Head to head

Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS vs Squier Sonic Stratocaster

The short answer is that they sit in different price brackets ($500 - $1,000 against Under $300), and the pickup layouts differ (HSS against SSS). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 21 rows that actually differ marked out.

Fender

Standard Stratocaster HSS

Black, laurel fingerboard

The Standard Strat with a humbucker, which is the version that covers more ground

8.3/104.9 (16)

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Squier

Sonic Stratocaster

California Blue, with amplifier bundle

Everything needed to start, built around a real Stratocaster rather than a copy

7.7/104.7 (262)

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Score profile

Six editorial axes, overlaid. Where one shape sits outside the other, that is where the instrument gains ground.

Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS8.3
Squier Sonic Stratocaster7.7

Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.

Specification by specification

Fender Standard Stratocaster HSS compared with Squier Sonic Stratocaster
	Standard Stratocaster HSS	Sonic Stratocaster
Brand	Fender	Squier
Model	Standard Stratocaster HSS	Sonic Stratocaster
Finish	Black, laurel fingerboard	California Blue, with amplifier bundle
Instrument	Electric guitar	Electric guitar
Fretline score	8.3 / 10	7.7 / 10
Value for money	8 / 10	9 / 10
Amazon rating	4.9 / 5 (16)	4.7 / 5 (262)
Price	$500 - $1,000	Under $300
Type	Electric guitar	Electric guitar starter bundle
Body	Stratocaster solidbody	Stratocaster
Body wood	Poplar	Poplar
Neck joint	Bolt-on, four-bolt neck plate	Bolt-on, four-bolt Squier neck plate
Neck wood	Maple	Maple
Neck profile	Modern "C"	"C" shape
Scale length	25.5" (648 mm)	25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard	Indian laurel	Indian laurel
Radius	9.5" (241 mm)	9.5" (241 mm)
Frets	21	21
Fret size	Medium jumbo	Narrow tall
Nut	Micarta	Synthetic bone
Nut width	1.6875" (42.86 mm)	1.650" (42 mm)
Bridge	Standard two-point tremolo with satin chrome steel block saddles	Six-saddle vintage-style synchronized tremolo with block saddles
Tuners	Fender Standard cast/sealed with hex buttons	Die-cast sealed
Neck pickup	Standard single-coil Strat	Ceramic single-coil
Bridge pickup	Standard humbucking	Ceramic single-coil
Configuration	HSS	SSS
Electronics	Passive, ceramic magnets	Passive, ceramic magnets
Controls	Master volume, tone 1 (neck/middle), tone 2 (bridge)	Master volume, tone 1 (neck/middle), tone 2 (bridge)
Switching	Five-position blade	Five-position blade
Orientation	Right-handed	Right-handed
Skill level	Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced	Beginner
Styles	Rock, Blues, Metal, Pop, Funk, Indie, Punk	Rock, Pop, Blues, Indie, Punk, Funk
In the box	—	Fender Frontman 10G 10-watt amplifier, Gig bag, Strap, 10 ft instrument cable, Picks, Instructional DVD

A marked row is one where the two differ. A highlighted cell is the stronger figure where one can be judged objectively. Empty cells are specifications the manufacturer does not publish — never estimates.