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Ibanez AR520HFM
Fender American Original 50s Telecaster
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Playability
73
Sound
64
Build
55
Value
69
Score
64
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Playability
68
Sound
72
Build
69
Value
60
Score
70
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez AR520HFM vs Fender American Original 50s Telecaster Specs Comparison
Ibanez AR520HFM Fender American Original 50s Telecaster
General
Brand: Ibanez Fender
Year: 2021 2018
Configuration: HH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China United States
Series: AR American Original
Colors: Sunburst Yellow
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Semi-Hollow Solid Body
Body Material: Maple Ash
Bridge: Gibraltar Performer 3-Saddle American Vintage Strings-Through-Body Tele with Brass Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Ibanez Pure Vintage Single Line Fender Deluxe
Fretboard: Bound Jatoba Maple
Neck Material: 3pc Maple Maple
Decoration: Acrylic & Abalone block Black Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: AR Fender Vintage U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) - 12th Fret: 0.99'' (25.1mm)
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Plastic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Pure Vintage 52 Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Super 58 (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Pure Vintage 52 Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: Tri-Sound None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Gold Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Ibanez AR520HFM pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez AR520HFM's switch options
Fender American Original 50s Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender American Original 50s Telecaster's switch options

Reasons to Get
Ibanez AR520HFM over Fender American Original 50s Telecaster

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
AR vs Fender Vintage U
Thin neck for playing fast
Pickup Mods
Tri-Sound vs None
Grants 3 ways to modify the sound of the pickups
Body Type
Semi-Hollow vs Solid Body
Lighter and allows more gain than a hollowbody
Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.88'' (22.4mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.99'' (25.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
69 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender American Original 50s Telecaster over Ibanez AR520HFM

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Neck Profile
Fender Vintage U vs AR
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups Brand
Fender vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Body Type
Solid Body vs Semi-Hollow
Feedback free
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.88'' (22.4mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.99'' (25.1mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Ibanez AR520HFM vs Fender American Original 50s Telecaster

Bridge Pickup
Super 58 vs Fender Pure Vintage 52 Single-Coil Tele
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Super 58 vs Fender Pure Vintage 52 Single-Coil Tele
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Maple vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Jatoba vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez AR520HFM vs Fender American Original 50s Telecaster

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Type of Frets
Medium vs Vintage Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender American Original 50s Telecaster Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

    These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender American Original 50s Telecaster favors large hands more than the Ibanez AR520HFM.

    Ibanez AR520HFM:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Fender American Original 50s Telecaster meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez AR520HFM 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

    Ibanez AR520HFM
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Comfortable neck
    • 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

    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 Ibanez AR520HFM

    Jatoba wood pattern used for guitar building
    Jatoba

    Jatoba is a hard and dense wood that emphasizes the mid-lows, giving a fuller, more round sound than, for example, Mahogany. However, it also has a lot of clarity in the top end. Find out more about Jatoba.

    Woods Used in the Fender American Original 50s Telecaster

    Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
    Ash

    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.

    Winner: Fender American Original 50s Telecaster.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Ibanez AR520HFM has an HH configuration while the Fender American Original 50s Telecaster has SS pickups.

    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.

    On the other hand, 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

    The Fender American Original 50s Telecaster pickups from a more specialized brand than the Ibanez AR520HFM. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Country and similar genres.

    We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender American Original 50s Telecaster'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: Fender American Original 50s Telecaster.

    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 Ibanez AR520HFM comes with some kind of pickup modification: Tri-Sound.

    Tri-Sound gives you the choice of using the pickup coils at the same time, splitting them or connect them im parallel for a brighter sound.

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

    Winner: Ibanez AR520HFM.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Ibanez AR520HFM
    Pickups 60
    Sustain 70
    Versatility 59
    Tuning Stability 65
    Sound 64
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster
    Pickups 100
    Sustain 65
    Versatility 54
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 72

    Build Quality Comparison

    When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Ibanez AR520HFM compares to the Fender American Original 50s Telecaster.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez AR520HFM is built in China while the Fender American Original 50s Telecaster is made in United States.

    China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

    The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

    Winner: Fender American Original 50s Telecaster

    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 Ibanez AR520HFM has a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

    On the other hand, the Fender American Original 50s Telecaster comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

    Winner: Fender American Original 50s Telecaster.

    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 Ibanez AR520HFM's are Ibanez while the Fender American Original 50s Telecaster's are Pure Vintage Single Line Fender Deluxe

    Winner: Tie.

    Neck Joint

    Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

    The Ibanez AR520HFM has a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

    On the other hand, the Fender American Original 50s Telecaster comes with 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: Fender American Original 50s Telecaster.

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

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Ibanez AR520HFM
    • Tri-Sound Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Expensive Woods
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster
    • Made in United States
    • Expensive Wood
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Ibanez AR520HFM
    Quality of materials 45
    Features 60
    Quality Control 60
    Build Quality 55
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster
    Quality of materials 61
    Features 50
    Quality Control 95
    Build Quality 69

    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

    Ibanez AR520HFM Nut Width
    Ibanez AR520HFM Nut Width
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster Nut Width
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez AR520HFM 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 Ibanez AR520HFM, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

    Scale Length

    Ibanez AR520HFM's Scale Length
    Ibanez AR520HFM's Scale Length
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster's Scale Length
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster's Scale Length

    The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

    The Fender American Original 50s Telecaster has the longest scale: 25.5". The Ibanez AR520HFM is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.75'' (19.1mm) scale length difference.

    This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

    This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

    Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

    Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

    Neck Profile

    Ibanez AR520HFM Neck Profile
    Ibanez AR520HFM's neck profile
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster Neck Profile
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster'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 Ibanez AR520HFM has a SA type of neck. Like most Ibanez necks, it's thinner than most modern C necks. It's very similar in thickness and shape to their unique Wizard profile.

    The Fender American Original 50s Telecaster, on the other hand, has a U neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

    Fretboard Radius

    Ibanez AR520HFM Fingerboard Radius
    Ibanez AR520HFM's Fingerboard radius
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster'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 American Original 50s Telecaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez AR520HFM'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 Ibanez AR520HFM.

    Fret Size

    Ibanez AR520HFM Frets Size
    Ibanez AR520HFM's Frets Size
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster Frets Size
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster's Frets Size

    The Fender American Original 50s Telecaster has Vintage Tall frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez AR520HFM's Medium 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

    Ibanez AR520HFM
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 65
    Solo Playability 70
    Playability 73
    Fender American Original 50s Telecaster
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
    Chord Playability 90
    Solo Playability 50
    Playability 68