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Schecter Solo-II Standard
Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom
VS
Playability
80
Sound
66
Build
50
Value
75
Score
65
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Playability
68
Sound
73
Build
67
Value
64
Score
69
FIND IT ON:
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Schecter Solo-II Standard vs Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom Specs Comparison
Schecter Solo-II Standard Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom
General
Brand: Schecter Fender
Year: 2024 2018
Configuration: HH SH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China United States
Series: Diamond American Original
Colors: Blue, Red Sunburst, Yellow, Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Alder
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic with Stop Tailpiece 3-Saddle Vintage-Style Tele with Slotted Steel Saddles
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schecter Fender® Vintage F Stamped
Fretboard: Rosewood Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dots Black Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Thin "C" Medium C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: 0.82'' (20.8mm) - 12th Fret: 0.9'' (22.9mm)
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Vintage Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 14" 9.5"
Nut: Graphite Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Schecter Diamond Standard with Black Metal Cover (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Vintage-Style 70s Single-Coil Tele (Single Coil / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Schecter Diamond Standard with Black Metal Cover (Humbucker / Passive) Fender Tim Shaw Authentic CuNiFe Wide-Range Humbucking (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 2
Tone Controls: 1 2
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Schecter Solo-II Standard pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Solo-II Standard's switch options
Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom's switch options

Reasons to Get
Schecter Solo-II Standard over Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2024 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 Vintage Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups
HH vs SH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.787'' (20mm) vs 0.82'' (20.8mm)
More comfortable open chords for small hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.866'' (22mm) vs 0.9'' (22.9mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for small hands
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
14'' (355.6mm) vs 9.5'' (241.3mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
75 vs 64
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom over Schecter Solo-II Standard

Country of Manufacturing
United States vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Type of Frets
Vintage Tall vs Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Pickups Brand
Fender vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Pickups
SH vs HH
Very bright bridge tone and a very warm neck pickup
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret
0.82'' (20.8mm) vs 0.787'' (20mm)
More comfortable open chords for big hands
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret
0.9'' (22.9mm) vs 0.866'' (22mm)
More comfortable at higher frets for big hands
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
9.5'' (241.3mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Other Key Differences
Schecter Solo-II Standard vs Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom

Bridge Pickup
Schecter Diamond Standard with Black Metal Cover vs Fender Vintage-Style 70s Single-Coil Tele
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Schecter Diamond Standard with Black Metal Cover vs Fender Tim Shaw Authentic CuNiFe Wide-Range Humbucking
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Alder
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Graphite vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter Solo-II Standard vs Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
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 Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Schecter Solo-II Standard Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom Prices

    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.

    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom favors large hands more than the Schecter Solo-II Standard. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

    Schecter Solo-II Standard:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Schecter Solo-II Standard 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

    Schecter Solo-II Standard
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Tall frets
    • Narrow nut
    • Comfortable neck
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    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 Schecter Solo-II Standard

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

    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.

    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.

    Woods Used in the Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom

    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: Schecter Solo-II Standard.

    Pickup Configuration

    The Schecter Solo-II Standard has an HH configuration while the Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom has SH pickups.

    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.

    On the other hand, SH is a more versatile version of the classic telecaster (SS) configuration. The bridge pickup usually produces a bright and twangy tone, while the neck Humbucker gives you the warmer tone you'll need for more Jazzy/Bluish solos and chords.

    Pickups Quality

    The Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom pickups from a more specialized brand than the Schecter Solo-II Standard. Its pickups should give you a fuller, richer sound, although it all depends on what type of music you're going to play. We recommend these pickups for Blues and similar genres.

    Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

    Winner: Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom.

    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.

    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 Original 70s Telecaster Custom.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Schecter Solo-II Standard
    Pickups 60
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 54
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 66
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 75
    Versatility 58
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 73

    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 Solo-II Standard compares to the Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Schecter Solo-II Standard is built in China while the Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom is made in United States.

    China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

    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 Original 70s Telecaster Custom

    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 Solo-II Standard has a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

    On the other hand, the Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom 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: Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom.

    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

    Both come with regular tuners. The Schecter Solo-II Standard's are Schecter while the Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom's are Fender® Vintage F Stamped

    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.

    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 Solo-II Standard
    • Expensive Wood
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Top Brand Pickups
    • 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 Original 70s Telecaster Custom
    • Made in United States
    • Bone Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • 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 Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Schecter Solo-II Standard
    Quality of materials 45
    Features 50
    Quality Control 55
    Build Quality 50
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom
    Quality of materials 61
    Features 50
    Quality Control 90
    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 Solo-II Standard 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 42mm (1.654'').

    This is considered a narrow width for a 6-string guitar. This means that this guitar will have a narrower string separation at the nut, which will affect your fretting hand.

    If you are a player with big hands, you might find it difficult to play chords without muting strings. However, this is good for players who have smaller hands, as it will allow them to reach each string more easily at the nut.

    Scale Length

    Schecter Solo-II Standard's Scale Length
    Schecter Solo-II Standard's Scale Length
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom's Scale Length
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom'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 American Original 70s Telecaster Custom has the longest scale: 25.5". The Schecter Solo-II Standard 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

    Schecter Solo-II Standard Neck Profile
    Schecter Solo-II Standard's neck profile
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom Neck Profile
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom'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 Schecter Solo-II Standard and the Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom 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

    Schecter Solo-II Standard Fingerboard Radius
    Schecter Solo-II Standard's Fingerboard radius
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom Fingerboard Radius
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom'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 Original 70s Telecaster Custom's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Schecter Solo-II Standard'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 Solo-II Standard.

    Fret Size

    Schecter Solo-II Standard Frets Size
    Schecter Solo-II Standard's Frets Size
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom Frets Size
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom's Frets Size

    The Schecter Solo-II Standard has Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom's Vintage Tall 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 Solo-II Standard
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
    Chord Playability 65
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 80
    Fender American Original 70s Telecaster Custom
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
    Chord Playability 80
    Solo Playability 60
    Playability 68