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Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby
VS
Playability
68
Sound
75
Build
60
Value
73
Score
68
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Playability
70
Sound
71
Build
60
Value
67
Score
67
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified vs Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby

Reasons to Get
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified over Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Fender Soft V vs Early 60s C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Pickup Mods
Phase Out vs None
Interesting thin tone when combining pickups
Switch Positions
4 vs 3
More tone options
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.81'' (20.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.99'' (25.1mm) vs 0.88'' (22.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Bigsby Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
73 vs 67
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby over Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified

Neck Profile
Early 60s C vs Fender Soft V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.81'' (20.6mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.88'' (22.4mm) vs 0.99'' (25.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Bigsby Tremolo vs Fixed
Intense vibrato with a solid arm
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified vs Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby

Bridge Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Vintage-Style Single-Coil Tele vs Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Tele
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Fender Custom Shop Twisted Single-Coil Tele vs Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Tele
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Maple vs Pau Ferro
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified vs Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
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
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
SS
Beautiful cleans
Number of Frets
21
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Vintage
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Expensive Wood
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified is probably the better product overall with its final score of 68 compared to the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified wins when it comes to sound, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby 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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified is the better choice.

The Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby meets only 3. 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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby
  • Comfortable shape
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified Overview

  • From Fender's 2019 Vintera series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Custom Shop Vintage-Style Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Custom Shop Twisted Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 4-way Switch
  • 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Chrome Barrel Saddles bridge
  • Fender Soft V Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby Overview

  • From Fender's 2019 Vintera series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge bridge
  • Early 60s C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 8.05lbs (3.7kgs) and 8.8lbs (4kgs)
  • 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
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.

Woods Used in the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby

Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are SS. 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

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby'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: 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

The Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified gives you 4 switch options while the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby gives you 3. This means that the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified comes with some kind of pickup modification: Phase Out.

When the Phase Out option is activated, the pickups will ''work against each other'', meaning that they will cancel out their shared frequencies. The result is a very thin sound, instead of a full, rich tone. This is an interesting sound for genres like reggae or funk and has also been used in classic Hard Rock.

Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified's switch options
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby'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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 75
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 59
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 71

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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified compares to the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby.

Country of Origin

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

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified'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 Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby's is a Bigsby Tremolo. Bigsby tremolos are built differently than regular tremolos. They have a stiffer arm, which is something a lot of people like because the arm won't wiggle around a lot. On the other hand, this type of tremolo is more complicated to restring and it might not be as newbie-friendly as other simpler tremolos.

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: Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. Both come with 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:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Phase Out Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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 Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • 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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 60

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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified 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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified and Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby'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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified Neck Profile
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified's neck profile
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby Neck Profile
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby'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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified 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 Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby, 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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified Fingerboard Radius
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified's Fingerboard radius
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby Fingerboard Radius
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby'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 Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified'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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified.

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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified favors large hands more than the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby.

Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified Frets Size
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified's Frets Size
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby Frets Size
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby's Frets Size

The Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby's Vintage 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 Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 50
Playability 68
Fender Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified vs Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby
General Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Modified Vintera 60s Telecaster Bigsby
Brand: Fender Fender
Year: 2019 2019
Configuration: SS SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Mexico Mexico
Series: Vintera Vintera
Colors: Blue, Green Sunburst
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Chrome Barrel Saddles 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Vintage-Style Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Maple Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot White Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Fender Soft V Early 60s C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.99'' (25.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.81'' (20.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm)
Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 9.5" 7.25"
Nut: Synthetic Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Vintage-Style Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Fender Custom Shop Twisted Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style 60s Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 4 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Phase Out None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1