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Ibanez ART120QA
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
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Playability
73
Sound
62
Build
50
Value
72
Score
62
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Playability
67
Sound
67
Build
55
Value
73
Score
63
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Ibanez ART120QA vs Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Specs Comparison
Ibanez ART120QA Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
General
Brand: Ibanez Fender Squier
Year: 2020 2019
Configuration: HH HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: ART Affinity Series
Colors: Sunburst, Black Burst White, Black, Green, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Poplar Poplar
Bridge: Gibraltar Performer 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Ibanez Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Purpleheart Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White block Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: ART Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Plastic Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Classic Elite (Humbucker / Passive) Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Classic Elite (Humbucker / Passive) Standard Single-Coil Strat (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Speed Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Ibanez ART120QA pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez ART120QA's switch options
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's switch options

Reasons to Get
Ibanez ART120QA over Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS

Decorative Top
Quilted Maple Art Grain vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2020 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
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
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

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS over Ibanez ART120QA

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HSS vs HH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
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
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
Value Score
73 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez ART120QA vs Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS

Bridge Pickup
Classic Elite vs Standard Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Classic Elite vs Standard Single-Coil Strat
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Purpleheart vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez ART120QA vs Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS

Body Wood
Poplar
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium vs Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Ibanez ART120QA Prices

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Hand Size Comfortability

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

Ibanez ART120QA:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez ART120QA 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 ART120QA
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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
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.

Woods Used in the Ibanez ART120QA

Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart

Purpleheart (also known as Amaranth) is a hard, dense wood with a brilliant tone. As its name suggests, the purple color makes this wood look exotic.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez ART120QA has an HH configuration while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS has HSS 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, 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.

Pickups Quality

None of these use a specialized pickup brand for their pickups. Some of the best guitars on the market come with pickups from brands like EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. You might want to replace your pickups eventually if you want to get the best sound out of any of these instruments.

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 Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS gives you 5 switch options while the Ibanez ART120QA gives you 3. This means that the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

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 Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez ART120QA
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 62
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
Pickups 60
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
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 Ibanez ART120QA compares to the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS.

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 Ibanez ART120QA 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 Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS 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 Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS.

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 Ibanez ART120QA'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 Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's 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.

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 ART120QA's are Ibanez while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS'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.

The Ibanez ART120QA 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 Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS 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 Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez ART120QA
  • 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 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Tremolo
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez ART120QA
Quality of materials 45
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 50
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 55

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 ART120QA Nut Width
Ibanez ART120QA Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez ART120QA 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 ART120QA, 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 ART120QA's Scale Length
Ibanez ART120QA's Scale Length
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's Scale Length
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS'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 Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS has the longest scale: 25.5". The Ibanez ART120QA 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 ART120QA Neck Profile
Ibanez ART120QA's neck profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Neck Profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS'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 Ibanez ART120QA and the Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS 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

Ibanez ART120QA Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez ART120QA's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS'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 Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez ART120QA'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 ART120QA.

Fret Size

Ibanez ART120QA Frets Size
Ibanez ART120QA's Frets Size
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS Frets Size
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS's Frets Size

The Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Ibanez ART120QA'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 ART120QA
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
Fender Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67