Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special vs 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
Reasons to Get
Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special over 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
Reasons to Get
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition over Contemporary Stratocaster Special
Other Key Differences
Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special vs 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
Shared Features
Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special vs 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
Common Weaknesses
- Neck-Through Build
- Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
- Weight Relief
- Locking Tuners
- Stays in Tune (Evertune)
- High-Quality Frets
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Luminescent Sidedots
- Strap Lock
- Top Pickup Brand
- Expensive Wood
- 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- Active/Passive Preamp
Table of Contents
Price History Comparison
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.
Which One is Better Overall?
After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition is probably the better product overall with its final score of 66 compared to the Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special's 64 score, although not by a lot.
The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special has the upper hand when it comes to playability.
If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special is easier to play.
Which One is Better for Beginners?
If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition is the better choice.
The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special meets only 5. 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 Stratocaster Special- Comfortable shape
- Easy-to-use bridge
- Tall frets
- Narrow nut
- Comfortable neck
- Comfortable fretboard
- Short scale
- Locking tuners
New Player Friendliness
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition- Comfortable shape
- Easy-to-use bridge
- Comfortable fretboard
- Tall frets
- Narrow nut
- Comfortable neck
- 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 Stratocaster Special Overview
- From Fender Squier's 2021 Contemporary series
- Made in China
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Poplar body
- Roasted Maple neck
- Roasted Maple fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Squier SQR Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Squier SQR Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Squier SQR Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
- 5-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
- Weight between 7lbs (3.2kgs) and 7.45lbs (3.4kgs)
- Compare Specs >
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition Overview
- From Fender Squier's 2022 40th Anniversary Vintage series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 9.5" Fretboard Radius
- Nyatoh body
- Maple neck
- Maple fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Middle pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
- 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
- 5-way Switch
- 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
- C Shape Bolt-On neck
- 21 Narrow Tall frets
- Vintage-Style tuners
- Weight between 7.15lbs (3.2kgs) and 8lbs (3.6kgs)
- 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 the Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special
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 Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
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.
Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.
Winner: Tie.
Pickup Configuration
Both pickup configurations are SSS. SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.
Pickups Quality
None of these use a specialized pickup brand for their pickups. Some of the best guitars on the market come with pickups from brands like EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. You might want to replace your pickups eventually if you want to get the best sound out of any of these instruments.
Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.
Winner: Tie.
Versatility Comparison
Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.
Switch Options
Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.
Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.
When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.
Winner: Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition.
Final Sound Quality Scores
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 Stratocaster Special compares to the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition.
Country of Origin
The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special is built in China while the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition is made in Indonesia.
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.
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.
Winner: Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
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 Stratocaster Special 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 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition 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 Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition.
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: 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.
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 Stratocaster Special's are Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts while the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition's are Vintage-Style
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:
Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special
- 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
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
- Bone Nut
- Tremolo
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
Final Build Quality Scores
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
The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special 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 Contemporary Stratocaster Special, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.
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
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 Stratocaster Special and the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition 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
Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.
In this case, the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special'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 Stratocaster Special.
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 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special.
Fender Squier Contemporary Stratocaster Special:
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition:
Fret Size
Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.
