Product Comparison: Fender MA-1 vs Yamaha JR1

Advertiser Disclosure

This site is a free online resource that strives to offer helpful content and comparison features to its visitors. Please be advised that the operator of this site accepts advertising compensation from certain companies that appear on the site, and such compensation impacts the location and order in which the companies (and/or their products) are presented, and in some cases may also impact the scoring that is assigned to them. The scoring that appears on this site is determined by the site operator in its sole discretion, and should NOT be relied upon for accuracy purposes. In fact, Company/product listings on this page DO NOT imply endorsement by the site operator. Except as expressly set forth in our Terms of Use, all representations and warranties regarding the information presented on this page are disclaimed. The information which appears on this site is subject to change at any time. More info

Fender MA-1 3/4-Size Steel String Acoustic Guitar

Check Price

Best Pick

Yamaha JR1 3/4-Scale Acoustic Guitar

Check Price

General Specifications

Brand

Fender

Yamaha

Model

MA-1

JR1

Origin

Indonesia

About the Product

The 3/4-size scale and low price of the Fender MA-1 make it an ideal choice for young players who need a guitar that will fit smaller hands. The MA-1 is intended to help beginning players start and stick with the instrument. With a comfortable playing feel from its satin body and neck finish, a shorter string scale length, and a full tone that belies its scale this Fender will fit most any stature. This guitar is also great for players who want real Fender quality in a small travel acoustic and it includes a gig bag for comfortably convenient transport to school, lessons, friends’ houses and more.

With the Yamaha JR1, now you can enjoy the tone of a full-size acoustic guitar, in a size that's easier for new players to manage. The JR1 is a compact folk guitar modeled after Yamaha's famous FG folk guitar series. With a spruce top and a meranti body, the JR1 gives you big acoustic sound, without the big acoustic size. Young players, players with smaller hands, and anyone wanting a more travel-friendly instrument will love this guitar. In fact, you even get a gig bag with the Yamaha JR1.

Key Specs

Guitar Type

Acoustic

Hand Orientation

Right-handed

Number Of Strings

Guitar Size

3/4

What customers say about "Key Specs"

Fender MA-1 3/4-Size Steel String Acoustic Guitar

So glad I bought this guitar for my husbands birthday. I was trying to decide between two other brands and decided on this one. He has a full size guitar but I wanted him to have a smaller one that was easy to just grab and play. The sound is as good as his full size Washburn and he was pleased.
The sound is amazing and just looks amazing. I love it :D.
Sounds good, sounds like a 3/4 guitar. Stays in tune.
Beautiful guitar, very good quality. Has a good quality feel. My husband has a full size fender so the sound isn't quite as deep, but has a good crisp sound.
This guitar has a beautiful sound and looks like good craftsmanship.

Yamaha JR1 3/4-Scale Acoustic Guitar

This is a great first guitar for little kids. The size is perfect for my daughter, who is eight years old.
Sounds great too for a laminate top, and even after changing the strings to extra light.
Very easy to chord and frets are perfect for the smaller fingers. You will not be disappointed with this expenditure. Golden!
I bought this guitar for my 8 yr. old grand daughter and it was the perfect size. I enjoy playing it as well.
I bought this guitar for my grand daughter who is 9 years old. I know that I shouldn't expect much from an entry level 3/4 size guitar but was very disappointed with the sound. The guitar sounds like a Uke or cheap Carnival Prize guitar.

Size & Weight

Nut Width

1.69 in.

Weight

6.9 lbs.

5.2 lbs.

Total Length

33.25 in.

Lower Bout

12.5 in.

Body Length

15.31 in.

Upper Bout

9 in.

Body Depth

3.56 in.

Nut Width
Weight

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

Fender MA-1 3/4-Size Steel String Acoustic Guitar

It's large enough to have a big sound, but small enough for her to hold comfortably.
This guitar is fine for a kid to learn on. It's a tad big for my 8 year-old but she does okay with it -- by the time she's 10 it'll probably be the perfect size for her.
Amazing guitar the size was perfect for me since I was not comfortable with a full size yet.
I take it everywhere when I'm traveling and the sound quality is amazing, just as good as my full size.
This Fender Squire MA1 sounds great! Well built too, definitely not a toy. Perfect size for our 6 yr old son.

Yamaha JR1 3/4-Scale Acoustic Guitar

For what it's does, it's just about perfect. Built like a tank and to my ear sounds better than more expensive small guitars.
It is well made, stays in tune, and has a pretty good sound considering the size.
If your looking for a Small guitar that's fun to play stay's in tune and sounds good then BUY THIS GUITAR!! its the perfect size to take along with you or to just noodle on at home.
It was very small size i would like to return it.
Much smaller then expected. More for a small child 6 or 7.

Materials

Bridge

Rosewood with Compensated Saddle

Rosewood

Neck

Nato

Side/Rib

Laminated Sapele

Meranti

Top

Laminated Agathis

Spruce

Fingerboard

Rosewood

What customers say about "Materials"

Fender MA-1 3/4-Size Steel String Acoustic Guitar

Mine did come with a very tiny chip at the top but I was able to just color it in and it was fine it probably occurred after being shipped.
The wood finish is above average for the price.
The appearance is nice too, with a matte type finish, natural grain wood finish.
No high gloss finish, so don't expect one. This is mostly just an aesthetic preference anyways.
I thought there would be more of a glossy finish to it but there is not.

Yamaha JR1 3/4-Scale Acoustic Guitar

The finish on the top was very good, Yamaha uses a lower quality rosewood for the finger board.
The frets are finished nicely and the nut is cut and set well.
The wood of the body and neck show no irregularities or signs of poor workmanship. At first glance, it has all the appearances of a well made product.
Well made for the price. It benefits from a little light oil on the tuning machines and a bit of linseed oil on the fingerboard and bridge. It sounds brighter and louder than you might imagine.

Features

String Scale

23.3 in.

21.25 in.

Number Of Frets

Strap Included

Yes

Pickguard

Yes

Tuners

Die-Cast Machine Heads

Open Chrome

Extras

Upgraded sapele sides and back, Upgraded machine heads, Dot inlays, Compensated saddle and Fender screened headstock logo

Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, Big acoustic tone from a smaller-sized acoustic guitar

What customers say about "Features"

Fender MA-1 3/4-Size Steel String Acoustic Guitar

Comes with a gig bag, fits nicely. Overall very happy with the guitar
Many have mentioned - this guitar only has 12 frets to the body. Most acoustics have 14. The shorter neck may have contributed to lessened tension, easier playability, and sweeter tone.
The gig bag does not have a padding, so you have to handle the guitar little carefully.
I was super excited to get this and start learning guitar but then when I pulled it out of the box the neck was completely destroyed at the top!
The gig bag it comes with is not padded and really just a dust cover.

Yamaha JR1 3/4-Scale Acoustic Guitar

The long pocket on the bag that goes from the head of the guitar down the neck also has some nice depth to it which allows you to place bulkier things like the strap, tuner, etc.
The bag has nice quality zippers and has backpack style straps that can be removed. Overall the bag is a great addition to this set and is a great quality bag.
The other accessories that come with the set are good and solid. Nothing special but nothing I would consider out right junk. The tuner works well when clipped to the head stock, the strap is nice enough and the picks are a nice touch.
The bridge plate underneath the top is a splintered mess. Because of this, be careful when changing your strings. Make sure the ball at end of your strings is sitting properly, otherwise it will not keep its tune.

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

2 year(s)

1 year(s)

Certifications

Other Information

Manufacturer

Link

Manual

Download