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Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
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Playability
73
Sound
66
Build
52
Value
74
Score
64
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Playability
72
Sound
65
Build
54
Value
74
Score
64
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH vs Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

Reasons to Get
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH over Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

Release Year
2022 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH over Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH

Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Type of Frets
Medium vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Other Key Differences
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH vs Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

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

Shared Features
Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH vs Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

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
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
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

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

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 both instruments scored 64 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH has the upper hand when it comes to sound, playability.

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?

Both meet 5 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2022 Contemporary series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2017 Affinity Series series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' 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 Strings-Through-Body Hardtail bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Standard Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 7.688lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.188lbs (3.7kgs)
  • 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

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

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.

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's pickups are Active while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH'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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH and Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH and Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH'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 Active Jazzmaster HH.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 66
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 65

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 compares to the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH.

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 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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH 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 Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH.

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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH'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 Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's is a 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's are Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH'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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
  • Tremolo
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
Quality of materials 46
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 52
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54

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 Nut Width
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 0.1mm (0.004'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH, 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 and Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH'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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH and the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH 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 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 and the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH 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.

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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH Frets Size
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH's Frets Size
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Frets Size
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH'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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH vs Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
General Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Brand: Fender Squier Fender Squier
Year: 2022 2017
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Contemporary Affinity Series
Colors: Sunburst, Pink White, Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Poplar
Bridge: 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Block Saddles 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Dot Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C Modern C
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Graphite Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active) Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1