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Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
Fender Squier SA-105CE
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Playability
77
Sound
88
Build
77
Value
86
Score
81
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Playability
73
Sound
80
Build
63
Value
87
Score
72
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Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier vs Squier SA-105CE

Reasons to Get
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier over Squier SA-105CE

Release Year
2020 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Hard and self-lubricating nut to keep it in tune
Top Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Sides Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Back Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Nut Width
1.68'' (42.7mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm) vs 25.3'' (642.6mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier SA-105CE over Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier

Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.68'' (42.7mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Scale Length
25.3'' (642.6mm) vs 25.5'' (647.7mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Value Score
87 vs 86
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier vs Squier SA-105CE

Back Material
Maple vs Nato
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Maple vs Nato
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
Bone vs Plastic
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Indian Laurel vs Painted Maple with Compensated Saddle
Different Bridge Material
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Nato
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Hardwood
Different Fretboard Wood
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier vs Squier SA-105CE

Body Wood
Spruce
Same Body Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
0
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Number of Frets
20
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

Fender Squier SA-105CE Prices

SET PRICE ALERT

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier is probably the better product overall with its final score of 81 compared to the Fender Squier SA-105CE's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Squier SA-105CE has the upper hand when it comes to value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier is the better choice.

The Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier meets 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Fender Squier SA-105CE meets only 3. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender Squier SA-105CE
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Overview

  • From Epiphone's 2020 Masterbilt series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce top
  • Solid Maple back
  • Solid Maple sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Laurel fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Sonicore (Preamp/Active)
  • Indian Laurel bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Gold, Keystone Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Fender Squier SA-105CE Overview

  • From Fender Squier's 2018 Acoustic series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25.3"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Laminated Spruce top
  • Laminated Nato back
  • Laminated Nato sides
  • Nato neck
  • Stained Hardwood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fender FE-A2 Preamp (Preamp/Active)
  • Painted Maple with Compensated Saddle bridge
  • Acoustic C Shape Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The most important thing that will determine the tone of an acoustic guitar is the wood. Let's take a look at the differences between both .

Woods Used in Both

Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

Spruce has a light color with tight grain patterns. It's very stiff but relatively light. It's known for producing a well-rounded tone with a broad dynamic range. Find out more about Spruce.

Woods Used in the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
Laurel
Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Woods Used in the Fender Squier SA-105CE

Nato wood pattern used for guitar building
Nato
Hardwood wood pattern used for guitar building
Hardwood

Nato a hard and dense wood similar to Mahogany, but cheaper and not quite as hard. Tone-wise, it's also similar, but it doesn't have quite the same attack as Mahogany.

Hardwood is just a generic wood that can come from many species. This type of wood is used to build guitars because it provides a rich, warm sound. The wood also has good structural properties, making it durable and long-lasting.

Winner: Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier.

Electronics

Both come with electronics that allow you connect them to an amplifier or interface for recording.

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
Sustain 95
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 88
Fender Squier SA-105CE
Sustain 70
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 80

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier compares to the Fender Squier SA-105CE.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in China.

China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier has a NuBone nut. It's made by the same company that makes TUSQ nuts. It's slightly softer but hard enough to give you a brighter sound when playing open strings. It's also self-lubricating, so it's good for tuning stability.

On the other hand, the Fender Squier SA-105CE comes with a Plastic nut. This is a low-quality nut that you might want to consider upgrading soon. Bone and TUSQ nuts are the best for guitars with a fixed or simple tremolo bridge.

Winner: Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier's are Gold, Keystone Buttons while the Fender Squier SA-105CE's are Die-Cast

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Squier SA-105CE
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Top Wood
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
Quality of materials 86
Features 85
Quality Control 60
Build Quality 77
Fender Squier SA-105CE
Quality of materials 49
Features 85
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 63

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Nut Width
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Nut Width
Fender Squier SA-105CE Nut Width
Fender Squier SA-105CE Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender Squier SA-105CE has the wider nut with 43mm (1.693'') vs 42.7mm (1.68''). This is a 0.3mm (0.013'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Squier SA-105CE, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier's Scale Length
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier's Scale Length
Fender Squier SA-105CE's Scale Length
Fender Squier SA-105CE's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier has the longest scale: 25.5". The Fender Squier SA-105CE is only 25.3" long. This is a 0.2'' (5.1mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Neck Profile
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier's neck profile
Fender Squier SA-105CE Neck Profile
Fender Squier SA-105CE's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier and the Fender Squier SA-105CE have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier and the Fender Squier SA-105CE have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Fender Squier SA-105CE favors large hands more than the Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier SA-105CE:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Frets Size
Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier's Frets Size
Fender Squier SA-105CE Frets Size
Fender Squier SA-105CE's Frets Size

The Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier has Medium Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Fender Squier SA-105CE's Medium frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77
Fender Squier SA-105CE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier vs Squier SA-105CE
General Epiphone Masterbilt Frontier Squier SA-105CE
Brand: Epiphone Fender Squier
Year: 2020 2018
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Masterbilt Acoustic
Colors: Sunburst Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Sitka Spruce Laminated Spruce
Sides Material: Maple Nato
Back Material: Maple Nato
Bridge: Indian Laurel Painted Maple with Compensated Saddle
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Gold, Keystone Buttons Die-Cast
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Stained Hardwood
Neck Material: Mahogany Nato
Decoration: Pearloid Split Block Rectangles White Dot
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.3"
Shape: Acoustic C Acoustic C Shape
Frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: NuBone Plastic
Nut Width: 42.7mm (1.68'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman Sonicore (Preamp / Active) Fender FE-A2 Preamp (Preamp / Active)