Originally Posted by
guy1138
I don't think it's that simple. Looking at the 89 catalog, the description for the frameset on the Rockhopper, Rockhopper Comp and the Stumpjumper is exactly the same. Then the Stumpjumper Comp and Team get a different frame with Tange tubing instead of unbranded.
1989 Specialized Catalogue | Retrobike
Your original question is if a Hard Rock frame is just as good as a Stumpjumper frame. You can see in the catalog you linked, they are not.
Maybe in 1989, the base level Stumpjumper had the same frame as the Rockhopper. In general, the higher you go up in components, the nicer frame you will get.