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Ibanez YY20
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
VS
Playability
72
Sound
75
Build
69
Value
72
Score
72
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Playability
72
Sound
65
Build
54
Value
74
Score
64
FIND IT ON:
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Ibanez YY20 vs Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

Reasons to Get
Ibanez YY20 over Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2022 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Pickups Brand
Seymour Duncan vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickups
SS vs HH
Beautiful cleans
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.614'' (41mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH over Ibanez YY20

Pickups
HH vs SS
High output without hum
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.614'' (41mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Value Score
74 vs 72
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Ibanez YY20 vs Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

Bridge Pickup
Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro APS1 vs Standard Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro APS1 vs Standard Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Bone vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Ibanez YY20 vs Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
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
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
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
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • 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 YY20 is probably the better product overall with its final score of 72 compared to the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH's 64 score, although not by a lot.

The Ibanez YY20 wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Ibanez YY20
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • 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 YY20 Overview

  • From Ibanez's 2022 YY series
  • Yvette Young Signature
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro APS1 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro APS1 (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gotoh GTC202 bridge
  • YY Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2017 Affinity Series series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Standard Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium frets
  • Standard Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 7.688lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.188lbs (3.7kgs)
  • 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

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 YY20

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH

Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
Poplar

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.

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.

Winner: Ibanez YY20.

Pickup Configuration

The Ibanez YY20 has an SS configuration while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH has HH pickups.

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.

On the other hand, 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.

Pickups Quality

The Ibanez YY20 has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH. Its pickups should simply give you a better, fuller sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Country and similar genres.

You can purchase similar pickups to the Ibanez YY20'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: Ibanez YY20.

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.

Ibanez YY20 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Ibanez YY20's switch options
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH'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: Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Ibanez YY20
Pickups 100
Sustain 65
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 75
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Pickups 60
Sustain 75
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 65

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 YY20 compares to the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Ibanez YY20 is built in Indonesia while the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH is made in China.

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.

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: Ibanez YY20

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 YY20 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 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH 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.

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

The Ibanez YY20 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 YY20.

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 YY20
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Luminescent Inlay
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • 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 Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Ibanez YY20
Quality of materials 66
Features 65
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 69
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 54

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 YY20 Nut Width
Ibanez YY20 Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Nut Width
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41mm (1.614''). This is a 1mm (0.04'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH, 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 YY20 and Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH'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 YY20 Neck Profile
Ibanez YY20's neck profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Neck Profile
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH'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 YY20 and the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH 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 YY20 Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard 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.

Both the Ibanez YY20 and the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

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 Ibanez YY20 favors large hands more than the Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Ibanez YY20:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Ibanez YY20 and Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Ibanez YY20
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72
Fender Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Ibanez YY20 vs Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
General Ibanez YY20 Squier Affinity Series Jazzmaster HH
Brand: Ibanez Fender Squier
Year: 2022 2017
Configuration: SS HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: YY Affinity Series
Colors: Orange White, Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Poplar
Bridge: Gotoh GTC202 6-Saddle Strings-Through-Body Hardtail
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Gotoh MG-T locking machine heads Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Rosewood Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: YY Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.83'' (21.1mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Medium Nickel Silver 21 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Bone Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 41mm (1.614'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro APS1 (Single Coil / Passive) Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro APS1 (Single Coil / Passive) Standard Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1