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Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline
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Playability
83
Sound
69
Build
52
Value
78
Score
68
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Playability
68
Sound
65
Build
70
Value
58
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST vs Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline Specs Comparison
Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline
General
Brand: Fender Squier Fender
Year: 2021 2018
Configuration: HH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China United States
Series: Contemporary American Original
Colors: Gold, Blue Burst Sunburst, Green, Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Semi-Hollow
Body Material: Poplar Ash
Bridge: 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Tele with Slotted Steel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts Pure Vintage 70s with Fender Logo
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 24" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C Medium C
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Graphite Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Tim Shaw Designed 60s Thinline (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Tim Shaw Designed 60s Thinline (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST's switch options
Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline's switch options

Reasons to Get
Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST over Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline

Release Year
2021 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Vintage Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Scale Length
24'' (609.6mm) 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
Value Score
78 vs 58
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline over Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Vintage Tall vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Material
Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24'' (609.6mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST vs Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline

Bridge Pickup
Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking vs Fender Tim Shaw Designed 60s Thinline
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking vs Fender Tim Shaw Designed 60s Thinline
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST vs Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
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
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline Prices

      SET PRICE ALERT

      These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

      Hand Size Comfortability

      And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline 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 Jaguar HH ST:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline:
      Big Hands
      Small Hands

      Beginner Friendliness

      Both meet 6 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 Jaguar HH ST
      • Comfortable shape
      • Easy-to-use bridge
      • Tall frets
      • Narrow nut
      • Short scale
      • Comfortable neck
      • Comfortable fretboard
      • Locking tuners

      New Player Friendliness

      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline
      • Comfortable shape
      • Easy-to-use bridge
      • Comfortable fretboard
      • Tall frets
      • Narrow nut
      • Comfortable neck
      • 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 the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST

      Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
      Roasted Maple
      Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
      Laurel
      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.

      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 American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline

      Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
      Maple
      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.

      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 American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline.

      Pickup Configuration

      The Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST has an HH configuration while the Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline has SS 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, SS is the classic Telecaster configuration. It's used mainly for playing clean or with low-gain distortion, and it's very popular for the country genre because of their brightness. It doesn't give you as much versatility as a Strat SSS configuration, but you might like the cleaner look of a guitar body with fewer pickups.

      Pickups Quality

      The Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST. 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.

      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 American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline.

      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.

      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 Jaguar HH ST
      Pickups 60
      Sustain 80
      Versatility 64
      Tuning Stability 70
      Sound 69
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline
      Pickups 70
      Sustain 65
      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 Jaguar HH ST compares to the Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline.

      Country of Origin

      The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST is built in China while the Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline is made in United States.

      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.

      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 American Original 60s 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 Contemporary Jaguar HH ST 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 American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline comes with 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.

      Winner: Fender American Original 60s 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 Contemporary Jaguar HH ST's are Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts while the Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline's are Pure Vintage 70s with Fender Logo

      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 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
      Strengths & Weaknesses
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline
      • Made in United States
      • Expensive Wood
      • Bone Nut
      • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
      • No Locking Tuners
      • 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

      Final Build Quality Scores

      Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST
      Quality of materials 46
      Features 55
      Quality Control 55
      Build Quality 52
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline
      Quality of materials 61
      Features 55
      Quality Control 95
      Build Quality 70

      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 Jaguar HH ST Nut Width
      Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

      The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 42mm (1.654'').

      This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

      If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

      Scale Length

      Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST's Scale Length
      Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST's Scale Length
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline's Scale Length
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline'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 American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline 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 Jaguar HH ST Neck Profile
      Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST's neck profile
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline Neck Profile
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline'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 Jaguar HH ST and the Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline 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 Jaguar HH ST Fingerboard Radius
      Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST's Fingerboard radius
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline Fingerboard Radius
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline'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 American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST'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 Jaguar HH ST.

      Fret Size

      Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST Frets Size
      Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST's Frets Size
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline Frets Size
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline's Frets Size

      The Fender Squier Contemporary Jaguar HH ST has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline's Vintage Tall 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 Jaguar HH ST
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 100
      Chord Playability 70
      Solo Playability 80
      Playability 83
      Fender American Original 60s Telecaster Thinline
      Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
      Chord Playability 80
      Solo Playability 60
      Playability 68