Head to head

Fender FA-125 Dreadnought vs Ibanez PJ50E Performance Series

The short answer is that the scale lengths are not the same (25.3" against 25.5"). Below, every specification we hold for both instruments is lined up, with the 17 rows that actually differ marked out.

Fender

FA-125 Dreadnought

Sunburst, with accessory bundle

The same FA-125 bundle, in the sunburst finish

7.0/104.5 (2,793)

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Ibanez

PJ50E Performance Series

Open-Pore Vintage Amber Sunburst

A jumbo body and a working preamp, at a price where you usually get neither

6.8/105.0 (1)

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Score profile

Six editorial axes, overlaid. Where one shape sits outside the other, that is where the instrument gains ground.

Fender FA-125 Dreadnought7.0
Ibanez PJ50E Performance Series6.8

Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.

Specification by specification

Fender FA-125 Dreadnought compared with Ibanez PJ50E Performance Series
	FA-125 Dreadnought	PJ50E Performance Series
Brand	Fender	Ibanez
Model	FA-125 Dreadnought	PJ50E Performance Series
Finish	Sunburst, with accessory bundle	Open-Pore Vintage Amber Sunburst
Instrument	Acoustic guitar	Acoustic guitar
Fretline score	7.0 / 10	6.8 / 10
Value for money	8 / 10	8 / 10
Amazon rating	4.5 / 5 (2,793)	5.0 / 5 (1)
Price	Under $300	Under $300
Type	Acoustic guitar starter bundle	Acoustic-electric guitar
Body	Dreadnought	Jumbo
Body wood	Laminated basswood back and sides	Meranti
Top	Laminated spruce	Laminated spruce
Back & sides	—	Laminated meranti
Bracing	X-bracing	—
Neck joint	Set neck	Set neck, joining at the 14th fret
Neck wood	Nato	Meranti
Scale length	25.3" (643 mm)	25.5" (648 mm)
Fingerboard	Walnut	Nandu, bound
Radius	11.81" (300 mm)	—
Frets	20	20
Fret size	2 mm	—
Nut	Crème plastic	Plastic
Nut width	1.69" (43 mm)	—
Bridge	Walnut with white bridge pins	Nandu, with black Ibanez Advantage bridge pins
Tuners	Die-cast sealed	Chrome Ibanez
Electronics	—	Under-saddle pickup with Ibanez AEQ-2T preamp, onboard tuner and 2-band EQ
Controls	—	Volume, bass, treble, onboard tuner
Orientation	Right-handed	Right-handed
Skill level	Beginner	Beginner, Intermediate
Styles	Folk, Country, Blues, Pop, Rock	Folk, Country, Pop, Rock, Worship, Blues
In the box	Gig bag, Clip-on tuner, Spare strings, Picks, Instructional DVD	—

A marked row is one where the two differ. A highlighted cell is the stronger figure where one can be judged objectively. Empty cells are specifications the manufacturer does not publish — never estimates.