Swap
Swap
Ibanez ATZ100
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
VS
Playability
73
Sound
79
Build
82
Value
68
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability
70
Sound
74
Build
64
Value
69
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Add to Compare
Add to Compare
Add more to comparison
Show Full Spec Comparison
Ibanez ATZ100 vs Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Specs Comparison
Ibanez ATZ100 Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
General
Brand: Ibanez Fender
Year: 2019 2018
Configuration: HHH SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Japan Mexico
Series: AT Artist
Colors: Sunburst White
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: Wilkinson-Gotoh VSVG tremolo 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo Set Flat to Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh Magnum Lock machine heads w/H.A.P. Fender Vintage F Stamped
Fretboard: Roasted Maple Rosewood
Neck Material: 1pc Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Black Dot White Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: ATZ Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.91'' (23.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Stainless Steel 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 7.25"
Nut: Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 40.5mm (1.594'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: DiMarzio The Cruiser (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio The Cruiser (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio The Cruiser (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Chrome Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Ibanez ATZ100 pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez ATZ100's switch options
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster's switch options

Reasons to Get
Ibanez ATZ100 over Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Mexico
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2019 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
HHH vs SSS
High output without hum and tons of tone versatility
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.91'' (23.1mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.594'' (40.5mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster over Ibanez ATZ100

Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
SSS vs HHH
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.91'' (23.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.594'' (40.5mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
69 vs 68
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez ATZ100 vs Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio The Cruiser vs Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
DiMarzio The Cruiser vs Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
DiMarzio The Cruiser vs Fender Custom Ceramic Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Roasted Maple vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Bone vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez ATZ100 vs Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
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 Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT
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

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

Ibanez ATZ100:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Ibanez ATZ100 meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster meets only 5. 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 ATZ100
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • 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

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 Ibanez ATZ100

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Winner: Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez ATZ100 has an HHH configuration while the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster has SSS pickups.

A triple Humbucker (HHH) can be intimidating at first, but it's one of the combinations that offer the most tone versatility. You'll be able to have from a lot of output for Hard Rock genres, to warm and clean sounds that are more common in Jazz.

On the other hand, SSS is perfect for players who like to play clean. The definition you get between notes and the crispiness is unmatched by most other configurations. You can still use it for distortion, but you won't get the same kind of output and power compared to a humbucker, and the hum they produce also makes them less adequate for high gain.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

However, the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Ibanez ATZ100's and use them on any guitar:

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 Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster.

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.

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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez ATZ100
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

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 ATZ100 compares to the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez ATZ100 is built in Japan while the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster is made in Mexico.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

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: Ibanez ATZ100

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 ATZ100 has 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.

On the other hand, the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster 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: Tie.

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 Ibanez ATZ100 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: Ibanez ATZ100.

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: 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

The Ibanez ATZ100 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: Ibanez ATZ100.

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
Ibanez ATZ100
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • 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 ATZ100
Quality of materials 86
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 82
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
Quality of materials 61
Features 55
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 64

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 ATZ100 Nut Width
Ibanez ATZ100 Nut Width
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Nut Width
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 40.5mm (1.594''). This is a 1.5mm (0.06'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster, 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 ATZ100 and Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster'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

Ibanez ATZ100 Neck Profile
Ibanez ATZ100's neck profile
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster'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 ATZ100 and the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster 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 ATZ100 Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez ATZ100's Fingerboard radius
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster'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 Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez ATZ100'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 ATZ100.

Fret Size

Ibanez ATZ100 Frets Size
Ibanez ATZ100's Frets Size
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster Frets Size
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster's Frets Size

The Ibanez ATZ100 has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster'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

Ibanez ATZ100
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Fender Albert Hammond Jr Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 90
Solo Playability 60
Playability 70