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Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH
Ibanez AT100CL
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Playability
75
Sound
66
Build
49
Value
73
Score
63
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Playability
73
Sound
79
Build
75
Value
66
Score
76
FIND IT ON:
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Show Full Spec Comparison
Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH vs Ibanez AT100CL Specs Comparison
Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH Ibanez AT100CL
General
Brand: Fender Squier Ibanez
Year: 2021 2009
Configuration: HH HHH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Japan
Series: Contemporary AT
Colors: Gold, White, Gray Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Alder
Bridge: 6-Saddle Standard Strings-Through-Body Tele with Block Saddles Wilkinson-Gotoh VSVG tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sealed Die-Cast with Split Shafts Gotoh Magnum Lock machine heads w/H.A.P.
Fretboard: Roasted Maple Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Modern C AT
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Graphite Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 40.5mm (1.594'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Squier SQR Rail Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio AT-1 (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio The Cruiser (Humbucker / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) DiMarzio The Cruiser (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH's switch options
Ibanez AT100CL pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AT100CL's switch options

Reasons to Get
Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH over Ibanez AT100CL

Release Year
2021 vs 2009
From a more recent year
Pickups
HH vs HHH
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.594'' (40.5mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Value Score
73 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AT100CL over Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Pickups Brand
DiMarzio vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HHH vs HH
High output without hum and tons of tone versatility
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.594'' (40.5mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance

Other Key Differences
Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH vs Ibanez AT100CL

Bridge Pickup
Squier SQR Rail Humbucking vs DiMarzio AT-1
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Squier SQR Atomic Humbucking vs DiMarzio The Cruiser
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH vs Ibanez AT100CL

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
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
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
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Ibanez AT100CL 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 Ibanez AT100CL favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

    Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Ibanez AT100CL:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Ibanez AT100CL meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH 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 Telecaster RH
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Ibanez AT100CL
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • 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 Telecaster RH

    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 Ibanez AT100CL

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
    Alder

    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.

    Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

    Winner: Tie.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH has an HH configuration while the Ibanez AT100CL has HHH 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 triple Humbucker (HHH) can be intimidating at first, but it's one of the combinations that offer the most tone versatility. You'll be able to have from a lot of output for Hard Rock genres, to warm and clean sounds that are more common in Jazz.

    Pickups Quality

    The Ibanez AT100CL pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH. 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 Hard Rock and similar genres.

    We found the same or similar pickups to the Ibanez AT100CL's online:

    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: Ibanez AT100CL.

    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

    The Ibanez AT100CL gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez AT100CL gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

    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: Ibanez AT100CL.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH
    Pickups 60
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 54
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 66
    Ibanez AT100CL
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 72
    Tuning Stability 75
    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 Telecaster RH compares to the Ibanez AT100CL.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH is built in China while the Ibanez AT100CL is made in Japan.

    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.

    Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

    Winner: Ibanez AT100CL

    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 Telecaster RH 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 Ibanez AT100CL 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: Ibanez AT100CL.

    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 Telecaster RH's brige 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.

    On the other hand, the Ibanez AT100CL's 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.

    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

    The Ibanez AT100CL has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

    Winner: Ibanez AT100CL.

    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 Telecaster RH
    • 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 Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Ibanez AT100CL
    • Locking Tuners
    • Made in Japan
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Expensive Woods
    • 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

    Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH
    Quality of materials 41
    Features 50
    Quality Control 55
    Build Quality 49
    Ibanez AT100CL
    Quality of materials 66
    Features 65
    Quality Control 95
    Build Quality 75

    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 Telecaster RH Nut Width
    Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH Nut Width
    Ibanez AT100CL Nut Width
    Ibanez AT100CL Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 40.5mm (1.594''). This is a 1.5mm (0.06'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH, 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 Telecaster RH and Ibanez AT100CL'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 Telecaster RH Neck Profile
    Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH's neck profile
    Ibanez AT100CL Neck Profile
    Ibanez AT100CL'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 Telecaster RH and the Ibanez AT100CL 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 Telecaster RH 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 Telecaster RH and the Ibanez AT100CL 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.

    Fret Size

    Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH and Ibanez AT100CL Frets Size
    Both have a similar Jumbo 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.

    Final Playability Scores

    Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster RH
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 60
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 75
    Ibanez AT100CL
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
    Chord Playability 60
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 73