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Fender CN-140SCE
Yamaha FSX800C
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Playability
70
Sound
79
Build
74
Value
84
Score
74
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Playability
77
Sound
84
Build
67
Value
86
Score
76
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Fender CN-140SCE vs Yamaha FSX800C

Reasons to Get
Fender CN-140SCE over Yamaha FSX800C

Country of Manufacturing
Indonesia vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Release Year
2017 vs 2016
From a more recent year
Number of Frets
18 vs 20
Warmer neck pickup
Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Hard and self-lubricating nut to keep it in tune
Body Shape
Classical vs Concert
Compact body with soft nylon strings
Scale Length
25.3'' (642.6mm) vs 25'' (635mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Yamaha FSX800C over Fender CN-140SCE

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Pickup Mods
Multi-Voicing vs None
Changes the voice (tones or gain) of the pickups
Number of Frets
20 vs 18
Allows to reach higher notes
Body Shape
Concert vs Classical
Compact body with balanced tones
Scale Length
25'' (635mm) vs 25.3'' (642.6mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
86 vs 84
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender CN-140SCE vs Yamaha FSX800C

Back Material
Ovangkol vs Okoume
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Ovangkol vs Okoume
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Different Saddle Material
Body Wood
Cedar vs Spruce
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany vs Nato
Different Neck Wood
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender CN-140SCE vs Yamaha FSX800C

Bridge Material
Walnut
Same Bridge Material
Fretboard Wood
Walnut
Same Fretboard 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
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm)
Same string separation at the nut
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Vintage vs Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Yamaha FSX800C is probably the better product overall with its final score of 76 compared to the Fender CN-140SCE's 74 score, although not by a lot.

The Yamaha FSX800C wins when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money. On the other hand, the Fender CN-140SCE has the upper hand when it comes to build quality.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. 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. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Fender CN-140SCE
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Comfortable neck
  • Soft Strings
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Yamaha FSX800C
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • 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.

Fender CN-140SCE Overview

  • From Fender's 2017 Classic Design series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 25.3"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Cedar top
  • Laminated Ovangkol back
  • Laminated Ovangkol sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman CD Preamp (Preamp/Passive)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic Fender 'Easy-to-Play' shape with rolled fretboard edges Set neck
  • 18 Vintage frets
  • 3-In-Line with Amber Pearloid Buttons tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Yamaha FSX800C Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2016 FG / FGX series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 25"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Nato/Okoume back
  • Nato/Okoume sides
  • Nato neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM66 + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T) tuners
  • Weight between 4lbs (1.8kgs) and 4.25lbs (1.9kgs)
  • 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

Walnut wood pattern used for guitar building
Walnut

It's a hard wood with a chocolate color that is often used to give an elegant finish. Since it's quite expensive and rare, it's mostly used for guitar tops. Find out more about Walnut.

Woods Used in the Fender CN-140SCE

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Cedar wood pattern used for guitar building
Cedar
Ovangkol wood pattern used for guitar building
Ovangkol

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.

This is a softwood that is commonly used for acoustic guitars. It's known for its warm tone with strong overtones. However, there are many species so the tone and look can vary a lot.

Ovangkol is a beautiful wood that's popular for acoustic guitars. Its tone sits somewhere between rosewood and mahogany, meaning it has a punchy low-end and nice mid-range. Find out more about Ovangkol.

Woods Used in the Yamaha FSX800C

Nato wood pattern used for guitar building
Nato
Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce
Okoume wood pattern used for guitar building
Okoume

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.

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.

Okoume is an affordable wood and one of the first to replace Mahogany when the prohibitions started. It's generally softer than Mahogany and the tone has warmer lows.

Winner: Fender CN-140SCE.

Electronics

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

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender CN-140SCE
Sustain 75
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 79
Yamaha FSX800C
Sustain 75
Versatility 95
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 84

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 Fender CN-140SCE compares to the Yamaha FSX800C.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Fender CN-140SCE is built in Indonesia while the Yamaha FSX800C is made in China.

Indonesia is becoming the most popular country for guitar building because they can make good instruments for a low price. Some people think that they're 'the new China' when it comes to build quality. But the truth is that Indonesian guitars are more consistent, although Chinese quality has improved a lot in the last few years.

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: Fender CN-140SCE

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 Fender CN-140SCE 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 Yamaha FSX800C 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: Fender CN-140SCE.

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 Fender CN-140SCE's are 3-In-Line with Amber Pearloid Buttons while the Yamaha FSX800C's are Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T)

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender CN-140SCE
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • NuBone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha FSX800C
  • Electronics
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • No Expensive Woods
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • Low-Quality Material Saddle
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender CN-140SCE
Quality of materials 71
Features 85
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 74
Yamaha FSX800C
Quality of materials 66
Features 80
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 67

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

Fender CN-140SCE Nut Width
Both Guitars Have The Same Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, both have a nut width of 43mm (1.693'').

This is within the most common range of nut widths for a 6-string guitar. It offers a good balance of string separation at the nut. It's the size that most guitarists prefer as it gives them just enough space to play open chords without muting the strings, but without spreading the strings too wide and making bar chords difficult to perform.

Scale Length

Fender CN-140SCE's Scale Length
Fender CN-140SCE's Scale Length
Yamaha FSX800C's Scale Length
Yamaha FSX800C'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 Fender CN-140SCE has the longest scale: 25.3". The Yamaha FSX800C is only 25" long. This is a 0.3'' (7.6mm) 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

Fender CN-140SCE Neck Profile
Fender CN-140SCE's neck profile
Yamaha FSX800C Neck Profile
Yamaha FSX800C'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 Fender CN-140SCE and the Yamaha FSX800C 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

Fender CN-140SCE Fingerboard Radius
Fender CN-140SCE's Fingerboard radius
Yamaha FSX800C Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha FSX800C's Fingerboard 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.

In this case, the Fender CN-140SCE's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Yamaha FSX800C's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Yamaha FSX800C.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

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.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Fender CN-140SCE:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Yamaha FSX800C:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender CN-140SCE Frets Size
Fender CN-140SCE's Frets Size
Yamaha FSX800C Frets Size
Yamaha FSX800C's Frets Size

The Yamaha FSX800C has Medium frets, which should be taller than the Fender CN-140SCE's Vintage 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

Fender CN-140SCE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 70
Yamaha FSX800C
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 70
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender CN-140SCE vs Yamaha FSX800C
General Fender CN-140SCE Yamaha FSX800C
Brand: Fender Yamaha
Year: 2017 2016
Strings: 6 6
Made in: Indonesia China
Series: Classic Design FG / FGX
Colors: Black Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Cedar Solid Spruce
Sides Material: Ovangkol Okoume
Back Material: Ovangkol Okoume
Bridge: Walnut Walnut
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: 3-In-Line with Amber Pearloid Buttons Die-Cast Chrome (TM29T)
Fretboard: Walnut Walnut
Neck Material: Mahogany Nato
Decoration: 4mm Dots Dots
Scale Size: 25.3" 25"
Shape: Acoustic Fender 'Easy-to-Play' shape with rolled fretboard edges Acoustic C
Frets: 18 Vintage Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 15.75"
Nut: NuBone Plastic
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman CD Preamp (Preamp / Passive) SYSTEM66 + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp / Active)