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Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
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Playability
80
Sound
65
Build
52
Value
76
Score
66
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Playability
70
Sound
69
Build
59
Value
76
Score
66
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Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 vs Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS

Reasons to Get
Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 over Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS

Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 9.5"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Profile
Speed vs Modern C
Thin and flat neck for playing fast
Pickups
HH vs HSS
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
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

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS over Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2019 vs 2015
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Modern C vs Speed
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
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 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
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

Other Key Differences
Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 vs Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS

Bridge Pickup
Jackson High-Output Humbucking vs Fender Designed Alnico Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Jackson High-Output Humbucking vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Purpleheart vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 vs Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS

Neck Wood
Maple
Same Neck Wood
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Locking Tuners
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • 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 both instruments scored 66 out of 100, which makes them similar in terms of quality.

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 has the upper hand when it comes to playability.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 6 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

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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.

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 Overview

  • From Jackson's 2015 JS series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Purpleheart fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece bridge
  • Speed Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2019 Classic Vibe series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Maple neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.55lbs (3.4kgs) and 7.75lbs (3.5kgs)
  • 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 Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22

Purpleheart wood pattern used for guitar building
Purpleheart
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS

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: Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22.

Pickup Configuration

The Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 has an HH configuration while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS gives you 5 switch options while the Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 gives you 3. This means that the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 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.

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22's switch options
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS'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: Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 54
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 65
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
Pickups 60
Sustain 80
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 69

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 Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 compares to the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 is built in China while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS is made in Indonesia.

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.

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.

Winner: Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 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 Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS comes with 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.

Winner: Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 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 Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22'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 Classic Vibe 70s 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 Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22's are Jackson Sealed Die-Cast while the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS'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
Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • 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 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
  • Bone Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22
Quality of materials 41
Features 60
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 52
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
Quality of materials 56
Features 55
Quality Control 65
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

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 Nut Width
Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 Nut Width
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Nut Width
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS has the wider nut with 42mm (1.654'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 0.7mm (0.029'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22's Scale Length
Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22's Scale Length
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS's Scale Length
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 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 Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS has the longest scale: 25.5". The Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 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

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 Neck Profile
Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22's neck profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Neck Profile
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 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 Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 has a D type of neck. This is a thin and flat neck that is made for playing fast. If you prefer a neck that doesn't get in your way when soloing, this is the shape you should use. Guitarists that prefer to have a bit more grip won't like this type of neck.

The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 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

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 Fretboard Compound Radius
Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22's Compound Fretboard Radius
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 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 Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 is the only one with a compound radius. This is a huge win because it will give you the best of both worlds: a more curved radius in the first few frets for chords, and flatter as you come closer to the body for soloing.

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 Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS favors large hands more than the Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 and Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s 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

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 80
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 vs Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
General Jackson JS Series Monarkh SC JS22 Squier Classic Vibe 70s Stratocaster HSS
Brand: Jackson Fender Squier
Year: 2015 2019
Configuration: HH HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China Indonesia
Series: JS Classic Vibe
Colors: White, Brown Burst, Red, Black Satin Black, Brown
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Poplar
Bridge: Jackson TOM-Style Adjustable with Anchored Tailpiece 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Jackson Sealed Die-Cast Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Purpleheart Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dot White Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Speed Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.775'' (19.7mm) - 12th Fret: 0.835'' (21.2mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" to 16" 9.5"
Nut: Plastic Bone
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2