Best Stratocaster Style Guitars With Compensated Nut in 2024

Here are the top Stratocaster style guitars with Compensated nut. It's cut in a way that makes each string have the correct length for perfect intonation across the fretboard. It provides excellent tuning stability.

After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.

There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.

1. Music Man Cutlass RS HSS

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Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
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Reverb logoSweetwater logo
Playability 68
Sound 75
Build quality 79
Value for money 64
Overall Score 74

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (1 vote)
  • Pickups power: Slightly Hot (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoSweetwater logo
  • From Music Man's 2017 Cutlass RS series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Figured Maple neck
  • Roasted Figured Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Music Man Modern Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass RS Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Music Man's 2017 Cutlass RS series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Figured Maple neck
  • Roasted Figured Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Music Man Modern Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass RS Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • 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

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2. Sterling Cutlass Short Scale

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Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
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Reverb logoAmazon logoSweetwater logo
Playability 82
Sound 66
Build quality 55
Value for money 78
Overall Score 68

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: D (1 vote)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (1 vote)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (8 votes)
  • Pickups power: Slightly Hot (9 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoAmazon logoSweetwater logo
  • From Sterling's 2020 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Diecast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Sterling's 2020 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Diecast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass Short Scale
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

3. Music Man Cutlass RS SSS

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Music Man Cutlass RS SSS
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability 68
Sound 75
Build quality 79
Value for money 64
Overall Score 74

What our users think

  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (2 votes)
  • Pickups power: Hot (2 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • From Music Man's 2017 Cutlass RS series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Figured Maple neck
  • Roasted Figured Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Music Man Modern Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass RS Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Music Man's 2017 Cutlass RS series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Figured Maple neck
  • Roasted Figured Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Music Man Modern Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass RS Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Music Man Cutlass RS SSS
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • 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

All Prices

4. Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS

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Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoAmazon logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 68
Build quality 55
Value for money 75
Overall Score 65

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: D (1 vote)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (1 vote)
  • Pickups noise: Noisy (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoAmazon logoSweetwater logo
  • From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Diecast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Diecast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass CT30SSS
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

5. Sterling Cutlass CT30HSS

Compare
Sterling Cutlass CT30HSS
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability 73
Sound 68
Build quality 55
Value for money 75
Overall Score 65

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: D (1 vote)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (1 vote)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (8 votes)
  • Pickups power: Slightly Hot (9 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • From Sterling's 2020 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Diecast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Sterling's 2020 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Hard Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Fulcrum Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Narrow Tall frets
  • Diecast tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass CT30HSS
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 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 Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

6. Sterling Cutlass CT50SSS

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Sterling Cutlass CT50SSS
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoReverb logoSweetwater logo
Playability 70
Sound 68
Build quality 59
Value for money 76
Overall Score 66

What our users think

  • Neck profile shape: D (1 vote)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (1 vote)
  • Pickups noise: Noisy (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Amazon logoReverb logoSweetwater logo
  • From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Vintage Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Vintage Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass CT50SSS
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • 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

All Prices

7. Sterling Cutlass CT50HSS

Compare
Sterling Cutlass CT50HSS
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
Playability 70
Sound 68
Build quality 59
Value for money 76
Overall Score 66

What our users think

  • Neck access to high frets: Normal (1 vote)
  • Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
  • Neck profile shape: D (1 vote)
  • Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (1 vote)
  • Pickups noise: Noiseless (8 votes)
  • Pickups power: Slightly Hot (9 votes)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
Reverb logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logoSweetwater logo
  • From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Vintage Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Show all Specs
  • From Sterling's 2021 Cutlass series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Poplar body
  • Roasted Maple neck
  • Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Sterling Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Sterling Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Vintage Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium frets
  • Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Sterling Cutlass CT50HSS
  • Locking Tuners
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • 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

All Prices

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