Fender FA-125CE 0971113221 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Fender FA-125CE is an acoustic-electric guitar from the iconic American brand Fender. Fender has been manufacturing high quality guitars for over 70 years, starting with their famous Telecaster and Stratocaster solid body electric guitars in the 1950's.

The FA-125CE dreadnought acoustic-electric is part of Fender's more affordable Alternative series. It features laminated wood construction and comes in natural, black, sunburst and sherwood green finishes.

This guitar is aimed at beginners and intermediate players looking for a solid acoustic-electric at an accessible price point from a well-known brand. The FA-125CE delivers classic Fender looks and reliable electronics making it a versatile choice for everything from practice to live performance.

Appearance

The Fender FA-125CE acoustic-electric guitar has the quintessential dreadnought body shape that Fender is known for. This gives it a bold, deep and loud acoustic voice.

The guitar features a classic natural gloss finish that allows the solid spruce top to resonate freely. The back and sides are made of laminated mahogany with an elegant black pickguard.

Overall, the FA-125CE has a simple but elegant aesthetic featuring Fender's iconic body shape and finish. This makes it look right at home among Fender's family of dreadnought acoustic guitars.

The dreadnought body style is one of the most popular and recognizable shapes for acoustic guitars. Its large body provides powerful acoustic projection suitable for strumming chords or fingerstyle playing. Many legendary musicians like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Neil Young and Eddie Vedder have used dreadnought style acoustics over the years.

Fender has a long history with the dreadnought body style. Their acoustic guitars like the Fender CP-60S helped define the quintessential dreadnought sound. Simple but elegant dreadnoughts like the FA-125CE give beginners access to Fender's iconic acoustic guitar tones.

The FA-125CE's spruce top is a common tonewood choice for dreadnoughts. Spruce is lightweight and responsive, providing excellent resonance and articulation. It captures the nuance and dynamics of the player's picking or strumming style. The solid spruce top of the FA-125CE gives it a lively and organic acoustic voice.

Mahogany is another classic tonewood used for the back and sides of many acoustic guitars. It provides warmth, richness and some mid-range punch. The laminated mahogany body of the FA-125CE gives it vintage acoustic tones familiar to Fender fans.

While simple in aesthetics compared to some acoustic-electrics, the FA-125CE has an elegant and professional look. The natural gloss finish allows the guitar's tonewoods to sing with resonance and articulation. It's perfect for players who want classic dreadnought tones without advanced electronics or elaborate ornamentation.

Tonewoods

The Fender FA-125CE features solid spruce on the top. Spruce is a popular choice for acoustic guitar tops due to its balanced tone, articulation, and dynamic range. It produces bright, crisp trebles and clear, projecting mids and lows.

The back and sides are made from laminated mahogany, which provides a balanced tone with slight emphasis on the lows and low-mids. Mahogany adds warmth and depth to the overall sound. The lamination makes the guitar lighter and more affordable than a solid wood version.

Overall the tonewood combination of spruce and mahogany produces a versatile, well-rounded tone that works for various styles of music. The spruce gives clarity on the high end while the mahogany provides low-end warmth.

Tonewood choice has a significant impact on the sound and playability of an acoustic guitar. The species of wood used, whether solid or laminated, the quality of the build, and other factors all contribute to the instrument's unique voice. Many guitarists experiment with different tonewood combinations to find their ideal acoustic guitar tone.

In addition to spruce and mahogany, some other popular tonewoods for acoustics include cedar, rosewood, maple, koa, and ovangkol. Cedar is known for its warm, sweet sound that works well for fingerpicking. Rosewood adds complex overtones, strong lows, and excellent projection. Maple has a bright, focused tone with tight lows and extended highs. Koa imparts a rounded, refined voice with pronounced midrange. Ovangkol is appreciated for its clear trebles, open lows, and superb note separation.

The size of the guitar body also impacts the sound. Larger bodies, such as dreadnought and jumbo sizes, provide louder projection and enhanced low-end response. Smaller bodied guitars like parlors offer controlled overtones, balanced tone, and increased midrange clarity. Grand concert and auditorium sizes land somewhere in the middle.

While tonewoods and body shapes are major factors, build quality and craftsmanship should not be overlooked. Attention to detail from master luthiers results in superb resonance, sustain, volume, and tone. High quality tuning machines, bridge materials, nut and saddle composition, bracing patterns, and finish options also affect the acoustic guitar's voice.

When shopping for an acoustic, it is advisable to try out different models with various tonewood combinations. Listen and feel the differences. Consider the guitar's intended purpose - strumming chords or intricate fingerpicking, practicing at home or performing live, studio recording or busking on the street. Matching your playing style, application, and tonal preferences with the right tonewoods is key to finding your ideal acoustic guitar.

Some popular acoustic guitar models known for their great tonewood combinations include the Taylor 214ce with Sitka spruce and layered rosewood, the Martin D-18 with Sitka spruce and mahogany, the Guild D-55 with Sitka spruce and rosewood, the Seagull Maritime SWS with cedar and wild cherry, and the Yamaha A5R ARE with solid Adirondack spruce and rosewood. While models from major brands tend to be pricier, more affordable options like the Squier SA-150 961090006 can also provide excellent bang-for-buck with their solid spruce top and laminated mahogany back and sides construction.

Neck

The FA-125CE features a Fender C shape maple neck. This slimmer profile is comfortable and fast for both chording and soloing across the 25.3" scale length. The nut width measures 1.69" which provides ample room for fingerstyle playing while still being manageable for smaller hands. Despite the slim feel, the maple offers plenty of rigidity to keep the neck stable even during aggressive strumming. Overall the neck shape and size strike an excellent balance, suiting various playing styles from fingerpicking to flatpicking.

Electronics

The Fender FA-125CE features a Fishman Presys pickup and preamp system, which helps produce a balanced and natural amplified tone. The undersaddle piezo pickup accurately captures the guitar's acoustic sound, while the preamp allows for EQ shaping and volume control.

There is a built-in tuner, which makes staying in tune convenient without additional accessories needed. The preamp has bass and treble controls to dial in your ideal amplified tone. There is also a phase switch, which helps eliminate feedback at higher volumes. The volume knob allows you to easily control your live performance or recording levels.

Overall, the Fishman Presys electronics provide quality amplification and flexible tone shaping in a seamless onboard preamp system. The undersaddle pickup combined with the 3-band EQ preamp produces rich, balanced acoustic tones when playing live or recording in the studio. The built-in tuner is also a handy addition not always found on acoustics in this price range.

Hardware

The Fender FA-125CE Acoustic-Electric Guitar comes equipped with quality hardware components to ensure solid tuning stability and playability. The guitar features a synthetic bone saddle and nut. The compensated saddle provides proper intonation by allowing precise string length adjustment based on gauge and tension. The nut helps transfer string vibration and allows precise tuning.

The guitar has sealed chrome tuners with pearloid buttons. The sealed tuners prevent tuning issues caused by contamination and allow for smooth and accurate tuning. The pearloid buttons give a classy cosmetic touch. Overall the tuners hold tune reliably even during enthusiastic play.

The FA-125CE uses a chrome-plated brass bridge with a synthetic bone saddle. The bridge transfers the strings' vibrations efficiently for full resonance and sustain. The saddle material helps produce bright, balanced acoustic tones. The sturdy bridge stands up well to aggressive strumming.

In summary, the hardware components on the Fender FA-125CE are robust and designed for good functionality. The tuners, nut and bridge give the guitar tuning stability and chime for an enjoyable playing experience.

Playability

The FA-125CE features a 25.3” scale length, providing great playability and comfortable action. The neck has a "C"-shaped profile that feels smooth and natural to hold.

The shorter scale length compared to a full size dreadnought makes this guitar very accessible, especially for players with smaller hands. The action is set low and buzz-free from the factory, so there's no need for a setup before playing.

When strumming or fingerpicking, the guitar offers little resistance. The lighter gauge strings that come installed allow for easy bending without fighting the tension. The responsive feel translates to excellent sounding dynamics when played unplugged.

Notes have a clear definition that blooms as you dig in. Chords ring out with a balanced resonance across all six strings. There's enough depth in the tone so rhythm parts don't sound thin when played without an amp. The FA-125CE projects well for its size too, easily keeping up with the volume of other instruments.

Sound Plugged In

With its built-in Fishman electronics, the FA-125CE is capable of amplifying its bright, articulate acoustic tone. The undersaddle piezo pickup and preamp system does an excellent job of reproducing the guitar's natural acoustic dynamics and resonance when plugged into an amplifier or PA system.

The USB output allows direct recording into a computer or mobile device, providing a lot of versatility for live performances or studio work. The guitar has robust projection and balanced EQ when amplified, with crisp highs, tight low mids, and an overall acoustic voicing. The electronics have plenty of headroom before feedback, even at higher volumes on stage.

The preamp's simple controls - volume, bass, mid, treble - make dialing in your amplified tone quick and intuitive. Whether you need to cut through a mix at a gig or want to lay down tracks at home, the FA-125CE delivers impressive plugged-in acoustic sound and flexibility.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Classic Fender styling that looks fantastic
• All mahogany body and neck provide great warmth and resonance
• Fishman electronics sound excellent both acoustically and plugged in
• Comes with a nice padded gig bag for protection
• Quality hardware that holds tune well
• Comfortable neck for easy playability

Cons

• Not as loud acoustically as some other guitars in this price range
• The slim neck may not appeal to those who prefer more rounded necks
• No cutaway so upper fret access is limited
• Electronics can generate feedback if not careful with volume
• Tuning pegs could be higher quality for this price point

Verdict

The Fender FA-125CE acoustic-electric guitar delivers a great bang for your buck. With its dreadnought body shape made of laminated spruce and mahogany, it produces balanced warm tones expected of an acoustic in this price range. The playability is also impressive, thanks to its smooth satin-finished neck and compensated synthetic bone saddle.

While it may not have the complex harmonics of premium solid wood guitars, the FA-125CE holds its own with a focused midrange and articulate highs. The onboard Fishman electronics further expand its versatility for plugged-in performing. Overall, the Fender FA-125CE is an excellent entry-level acoustic-electric that looks and sounds fantastic. For those looking to upgrade from their first guitar or need an affordable stage-ready acoustic, the FA-125CE is easy to recommend.