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Schecter Solo-II Standard
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
VS
Playability
80
Sound
66
Build
50
Value
75
Score
65
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Playability
72
Sound
67
Build
54
Value
74
Score
64
FIND IT ON:
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Schecter Solo-II Standard vs Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Specs Comparison
Schecter Solo-II Standard Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
General
Brand: Schecter Fender Squier
Year: 2024 2018
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Diamond Contemporary
Colors: Blue, Red Green, Gray
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Mahogany Poplar
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic with Stop Tailpiece 6-Saddle Adjustable Bridge Fixed
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schecter Standard Die-Cast
Fretboard: Rosewood Indian Laurel
Neck Material: Roasted Maple Maple
Decoration: White Dots Cream Dot
Scale Size: 24.75" 25.5"
Shape: Thin "C" Modern C
Thickness: 1st Fret: 0.787'' (20mm) - 12th Fret: 0.866'' (22mm) 1st Fret: - 12th Fret:
Frets: 22 Jumbo Nickel Silver 21 Narrow Tall Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 14" 12"
Nut: Graphite Synthetic Bone
Nut Width: 42mm (1.654'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Schecter Diamond Standard with Black Metal Cover (Humbucker / Passive) Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Schecter Diamond Standard with Black Metal Cover (Humbucker / Passive) Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Dome Bell
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Black Black & Chrome
Show Diagrams Comparison
Schecter Solo-II Standard and Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter Solo-II Standard and Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's switch options

Reasons to Get
Schecter Solo-II Standard over Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

Decorative Top
Flame Maple vs None
Finished with beautiful natural wood patterns
Release Year
2024 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
22 vs 21
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
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 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Value Score
75 vs 74
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST over Schecter Solo-II Standard

Number of Frets
21 vs 22
Warmer neck pickup
Nut Material
Synthetic Bone vs Graphite
Good quality nut with rich tone
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 14'' (355.6mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output

Other Key Differences
Schecter Solo-II Standard vs Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

Bridge Pickup
Schecter Diamond Standard with Black Metal Cover vs Squier SQR Active Ceramic Humbucker
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Schecter Diamond Standard with Black Metal Cover vs Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Poplar
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Roasted Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Laurel
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Graphite vs Synthetic Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Schecter Solo-II Standard vs Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
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
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Jumbo vs Narrow Tall
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Weaknesses

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

Price History Comparison

Schecter Solo-II Standard Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

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    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Schecter Solo-II Standard meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • 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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST

    Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
    Maple
    Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
    Laurel
    Poplar wood pattern used for guitar building
    Poplar

    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.

    There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

    Poplar is a cheaper and heavier alternative to Alder wood. It terms of tone, it emphasizes the low-end and has cutting mids. It's relatively soft compared to most body woods. Find out more about Poplar.

    Winner: Schecter Solo-II Standard.

    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

    None of these use a specialized pickup brand for their pickups. Some of the best guitars on the market come with pickups from brands like EMG, Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, etc. You might want to replace your pickups eventually if you want to get the best sound out of any of these instruments.

    The Schecter Solo-II Standard's pickups are Passive while the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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.

    When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

    Winner: Schecter Solo-II Standard.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Schecter Solo-II Standard
    Pickups 60
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 54
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 66
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    Pickups 60
    Sustain 90
    Versatility 49
    Tuning Stability 70
    Sound 67

    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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST.

    Country of Origin

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

    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.

    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 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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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: Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST.

    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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's are Standard Die-Cast

    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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    • Synthetic Bone Nut
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Expensive Woods
    • 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

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Schecter Solo-II Standard
    Quality of materials 45
    Features 50
    Quality Control 55
    Build Quality 50
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    Quality of materials 56
    Features 50
    Quality Control 55
    Build Quality 54

    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
    Schecter Solo-II Standard Nut Width
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Nut Width
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST, 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 Solo-II Standard's Scale Length
    Schecter Solo-II Standard's Scale Length
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST's Scale Length
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Neck Profile
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST Fingerboard Radius
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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 Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST'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.

    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''.

    Fret Size

    Schecter Solo-II Standard and Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST 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

    Schecter Solo-II Standard
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
    Chord Playability 65
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 80
    Fender Squier Contemporary Active Jazzmaster HH ST
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
    Chord Playability 50
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 72