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Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String
Fender Squier SA-105CE
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Playability
72
Sound
79
Build
72
Value
84
Score
74
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Playability
73
Sound
80
Build
63
Value
87
Score
72
FIND IT ON:
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Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String vs Squier SA-105CE

Reasons to Get
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String over Squier SA-105CE

Number of Frets
19 vs 20
Warmer neck pickup
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
Strings
12 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Nut Width
1.77'' (45mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Body Shape
Concert vs Dreadnought
Compact body with balanced tones
Fretboard Radius
11.81'' (300mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Fender Squier SA-105CE over Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String

Release Year
2018 vs 2012
From a more recent year
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Strings
6 vs 12
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Number of Frets
20 vs 19
Allows to reach higher notes
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.77'' (45mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Body Shape
Dreadnought vs Concert
Prominent low-end tones in a large body
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 11.81'' (300mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
87 vs 84
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String vs Squier SA-105CE

Back Material
Mahogany vs Nato
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Mahogany vs Nato
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Walnut vs Painted Maple with Compensated Saddle
Different Bridge Material
Body Wood
Mahogany vs Spruce
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Maple vs Nato
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Walnut vs Hardwood
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6-6 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
NuBone vs Plastic
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String vs Squier SA-105CE

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
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
25.3'' (642.6mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
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

  • Top Pickup Brand

Common Weaknesses

  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • 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

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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 Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the Fender Squier SA-105CE's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String wins when it comes to build quality. On the other hand, the Fender Squier SA-105CE has the upper hand when it comes to sound, playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel more comfortable playing the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String is the better choice.

The Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String 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

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • 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.

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String Overview

  • From Fender's 2012 Artist series
  • Tim Armstrong Signature
  • Made in China
  • 12 strings
  • 25.3"'' scale
  • 11.81" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Mahogany top
  • Laminated Mahogany back
  • Laminated Mahogany sides
  • Maple neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman CD Preamp (Preamp/Passive)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic C Shape Set neck
  • 19 Vintage frets
  • Vintage-Style with Aged White Plastic 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 the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Winner: Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String.

Electronics

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

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String
Sustain 75
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 79
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 Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String 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 Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String 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: Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String.

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 Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String's are Vintage-Style with Aged White Plastic 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
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String
  • Expensive Wood
  • NuBone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • NuBone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in China
  • Laminated Side Wood
  • Laminated Back Wood
  • 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

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String
Quality of materials 76
Features 85
Quality Control 55
Build Quality 72
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

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String Nut Width
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String 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 Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String has the wider nut with 45mm (1.77'') vs 43mm (1.693''). This is a 2mm (0.077'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String and Fender Squier SA-105CE's Scale Length
Both have the same 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.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.3".

This is considered a long scale, but slightly shorter than what's commonly found in acoustic guitars.

Since the distance between bridge and nut is relatively long, strings will feel stiff and more difficult to bend, but the tone will feel brighter. It will also be less likely to produce fret buzzing and rattling when strumming hard.

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 Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String Neck Profile
Both guitars have the same 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 Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String 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

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String Fingerboard Radius
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String's Fingerboard radius
Fender Squier SA-105CE Fingerboard Radius
Fender Squier SA-105CE'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 Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Fender Squier SA-105CE'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 Squier SA-105CE.

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 Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender Squier SA-105CE:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String Frets Size
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String's Frets Size
Fender Squier SA-105CE Frets Size
Fender Squier SA-105CE's Frets Size

The Fender Squier SA-105CE has Medium frets, which should be taller than the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String'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 Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String
Bending & Vibrato Ease 70
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 65
Playability 72
Fender Squier SA-105CE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73

Specs Side-by-Side

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String vs Squier SA-105CE
General Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat-12 String Squier SA-105CE
Brand: Fender Fender Squier
Year: 2012 2018
Strings: 12 6
Made in: China China
Series: Artist Acoustic
Colors: Natural Black
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Mahogany Laminated Spruce
Sides Material: Mahogany Nato
Back Material: Mahogany Nato
Bridge: Walnut Painted Maple with Compensated Saddle
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Vintage-Style with Aged White Plastic Buttons Die-Cast
Fretboard: Walnut Stained Hardwood
Neck Material: Maple Nato
Decoration: Hellcat and Double Skulls White Dot
Scale Size: 25.3" 25.3"
Shape: Acoustic C Shape Acoustic C Shape
Frets: 19 Vintage Nickel Silver 20 Medium Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 11.81" 12"
Nut: NuBone Plastic
Nut Width: 45mm (1.77'') 43mm (1.693'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Fishman CD Preamp (Preamp / Passive) Fender FE-A2 Preamp (Preamp / Active)