This Fender FA-115 is a guitar for anyone who wants a quality acoustic guitar that’s worth its price tag.
It has a non-cutaway body with gloss finish, a top made of laminated spruce, back and sides made of laminated mahogany, and a 25.3″ scale length.
You can purchase this guitar in many different stores, some of them include:
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The focus of this post will be on taking an in-depth look at the Fender FA-115 acoustic guitar and examining its features, sound, and playability.
Some guitar features are more important than others when it comes to the overall sound and playability of the instrument; we’ll help you understand which ones those are.
Table of Contents
Summary
Here’s our summary of the Fender FA-115 so that you can take a quick look at how it performs.
The score and rating we give are simply our own personal opinion so it might be different from what you or others think.
Hardware
All of the metal and plastic parts that make up a guitar are called hardware.
These include but are not limited to:
- Tuning machines
- Pickguard
- Bridge
- Strings
- Strap buttons
- Pickups
- Tailpiece
- Control knobs
The term “hardware” on an acoustic guitar refers to any of the physical parts that make up the guitar itself.
When considering a guitar primarily on its hardware, check that it is of excellent quality and will be strong enough to withstand consistent use.
Lower-quality guitars often have plastic saddles on the bridge, which can negatively impact the instrument’s tone and intonation while also making it more difficult to tune.
Also, check sure that the metal pieces themselves are not prone to rusting or tarnishing, and that they appear to be sturdy, durable, and not readily damaged.
A decent-sounding and playable guitar requires excellent hardware, and there are a few things that a manufacturer can do to make it perfect for us guitarists.
Let’s look at it more closely!
– Tuning Machines
On this Fender FA-115, the tuning machines are simple but effective, they’re die cast, made of chrome, and have a classic solid surface design.
- Material: Chrome
- Design: Classic solid surface
One of the most significant pieces of any guitar’s hardware is the tuning machines (commonly referred as “tuners”).
They’re responsible for holding the strings tight so that they can vibrate properly and produce the correct pitch.
Bad and low-quality tuning machines can make your guitar go out of tune quickly and be difficult to keep in tune.
They can also make changing the strings more difficult, as well as making playing the guitar more difficult in general.
Must Remember:
Good tuning machines are composed of durable, long-lasting materials and operate with accuracy and precision.
You should look for materials that are less susceptible to rust, such as nickel-plated steel or stainless steel.
These materials are also less likely to tarnish, so your guitar will look good for longer.
– Pickguard
The Fender FA-115 has a black pickguard with a plain design.
- Color: Black
- Design: Plain
The pickguard is a small piece of plastic or metal that’s mounted on the body of the guitar, near the strings.
Its aim is to keep the pick from scratching the guitar’s finish while you’re playing.
Most pickguards are composed of plastic or metal, and in some cases, carbon fiber, and come in many different styles.
A decent pickguard should be built of a robust material that can sustain regular use when it comes to protection.
It should also be placed in such a way that it is likely to protect the guitar’s body from scratches produced by the player’s pick.
In terms of appearance, a pickguard should also blend in with the guitar’s general design and complement the overall aesthetic of the instrument.
It shouldn’t be too noticeable, but it shouldn’t be so small or low-quality that it seems to be out of place either.
– Strap Buttons
Both strap buttons on the Fender FA-115 are constructed of chrome and appear to be fairly strong.
- Material: Chrome
- Position: Bottom and side of heel
- Design: Classic
Strap buttons are small metal buttons that are mounted on the body of the guitar, and they’re used to attach a strap to the instrument.
On the body of most guitars, there will be at least two strap buttons, one on each side.
These strap buttons are made of metal, and they should be strong and durable so that they don’t come loose over time.
Even though the quality of the strap buttons isn’t a deal-breaker for most individuals, it’s still something to consider.
Body
The body of a guitar is the main part of the instrument, and it’s where the neck, bridge, and strings are attached.
This is also where you’ll find a hole (the “soundhole”) through which sound from within the instrument resonates.
The majority of guitars have a wooden body, while others have carbon fiber, metal, or plastic bodies (less usual).
– Wood
The type of wood that’s used for the body can affect the sound of the guitar, so that’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking for a particular tone.
When it comes to the Fender FA-115, it has a laminated spruce top with a laminated mahogany back and laminated mahogany sides.
– Finish
The body finish is the final layer of protection for the wood of the guitar body.
When it comes to this guitar in specific, it features a gloss finish.
It’s what gives the guitar its brilliance and shine, but also protects the wood from scratches, dents, and other wear and tear.
There are a few types of finishes that you’ll come across, some of them are:
- Polyurethane
- Nitrocellulose Lacquer
- Polyester
Nitrocellulose Lacquer is considered to be the best type of finish, but it’s also the most expensive.
It’s a durable finish that can be buffed to a high shine, and it’s also relatively easy to repair if it’s damaged.
Polyurethane is a cheaper alternative that’s almost as good, and Polyester is the cheapest option but it doesn’t provide as much protection.
Among these categories, there are subcategories as well, such as:
- Gloss finishes: High shine and they’re very reflective.
- Matte finishes: Have a lower shine and they’re not very reflective.
- Satin finishes: Somewhere in-between gloss and matte, they have a moderate shine and they’re somewhat reflective.
– Colors Available
The color of a guitar’s body is typically not a significant factor in the overall tone.
It can, however, affect the instrument’s appearance and feel.
Some individuals like a certain color guitar because it complements their aesthetic or because it’s easier to see in low light conditions.
Some of the most popular colors for guitar bodies are:
- Natural: This is the color of wood that hasn’t been stained or painted.
- Black: Black is a popular color for metal-style guitars.
- Sunburst: Sunburst is a combination of light and dark colors, usually red, yellow, and brown.
– Bridge, Saddle, and Pins
The Fender FA-115 has a standard pin bridge with white-colored plastic pins and a saddle made of plastic.
Each of these elements has a significant impact on how the guitar sounds and feels.
For instance, the bridge is in charge of transmitting string vibrations to the guitar’s body.
The saddle, which is commonly constructed of plastic or bone, is where the strings rest.
And the pins are what hold the strings in place.
There are also several kinds of bridges, each with its own set of pro’s and cons.
On acoustic guitars, you’ll mainly see three types of bridges:
- Pin bridges (standard)
- Pinless bridges
- Classical bridge
Pin bridges are the most common type of bridge, and they’re also the easiest to replace.
However, they can be more difficult to intonate, which involves getting the strings in a precise position and tuning them.
Pinless bridges are less common, although they are easy to intonate as well.
They also have the benefit of not requiring any pins, which may be difficult to keep track of.
Finally, classical guitar bridges are only found for the most part on classical guitars.
They are similar in design to most other bridges, but the key distinction is that they have no pins and instead consist of a saddle and a wooden block with a hole for each string.
This hole is used to secure the string, giving the guitar a much cleaner appearance.
Now, the sort of saddle you have is also crucial; plastic saddles are the least expensive and simplest to buy, but they do not last as long as bone saddles.
The cost of bone saddles is more, but they are also more durable.
As for the bridge pins, there are three main types:
- Plastic bridge pins
- Steel bridge pins
- Brass bridge pins
Plastic bridge pins are the cheapest and easiest to find, but they’re also the least durable.
Steel bridge pins are more expensive, but they’re also more durable.
Brass bridge pins are the most expensive, but they’re also the most durable.
Neck
When it comes to the Fender FA-115, its neck is made of nato and has a Standard shape with an adjustable truss rod.
The neck is the long, thin component of the guitar that runs from the body to the headstock and is generally made of wood.
The type of wood that’s used for the neck can affect the guitar’s playability and sound since different woods have different properties and impact the way that the vibrations produced by the strings behave.
The most popular style of neck is the bolt-on neck, which is screwed or bolted onto the body of the guitar.
Another popular style is the set-neck, which is actually glued to the body of the guitar.
The fretboard, frets, nut, and truss rod are all crucial components of a guitar neck.
Fretboard
The fretboard is the surface on the neck of the guitar where your fingers push down on the strings.
It is often made of wood, although it can also be made of carbon fiber, plastic, or metal.
As for the Fender FA-115, it has a fretboard made of walnut with pearloid dots inlays:
Despite the fact that this has long been a source of debate, it is generally accepted that the type of wood used for the fretboard might have a minor impact on the sound of the guitar.
For instance, maple is a popular material for electric guitars because it tends to produce a very sharp tone.
Rosewood is another popular choice for acoustic guitars because it produces a warm, full-bodied tone.
Ebony is another popular choice, and it’s frequently used on guitars that are designed to have an extremely clean and clear tone.
There are several varieties of fretboards available, each with its own set of pros and cons.
The kind of fretboard you pick is ultimately up to you and what you’re looking for in a guitar; the tone of the instrument will not be dramatically different, but the feel of the guitar will be.
Brand Info
Fender is a leading manufacturer of electric guitars, and they’ve been in business since 1946.
They’re one of the most iconic guitar brands in the world, and their instruments are used by some of the most famous musicians of all time.
Also, the company offers a wide range of different models, from simple beginner guitars to complex professional instruments.
Their guitars are known for their great tone and quality craftsmanship, and they’re a popular choice for both beginner and experienced players.
At the same time, Fender guitars are very affordable, making them a great option for budget-conscious musicians.
Videos
For those of you who want to get a more in-depth look at this guitar, we’ve included some videos below.
The first video is a demo showing off how it sounds and looks.
While the second video is a review that goes over some of its features and specs.
Demo
Review
Specifications
A guitar’s specifications can tell you a lot about the instrument, and they can be helpful when you’re trying to decide between different models.
Below, we’ve included the specifications for the Fender FA-115:
– General
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | FA-115 |
| Type | Acoustic |
| Size | Full Size |
| Colors | Natural, black, and sunburst |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Hardware Plating | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines | Die Cast |
| Electro-acoustic | No |
| Built-in Tuner | Not applicable |
– Body
| Body Style | Dreadnought |
| Cutaway | No |
| Solid Top | No |
| Top Material | Laminated Spruce |
| Back Material | Laminated Mahogany |
| Sides Material | Laminated Mahogany |
| Finish Type | Gloss |
| Pickguard | Yes |
| Pickguard Design | Plain |
| Strap Buttons | Yes |
| Strap Buttons Position | Bottom and side of heel |
| Strap Buttons Design | Classic |
– Neck
| Neck Material | Nato |
| Neck Shape | Standard |
| Scale Length | 25.3″ |
| Truss Rod | Adjustable |
– Fretboard
| Fretboard Material | Walnut |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid dots |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
– Bridge, nut, saddle, pins
| Bridge Design | Standard pin bridge |
| Pin Color | White |
| Pin Material | Plastic |
| Bridge Material | Walnut |
| Saddle Material | Plastic |
| Nut Material | Plastic |
| Nut Width | 1.69” |
Please note that some brands might change the type of materials that they use on their guitars.
This can be because of new regulations and laws that come and go throughout the years.
If you see a mistake in any of these specifications, please let us know and we’ll correct it.
You can reach out to us via our email: [email protected]
I also encourage you to check out our other guitar reviews if you’re looking for something specific that you might have not found here with this guitar.
There are a lot of great guitars out there, and it can be tough to choose the right one sometimes.
We have reviews on electric guitars, acoustic guitars, bass guitars, effects pedals, and more.
No matter what your budget is, or what type of guitar you’re looking for, we should be able to help you find the perfect one for you.
Born and raised in Florida! I’ve been playing guitars for the past 5 years. Love to learn, and I’m always striving to achieve greater heights in music. Currently have a Fender Stratocaster as my main guitar.
