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Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
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Playability
70
Sound
78
Build
70
Value
83
Score
73
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
54
Value
74
Score
64
FIND IT ON:
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Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS vs Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Specs Comparison
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
General
Brand: Harley Benton Fender Squier
Year: 2024 2018
Configuration: HSS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Pro Contemporary
Colors: Black, Blue, Green, Burst Green, Gray
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Poplar
Bridge: Tremolo 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Sung-Il ML-55 locking machine heads with HB logo Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Laurel Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Caramelised Canadian Maple Maple
Decoration: Dot Cream Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Harley Benton D Modern C
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 12"
Nut: Graphite Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Tesla VR-Nitro Alnico 5 Humbuckers (Humbucker / Passive) Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup: Tesla TV-S1M Alnico 5 Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Tesla TV-S1M Alnico 5 Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Black & Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS's switch options
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's switch options

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS over Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2024 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Harley Benton D vs Modern C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups Brand
Tesla vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSS vs HH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
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
Value Score
83 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST over Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS

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 Profile
Modern C vs Harley Benton D
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS vs Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

Bridge Pickup
Tesla VR-Nitro Alnico 5 Humbuckers vs Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Tesla TV-S1M Alnico 5 Single Coil vs Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS vs Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone 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

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

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    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST favors large hands more than the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS meets 7 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Short scale

    New Player Friendliness

    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    • 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 Both

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
    Laurel

    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.

    There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

    Woods Used in the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS

    Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
    Alder

    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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

    Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
    Poplar

    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.

    Winner: Tie.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS has an HSS configuration while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST has HH pickups.

    HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

    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 Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller 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.

    The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS's pickups are Passive while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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: Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS.

    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 Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST gives you 3. This means that the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

    Only the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

    Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

    When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

    Winner: Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 65
    Versatility 80
    Tuning Stability 75
    Sound 78
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    Pickups 60
    Sustain 90
    Versatility 49
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 67

    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 Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS compares to the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS is built in Indonesia while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST is made in China.

    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.

    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.

    Winner: Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS

    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 Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS 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 Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST comes with 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.

    Winner: Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST.

    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.

    In this comparison, the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

    Winner: Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS.

    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 Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS'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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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 Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS 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: Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS.

    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
    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS
    • Stainless Steel Frets
    • Locking Tuners
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Split Pickups
    • Tremolo
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Made in Indonesia
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    • 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

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS
    Quality of materials 66
    Features 80
    Quality Control 65
    Build Quality 70
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    Quality of materials 56
    Features 50
    Quality Control 55
    Build Quality 54

    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

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Nut Width
    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Nut Width
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Nut Width
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

    Scale Length

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS and Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Neck Profile
    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS's neck profile
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Neck Profile
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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 Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS has a D type of neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

    The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST, 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

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Fretboard Compound Radius
    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS's Compound Fretboard Radius
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Fingerboard Radius
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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 Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS 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.

    Fret Size

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS Frets Size
    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS's Frets Size
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Frets Size
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's Frets Size

    The Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS'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

    Harley Benton ST-Modern Plus HSS
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
    Chord Playability 80
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 70
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 50
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 72