Swap
Swap
Reverend Six Gun HPP
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
VS
Playability
70
Sound
77
Build
65
Value
71
Score
71
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logo
Playability
67
Sound
74
Build
60
Value
72
Score
67
FIND IT ON:
Sweetwater logoMusician's Friend logoFender logo
Add more to comparison

Reverend Six Gun HPP vs Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top

Reasons to Get
Reverend Six Gun HPP over Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top

Release Year
2021 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
HP90P90 vs HSS
High output with vintage tone
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
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
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
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
Avg. Weight
7.925lbs (3.6kgs) vs 8.075lbs (3.7kgs)
Tends to be lighter

Reasons to Get
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top over Reverend Six Gun HPP

Decorative Top
Flamed Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
HSS vs HP90P90
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
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
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) 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
Value Score
72 vs 71
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Reverend Six Gun HPP vs Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top

Bridge Pickup
HA5 Bridge vs Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
9A5 Middle vs Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
9A5 Neck vs Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Limba vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Pau Ferro
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Boneite vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Reverend Six Gun HPP vs Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top

Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
2
Same tone control
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
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
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

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

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT
SET PRICE ALERT

These are affiliate links. We may earn a fee if you purchase after clicking. These prices are prone to error. Make sure you're buying the right product after clicking on a link from our site. We are not liable if you buy the wrong product after following these links. As an Amazon Associate site we earn from qualifying purchases.

Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Reverend Six Gun HPP is probably the better product overall with its final score of 71 compared to the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top's 67 score, although not by a lot.

The Reverend Six Gun HPP wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top is the better choice.

The Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Reverend Six Gun HPP 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 Six Gun HPP
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
  • 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 Six Gun HPP 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)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Dome knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Wilkinson WVS50 IIK Tremolo bridge
  • Medium Oval Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Reverend Pin-Lock tuners
  • Weight between 7.7lbs (3.5kgs) and 8.15lbs (3.7kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Overview

  • From Fender's 2018 Player series
  • Made in Mexico
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 9.5" Fretboard Radius
  • Flamed Maple top
  • Alder body
  • Maple neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles bridge
  • Modern C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Standard Cast/Sealed tuners
  • Weight between 7.6lbs (3.4kgs) and 8.55lbs (3.9kgs)
  • 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 Six Gun HPP

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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro
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.

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.

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 Six Gun HPP.

Pickup Configuration

The Reverend Six Gun HPP has an HP90P90 configuration while the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top has HSS pickups.

HP90P90 gives you two P90s for a crunchy vintage tone, but with more power at the bridge. This allows you to play heavy stuff with a vintage touch.

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

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.

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

Reverend Six Gun HPP pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Reverend Six Gun HPP's switch options
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top'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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Reverend Six Gun HPP
Pickups 90
Sustain 80
Versatility 64
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 77
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 72
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 74

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 Six Gun HPP compares to the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Reverend Six Gun HPP is built in South Korea while the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top is made in Mexico.

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.

Mexico has been for a long time where Fender has built their semi-premium series. If you don't want to overpay for a wellp-built instrument, a guitar built in this country by a good brand always offers good value for the money.

Winner: Tie

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 Six Gun HPP 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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top 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: 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 Reverend Six Gun HPP 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 Six Gun HPP.

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 Six Gun HPP
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Boneite Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
  • Synthetic Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Mexico
  • No Expensive Woods
  • 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

Reverend Six Gun HPP
Quality of materials 56
Features 65
Quality Control 75
Build Quality 65
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
Quality of materials 55
Features 55
Quality Control 70
Build Quality 60

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 Six Gun HPP Nut Width
Reverend Six Gun HPP Nut Width
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Nut Width
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Reverend Six Gun HPP has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 1mm (0.039'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Reverend Six Gun HPP, 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 Six Gun HPP and Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top'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 Six Gun HPP Neck Profile
Reverend Six Gun HPP's neck profile
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Neck Profile
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top'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 Six Gun HPP and the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top 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 Six Gun HPP Fingerboard Radius
Reverend Six Gun HPP's Fingerboard radius
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Fingerboard Radius
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top'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 Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Reverend Six Gun HPP'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 Six Gun HPP.

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 Six Gun HPP favors large hands more than the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top.

Reverend Six Gun HPP:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Reverend Six Gun HPP Frets Size
Reverend Six Gun HPP's Frets Size
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top Frets Size
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top's Frets Size

The Reverend Six Gun HPP has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top'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

Reverend Six Gun HPP
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 50
Solo Playability 80
Playability 70
Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
Bending & Vibrato Ease 60
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 67

Specs Side-by-Side

Reverend Six Gun HPP vs Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
General Reverend Six Gun HPP Fender Player Stratocaster HSS Plus Top
Brand: Reverend Fender
Year: 2021 2018
Configuration: HP90P90 HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: South Korea Mexico
Series: Bolt-On Player
Colors: Black, Blue, Brown Burst, Green Burst Brown Burst, Sunburst Burst
Left-Handed Version: Yes No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Korina Alder
Bridge: Wilkinson WVS50 IIK Tremolo 2-Point Synchronized Tremolo with Bent Steel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Reverend Pin-Lock Standard Cast/Sealed
Fretboard: Rosewood Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: Dots White Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 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 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 9.5"
Nut: Boneite Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: HA5 Bridge (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Player Series Alnico 2 Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: 9A5 Middle (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: 9A5 Neck (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Player Series Alnico 5 Strat Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 2 2