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Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster
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Playability
73
Sound
77
Build
67
Value
62
Score
72
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Playability
75
Sound
77
Build
70
Value
74
Score
74
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Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster vs Jim Root Jazzmaster

Reasons to Get
Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster over Jim Root Jazzmaster

Neck Profile
SRV Thick Oval vs Modern C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
2 vs 0
More tone control
Pickups
SSS vs HH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.96'' (24.4mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster over Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster

Release Year
2014 vs 1992
From a more recent year
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Modern C vs SRV Thick Oval
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickups
HH vs SSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.96'' (24.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
74 vs 62
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster vs Jim Root Jazzmaster

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat vs EMG 81
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat vs EMG 60
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster vs Jim Root Jazzmaster

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 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 the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster is the better choice.

The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster 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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale

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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 1992 Artist series
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • SRV Thick Oval Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • 6-in-Line American Vintage tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2014 Artist series
  • Jim Root Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking tuners
  • 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

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

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.

Winner: Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster.

Pickup Configuration

The Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster has an SSS configuration while the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster has HH pickups.

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.

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

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster's online:

The Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster's pickups are Passive while the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster's are Active.

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: Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster.

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 Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster gives you 3. This means that the Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster 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.

Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster's switch options
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster'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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 77
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster
Pickups 90
Sustain 90
Versatility 47
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77

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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster compares to the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

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: 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.

In this case, both have Synthetic Bone nuts. 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.

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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster'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 Jim Root Jazzmaster'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

The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster 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: Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster.

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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster
  • Made in United States
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 67
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster
Quality of materials 51
Features 75
Quality Control 85
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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster Nut Width
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster has the wider nut with 42.8mm (1.685'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.8mm (0.031'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster, 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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster and Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster'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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster's neck profile
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster Neck Profile
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster'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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster has a V type of neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

The Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster, on the other hand, has a C 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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster's Fingerboard radius
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster Fretboard Compound Radius
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster's Compound 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 Jim Root Jazzmaster is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

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 Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster favors large hands more than the Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster.

Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster and Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster Frets Size
Both have a similar Narrow Tall fret size

Both have a Narrow Tall fret size. Their height is very similar to Jumbo frets, but they have a narrower crown. They won't let you feel the fretboard when playing, which will make it easier to get clean notes. However, if you press down too hard you might get the notes out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Fender Jim Root Jazzmaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster vs Jim Root Jazzmaster
General Fender Stevie Ray Vaughan Stratocaster Jim Root Jazzmaster
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 1992 2014
Configuration: SSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Artist
Colors: Sunburst Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Mahogany
Bridge: 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: 6-in-Line American Vintage Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Ebony
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Ivory Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: SRV Thick Oval Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.96'' (24.4mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Texas Special Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive) EMG 60 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 0