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Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster
Gibson 70s Explorer
VS
Playability
72
Sound
64
Build
55
Value
69
Score
64
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Playability
73
Sound
72
Build
67
Value
61
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster vs Gibson 70s Explorer Specs Comparison
Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster Gibson 70s Explorer
General
Brand: Fender Squier Gibson
Year: 2024 2019
Configuration: H HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China United States
Series: Hello Kitty Original Collection
Colors: White White
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Mahogany
Bridge: 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Set
Tuners: Vintage-Style with White Buttons Regular Tuners
Fretboard: Maple Rosewood
Neck Material: Maple Mahogany
Decoration: Red Dot Acrylic Dots
Scale Size: 25.5" 24.75"
Shape: C Slim Taper
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 12"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Ivory Tusq
Nut Width: 41.9mm (1.65'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Fender Designed Alnico Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Gibson 70s Tribute (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gibson 70s Tribute (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 0 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Speed
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 0 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Gibson 70s Explorer pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson 70s Explorer's switch options

Reasons to Get
Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster over Gibson 70s Explorer

Release Year
2024 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Pickups
H vs HH
Hum-free with more right hand freedom and sustain
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
69 vs 61
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Gibson 70s Explorer over Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Gibson vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Switch Positions
3 vs 0
More tone options
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
1 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
HH vs H
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) 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

Other Key Differences
Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster vs Gibson 70s Explorer

Bridge Pickup
Fender Designed Alnico Humbucking vs Gibson 70s Tribute
Different Bridge Pickup
Body Wood
Poplar vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Ivory Tusq
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster vs Gibson 70s Explorer

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
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

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster Prices

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    Hand Size Comfortability

    After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both favor small hands .

    Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Gibson 70s Explorer:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson 70s Explorer 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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Gibson 70s Explorer
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • 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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
    Poplar

    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.

    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 Gibson 70s Explorer

    Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
    Mahogany
    Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
    Rosewood

    Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

    Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

    Winner: Gibson 70s Explorer.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster has an H configuration while the Gibson 70s Explorer has HH pickups.

    A single H pickup gives you the advantage of having a little longer sustain (all other things being equal) because there will be less magnetic fields from other pickups affecting the strings' vibration. However, they also give you the least versatility because you won't have other pickups at different distances from the bridge to create different tones. A single humbucking pickup is used for noiseless high output, which is used mainly for Hard Rock genres.

    On the other hand, 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

    The Gibson 70s Explorer pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster. 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.

    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: Gibson 70s Explorer.

    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 Gibson 70s Explorer gives you 3 switch options while the Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster gives you 0. This means that the Gibson 70s Explorer 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: Gibson 70s Explorer.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster
    Pickups 60
    Sustain 85
    Versatility 42
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 64
    Gibson 70s Explorer
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 51
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 72

    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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster compares to the Gibson 70s Explorer.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster is built in China while the Gibson 70s Explorer 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: Gibson 70s Explorer

    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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster 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 Gibson 70s Explorer comes with a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

    Winner: Tie.

    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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster's are Vintage-Style with White Buttons while the Gibson 70s Explorer's are Regular Tuners

    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.

    The Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster has 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.

    On the other hand, the Gibson 70s Explorer comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

    Winner: Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster.

    Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster
    • 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
    Gibson 70s Explorer
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Ivory Tusq Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • 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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster
    Quality of materials 56
    Features 50
    Quality Control 60
    Build Quality 55
    Gibson 70s Explorer
    Quality of materials 56
    Features 50
    Quality Control 95
    Build Quality 67

    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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster Nut Width
    Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster Nut Width
    Gibson 70s Explorer Nut Width
    Gibson 70s Explorer Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson 70s Explorer has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 41.9mm (1.65''). This is a 1.1mm (0.043'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson 70s Explorer, 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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster's Scale Length
    Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster's Scale Length
    Gibson 70s Explorer's Scale Length
    Gibson 70s Explorer'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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster has the longest scale: 25.5". The Gibson 70s Explorer is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) 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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster Neck Profile
    Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster's neck profile
    Gibson 70s Explorer Neck Profile
    Gibson 70s Explorer'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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster and the Gibson 70s Explorer 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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
    Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster's Fingerboard radius
    Gibson 70s Explorer Fingerboard Radius
    Gibson 70s Explorer'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 Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Gibson 70s Explorer'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 Gibson 70s Explorer.

    Fret Size

    Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster Frets Size
    Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster's Frets Size
    Gibson 70s Explorer Frets Size
    Gibson 70s Explorer's Frets Size

    The Fender Squier Hello Kitty White Stratocaster has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Gibson 70s Explorer's Medium Jumbo 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 Hello Kitty White Stratocaster
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
    Chord Playability 70
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 72
    Gibson 70s Explorer
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 65
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 73