graphite
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1