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Reverend Charger HB
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe
VS
Playability
72
Sound
78
Build
62
Value
76
Score
71
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Playability
72
Sound
78
Build
70
Value
68
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Reverend Charger HB vs Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe

Reasons to Get
Reverend Charger HB over Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe

Release Year
2021 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.8'' (20.3mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.92'' (23.4mm)
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
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
76 vs 68
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe over Reverend Charger HB

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs South Korea
Built with higher quality standards
Pickup Mods
S-1 Switch vs None
Modifies the pickups
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.8'' (20.3mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.92'' (23.4mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
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
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Avg. Weight
7.85lbs (3.6kgs) vs 7.95lbs (3.6kgs)
Tends to be lighter

Other Key Differences
Reverend Charger HB vs Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe

Bridge Pickup
HA5 Bridge vs Fender V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
HA5 Neck vs Fender V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Limba vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Boneite vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Reverend Charger HB vs Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
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
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
Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe is probably the better product overall with its final score of 73 compared to the Reverend Charger HB's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Reverend Charger HB has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe is the better choice.

The Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Reverend Charger HB meets only 4. 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

Reverend Charger HB
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe
  • 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.

Reverend Charger HB Overview

  • From Reverend's 2021 Bolt-On series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Korina body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: HA5 Bridge (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: HA5 Neck (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • TOM with Stop Tail bridge
  • Medium Oval Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Reverend Pin-Lock tuners
  • Weight between 7.6lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.3lbs (3.8kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe Overview

  • From Fender's 2020 American Professional II series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 3-Saddle Custom Cut-Off Vintage-Style Tele Bridge with Compensated Brass Saddles bridge
  • Deep C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Fender® Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered tuners
  • Weight around 7.85lbs (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 Reverend Charger HB

Roasted Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Roasted Maple
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Limba wood pattern used for guitar building
Limba

Roasted Maple is just maple without a finish. It's technically cheaper than regular maple, but it doesn't have any extra disadvantages because of this. The color is darker, and it's lighter weight and very stable even when there's a lot of humidity.

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.

Limba is a relatively rare wood that shows exotic tight dark grain stripes. It comes in white or black. As a tonewood, it is comparable to Mahogany but with richer mids. Find out more about Limba.

Woods Used in the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe

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

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Winner: Reverend Charger HB.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. 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

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.

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

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe comes with some kind of pickup modification: S-1 Switch.

An S-1 switch can do a lot of different pickup combinations. It can split them, connect them in series, parallel, add more pickups to each position, and more. Check out the diagram to know how it affects this model.

Reverend Charger HB pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Reverend Charger HB's switch options
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe'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 American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Reverend Charger HB
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 56
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 78
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 68
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 78

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 Reverend Charger HB compares to the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Reverend Charger HB is built in South Korea while the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe is made in United States.

South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

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 Professional II Telecaster Deluxe

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 Reverend Charger HB has a Boneite nut. This is an artificial material made to imitate the favored type of nut: bone. This allows it to sound and feel pretty much like bone, but without the inconsistency of natural materials.

On the other hand, the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe 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.

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 Reverend Charger HB 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: Reverend Charger HB.

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
Reverend Charger HB
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Boneite Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in South Korea
  • 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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • S-1 Switch Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Reverend Charger HB
Quality of materials 56
Features 60
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 62
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe
Quality of materials 66
Features 55
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 70

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

Reverend Charger HB Nut Width
Reverend Charger HB Nut Width
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe Nut Width
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Reverend Charger HB 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 Reverend Charger HB, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Reverend Charger HB and Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe'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

Reverend Charger HB Neck Profile
Reverend Charger HB's neck profile
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe Neck Profile
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe'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 Reverend Charger HB and the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe 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

Reverend Charger HB Fingerboard Radius
Reverend Charger HB's Fingerboard radius
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe Fingerboard Radius
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe'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 Professional II Telecaster Deluxe's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Reverend Charger HB'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 Reverend Charger HB.

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 Reverend Charger HB favors large hands more than the Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe.

Reverend Charger HB:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Reverend Charger HB and Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe 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

Reverend Charger HB
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 80
Playability 72
Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 70
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Reverend Charger HB vs Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe
General Reverend Charger HB Fender American Professional II Telecaster Deluxe
Brand: Reverend Fender
Year: 2021 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea United States
Series: Bolt-On American Professional II
Colors: Black, Green, Brown, Purple White, Sunburst, Blue, Green, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Korina Alder
Bridge: TOM with Stop Tail 3-Saddle Custom Cut-Off Vintage-Style Tele Bridge with Compensated Brass Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Reverend Pin-Lock Fender® Standard Cast/Sealed Staggered
Fretboard: Rosewood Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Dots Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Medium Oval Deep C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.8'' (20.3mm) - 12th Fret: 0.92'' (23.4mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Boneite Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42.8mm (1.685'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: HA5 Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) Fender V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: HA5 Neck (Humbucker / Passive) Fender V-Mod II Double Tap Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None S-1 Switch
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 2 2