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Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS
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Playability
77
Sound
80
Build
75
Value
77
Score
77
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
65
Value
71
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium vs Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS Specs Comparison
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS
General
Brand: Ibanez Fender
Year: 2022 2019
Configuration: HSH HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia United States
Series: RG American Performer
Colors: Black Sunburst, Black, Green, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: American Basswood Alder
Bridge: Edge 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh American Performer
Fretboard: Ebony Rosewood
Neck Material: 7pc Maple/Walnut Maple
Decoration: Acrylic & Abalone block White Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Wizard III Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.75'' (19.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 9.5"
Nut: Locking Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: DiMarzio The Tone Zone (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Double Tap Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio True Velvet (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Yosemite Single-Coil Stratocaster (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio Air Norton (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Yosemite Single-Coil Stratocaster (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium's switch options
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS's switch options

Reasons to Get
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium over Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS

Decorative Top
Poplar Burl vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Release Year
2022 vs 2019
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Wizard III vs Modern C
Thin neck for playing fast
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Bolt-On
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Pickups
HSH vs HSS
High output, round sound with a single-coil for cleans
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.75'' (19.1mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.83'' (21.1mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.685'' (42.8mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Edge vs Tremolo
Intense vibratos with more features than a Floyd Rose
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
77 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS over Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Neck Profile
Modern C vs Wizard III
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
HSS vs HSH
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.75'' (19.1mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.83'' (21.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.685'' (42.8mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Edge
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium vs Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS

Bridge Pickup
DiMarzio The Tone Zone vs Fender Double Tap Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
DiMarzio True Velvet vs Fender Yosemite Single-Coil Stratocaster
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
DiMarzio Air Norton vs Fender Yosemite Single-Coil Stratocaster
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Basswood vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Rosewood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Locking vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium vs Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck 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
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
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium Prices

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SET PRICE ALERT

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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 RGT1270PB Premium:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Beginner Friendliness

The Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium 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 RGT1270PB Premium
  • Comfortable shape
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners
  • Easy-to-use bridge

New Player Friendliness

Fender American Performer 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

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 RGT1270PB Premium

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Basswood wood pattern used for guitar building
Basswood

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Basswood is a lightweight type of wood that isn't as expensive as other popular choices for guitar building. It gives more power to the mid-range frequencies. Its color can vary from pale white to light brown. Find out more about Basswood.

Woods Used in the Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS

Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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.

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.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium has an HSH configuration while the Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS has HSS 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, 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

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 American Performer Stratocaster HSS 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 RGT1270PB Premium's and use them on any guitar:

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS'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 Performer Stratocaster HSS.

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 Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS 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.

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 American Performer Stratocaster HSS.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium
Pickups 85
Sustain 80
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 85
Sound 80
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 79

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 RGT1270PB Premium compares to the Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium is built in Indonesia while the Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS is made in United States.

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.

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 Performer Stratocaster HSS

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 RGT1270PB Premium 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 American Performer 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: 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 RGT1270PB Premium 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 RGT1270PB Premium.

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 RGT1270PB Premium's brige is a Edge. This is a double-locking tremolo system designed by Ibanez. It's a tremolo inspired by Floyd Roses but with its own design improvements, like a push-in arm, better-positioned fine-tuners for more right-hand comfortability, replaceable knife edges, and more mass for more sustain. These bridges offer tons of versatility, but they also require more work than simpler tremolos to set up.

On the other hand, the Fender American Performer 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: Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium's are Gotoh while the Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS's are American Performer

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 RGT1270PB Premium has a Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

On the other hand, the Fender American Performer 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: Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Neck-Through Build
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Tremolo
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium
Quality of materials 75
Features 75
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 75
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS
Quality of materials 51
Features 60
Quality Control 85
Build Quality 65

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 RGT1270PB Premium Nut Width
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium Nut Width
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS Nut Width
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.8mm (1.685''). This is a 0.2mm (0.008'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium, 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 RGT1270PB Premium and Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS'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 RGT1270PB Premium Neck Profile
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium's neck profile
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS Neck Profile
Fender American Performer 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.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium has a Wizard type of neck. This is thinner than most C-type necks. It won't get in your way if you want to play fast solos. It's not as slim as 'Super Wizard' necks, so it might fit you better if you don't like ultra-thin necks.

The Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS, on the other hand, has a C 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 RGT1270PB Premium Fingerboard Radius
Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium's Fingerboard radius
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS Fingerboard Radius
Fender American Performer 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 American Performer Stratocaster HSS's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium'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 RGT1270PB Premium.

Fret Size

Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium and Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS Frets Size
Both have a similar Jumbo fret size

Both have a Jumbo fret size. This is one of the tallest frets you can get. You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. It will give you the best sustain and all types of chords will be easier to play. However, you can end up changing the pitch of your notes if you press too hard, which is something people used to feeling the fretboard do when trying Jumbo frets for the first time.

Final Playability Scores

Ibanez RGT1270PB Premium
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 100
Playability 77
Fender American Performer Stratocaster HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70