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Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
VS
Playability
72
Sound
74
Build
57
Value
78
Score
68
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Playability
75
Sound
67
Build
54
Value
75
Score
65
FIND IT ON:
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Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod vs Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

Reasons to Get
Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod over Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

Release Year
2022 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Roswell vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Pickups
HS vs HH
High output with bright neck cleans
Value Score
78 vs 75
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH over Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Vintage
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Pickups
HH vs HS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes

Other Key Differences
Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod vs Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

Bridge Pickup
Roswell TEK-B AlNiCo-5 Stacked TE Humbucker vs Ceramic Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Roswell THE AlNiCo-5 Vintage TE Single Coil vs Ceramic Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Ash vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Graphite vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod vs Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod is probably the better product overall with its final score of 68 compared to the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH's 65 score, although not by a lot.

The Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod wins when it comes to sound, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH is the better choice.

The Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod 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 TE-69 Hot Rod
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

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.

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod Overview

  • From Harley Benton's 2022 Vintage series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Ash body
  • Caramelized Canadian Maple neck
  • Caramelized Canadian Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Roswell TEK-B AlNiCo-5 Stacked TE Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Roswell THE AlNiCo-5 Vintage TE Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Fixed bridge
  • C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage frets
  • Kluson style tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2018 Contemporary series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Standard Die-Cast 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 the Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH

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.

Winner: Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod.

Pickup Configuration

The Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod has an HS configuration while the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH has HH pickups.

An HS configuration gives you a bridge pickup with a lot of output for playing distortion parts, but you'll also have the bright sound of a Tele or Strat neck pickup for your clean tones.

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 TE-69 Hot Rod has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH. 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.

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: Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod 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.

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod's switch options
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH'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: Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 74
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
Pickups 60
Sustain 85
Versatility 54
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 TE-69 Hot Rod compares to the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH.

Country of Origin

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

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: 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.

The Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod 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 Telecaster HH 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 Telecaster HH.

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 Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod's are Kluson style while the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH's are Standard Die-Cast

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
Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
  • 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 TE-69 Hot Rod
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 57
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
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 TE-69 Hot Rod 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

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod and Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH'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 TE-69 Hot Rod Neck Profile
Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod's neck profile
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Neck Profile
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH'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 Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod and the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH 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

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod and the Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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.

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

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod Frets Size
Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod's Frets Size
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH Frets Size
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod'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

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Fender Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 75

Specs Side-by-Side

Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod vs Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
General Harley Benton TE-69 Hot Rod Squier Contemporary Telecaster HH
Brand: Harley Benton Fender Squier
Year: 2022 2018
Configuration: HS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Vintage Contemporary
Colors: Natural White, Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: Ash Poplar
Bridge: Fixed 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Kluson style Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Caramelized Canadian Maple Maple
Neck Material: Caramelized Canadian Maple Maple
Decoration: Dot fretboard Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: C Modern C
Frets: 21 Vintage Nickel Silver 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Graphite Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Roswell TEK-B AlNiCo-5 Stacked TE Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Roswell THE AlNiCo-5 Vintage TE Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1