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Fender Squier SA-105CE
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany
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Playability
73
Sound
80
Build
63
Value
87
Score
72
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Playability
82
Sound
86
Build
74
Value
91
Score
81
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Squier SA-105CE vs Fender Malibu Special Mahogany

Reasons to Get
Squier SA-105CE over Fender Malibu Special Mahogany

Body Shape
Dreadnought vs Malibu
Prominent low-end tones in a large body
Scale Length
25.3'' (642.6mm) vs 24.1'' (612.1mm)
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
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany over Fender Squier SA-105CE

Release Year
2020 vs 2018
From a more recent year
Nut Material
Bone vs Plastic
Good quality nut with rich tone
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
Body Shape
Malibu vs Dreadnought
Compact body with a short scale
Scale Length
24.1'' (612.1mm) 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
91 vs 87
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Squier SA-105CE vs Fender Malibu Special Mahogany

Back Material
Nato vs Mahogany
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Nato vs Mahogany
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
Plastic vs Bone
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Painted Maple with Compensated Saddle vs Modern Viking
Different Bridge Material
Body Wood
Spruce vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Nato vs Mahogany
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Hardwood vs Pau Ferro
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Plastic vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Squier SA-105CE vs Fender Malibu Special Mahogany

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
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
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

Fender Squier SA-105CE Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Fender Malibu Special Mahogany 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 Fender Malibu Special Mahogany wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Fender Squier SA-105CE in every aspect.

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?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Malibu Special Mahogany is the better choice.

The Fender Malibu Special Mahogany meets 5 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

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

New Player Friendliness

Fender Malibu Special Mahogany
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Short scale
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • 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 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 >

Fender Malibu Special Mahogany Overview

  • From Fender's 2020 California series
  • Made in China
  • 6 strings
  • 24.1"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Mahogany top
  • Solid Mahogany back
  • Solid Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Pau Ferro fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman-designed preamp system (Preamp/Active)
  • Modern Viking bridge
  • Acoustic Slim C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Sealed Nickel 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 the Fender Squier SA-105CE

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

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.

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 Fender Malibu Special Mahogany

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Pau Ferro wood pattern used for guitar building
Pau Ferro

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.

Pau Ferro has a dark, chocolate-like color with straight dark grains that is being used as a replacement to Rosewood due to the regulations. It produces a warm tone that is somewhere between Mahogany and Rosewood. Find out more about Pau Ferro.

Winner: Fender Malibu Special Mahogany.

Electronics

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

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Squier SA-105CE
Sustain 70
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 65
Sound 80
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany
Sustain 90
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 86

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 Squier SA-105CE compares to the Fender Malibu Special Mahogany.

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 Fender Squier SA-105CE has 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.

On the other hand, the Fender Malibu Special Mahogany comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: Fender Malibu Special Mahogany.

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 Squier SA-105CE's are Die-Cast while the Fender Malibu Special Mahogany's are Sealed Nickel

Winner: Tie.

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

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
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Fender Squier SA-105CE
Quality of materials 49
Features 85
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 63
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany
Quality of materials 81
Features 85
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 74

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 Squier SA-105CE 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 Squier SA-105CE's Scale Length
Fender Squier SA-105CE's Scale Length
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany's Scale Length
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany'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 Squier SA-105CE has the longest scale: 25.3". The Fender Malibu Special Mahogany is only 24.1" long. This is a 1.2'' (30.5mm) 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 Squier SA-105CE Neck Profile
Fender Squier SA-105CE's neck profile
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany Neck Profile
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany'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 Squier SA-105CE and the Fender Malibu Special Mahogany 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 Squier SA-105CE Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier SA-105CE's Fingerboard radius
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany Fingerboard Radius
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany'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 Squier SA-105CE's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Malibu Special Mahogany'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 Fender Malibu Special Mahogany.

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 Squier SA-105CE:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Squier SA-105CE and Fender Malibu Special Mahogany Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Fender Squier SA-105CE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Fender Malibu Special Mahogany
Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 82

Specs Side-by-Side

Squier SA-105CE vs Fender Malibu Special Mahogany
General Squier SA-105CE Fender Malibu Special Mahogany
Brand: Fender Squier Fender
Year: 2018 2020
Strings: 6 6
Made in: China China
Series: Acoustic California
Colors: Black Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Laminated Spruce Solid Mahogany
Sides Material: Nato Mahogany
Back Material: Nato Mahogany
Bridge: Painted Maple with Compensated Saddle Modern Viking
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Die-Cast Sealed Nickel
Fretboard: Stained Hardwood Pau Ferro
Neck Material: Nato Mahogany
Decoration: White Dot Maple Dots
Scale Size: 25.3" 24.1"
Shape: Acoustic C Shape Acoustic Slim C
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 15.75"
Nut: Plastic Bone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fender FE-A2 Preamp (Preamp / Active) Fishman-designed preamp system (Preamp / Active)