Are Fender Acoustic Guitars Good?
Updated · The Acoustic Guitarist
Fender acoustics are mostly affordable, mass-produced guitars that are a reasonable choice for beginners and casual players, especially models with a solid top. Fender built its name on electric guitars, though, so at higher prices you have more choice from acoustic specialists. Fender's most distinctive acoustic is the hybrid Acoustasonic, built to sound acoustic through an amp while playing like an electric.
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This page has no hands-on review. We have not tested Fender guitars side by side. What follows is history, how the ranges are organised, and what a spec sheet tells you, which is the same check you can do in a shop.
Fender’s acoustic history in short
Fender is best known for electric guitars and basses, the Telecaster, Stratocaster and Precision Bass above all. Acoustics came later and have had a mixed history:
- 1963: Fender launched its first flat-top acoustic line during the folk boom. The top model, the King, was designed by Roger Rossmeisl. It used a bolt-on neck in the style of Fender’s electrics and an aluminium tone bar through the body for rigidity. It was renamed the Kingman in 1966.
- From about 1969: Fender also sold imported F-Series flat-tops made in Japan, a line that ran into the late 1970s or early 1980s (sources differ on the dates).
- By late 1971: the US-built flat-tops were discontinued.
- After that: Fender kept selling acoustics under its own name, mostly imported models built in Asia.
- 1995 to 2014: Fender also owned Guild, an American acoustic brand, and sold it to the Córdoba Music Group in 2014.
- 2005: Fender relaunched its California Series, with the Kingman name back among the first models.
- Today: affordable and mid-priced Asian-built ranges, plus the hybrid Acoustasonic range.
The short version is that Fender’s acoustic reputation does not match its electric reputation. That does not make the guitars bad. It means each model should be judged on its own specs, not on the logo.
How Fender’s acoustic ranges differ
Model names change from year to year, but the current catalogue falls into a few groups. Check Fender’s own site for what is in production now.
| Range | What it is | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| FA series | Entry-level dreadnoughts and smaller bodies, usually with laminate tops | Tight budgets, first guitars |
| CD-60S and similar “Classic Design” models | Entry dreadnoughts and concerts; the “S” models have a solid top | Beginners who want a solid top at a low price |
| California series (for example the Redondo) | Electric-acoustics with Fender’s electric-style headstock | Players who want a Fender look and a pickup |
| Paramount | Vintage-style shapes, higher-grade woods | Players moving up from a first guitar |
| Acoustasonic | Hybrids with an electric-guitar body shape and acoustic sound through an amp | Electric players who need acoustic tones live |
Squier, Fender’s budget brand, also sells a few acoustics below the FA series.
The specs that decide if a Fender acoustic is good
These checks apply to any brand at any price. Spec sheets list most of them.
1. Solid or laminate top
A solid top is made of solid wood, usually two book-matched halves glued at the centre seam. It vibrates more freely and usually sounds fuller and louder, and the sound tends to open up with years of playing. A laminate top is layered wood. It is tougher and copes better with dry or damp rooms, but sounds flatter. At entry prices, a solid spruce or mahogany top is the main upgrade to look for. Many Fender models put it in the name (an “S” suffix) or in the first spec line.
2. Setup and action
A guitar with high strings is hard to play no matter who made it. Budget guitars of every brand often leave the factory with action that a shop can lower. Our guide to whether a guitar needs a setup shows how to measure it yourself.
3. Body shape and size
Most Fender acoustics are dreadnoughts: loud, bass-heavy and good for strumming. If you play fingerstyle or find a big body uncomfortable, look at the concert or smaller models. The differences are covered in acoustic guitar body styles and sizes.
4. Electronics
Model names ending in “E” or “CE” usually have a pickup and preamp (CE adds a cutaway). That is useful if you will play through an amp or PA, and it adds cost and a battery. See what an electric-acoustic guitar is.
5. Neck width
Many affordable steel-string guitars are about 1 11/16 in (43 mm) at the nut. That suits strumming and chord work. Fingerstyle players often prefer 1 3/4 in (about 44.5 mm) for more room between strings.
Where Fender is strongest
- Price and availability. Fender’s entry acoustics are sold almost everywhere, including in bundles with a gig bag, tuner and strap.
- The Acoustasonic. A hybrid built for players who switch between acoustic and electric sounds on stage. It plays like an electric guitar, has a thin body and is meant to be heard through an amp. It is not a replacement for a traditional acoustic if you mostly play unplugged at home.
- The California models for players who want the Fender look on an acoustic.
Where to look beyond Fender
If you are spending more, or want a guitar built by a company that specialises in acoustics, compare models from makers that focus on flat-tops. Several of the best-known are Canadian; see Canadian acoustic guitar brands. At any price, compare guitars on the same five points above: top, setup, shape, electronics and neck width.
First week with a new acoustic
Whatever you buy, three things make it play better straight away:
- Tune it every time you pick it up. New strings stretch for the first days. Use the guitar tuner.
- Check the action. If the strings are high or buzz, a setup is the best money you will spend.
- Learn a few open chords such as G, C and D: the key of G major page shows all seven chords of the key with sound.
FAQ
Is a Fender acoustic good for a beginner?
An entry model with a solid top and a decent setup is a fine first guitar. What matters most for a beginner is low string height and tuners that hold pitch, so have any budget guitar checked or set up after you buy it, whatever the brand.
Where are Fender acoustic guitars made?
Most current Fender acoustics are built in factories in Asia. The country of origin is listed on each model's spec sheet and usually on the label inside the soundhole, so check the exact model rather than the brand.
Is Squier the same as Fender?
Squier is Fender's budget brand. Squier acoustics sit below Fender's own entry models in price and use simpler materials, usually laminate tops.
Did Fender own Guild?
Yes. Fender bought Guild in 1995 and sold the brand in 2014 to the Córdoba Music Group.