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Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple
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Playability
73
Sound
79
Build
77
Value
61
Score
76
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Playability
70
Sound
74
Build
67
Value
60
Score
70
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Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature vs Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple

Reasons to Get
Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature over Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple

Release Year
2017 vs 2010
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Nick Johnston Custom C vs Fender Soft V
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.825'' (21mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.865'' (22mm) vs 0.99'' (25.1mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Nut Width
1.67'' (42.4mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
61 vs 60
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple over Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature

Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Fender Soft V vs Nick Johnston Custom C
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.825'' (21mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.99'' (25.1mm) vs 0.865'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.67'' (42.4mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature vs Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple

Bridge Pickup
Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set vs Fender Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set vs Fender Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set vs Fender Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil
Different Neck Pickup
Neck Wood
Wenge vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
Black Tusq XL vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature vs Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple

Body Wood
Alder
Same Body Wood
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
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 Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • 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

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple's 70 score, although not by a lot.

The Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple in every aspect.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature is the better choice.

The Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple 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

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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.

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature Overview

  • From Schecter's 2017 Artist series
  • Nick Johnston Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 14" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Contoured 4-Bolt Wenge neck
  • Macassar Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Schecter Vintage 2-Point Tremolo bridge
  • Nick Johnston Custom C Bolt-On neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Schecter/Hipshot Staggered Locking Tuners tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple Overview

  • From Fender's 2010 Artist series
  • Eric Johnson Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Fender Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Fender Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo bridge
  • Fender Soft V Bolt-On neck
  • 21 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style Staggered 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 Both

Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

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 Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature

Wenge wood pattern used for guitar building
Wenge
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Wenge is a stiff wood that comes with straight and tight grains. Its color is dark brown and the tonality emphasizes the low and mid-ends (warm) frequencies, similar to Rosewood.

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.

Woods Used in the Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

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

Winner: Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature.

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

Both come with some of the top pickups on the market. You can't go wrong with either of them. You'll probably never need a pickup upgrade.

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.

They both share the following switching options:

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature and Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature and Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple'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 Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature
Pickups 100
Sustain 70
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 79
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple
Pickups 100
Sustain 60
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 Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature compares to the Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

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: 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 Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature has a Black Tusq XL nut. TUSQ nuts are usually the highest quality you can get. Black TUSQs are made from a special slippery material that helps the strings get back to its original position (one of the keys to tune stability).

On the other hand, the Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple 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: 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 Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature 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: Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature.

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
Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Black Tusq XL Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • 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 Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple
  • Made in United States
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • 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

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature
Quality of materials 66
Features 65
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 77
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple
Quality of materials 51
Features 55
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 67

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

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature Nut Width
Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature Nut Width
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple Nut Width
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature has the wider nut with 42.4mm (1.67'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.4mm (0.016'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature and Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple'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

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature Neck Profile
Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature's neck profile
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple Neck Profile
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature has a C type of 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.

The Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple, on the other hand, has a V neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

Fretboard Radius

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature Fingerboard Radius
Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature's Fingerboard radius
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple Fingerboard Radius
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple'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 Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature'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 Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

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 Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple favors large hands more than the Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature.

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature Frets Size
Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature's Frets Size
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple Frets Size
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple's Frets Size

The Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple'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

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 60
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 60
Playability 70

Specs Side-by-Side

Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature vs Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple
General Schecter Nick Johnston USA Signature Fender Eric Johnson Stratocaster Maple
Brand: Schecter Fender
Year: 2017 2010
Configuration: SSS SSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Artist
Colors: White, Orange, Blue Nitro White, Sunburst, Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Alder
Bridge: Schecter Vintage 2-Point Tremolo 6-Saddle American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schecter/Hipshot Staggered Locking Tuners Vintage-Style Staggered
Fretboard: Macassar Ebony Maple
Neck Material: Contoured 4-Bolt Wenge 1-Piece Quartersawn Maple
Decoration: Silver Ring Black Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Nick Johnston Custom C Fender Soft V
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.825'' (21mm) - 12th Fret: 0.865'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm) - 12th Fret: 0.99'' (25.1mm)
Frets: 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 14" 12"
Nut: Black Tusq XL Bone
Nut Width: 42.4mm (1.67'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Schecter USA Nick Johnston Signature Atomic Set (Single Coil / Passive) Fender Specially Voiced Eric Johnson Single-Coil (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2