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Yamaha A5R ARE
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String
VS
Playability
73
Sound
90
Build
89
Value
79
Score
84
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Playability
77
Sound
83
Build
75
Value
88
Score
78
FIND IT ON:
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Yamaha A5R ARE vs Fender CD-140SCE 12-String

Reasons to Get
Yamaha A5R ARE over Fender CD-140SCE 12-String

Country of Manufacturing
Japan vs Indonesia
Built with higher quality standards
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
Sides Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Back Wood
Solid vs Laminated
Helps with richer tones and louder volume
Strings
6 vs 12
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.77'' (45mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Scale Length
25.6'' (650.2mm) vs 25.3'' (642.6mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
15.75'' (400.1mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Avg. Weight
5.075lbs (2.3kgs) vs 5.15lbs (2.3kgs)
Tends to be lighter

Reasons to Get
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String over Yamaha A5R ARE

Pickups Brand
Fishman vs None
Pickups from a renown brand
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
Scale Length
25.3'' (642.6mm) vs 25.6'' (650.2mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 15.75'' (400.1mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
88 vs 79
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Yamaha A5R ARE vs Fender CD-140SCE 12-String

Back Material
Rosewood vs Ovangkol
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Rosewood vs Ovangkol
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
Ivory Tusq vs NuBone
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Ebony vs Walnut
Different Bridge Material
Fretboard Wood
Ebony vs Walnut
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
3-3 vs 6-6
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs NuBone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Yamaha A5R ARE vs Fender CD-140SCE 12-String

Body Wood
Spruce
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
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
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Type of Frets
Medium vs Vintage
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • 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 A5R ARE is probably the better product overall with its final score of 84 compared to the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String's 78 score, although not by a lot.

The Yamaha A5R ARE wins when it comes to sound, build quality. On the other hand, the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String has the upper hand when it comes to playability, value for the money.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 3 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

Yamaha A5R ARE
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Fender CD-140SCE 12-String
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable shape
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Tall frets
  • 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.

Yamaha A5R ARE Overview

  • From Yamaha's 2017 A series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 25.6"'' scale
  • 15.75" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Sitka Spruce A.R.E. w/Scalloped Bracing top
  • Solid Rosewood back
  • Solid Rosewood sides
  • African Mahogany (3-ply) neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: SYSTEM71(SRT2 System) + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic C Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh) tuners
  • Weight between 4.95lbs (2.2kgs) and 5.2lbs (2.4kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Overview

  • From Fender's 2017 Classic Design series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 12 strings
  • 25.3"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce top
  • Laminated Ovangkol back
  • Laminated Ovangkol sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Walnut fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman CD-1 Preamp (Preamp/Passive)
  • Walnut bridge
  • Acoustic Fender 'Easy-to-Play' shape with rolled fretboard edges Set neck
  • 20 Vintage frets
  • Chrome Die-Cast tuners
  • Weight between 5.05lbs (2.3kgs) and 5.25lbs (2.4kgs)
  • 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

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

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.

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 Yamaha A5R ARE

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Woods Used in the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String

Walnut wood pattern used for guitar building
Walnut
Ovangkol wood pattern used for guitar building
Ovangkol

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.

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.

Winner: Yamaha A5R ARE.

Electronics

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

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Yamaha A5R ARE
Sustain 95
Versatility 95
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 90
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String
Sustain 80
Versatility 80
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 83

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 Yamaha A5R ARE compares to the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Yamaha A5R ARE is built in Japan while the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String is made in Indonesia.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

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.

Winner: Yamaha A5R ARE

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 Yamaha A5R ARE has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

On the other hand, the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String comes with 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.

Winner: Tie.

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 Yamaha A5R ARE's are Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh) while the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String's are Chrome Die-Cast

Winner: Tie.

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

Strengths & Weaknesses
Yamaha A5R ARE
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Ivory Tusq Nut
  • Electronics
  • Ivory Tusq Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Top Brand Pickups
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String
  • 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

Final Build Quality Scores

Yamaha A5R ARE
Quality of materials 96
Features 80
Quality Control 90
Build Quality 89
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String
Quality of materials 76
Features 85
Quality Control 65
Build Quality 75

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

Yamaha A5R ARE Nut Width
Yamaha A5R ARE Nut Width
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Nut Width
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Fender CD-140SCE 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 CD-140SCE 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

Yamaha A5R ARE's Scale Length
Yamaha A5R ARE's Scale Length
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String's Scale Length
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String'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 Yamaha A5R ARE has the longest scale: 25.6". The Fender CD-140SCE 12-String is only 25.3" 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

Yamaha A5R ARE Neck Profile
Yamaha A5R ARE's neck profile
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Neck Profile
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String'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 Yamaha A5R ARE and the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String 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

Yamaha A5R ARE Fingerboard Radius
Yamaha A5R ARE's Fingerboard radius
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Fingerboard Radius
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String'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 CD-140SCE 12-String's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Yamaha A5R ARE'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 A5R ARE.

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.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Yamaha A5R ARE favors large hands more than the Fender CD-140SCE 12-String. But it's still more comfortable for people with small hands, as you can see in the score meter below.

Yamaha A5R ARE:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Yamaha A5R ARE Frets Size
Yamaha A5R ARE's Frets Size
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String Frets Size
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String's Frets Size

The Yamaha A5R ARE has Medium frets, which should be taller than the Fender CD-140SCE 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

Yamaha A5R ARE
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 80
Playability 73
Fender CD-140SCE 12-String
Bending & Vibrato Ease 75
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 80
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Yamaha A5R ARE vs Fender CD-140SCE 12-String
General Yamaha A5R ARE Fender CD-140SCE 12-String
Brand: Yamaha Fender
Year: 2017 2017
Strings: 6 12
Made in: Japan Indonesia
Series: A Classic Design
Colors: Natural Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Sitka Spruce A.R.E. w/Scalloped Bracing Solid Spruce
Sides Material: Rosewood Ovangkol
Back Material: Rosewood Ovangkol
Bridge: Ebony Walnut
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Open Gear Chrome (Gotoh) Chrome Die-Cast
Fretboard: Ebony Walnut
Neck Material: African Mahogany (3-ply) Mahogany
Decoration: Dots 3mm Pearloid Dot
Scale Size: 25.6" 25.3"
Shape: Acoustic C Acoustic Fender 'Easy-to-Play' shape with rolled fretboard edges
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Vintage Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 15.75" 12"
Nut: Ivory Tusq NuBone
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 45mm (1.77'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: SYSTEM71(SRT2 System) + SRT Piezo Pickup (Preamp / Active) Fishman CD-1 Preamp (Preamp / Passive)