Squier SA-150N Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Squier by Fender SA-150N is an entry-level nylon-string classical acoustic guitar made by Squier, Fender's sub-brand. As one of Squier's Student Series models, it's designed for novice players and those looking for an affordable way to learn classical guitar.

With its nylon strings and wider neck, the SA-150N offers the comfortable playing feel of a traditional classical guitar. The laminated spruce top aims to provide balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and resonance. This is an ideal choice for new players seeking an accessible classical model for practicing and learning fingerstyle techniques.

With its budget-friendly price tag, the Squier SA-150N removes barriers for beginners interested in nylon-string guitars. While the hardware and electronics are basic, the SA-150N focuses on delivering an authentic classical playing experience to start building skills.

Body Style

The SA-150N has a Dreadnought body shape, which is the most popular acoustic guitar body style. Dreadnoughts are known for their full, rich sound and are widely used for many music genres including country, folk, blues, and rock.

The Dreadnought design provides a large body with a wide lower bout and pronounced shoulders. This allows for greater internal air volume compared to other shapes like concert and parlor guitars. The larger size produces louder acoustic volume, increased bass response, and great projection.

The recognizable Dreadnought silhouette with its curving waist is both aesthetically pleasing and tonally superior. The SA-150N's classic Dreadnought form factor is an excellent choice for an all-purpose acoustic guitar. Musicians appreciate the robust tone and playing comfort on the Dreadnought body.

The Dreadnought body style originated in the early 20th century and was named after the large battleships of that era. The design was created by C.F. Martin & Company, one of the most respected acoustic guitar makers. Martins are known for their premium Dreadnought models that produce highly resonant and well-balanced tone.

Many major guitar brands offer their own take on the Dreadnought design. Models from Gibson, Taylor, Seagull, Epiphone, Fender, Yamaha, and more are available. While dimensions vary slightly between manufacturers, they all aim to harness the versatile tonal range of the Dreadnought form.

Fender is a famous guitar company started by Leo Fender in California in 1946. Fender has made many iconic electric guitars over the years like the Telecaster and Stratocaster. Fender also produces acoustic guitars including the highly-rated Fender 0970943137 Dreadnought acoustic-electric.

The Fender 0970943137 features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. It has a smooth satin finish, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard, and Fishman electronics for plugging into an amplifier. This guitar delivers classic robust Dreadnought tones with excellent playability and comes at an affordable price point.

The Dreadnought's versatility and volume are suited for live performances. The expansive fretboard allows for diverse chord voicings and playing styles. Many legendary musicians like Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Johnny Cash and more played Dreadnought guitars. Their rich history in rock, folk, country and other genres cement their popularity.

While smaller bodied guitars like parlor and concert models have risen in popularity for fingerstyle playing, the Dreadnought remains the quintessential acoustic guitar body shape. From couch jam sessions to stadium concerts, the Dreadnought projects loud, blended tones that cut through the mix. The SA-150N's Dreadnought design is an excellent choice for any player looking for an affordable, great-sounding acoustic.

Tonewood

The Squier SA-150N features a beautiful laminated spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The combination of spruce and mahogany produces a balanced, well-rounded tone.

The spruce top lends brightness, clarity and volume. Spruce is a popular top wood choice due to its resonant properties that emphasize the treble tones. The laminated construction makes the guitar more affordable while still providing good tonal characteristics.

Mahogany back and sides add warmth, sweetness and depth to the tone. Mahogany is known for its rich low-mid range that complements the spruce top nicely. The mahogany gives this guitar a balanced tone across the frequency spectrum - nice sparkly highs from the spruce balanced with strong low-mid response from the mahogany.

Overall the spruce and mahogany tonewoods come together to deliver the classic balanced and mellow nylon-string sound that players expect from a classical guitar in this price range. The SA-150N has a very resonant and full-bodied voice.

When looking for an affordable classical guitar, it's important to consider the tonewood combination used. The spruce and mahogany combination found on the Squier SA-150N is a tried and true recipe that delivers the balanced tone that players desire. The laminated spruce top provides crisp highs while the mahogany back and sides add pleasing low-mid warmth and richness. This classic pairing results in a very resonant and well-rounded voice. While laminate woods may not offer the complexity of high-end solid woods, they can still provide very good sound quality when done right, as seen with the impressive musicality of the SA-150N. For those shopping on a budget, this model proves you don't have to sacrifice great tone. If you're interested in exploring other classical guitar options in this price tier, check out the Yamaha GC32S. It's another model praised for impressive musicality at an affordable price point.

Neck

The Squier SA-150N features a Nato neck with a 20-fret rosewood fretboard. Nato is a durable, lightweight hardwood that provides stability and allows the neck to resist warping. The rosewood fretboard offers a smooth playing feel and produces warm, resonant tones.

The C-shaped neck profile is comfortable and easy to play, even for small hands. It has a 12" radius that allows for smooth note bending without any sharp edges digging into your hand. Overall, the neck is well-crafted and designed to make playing this beginner classical guitar enjoyable and accessible.

The 20 frets give you room to play beyond the 15th fret found on many entry-level classical guitars. This allows you to play more intricate solos and hit higher notes. The rosewood is nicely finished, providing a polished look and feel.

In summary, the SA-150N's Nato neck and rosewood fretboard provide playability and warm tone perfect for new classical guitarists. The smooth neck profile and extra frets expand the beginner's creative possibilities.

Hardware

The Squier SA-150N comes equipped with chrome hardware and precision die-cast tuners for easy and accurate tuning. The chrome hardware provides a polished look while remaining durable, and the die-cast tuners keep the guitar in tune even during extended playing sessions. The tuning machines utilize a flanged design which minimizes slippage, and special lubricants reduce friction for smooth turning capability. Overall the hardware is well-made, looks great, and does the job for an entry-level nylon string guitar in this price range.

Sound

The Squier SA-150N produces a well balanced and warm tone thanks to its nato back and sides coupled with the spruce top. This combo allows the guitar to have good projection and volume, especially for an entry-level classical model.

While it won't have the complex harmonics and sustain of a high-end classical, the SA-150N's sound is very respectable for the price. Many owners comment that it has a sweet, rounded tone when strummed, and sounds balanced across the registers. The bass notes have decent punch without sounding too boomy.

Overall, the guitar offers a pleasant classical voice perfect for practice and beginning to explore the nylon string world. The tone is focused in the mids with nice bell-like highs and adequate low end. While more advanced players may want more nuance, the SA-150N delivers good fundamental sound at an attractive price point.

Playability

The Squier SA-150N has excellent playability right out of the box, making it a great choice for beginner players. The action is low and comfortable, allowing easy fretting without buzzing. The neck has a soft C profile that fits nicely in the hand. It's not too thick or too thin, with a satin finish that allows for smooth sliding up and down the neck. The nut width of 1.69" provides ample room for fingering chords, while still accessible for players with smaller hands.

The guitar stays in tune well, thanks to quality tuners and good intonation. The compensated synthetic bone nut helps keep notes in tune as you move up the neck. Intonation adjustments are straightforward if needed, but the factory setup is quite good already. Overall, the playability of this classical guitar punches above its weight class, providing a comfortable and enjoyable playing experience even for new guitarists.

Cons

The Squier SA-150N does have some downsides typical of a budget classical guitar. The overall construction can feel cheaply made, with a lack of attention to detail.

The tuners in particular are very basic and may not hold tuning as precisely as higher-end models. The nut and saddle are made from plastic rather than bone, affecting tone and intonation.

The nato neck, back, and sides, while decent, do not resonate as beautifully as solid wood choices would. The laminate top also inhibits vibration and fullness of tone.

Fit and finish may be rough in spots, with things like sharp fret ends or uneven binding. The guitar's playability right out of the box can be inconsistent.

While the sound is quite good for the price, it lacks the richness, projection, and nuance of professional classical guitars. The tone can be somewhat thin and quiet without plugging into an amp.

The acrylic strings it comes with are very cheap and will need upgrading right away for a better musical experience.

All in all, corners were cut to reach this budget price point. Serious players will be left wanting greater quality in materials, construction, and attention to detail. But casual players just looking to explore nylon strings on a budget will find these limitations acceptable.

Pros

The Squier SA-150N offers great value for money as an entry-level classical acoustic guitar. While it's one of Squier's most affordable models, it doesn't compromise much on quality and still produces a decent, balanced tone for the price.

The top, back, and sides are made of laminated nato wood which helps keep costs down while providing a balanced and clear sound across the tonal spectrum. The construction is also surprisingly good for an ultra-budget guitar. While it may not have the complex harmonics of solid wood, the SA-150N's tone holds its own and works well for classical repertoire as well as other fingerstyle playing.

The hardware and components like the chrome tuners and synthetic bone nut and saddle exceed expectations at this price point. Intonation and tuning stability is decent, especially when using the recommended nylon strings. Overall, the SA-150N gives beginners a very playable instrument that feels higher quality than the price suggests.

Summary

The Squier SA-150N nylon-string classical acoustic guitar delivers impressive performance and playability for its affordable price point. With its laminated spruce top and mahogany back and sides, it produces a balanced and resonant sound, especially when paired with the smooth playing nylon strings. While not as loud or rich sounding as a more expensive classical guitar, the SA-150N provides great value as a starter instrument, capturing the warm nylon-string tone in a budget-friendly package. The comfortable neck and fingerboard make it easy for beginners to learn on. The hardware and construction are decent for the low cost. Overall, the Squier SA-150N punches above its weight class, offering new players an inexpensive way to explore the world of classical guitar.