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Ibanez KIKO10BP
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster
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Playability
77
Sound
84
Build
62
Value
74
Score
74
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Playability
72
Sound
72
Build
59
Value
73
Score
68
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez KIKO10BP vs Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster

Reasons to Get
Ibanez KIKO10BP over Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Vintage
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
KIKO10P vs Early 50s U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Switch Positions
5 vs 3
More tone options
Pickups
HSH vs SS
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Number of Frets
24 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.79'' (20.1mm) vs 0.91'' (23.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.88'' (22.4mm) vs 0.98'' (24.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Bridge
Edge Zero II vs Fixed
Intense vibrato effects and cheaper than Edge Zero
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 7.25'' (184.2mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
74 vs 73
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster over Ibanez KIKO10BP

Type of Frets
Vintage vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Early 50s U vs KIKO10P
Comfortable neck with more grip
Pickups
SS vs HSH
Beautiful cleans
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.91'' (23.1mm) vs 0.79'' (20.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.98'' (24.9mm) vs 0.88'' (22.4mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Bridge
Fixed vs Edge Zero II
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
7.25'' (184.2mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Ibanez KIKO10BP vs Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster

Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio KIKO original vs Fender Vintage-Style 50s Single-Coil Tele
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
DiMarzio KIKO original vs Fender Vintage-Style 50s Single-Coil Tele
Different Neck Pickup
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Locking vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez KIKO10BP vs Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck 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
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
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
  • Weight Relief
  • 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

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Ibanez KIKO10BP is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster's 68 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez KIKO10BP wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Ibanez KIKO10BP.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Ibanez KIKO10BP is the better choice.

The Ibanez KIKO10BP meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster meets only 3. 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 KIKO10BP
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

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

Ibanez KIKO10BP Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2021 KIKO series
  • Kiko Loureiro Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Alder body
  • Maple/Walnut neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Edge-Zero II bridge
  • KIKO10P Bolt-On neck
  • 24 Jumbo frets
  • Ibanez tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2019 Vintera series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 7.25" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 50s Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Vintage-Style 50s Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Brass Barrel Saddles bridge
  • Early 50s U Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Vintage frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.45lbs (3.4kgs) and 7.55lbs (3.4kgs)
  • 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 Both

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

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 KIKO10BP

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

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: Ibanez KIKO10BP.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez KIKO10BP has an HSH configuration while the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster has SS pickups.

HSH is a versatile pickup configuration that will give you the high output, full tone, and quiet sound of humbucker pickups, but with the possibility of using a single coil for cleaner tones. The disadvantage is that the middle single-coil pickup will have a noticeable lower volume, so you might want to adjust the height of the pickups. Another problem is that if you set the middle pickup too high, it might interfere with your picking hand.

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

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 Vintera 50s Telecaster has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender Vintera 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 Vintera 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

The Ibanez KIKO10BP gives you 5 switch options while the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster gives you 3. This means that the Ibanez KIKO10BP gives you more options to find the right pickup combination for the type of sound you want to achieve

Only the Ibanez KIKO10BP 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.

Ibanez KIKO10BP pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez KIKO10BP's switch options
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster'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: Ibanez KIKO10BP.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez KIKO10BP
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 84
Fender Vintera 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 KIKO10BP compares to the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez KIKO10BP is built in Indonesia while the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster is made in Mexico.

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.

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: 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 KIKO10BP has a Locking nut. Instead of a regular nut, this guitar has a locking system that will lock down the strings at the nut, preventing it from getting out of tune. It removes one of the disadvantages of tremolo bridges, tune stability.

On the other hand, the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster 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.

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 KIKO10BP's brige is a Edge Zero II. This is a cheaper version of Ibanez's Edge Zero bridges. It comes with the same locking stud bolts that lock down into the body and provide better stabilization, and with easier adjustment of the springs without having to remove the backplate thanks to a thumb-screw. However, the intonation in this cheaper version will require additional work.

Edge Zero IIs that come with the ZPS3 Zero Point system have two extra springs that help return the tremolo to the neutral position faster. These bridges offer tons of versatility, but they also require more work than simpler tremolos to set up.

On the other hand, the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster'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: Ibanez KIKO10BP.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Ibanez KIKO10BP's are Ibanez while the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster's are Vintage-Style

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
Ibanez KIKO10BP
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Retainer Bar
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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 KIKO10BP
Quality of materials 45
Features 65
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 62
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 59

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 KIKO10BP 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

Ibanez KIKO10BP and Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster'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 KIKO10BP Neck Profile
Ibanez KIKO10BP's neck profile
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Neck Profile
Fender Vintera 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 KIKO10BP has a C type of 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.

The Fender Vintera 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 KIKO10BP Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez KIKO10BP's Fingerboard radius
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Fingerboard Radius
Fender Vintera 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 Vintera 50s Telecaster's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez KIKO10BP'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 KIKO10BP.

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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster favors large hands more than the Ibanez KIKO10BP.

Ibanez KIKO10BP:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez KIKO10BP Frets Size
Ibanez KIKO10BP's Frets Size
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster Frets Size
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster's Frets Size

The Ibanez KIKO10BP has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster'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

Ibanez KIKO10BP
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 90
Playability 77
Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 100
Solo Playability 50
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez KIKO10BP vs Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster
General Ibanez KIKO10BP Fender Vintera 50s Telecaster
Brand: Ibanez Fender
Year: 2021 2019
Configuration: HSH SS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia Mexico
Series: KIKO Vintera
Colors: Gray Burst Sunburst, Blue, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: Edge-Zero II 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Strings-Through-Body Tele with Brass Barrel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Ibanez Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Rosewood Maple
Neck Material: Maple/Walnut Maple
Decoration: KIKO special Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: KIKO10P Early 50s U
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.79'' (20.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.88'' (22.4mm) 1st Fret: 0.91'' (23.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.98'' (24.9mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 16" 7.25"
Nut: Locking Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style 50s Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio KIKO original (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style 50s Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Dome
Pickup Mods: Coil Split None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1