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Reverend Roundhouse FM
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster
VS
Playability
77
Sound
77
Build
65
Value
68
Score
73
FIND IT ON:
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Playability
72
Sound
77
Build
75
Value
65
Score
75
FIND IT ON:
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Reverend Roundhouse FM vs Fender Jim Root Stratocaster

Reasons to Get
Reverend Roundhouse FM over Fender Jim Root Stratocaster

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2021 vs 2012
From a more recent year
Tone Knobs
2 vs 0
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.85'' (21.6mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.87'' (22.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Value Score
68 vs 65
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster over Reverend Roundhouse FM

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs South Korea
Built with higher quality standards
Compound Radius
12" to 16" vs 12"
Balanced playability for chords and single-notes
Neck Joint
Bolt-On vs Set
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.85'' (21.6mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.87'' (22.1mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output

Other Key Differences
Reverend Roundhouse FM vs Fender Jim Root Stratocaster

Bridge Pickup
HA5 Bridge vs EMG 81
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
HA5 Neck vs EMG 60
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Limba vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Limba vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Pau Ferro vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Boneite vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Reverend Roundhouse FM vs Fender Jim Root Stratocaster

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

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

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Reverend Roundhouse FM Prices

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SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster is probably the better product overall with its final score of 75 compared to the Reverend Roundhouse FM's 73 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Jim Root Stratocaster wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Reverend Roundhouse FM 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 Fender Jim Root Stratocaster.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster is the better choice.

The Fender Jim Root Stratocaster meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Reverend Roundhouse FM meets only 5. 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 Roundhouse FM
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Jim Root Stratocaster
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

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 Roundhouse FM Overview

  • From Reverend's 2021 Set-Neck series
  • Made in South Korea
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Flame Maple top
  • Korina body
  • Three-Piece Korina neck
  • Pau Ferro 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 Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Reverend Pin-Lock tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Jim Root Stratocaster Overview

  • From Fender's 2012 Artist series
  • Jim Root Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Maple neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 0 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking tuners
  • 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 Roundhouse FM

Limba wood pattern used for guitar building
Limba
Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

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.

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Woods Used in the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany

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.

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

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.

Winner: Fender Jim Root Stratocaster.

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.

We found the same or similar pickups to the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster's online:

The Reverend Roundhouse FM's pickups are Passive while the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

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.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Reverend Roundhouse FM and Fender Jim Root Stratocaster pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Reverend Roundhouse FM and Fender Jim Root Stratocaster'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: Reverend Roundhouse FM.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Reverend Roundhouse FM
Pickups 90
Sustain 85
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster
Pickups 90
Sustain 90
Versatility 47
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 77

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 Roundhouse FM compares to the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Reverend Roundhouse FM is built in South Korea while the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster 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 Jim Root Stratocaster

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 Roundhouse FM 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 Jim Root Stratocaster 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

They both have 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: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

The Reverend Roundhouse FM has a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

On the other hand, the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster comes with Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Fender Jim Root Stratocaster.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Reverend Roundhouse FM
  • 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 Jim Root Stratocaster
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Reverend Roundhouse FM
Quality of materials 55
Features 60
Quality Control 80
Build Quality 65
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster
Quality of materials 56
Features 75
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 75

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 Roundhouse FM Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43mm (1.693'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Reverend Roundhouse FM's Scale Length
Reverend Roundhouse FM's Scale Length
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster's Scale Length
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster'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 Jim Root Stratocaster has the longest scale: 25.5". The Reverend Roundhouse FM 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

Reverend Roundhouse FM Neck Profile
Reverend Roundhouse FM's neck profile
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster Neck Profile
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster'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 Roundhouse FM and the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster 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 Roundhouse FM Fingerboard Radius
Reverend Roundhouse FM's Fingerboard radius
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster Fretboard Compound Radius
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster's Compound 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.

In this case, the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster 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 Reverend Roundhouse FM favors large hands more than the Fender Jim Root Stratocaster.

Reverend Roundhouse FM:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Reverend Roundhouse FM and Fender Jim Root Stratocaster 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 Roundhouse FM
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 55
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77
Fender Jim Root Stratocaster
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 72

Specs Side-by-Side

Reverend Roundhouse FM vs Fender Jim Root Stratocaster
General Reverend Roundhouse FM Fender Jim Root Stratocaster
Brand: Reverend Fender
Year: 2021 2012
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea United States
Series: Set-Neck Artist
Colors: Black, Blue, Purple Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Korina Mahogany
Bridge: TOM with Stop Tail 6-Saddle String-Through-Body Hardtail With Block Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Bolt-On
Tuners: Reverend Pin-Lock Deluxe Staggered Cast/Sealed Locking
Fretboard: Pau Ferro Ebony
Neck Material: Three-Piece Korina Maple
Decoration: Pearloid Blocks
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Medium Oval Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.85'' (21.6mm) - 12th Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.87'' (22.1mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12" to 16"
Nut: Boneite Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: HA5 Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: HA5 Neck (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 60 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 0