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Music Man Cutlass HT SSS
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
VS
Playability
68
Sound
78
Build
82
Value
66
Score
76
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Playability
70
Sound
69
Build
59
Value
76
Score
66
FIND IT ON:
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Music Man Cutlass HT SSS vs Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition

Reasons to Get
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS over Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Music Man vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Pickup Mods
Boost vs None
Increases the output of the pickup
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.65'' (41.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
10'' (254mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition over Music Man Cutlass HT SSS

Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Narrow Tall vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.65'' (41.9mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 10'' (254mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
76 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS vs Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition

Bridge Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Nyatoh
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Figured Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Figured Maple vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-2 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Compensated vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS vs Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
SSS
Beautiful cleans and good tone versatility
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition's 66 score, which is a significant difference.

The Music Man Cutlass HT SSS wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS.

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

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
  • 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.

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Overview

  • From Music Man's 2022 HT series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Figured Maple neck
  • Brulee & Raspberry Burst Figured Roasted Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Music Man Modern Tremolo bridge
  • HT Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2022 40th Anniversary Vintage series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Nyatoh body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil/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
  • C Shape Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Narrow Tall frets
  • Vintage-Style tuners
  • Weight between 7.15lbs (3.2kgs) and 8lbs (3.6kgs)
  • 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 the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS

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

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of 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 Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Nyatoh wood pattern used for guitar building
Nyatoh

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.

Nyatoh has been replacing Mahogany for guitar building. It's fairly hard, durable, more sustentable and common than Mahogany. Find out more about Nyatoh.

Winner: Music Man Cutlass HT SSS.

Pickup Configuration

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

Pickups Quality

The Music Man Cutlass HT SSS has pickups from a more specialized brand than the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition. 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 Funk and similar genres.

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: Music Man Cutlass HT SSS.

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 Music Man Cutlass HT SSS comes with some kind of pickup modification: Boost.

A Boost will give your pickups more output, similar to an active pickup. It's great if you like to use a lot of output for heavy genres, but also like to use a cleaner tone often.

They both share the following switching options:

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS and Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS and Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition'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: Music Man Cutlass HT SSS.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS
Pickups 100
Sustain 55
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 78
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
Pickups 70
Sustain 70
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 Music Man Cutlass HT SSS compares to the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Music Man Cutlass HT SSS is built in United States while the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition is made in Indonesia.

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.

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: Music Man Cutlass HT SSS

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 Music Man Cutlass HT SSS has a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition 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: 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 Music Man Cutlass HT SSS 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: Music Man Cutlass HT SSS.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The Music Man Cutlass HT SSS 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: Music Man Cutlass HT SSS.

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
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Boost Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • 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 Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
  • 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

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS
Quality of materials 81
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 82
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
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

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Nut Width
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Nut Width
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition Nut Width
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition has the wider nut with 41.9mm (1.65'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 0.6mm (0.025'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS and Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition'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

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Neck Profile
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS's neck profile
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition Neck Profile
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition'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 Music Man Cutlass HT SSS and the Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition 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

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Fingerboard Radius
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition'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 Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS'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 Music Man Cutlass HT SSS.

Still, both are closer to a Stratocaster radius than a Les Paul, so both of them will favor chord playing rather than 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 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition favors large hands more than the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS.

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Frets Size
Music Man Cutlass HT SSS's Frets Size
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition Frets Size
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition's Frets Size

The Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition has Narrow Tall frets, which should be taller than the Music Man Cutlass HT SSS's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 65
Playability 68
Fender Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Music Man Cutlass HT SSS vs Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
General Music Man Cutlass HT SSS Squier 40th Anniversary Stratocaster Vintage Edition
Brand: Music Man Fender Squier
Year: 2022 2022
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Indonesia
Series: HT 40th Anniversary Vintage
Colors: White, Sunburst, Black, Red Burst Green Satin, Blue Satin, Sunburst Satin
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Nyatoh
Bridge: Music Man Modern Tremolo 6-Saddle Vintage-Style Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schaller M6-IND locking Vintage-Style
Fretboard: Brulee & Raspberry Burst Figured Roasted Maple Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Figured Maple Maple
Decoration: Dot Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: HT C Shape
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 9.5"
Nut: Compensated Bone
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 41.9mm (1.65'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Designed Alnico Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: Boost None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2