Fender started making acoustic guitars in the 1960s.
Whether you’re a beginner or experienced musician, a Fender acoustic and acoustic-electric guitar is an excellent choice.
These instruments stand out thanks to their tonal range and are a joy to play.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Fender Acoustic Guitars Review
- OUR TOP PICK: Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster
- RUNNER-UP: Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Fender CD-60SCE
Table of Contents
Fender Acoustic Guitars – What You Need to Know
After the success of its electric guitars in the 40s and 50s, Fender branched out and added acoustic guitars to its product selection in the 60s. The brand focused on electric guitars throughout the 70s and 80s before launching new acoustic products in the 90s.
The current selection of Fender acoustic guitars features many models with a 60s inspiration. Fender manufactures these guitars in Mexico and California and offers a two-year limited warranty on most acoustic guitars.
Why Are Fender Acoustic Guitars So Popular?
It's not hard to see why these guitars continue to remain popular decade after decade. They're incredibly well-made with a clean sound and broad tonal range. Plus, all of their guitars have a cool, vintage look that appeals to players of all ages and musical genres.
Another significant reason for their continued success is the reputation of the company itself. Players know their guitar is carefully crafted to retain a great sound even after years of play. Additionally, the company is easy to reach if you ever have any concerns about the quality of your instrument.
Comparison of the Best Fender Acoustic Guitar
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Review of the Best Fender Acoustic Guitars
Here are the Fender acoustic guitars we recommend:
Best Overall:
Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster
PROS
CONS
Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster Specs
Type of Guitar: Acoustic-electric
Body Size and Type: Modified Telecaster
Number and Type of Strings: 6, Fender DuraTone 860CL .011-.052 gauges
Tonewood: Mahogany
Orientation: Right
Neck Size: 12” radius
Action: Modern asymmetrical
Weight: 12 lbs
Color: Natural
Scale Length: 25.5”
Pickup Type: Three-pickup configuration
Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster
What Types of Music is the Acoustic Guitar Best For?
The mix of acoustic and electric voices make the Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster a versatile option.
Rock
Rock is an extremely broad genre. The Acoustasonic Telecaster allows you to switch between acoustic and electric voices to play anything from soft rock ballads to hard rock.
Blues
Exploring the tones that sit somewhere between acoustic and electric voices can bring a new dimension to your favorite blues tunes.
What Ages and Skill Levels is the Acoustic Guitar Suitable For?
The Acoustasonic Telecaster aims to bring musicians the best of both worlds. Beginners might feel a little lost with this instrument because of the huge range of possibilities. The Acoustasonic Telecaster would be a better choice for a musician who has experience with acoustic and electric guitars.
What Are the Components of the Fender Acoustic Guitar?
Here is how the Fender Acoustasonic Telecaster blends acoustic and electric sounds.
Body
The guitar features a thin mahogany body that is only 1 ¾” thick. The shape of the body is reminiscent of an electric guitar, but the wood construction delivers the feel and sound of an acoustic guitar.
Electronics
The Acoustasonic uses a proprietary acoustic engine to reproduce a wide range of acoustic voices. You will also find three pickups that introduce different electric tones.
Neck
The smooth 22-fret mahogany neck feels comfortable, and the C-shape design allows you to bend the strings effortlessly.
Runner-up:
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat
PROS
CONS
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat Specs
Type of Guitar: Acoustic-electric
Body Size and Type: Solid body
Number and Type of Strings: 6, Fender Dura-Tone 880L .012-.052 gauges
Tonewood: Mahogany
Orientation: Right
Neck Size: 11.81” radius
Action: Walnut bridge
Weight: 8 lbs
Scale Length: 25.3”
Pickup Type: Fishman Isys III pickup system
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat
What Types of Music is the Acoustic Guitar Best For?
This acoustic-electric guitar is a versatile instrument that is ideal for live shows.
Pop
The solid top of the guitar creates a consistent and clear tone that makes classic pop songs sound great.
Folk
The smooth feel of the guitar and bright sound is perfect for playing folk music.
Punk and Indie
Tim Armstrong owns an indie label, and this instrument based on the guitar he uses to write punk and indie songs would be ideal for these genres.
What Ages and Skill Levels is the Acoustic Guitar Suitable For?
Features like the Fishman pickup system with built-in preamp make the guitar suitable for playing live shows. The scalloped bracing creates a tone with a lot of nuance and projection. The guitar would be perfect for a more experienced musician who needs something to play live or who will appreciate the tone to its fullest.
Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat
What Are the Components of the Fender Acoustic Guitar?
Here are the components that make the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat unique.
Body
The guitar features a solid concert-style mahogany body. It feels comfortable whether you play standing up or sit down with the guitar.
Solid Mahogany Top
The solid top is an interesting feature because it enhances the resonance of the guitar and creates a more subtle tone that makes the instrument ideal for a wide range of musical genres.
Electronics
The guitar features a Fishman Isys III pickup system that enhances the acoustic sound. You will also find a built-in tuner, preamp, and controls.
Best for the Money:
Fender CD-60SCE
PROS
CONS
Fender CD-60SCE Specs
Type of Guitar: Acoustic-electric
Body Size and Type: Dreadnought cutaway body, 42”
Number and Type of Strings: 6, Fender Dura-Tone 880L .012-.052 gauges
Tonewood: Mahogany
Orientation: Right
Neck Size: 12” radius
Action: Hardtail bridge
Weight: 8 lbs
Color: Mahogany
Scale Length: 25.3”
Fender CD-60SCE
What Types of Music is the Acoustic Guitar Best For?
The Fender CD-60SCE is a classic acoustic guitar with excellent projection.
Folk
The quality construction and solid top result in outstanding projection, which makes folk songs sound better than ever before.
Country
The cutaway design makes upper notes easy to access, and the solid top creates a quality sound regardless of the strumming or picking method you use.
What Ages and Skill Levels is the Acoustic Guitar Suitable For?
Beginners will appreciate the entry-level price of this guitar. The quality of the build makes the CD-60SCE an excellent investment that will accompany new players as they progress. Overall, this acoustic-electric guitar is a great instrument for beginning to intermediate level players.
Fender CD-60SCE
What Are the Components of the Fender Acoustic Guitar?
Here are the main components of the Fender CD-60SCE:
Body
The guitar features a classic dreadnought cutaway body style. It creates a vintage look for the guitar while delivering excellent tone and projection.
Neck
The rolled edges of the neck make the guitar feel comfortable and will help beginners gain confidence.
Preamp
The built-in Fishman preamp allows you to plug the guitar into an amp if you need more volume or a clearer tone.
Best Fender Acoustic Bass Guitar:
Fender Kingman Acoustic Bass Guitar (V2)
PROS
CONS
Fender Kingman Acoustic Bass Guitar (V2) Specs
Type of Guitar: Acoustic bass
Body Size and Type: Concert bass body, 20”
Number and Type of Strings: 4, Fender 7060 .045-.100 gauges
Tonewood: Mahogany
Orientation: Right
Neck Size. 9.5” radius
Action: Dual-action truss rod
Weight: 12 lbs
Color: Black
Scale Length: 30.3”
Pickup type: Fishman pickup
What Types of Music is the Acoustic Guitar Best For?
The Fender Kingman is an amazing bass guitar you can use for live music or practice.
Jazz
The Jazz neck and solid top deliver an impressive range of tones suitable for playing jazz.
Funk
Funk is a genre with some strong bass lines. The rich sound of the Fender Kingman allows you to make the instrument slap and pop.
What Ages and Skill Levels is the Acoustic Guitar Suitable For?
The Fender Kingman delivers good projection and tonal range. It’s suitable for intermediate to advanced players. You can use the bass unplugged or add an amp to explore more tones, thanks to the built-in preamp. It’s also a good option for beginners since the bass comes with everything you need to get started.
What Are the Components of the Fender Acoustic Guitar?
Here are the main components of the Fender Kingman.
Body
The bass guitar features a laminated mahogany body. The unique body shape gives it a vintage look.
Solid Top
The solid top delivers a bright sound and enhances the dynamic range of the bass.
Preamp and Tuner
The bass comes with a built-in Fishman preamp and tuner. You can use it to control your frequency and phase.
Best Left-Handed Fender Acoustic Guitar:
Fender CD-60S LH
PROS
CONS
Fender CD-60S LH Specs
Type of Guitar: Acoustic
Body Size and Type: Dreadnought body, 20”
Number and Type of Strings: 6
Tonewood: Mahogany
Orientation: Left
Neck Size: 12” radius
Action: Dual-action truss rod
Weight: 3.9 lbs
Color: Natural
Scale Length: 25.3”
Fender CD-60S LH
What Types of Music is the Acoustic Guitar Best For?
The Fender CD-60S LH is a classic acoustic guitar that sounds great when practicing or playing with friends.
Pop
The “easy to play” shape is ideal if you’re getting started and want to master some basic pop songs.
Rock
The mahogany body and solid spruce top come together to create a bright tone that will sound great when playing rock songs.
What Ages and Skill Levels is the Acoustic Guitar Suitable For?
We recommend this acoustic guitar for beginners and casual guitar players. The entry-level price is perfect if you’re just getting started, and the Fender quality and great sound of the guitar will help you develop an appreciation for the instrument.
Fender CD-60S LH
What Are the Components of the Fender Acoustic Guitar?
The Fender CD-60S LH is a simple instrument with no built-in electronics.
Body
The Fender CD-60S LH uses mahogany back and sides to create a body with a good tone.
Neck
The guitar features a 25.3” neck with rolled edges for comfort.
Best Fender Beginner Acoustic Guitar:
Fender CC-60SCE
PROS
CONS
Fender CC-60SCE Specs
Type of Guitar: Acoustic-electric
Body Size and Type: Concert body, 18”
Number and Type of Strings: 6, Fender Dura-Tone 880L .012-.052 gauges
Tonewood: Mahogany
Orientation: Right
Neck Size: 12” radius
Action: Dual-action truss rod
Weight: 4.5 lbs
Color: Natural
Scale Length: 25.3”
Fender CB-60SCE
What Types of Music is the Acoustic Guitar Best For?
This concert acoustic guitar is a fun instrument regardless of what you like to play.
Rock
This versatile guitar has a great tonal range and feels very dynamic. The “easy to play” shape makes rock songs accessible for beginners.
Country
The mahogany body makes this guitar a great option for country music.
What Ages and Skill Levels is the Acoustic Guitar Suitable For?
We recommend this acoustic-electric guitar for beginners because of the cutaway shape and built-in tuner. It’s also a suitable instrument for intermediate players because you get a better tone by connecting the guitar to an amp and even use it for live performances.
Fender CB-60SCE
What Are the Components of the Fender Acoustic Guitar?
Here are the main components of the Fender CC-60SCE.
Solid Top
The solid spruce top is a classic feature you will find on Fender acoustic guitars. It’s a durable material that responds well to different strumming styles.
Mahogany Body
The mahogany sides and back enhance the tone of the guitar and make it versatile.
Neck
The 25.3” scale features rolled edges for comfort. The cutaway makes the neck easy to access.
Types of Fender Acoustic Guitars
It’s important to get a better idea of the different types of acoustic guitars Fender makes before choosing an instrument.
Acoustic Guitars
Fender has a huge selection of traditional acoustic guitars, including classics like the Newporter Player, Redondo Classic, or Malibu Player.
These guitars feature traditional body shapes and rely on their body and a solid top for tone and volume.
Acoustic-Electric Guitars
Acoustic-electric guitars have additional built-in features like a pickup and preamp. The pickup works by converting sound waves into an electronic signal, and the preamp enhances volume and sound quality. These features allow you to get a cleaner tone, and you can plug your acoustic-electric guitar into an amp for more volume.
Acoustic Basses
Fender offers a few four-string acoustic basses. These basses feature electronic components like a preamp and use a mahogany body to create a unique tone.
Comparison Overview
Fender is a highly popular brand among musicians, but there are other household names to consider.
Ibanez vs. Fender Acoustic
Ibanez is another brand with a reputation for quality and outstanding tonality. You can find Ibanez acoustic guitar with a concert and cutaway body shapes that resemble Fender modes. However, Fender guitars have more of a 60s vintage feel while Ibanez instruments look more classic.
Ibanez offers some acoustic-electric models with Fishman pickups similar to what you can find on Fender guitars, but the Ibanez preamps are different.
While Fender tends to use mahogany bodies and solid spruce tops, Ibanez uses a wider range of materials. You can find Ibanez guitars with exotic tonewoods if you are looking for a unique sound.
Yamaha vs. Fender Acoustic
Yamaha is a popular brand among students because of the wide selection of entry-level guitars the brand offers. You can find acoustic guitars with smaller bodies and shorter necks from Yamaha. There are also some travel and mini sizes available.
Most Yamaha acoustic guitars have electronics that allow you to use an amp, and you can find some models with built-in effects.
While Fender has a slightly larger selection of products, Yamaha tends to offer more variations for each guitar in terms of color, finish, and built-in electronics.
Fender vs. Epiphone Acoustic Guitar
An Epiphone acoustic guitar is an excellent choice for a beginner or a practice guitar. You can find some very inexpensive entry-level models that look and sound great.
Gibson bought Epiphone in the 1950s, which means you can find an Epiphone equivalent for some of the more expensive Gibson models if you like the design and feel of these guitars.
Epiphone has a selection of acoustic guitars with dreadnought and concert bodies that is similar to what Fender offers. You will also find mahogany bodies and solid spruce tops, just like with many Fender acoustic guitars. Epiphone acoustic guitars tend to have slimmer necks, and only a few models have electronic components like pickups and preamps.
Fender vs. Gibson Acoustic Guitar
Gibson is an excellent alternative to Fender if you’re looking for a high-end acoustic guitar. Gibson stands out thanks to the quality of its instruments and attention to detail.
Gibson acoustic guitars emphasize the beauty of natural wood and often feature detailed inlays. They have an amazing tonal range and tend to sound warmer compared to Fender guitars.
Gibson uses a wider range of materials compared to Fender. While most Fender acoustic guitars use mahogany and spruce, you can find Gibson acoustic guitars with rosewood or walnut bodies.
You can expect higher price tags from Gibson guitars, but these instruments typically come with a case and accessories.
How Do I Restring a Fender Acoustic Guitar?
You can restring your guitar to upgrade it with better strings, replace a broken string, or improve the sound of your strings sounds dull. Here’s how you can restring a Fender acoustic guitar:
- Use a string winder to loosen the e string.
- With a string clipper, cut the string above the sound hole.
- Finish unwinding the string from the peg.
- Remove the other half of the string by pulling it through the bridge. Set the bridge pin aside.
- Find the e string in your pack of new strings and insert them in the bridge. Secure it with the bridge pin.
- Attach the new string to the peg and pre-cut it. Wind the string around the peg.
- Repeat the process until you have replaced all the strings.
You can watch this process and learn more about restringing your guitar in the following YouTube video:
Conclusion
Fender acoustic guitars are a great buy because of their sound, quality, and durability. We recommend the Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster and the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat as a runner-up because these two guitars have a mix of classic acoustic guitar features and modern built-in electronics.
Whether you’re new to playing guitar or want an instrument that you can use to play live shows or keep progressing, Fender has something to offer. Fender acoustic guitars emphasize comfort while delivering a great tone, which is why they are so popular among musicians.
People Also Ask
Here are some common questions about Fender acoustic guitars.
Are Fender Acoustic Guitars Any Good?
Fender acoustic guitars have been popular among rock, blues, folk, pop, and indie musicians since the 60s. Fender uses quality materials to craft guitars with a unique sound.
Is a Fender Acoustic Guitar Good For Beginners?
Fender offers acoustic-electric models with advanced features that beginners might not need, but you can also find some great entry-level acoustic guitars, like the Fender CC-60SCE.
How Much is a Fender Acoustic Guitar Worth?
You can find used Fender acoustic guitars from $100 to $200, but some recent models are worth as much as $500 to $800. Older models are worth more, depending on how hard to find they are.
How Much is a Fender Acoustic Guitar?
Fender has some entry-level acoustic guitars in the $200 range, and you will have to spend $600 to $900 for an acoustic-electric guitar with more advanced features.
How to Date a Fender Acoustic Guitar
You can find the production date and a serial number of a Fender guitar by removing the bolt-on neck.
How to Adjust the Action on a Fender Acoustic Guitar
You can adjust the action by tightening or loosening the truss rod. The truss rod will adjust the angle of the neck. You can also adjust the saddle to change the string height and adjust the nut to change how the strings sit in each fret.
