Fender Acoustic Guitars

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,Norberg
Date: 17 Aug 11 - 06:02 PM

When I graduated college, I grabbed my sisters old Fender acoustic which she never played and left town. It had the most warped neck Ive ever seen, but it is what I learned the basics on. Lately, I have been buying guitars off CL for people who want to learn how to play. I find Fenders to be a great value. Yesterday, I bought a very nice condition F-270sce. When I strummed it the first time, out of tune yet not so bad as youd think for a guitar not touched for 5 years, I knew Id found a keeper. And when plugged in, the preamp drove my little speaker better than most guitars Ive played. This Fender compares well to the one Taylor 214ce Ive played. It is very 'warm' with a dark solid spruce top and solid rosewood body(maybe a little too warm) but sounds great running through my 35w Mesa Boogie. It was only made in 1987 in I believe Korea. This guitar is worth many times the $200 I paid. I can hardly wait to get some nice Ddarios on it and worship the Lord. And by the way, I have given my sisters daughter and son pretty nice guitars in payment (one was a 1985 custom Les Paul silverburst)

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: mattkeen
Date: 16 Aug 10 - 08:15 AM

Personal opinion: They are general pretty crap unless you can get one of the mid 70's ones - which although they had laminate tops were very good.

There are much better guitars for the money now than looking at new Fender acoustics

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,josep
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 11:03 PM

I've played a few of them and they seem perfectly fine to me. They're not Martins but they don't cost like Martins either. In fact, they're mighty inexpensive for the quality. I don't own one but I've played them. The only Fender I own is a 1977 P-bass. My first bass and I'm still playing it (I was actually a bassist BEFORE I started playing guitar whereas it seems to be the other way around for most people). I bought it new for $500 and now people want the old 70s P-basses. I've had offers of $1500 to $2000 for it but I could never give it up.

But anyway, I have no issues with Fender acoustics.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Bobert
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 01:04 PM

All I'll say is that Fender acoustics ain't what they used to be... And leave it at that...

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,RMFrance
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 12:47 PM

Back in, er, 1968 I was a teenager aching for a Martin D18. I saw one S/H for sale in Music Piccadilly (now long gone...) and handed over £145,, not daring to play the Fender King Jumbo hanging on the wall. I still have the D18, and love it dearly, but I've always wondered about the Fender...

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,slikvee
Date: 04 Jul 10 - 10:17 PM

Fender guitars are a high to mid-range quality instrument. While not bottom of the line, they do have a fairly mellow tone though nothing even close to a Martin or a Taylor. The older model Fender acoustics were, imho, a better sounding guitar though they didn't have as much competition and they were well marketed in the 60s and 70s. Now, there are many various acoustic models that are as good as or more superior to the modern Fender acoustics. One thing that may help Fender is if they were able to corner the three-quarter guitar market somehow. No one seems to give much of a hoot about that market but there are a lot of people who would like to find smaller guitars.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 03 Jan 10 - 02:55 PM

Iam not keen on Fender acoustic Guitars I much prefere all the above posting discription re Guitar but in 6 string and made by Tanglewood.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 03:41 PM

loking at a fender 12 string.
solid Mahogany sides and book matched two piece back.
solid spruce top.
mahogany neck. bronze wound medium strings
plays good and sounds good to my ears...
korean made.
i don't have the model#.
asking price $175.00
any comments appreciated

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,Chor Yin
Date: 26 Mar 09 - 09:13 AM

I have a 1200SX solid top (1995). I like my guitar very much. Sweet midrange and high playability. It is my good friend and part of my life. Recently, it was dropped to the floor from 1 meter !!! And there is a 5mm crack at the between the top and the side. I felt so sad. I hope that I will have it repaired soon, however, the sound is still great ever.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,chuck reed
Date: 19 Mar 09 - 12:57 PM

Fender F35 acoustic plays OK when clean with brand new strings provided it is plucked lightly like and electric guitar. It distorts and buzzes readily when played with "meat" or if trying to get a reasonably loud acoustic output. i would recommend a nice under the saddle electric pick up and play it with sound reinforcement. Also, and this is personal because i have thick fingers, the neck is too narrow to play in classical style.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 11:28 AM

I had a Fender 6 string acoustic at one time - it was OK, nothing to rave about. I have never played a Strat I liked, and never played a Telecaster I disliked.

Current stock, a Gretsch|Country Gentleman, and a beautiful Tanglewood acoustic, which handles as if she had been luthiered for me

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 07:05 AM

I'm still very happy with my Korean-made Newporter, which I bought new in London 1988. Very easy action, by far the easiest neck on any acoustic I've played, nice sound. Lost count of the number of people offering to buy it from me.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Long Firm Freddie
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 05:17 PM

I'm a lucky member of the F35 owner's club - got it new in the early 70's for £75 quid - there was someone else playing it in the shop, but he passed on it, bless him, saying the bass was too boomy. I loved the sound, still do. Whips up a storm playing rhythm on old timey tunes.

It loves a fresh set of D'Addario phosphor bronze mediums. It almost seems to sit up and beg when I open a new packet!

Rock solid neck, straight as a die. Just one flaw, a slightly dodgy tuner on the second string. I could do something about it, I suppose, but I love it just as it is.

Mmm.

LFF

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Stringsinger
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 04:19 PM

A lot has to do with the player. Some can make these guitars sound good. Touch,
action, strings, even a choice of flat or fingerpicks can make a difference. These Fenders might need to be tweaked.

A good player will make any guitar sound good if it's in playing order.

Frank

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: bankley
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 10:06 AM

I bought a 2nd hand Fender classical a few years ago for $150. I lowered the saddle and installed a passive ribbon pick-up. Really nice tone all around, but it hasn't been out of the case since I got a 2nd hand Washburn classical for the same price....

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,Zach
Date: 07 Jan 08 - 09:59 PM

I have to side with GUEST,dagman and GUEST,dougy about the F-35 I bought mine used 15 or more years ago. I probably paid too much for it at the time but I don't regret it at all. I will never part with it. Several people who have played guitars from makers more renowned for their acoustics than Fender ever were have complimented its tone, sustain and the way it cuts through in a jam session. As a laminate top it is what it is, meaning its tone won't improve over time, but that's fine with me. I'm sure I will own other 'better' guitars but I will hold on to this one. What I like about it is its versatility, I can get a nice sound when I strum chords to accompany my voice or in a jam I can noodle out lead lines and get a variety of tones that don't get lost in the mix of other guitars.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Mark H.
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 08:44 AM

Played a few cheap ones, and they were hopeless. Dead, no tone, poor value.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Darowyn
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 03:45 PM

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,dagman
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 09:53 AM

I own 2 Larivee's, 1 Martin, 1 Taylor, and some others. All awesome guitars. If my house was burning down and I could grab 1 guitar only, it would be the F-35 Fender I got 20 years ago at a used music store. It does not have the studio recording sound that my Jumbo Larivee does, but the balance of playability and sound..... is just right. Crazy I know, but I lucked out on a good f-35. And playing it non-stop for 20 years has really ripened it's sound.

Remember kids, every instrument is unique. There are good ones and bad ones. It is possible that a $250 guitar can kick a $2500 guitar's ass.

dag

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Darowyn
Date: 05 Jun 07 - 06:38 PM

I have one of the old, 1960s mahogany bodied Newporters with the bolt-on Strat type neck, and a stamp inside saying Anaheim California.
Although I have a much better Jumbo acoustic (a 1957 Genuine Epiphone), the Fender is my favourite.
It plays beautifully easily, has a sweet and distinctive sound, and records wonderfully both on the Mic and with a soundhole pickup.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,Darrell
Date: 04 Jun 07 - 07:57 PM

Anyone ever heard of a MARVEL guitar? I owned one in the later 40's. I don't know who made it, but it was an electric accoustic with the tone control on the left side of the bridge and the volumn control on the right side of the bridge.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Scoville
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 09:20 PM

I've met two Fender acoustics and both were extremely nice sounding (they were not mine to play, unfortunately). One guy sold his and got a new Taylor. I could have killed him.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,Dave Howard, Ireland
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 07:08 PM

I now own the Fender Villager 12 string played by the Grehan Sisters in the 60s. It's beautiful! I also have a Fender Palomino 6 string. A nice matching pair.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 06:08 PM

now now....nothing to get upset about.

One night I was cuddling my F85 and Gerry Lockran walked past. He smiled that wicked Errol Flynn type smile and said to me, I play the expensive American copy of that you know.......

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,Jonti
Date: 29 Jan 07 - 05:44 PM

weelittledrummer : You are absolutely right about the F85. I bought mine in March 1975 and still have it. Fantastic guitar for what it was supposed to be - a Martin D35 copy.

Pity those who disagree with you probably wern't even born when the F85's were being built. I doubt they even know what we/they are talking about (or that they even ever played a F85 - let alone ever saw one) and perhaps from their inane comments they don't even care.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: eddie1
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 04:36 AM

Back in the late 60s, Tam Harvey, who was the other half of "The Humblebums" with Billy Connolly, played a Fender acoustic which sounded and felt great. Over the years I have tried various Fender acoustics, none of which came close.
Is it the old story of manufacture being moved to the Far East with standards deteriorating? I'm not simply knocking the Far East having played a Yamaha for years before moving to Lowden.
I did see an acoustic 12 with the standard Fender headstock which seemed to be as long as the body and felt very top-heavy but would be pleased to hear from someone who played one regularly.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 07:54 PM

Anyone hear of Marvel Guitars? I've got an old Marvel B guitar and I can't find anything out about it.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:44 PM

Theres a review of the new Fender acoustics in this months Guitarist magazine.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 07:02 PM

I learned on a really crappy guitar, a Silvertone. So, on my birthday, I got a really nice guitar. A '69 Fender Villager. It sounded a bit thin, compared to whatever anyone else was playing, but over-all, an easy 12 to play. One thing did worry me, tho, and that was the hideous red metal bar running from one end to the other inside the body. I thought it was there to keep the body from warping, but it didn't help. Within the first year, the body literally exploded. Having insurance helped and I got a new body to go with the previous neck. This time, the thing lasted about 30 yrs. so, I got my money's worth. $275.00 with a case. At the time, I bet I could have gotten a Martin. haha. After all that time, the neck was still good! But, that was all...the body exploded again. Too much tension, I guess. Regards, everardo.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,dougy
Date: 18 Feb 06 - 01:36 AM

well i've had two f35 fender accoustics and i always liked to practiceflat picking on them,changed to grovertuners and well.......... anybody got a good 70's f35 they want to sell?

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Mooh
Date: 09 Dec 04 - 08:17 AM

Not sure how many Fender electrics have passed through my hands (several of each), but I still own a Strat and a Tele for my electric gigs. The only Fender acoustic I had was a mid 70s 12 string because it was all I could afford at the time and I had a genuine ambition to be Leo Kottke. I've never wanted it back as it was low end crap and took many years to get another 12 because good ones seemed so rare to my ears.

Ten years ago Fender was marketing acoustics which they called SPRINGHILL. The ones I played were the best Fender branded acoustics to my ears. They were made in Asia somewhere, but were discontinued, maybe because Fender has soiled their acoustic future to the point where the market doesn't trust the name.

Today, there are so many reasonably priced entry and mid level instruments that one shouldn't need to worry about getting stuck with a piece of crap...if they do their homework that is.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Bernard
Date: 09 Dec 04 - 04:11 AM

In the 60s Fender made a 'Palamino' 6-string and 'Shenandoah' 12-string with the distinctive scroll headstock (I think that is what was meant by 'hockey stick' above?). Both were fine instruments, though you don't see them much these days.

I was talking to Sam Bracken a few weeks ago about his old Palamino, which he sold years ago - and regretted selling it ever since!

An Irish trio from the late 60s/early 70s, the Grehan Sisters (are they still around?) had a Shenandoah, which I remember had a glorious sound. Mind you, at the time I only had my Eko Ranger!

In the 70s Fender started 'badging' cheap imports, which were never particularly good - although there were occasional ones that stood out from the rest. More by fluke, I would suggest!

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Once Famous
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 08:52 PM

Wow, I agree with a Guest.

Martin are the best guitars in the world. Those other boutique brands aren't so bad either, Midchuck.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Midchuck
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 08:50 PM

no doubt about it. MARTIN GUITARS ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD

Except Collings, Froggy Bottom, Mario Proulx -just limiting it to ones I own. Also, by rep, Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, and about a zillion other small makers and individual luthiers.

I will concede that the standard for good steel-string flat top guitars is Martin. But a lot of others have taken the standard and run with it.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 07:48 PM

no doubt about it. MARTIN GUITARS ARE THE BEST IN THE WORLD

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 09 Oct 04 - 11:03 AM

I was given a Fender Jumbo, had rosewood back and sides, and it served me well for several years. Never did discover its true value, but sold it to a friend for about 400 dollars.

Fender always has something out there that is great value, but today with so much competition from the babyboomers turning to making instead of playing it is hard to decide.

Today the best value in a new box is probably a Martin w/composite back and sides/ box because the material is 'tuned' unlike natural wood which is unpredictable. These Guitars start around 500 bucks and the better models run on into the 1500 dollar range.

However the thing which sells Fenders most of all is easy playing which might pip a Martin with touchy feely customer, I would certainly LOVE to have the money and the excuse to buy one of those new Fender acoustic electic boxes ...oh yuuuuuummmmmiiieeee so sweet.

Well Ok maybe just maybe I would want a Taylor as well, hell buy em all if you have the money.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Justa Picker
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 08:12 PM

I agree with the Bobert. Garbaage.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 08:00 PM

IMO, the Fender cheapies are junk. They are made poorly, play poorly and sound crappy. There are better cheapies out there...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 07:49 PM

I had an F85 in the early seventies - it was a Martin copy and a very fine guitar> I sold it after a couple of years or so but it was only because I wanted to buy something more expensive. I used to go and visit it at the guys flat who I had sold it to and I regretted evry time that I had sold it. It was eventually stolen - otherwise I'd still be going to see him.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,can do better
Date: 08 Oct 04 - 09:43 AM

never liked Fender Acoustics - "made for" and just living off the fender name - far better out there in the price bracket.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Blowzabella
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 03:22 PM

I had a Fender acoustic once - loaned it to my brother - told him there was no great rush in returning it to me. Next thing I know, he's 'loaned' it to his son (my nephew) who has taken it with him when he emigrated to live in the Sumatran rainforest! Some hope of ever seeing it again!

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,BillyL.
Date: 07 Oct 04 - 02:05 PM

I'm sure everyone of you play bettern'I do but.....and it's a big but-I like my fender Alexxus(yes two x's) constructed by Koreans c.1988. But I have played (borrowed) much more expensive guitars such as a Tacoma and I can definitely hear the difference q-wality makes. On the other hand Yamahas are much lighter and have a nice feel. My Fender was a Christmas gift from my wife so I will cherish it for ever. The first bridge cracked so the entire guitar was replaced.(So I guess I'm actually sentimental about the second guitar...Hmmm,this sentimentality thing gets confusing.)It looks OK nothing fancy. I replaced the saddle and continue to struggle through all of the internet tab sites. Maybe someday my playing will warrant a better guitar. Does anyone know about Marvel guitars? I have a beat up one calleda "special" but I'm not sure what is special about it.

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Philibuster
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 01:57 PM

My Fender Squier DG-6 has served me well. It has the nicest fretboard imaginable (atleast for my hands). The strings are set far enough apart that you can finger pick easily, but close enough together that they still have that nice hummy tone to them.

They are great guitars, and the price is right. I'd say go for it. =P

-Philibuster

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: 53
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 01:24 PM

ok then you should be able to just plug it in to the amp. BOB

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Nov 01 - 12:06 PM

to 53 Bob

The Fender has the plug in on the end where the strap hooks on. Dave Lack

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: 53
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 07:36 PM

try a taylor baby or a big baby they play wonderful. BOB

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: Kaleea
Date: 17 Nov 01 - 04:31 AM

Way back in the '70's I played a Fender acoustic which had a small body, and the fender electric neck. I'm thinking it might have been called "Wildflower" or something like that, don't know how can I remember anything that long ago! It belonged to a friend who let me "borrow" it for 2 or 3 years, and I had to return it when I moved. I really liked that guitar, as my short fingers had an easy time stretching along the frets, and the action was way down low and easy, and it had a lovely tone. Now that I am getting the arthritis in the fingers, and find the big old Gibson heavy to carry, I can only imagine that one of those would be difficult to find. Anyone have one of those for sale?

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: GUEST,Tony in Brussels
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 08:21 AM

I have a nice old Fender acoustic that I bought in Brighton, UK in about 1983. Reason I bought it was that it was the first acoustic Fender I had ever seen, it played and sounded good in the shop and looked good as well. The name "Fender" is inlaid on the headstock in mother-of-pearl (but later models I have seen just have a tacky-looking transfer).

Anyway, I still have this guitar and (IMHO) it still looks and sounds pretty good. I don't know what the new ones are like, but I can only give my sample-of-one a good report. It seems to be sensitive to the state of the strings - the sound is best when the strings are new.

Going OT for a few other comments: on another point raised above by Rick Fielding,I keep my Fender - and my other guitars - in our music room, where they are subjected to all sorts of other sounds from music students playing piano and other instruments. I reckon that this really loosens up the sound of a guitar, but have never understood why until I started reading this board.

Like catspaw49 above, my own guitar collection is a result of the workings of fate over the years. I first learned to play on a blonde Hofner President F-hole: a lovely guitar, which i bought for fifteen pounds in a Coventry junk-shop. But it was damaged in a house fire and never sounded the same afterwards. During my student days, I had several different acoustics, mostly low-range cheapo models, bought second-hand and sold on with no regrets. When I started work, I bought the Fender new because I liked it and had some spare cash at the time.

I bought an Epiphone acoustic later, primarily to keep at my girlfriend's flat (before I moved from London to Brussels) so I didn't have to carry a guitar across the Channel every weekend. And I've still got it. No-one loves Epi's, but this one has been abused to hell and back: I take it with me when I go sailing and it lives in a corner of the boat, subject to sometimes violent motion, damp and salt air. But it still sounds good and I've kept it because I have no emptional capital invested in it, so I can travel around with it without having to worry about it getting damaged or lost.

I like 12-strings, so I bought an Ovation Celebrity 12 three years ago, with some redundancy money. This one may have been a mistake. It sounds OK when amplified, but very thin when played acoustically. I don't like to have to plug in when I play at home, so will probably sell it on soon. Any offers?

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: 53
Date: 16 Nov 01 - 04:59 AM

i need an answer to my question. BOB

Subject: RE: Fender Acoustic Guitars
From: 53
Date: 15 Nov 01 - 08:15 PM

does it have an input jack to plug a guitar cord into ? BOB