When it comes to acoustic guitars, no other brand stands out from the crowd higher than Fender. Since it was founded in 1946, Fender remains one of the most trusted guitar manufacturers worldwide. Such staying power reflects its quality craftsmanship, unmatched sound, and superior playability.
With its wide selection of acoustic guitars, there’s no doubt that you’ll find the perfect Fender for you.
Nevertheless, all of these options can seem too overwhelming. That’s why we have decided to narrow things down for you. After sifting through all the options, we can now introduce you to the best Fender acoustic guitars. If you’re curious about our honest thoughts on these Fender acoustic instruments, continue reading this article.
Best Fender Acoustic Guitar: Reviews
1. Fender CD-60SCE Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
The first item on our list is the Fender CD-60SCE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar. Coming from Fender’s Classic Design Series, you can only expect the best sound from this guitar.
The first thing you’ll notice about this guitar is its dreadnought shape, known for its notable size and broadness. As a result, you can expect booming guitar sounds, which helps if you love performing for an audience.
But perhaps one of its most interesting features is the combination of a solid spruce top paired with solid mahogany back and sides. Spruce produces smooth notes which are balanced out by the darker and warmer mahogany notes. As a result, you get a beautifully rich sound that’s beyond compare.
Thanks to its scalloped X-bracing, you don’t have to deal with rogue vibrations, either.
Also, this Fender acoustic guitar offers excellent playability. The mahogany neck offers a smooth fret-to-finger feel, and that makes a world of difference when you’re playing the guitar.
Pros:
- It is comfortable and easy to play with.
- It produces a rich and balanced tone.
- It uses premium and durable materials.
- It can be connected to an amplifier.
- It is available in left and right-handed orientations.
- Advanced users can opt for a 12-string unit.
Cons:
- As of writing, there are no negative reviews of this item.
Verdict: All things considered, we believe the Fender CD-60SCE Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar is the best sounding fender acoustic guitar. With its expertly chosen combination of tonewoods and design, the superior sound quality and volume are hard to beat.
2. Fender Paramount PM-3 Acoustic Guitar
If you prefer a guitar that produces deeper tones, then the Fender Paramount PM-3 Acoustic Guitar from the Paramount Series is perfect for you.
Thanks to its solid mahogany construction, this acoustic guitar produces warm and deep notes that are unique to mahogany.
And since it’s paired with an X-bracing, you get to enjoy a soulful sound that’s free of vibrational noise. That’s why we believe it’s the ideal solid top Fender acoustic guitar for beginners, especially for those who want to play the guitar professionally.
Aside from its construction, the Fender Paramount PM-3 Acoustic Guitar is also notable for its iconic design. Its overall aesthetic is reminiscent of the 1960s Fender acoustic guitars, which makes it an eye-catching unit.
Pros:
- The smaller size makes it easier to hold while playing.
- It offers excellent sound projection.
- The solid wood body delivers a rich and full sound.
- It is easy to play.
Cons:
- Some users find issues with intonation.
Verdict: The Fender Paramount PM-3 Acoustic Guitar is one of the guitars that caught our attention because of its deep and rich sound quality – thanks to its solid mahogany construction. But as intimidating as it sounds, its smaller size makes it easier to play, especially for serious beginners. While it’s a little pricey, we believe it’s worth the investment.
3. Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster
If you’re looking for the best Fender acoustic guitar for an intermediate player, look no further than the Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster.
With its beautiful sunburst detailing and distinct Acoustasonic design that pushes the boundaries of guitar modernization, you’re bound to make heads turn with this high-value guitar.
But the Telecaster isn’t all just about the aesthetics. With a solid Sitka spruce top coupled with mahogany back and sides, your ears are in for a treat.
Like all the guitars in the Acoustasonic line, the Telecaster similarly offers loud and deep tones with a bit of an electric rhythm to it. As a result, this acoustic guitar is capable of producing versatile melodies – and that allow you to express yourself in different ways.
Pros:
- It can play a wide range of acoustic and electric tones.
- It is easy to tune in.
- It offers versatile playability.
- It delivers superior sound quality.
- Includes a deluxe gig bag.
Cons:
- Overpriced. Most would prefer to buy a decent Tele and a decent acoustic for what this guitar costs.
Verdict: When it comes to tonal versatility, no other Fender guitar comes close to the Fender American Acoustasonic Telecaster. But because of its expensive price tag, we believe it’s a more practical option for more experienced guitarists.
4. Fender Malibu Player Acoustic Guitar
If you’re looking for the best Fender acoustic electric guitar for beginners, we believe the Fender Malibu Player Acoustic Guitar is perfect for you.
The Malibu is most identifiable because of its slim neck and shape – a feature that’s common among electric guitars. This feature makes it easier to play, especially for younger beginners. And if they want to get a feel of what it’s like to play an electric guitar, the Malibu can also deliver.
Aside from its beginner-friendly playability, the Fender Malibu Player Acoustic Guitar also features a solid spruce top coupled with mahogany back and sides. These tonewoods allow it to create a rich sound that’s superior to other beginner-friendly acoustic-electric guitars.
Interestingly, the body is painted to make it more appealing to different guitar players. With around 12 color schemes to choose from, you’ll surely find the Malibu Player that best suits your taste.
Pros:
- It offers versatile playability that matches any playing style.
- It plays rich and accurate notes.
- It is quite stylish.
- It is lightweight and easy to play with.
- Fishman pickup/preamp system for onboard volume and tone controls.
Cons:
- Some users note a fret buzz.
- The painted body is susceptible to scratch marks.
Verdict: The Fender Malibu Player Acoustic Guitar is a fun and colorful guitar that makes it suitable for beginners. Thanks to its slimmer design, even young players won’t have a hard time learning to play with this guitar.
5. Fender FA-125 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
We can all agree that Fender acoustic guitars can be quite expensive. But surprisingly, it also offers a budget-friendly line for those who love quality sound without spending too much money. You’ll be surprised that the Fender FA-125 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar is the best Fender acoustic guitar for under 300 dollars.
The more affordable price is largely owing to its laminated body. This material is easier to produce, making it more accessible at budget-friendly prices. But coming from a big name like Fender, its features are anything but cheap.
Thanks to its spruce top and basswood sides and back, the FA-125 Dreadnought delivers a smooth and rich sound that’s superior to other budget acoustic guitars. And when you factor in the dreadnought body, you can be assured that its volume is concert-ready.
Pros:
- It is lightweight and easy to play with.
- It comes complete with accessories.
- It delivers a loud sound.
- It offers excellent value for the money.
Cons:
- There is fret buzz.
- Some components are not very durable.
Verdict: Without a doubt, the Fender FA-125 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar is the best fender acoustic guitar for the money. For the price, you not only get the guitar itself – but you also get a gig bag, clip-on tuner, a strap, an instructional DVD, and so much more. And if you factor in the Fender guitar sound quality, you know you’re getting a great deal.
What Should You Look for in a Fender Acoustic Guitar?
If there’s anything we’ve learned about Fender guitars over the years, it’s that they’re known for their superior-quality instrument. Nevertheless, there are several factors you should still look into in picking the right Fender acoustic guitar for you.
Tone Wood
The first factor to consider is the tonewood used. Not a lot of beginners know this, but the sound quality of the guitar largely depends on the tonewood used.
For example, mahogany is known for producing deeper and warmer tones, while spruce is the opposite with its bright yet smooth sound. Thus, it’s important to study the different tonewoods first before you decide which guitar to purchase.
Size and Shape
It’s also important to consider the size and shape of the guitar.
Playing the guitar is often easier with a smaller and more compact guitar if you’re a beginner. As you progress with your guitar skills, you can switch to a more complicated guitar to play. But the key here is to make sure that you’ll be able to cradle the guitar comfortably to help you play at your best.
But aside from the user’s comfort, the size and shape of the guitar also play a role in how loud it can be. Usually, guitars with larger and broader bodies often produce louder sounds than smaller and slimmer ones. Take this into consideration if you plan on performing for a live audience.
Playability
You should also consider the guitar’s playability. Usually, this depends on the style of the neck and fretboard.
If you’re a beginner, it helps if the fretboard has position marks to guide you as you learn. For more experienced players, the primary consideration is the fret-to-finger feel. That assures a smooth transition whenever you’re switching notes.
Solid vs. Laminate
And finally, consider whether you’re getting a solid tonewood body or a laminate body. Basically, a solid body offers richer, fuller, and louder sounds than its laminated alternative. However, these guitars can also come with a steeper price tag.
Alternatively, a guitar with a laminate body offers a decent sound without costing too much. If you’re still learning how to play the guitar, the practical choice would be a laminate one.
Related Articles: For those looking for budget-friendly acoustic guitars, if your desire is for something with more options and different sound qualities, then take a look at Takamine's G series models instead! However, if you are on a tight budget, consider Tanglewood acoustic guitars.
Fender Acoustic Series & Model: An Overview
At this point, you now know that Fender has multiple acoustic series to fit the different personalities of guitarists. To give you an idea of what they are, here is a brief discussion of the most popular Fender acoustic series.
Classic Design Series
As its name implies, guitars under the Classic Design Series feature an all-solid construction with a dreadnought body shape. This results in a premium sound that’s loud yet undistorted.
Each guitar under this series is specially crafted with a combination of tonewoods that will help it produce the best sound for different types of players.
Paramount Series
Fender’s Paramount Series offers a range of guitars that produce warmer tones. It has two lines under this series: the premium line and the standard line.
Guitars under the premium line are made of an all-solid rosewood construction, while those under the standard line are made of all-solid mahogany or solid Sitka spruce. Either way, these Fender guitars produce that rich and warm sound that’s iconic in the Paramount series.
And to make it more distinct, it features the iconic 1960s Fender acoustic guitar design to make it a true head-turner.
Acoustasonic Series
For those who prefer a versatile sound, the aptly named Acoustasonic series is what you should look into.
The guitars in this series reflect how innovative Fender can be with its guitars. At first glance, you will immediately notice the perfect combination of acoustic and electric guitar aesthetics. And surprisingly, it also features a sound that’s loud and rich like an acoustic, but with an electric rhythm to it. That allows it to create a uniquely versatile sound.
California Series
Another Fender acoustic guitar series that’s fused with a bit of electric guitar influence is its California Series.
Reflective of California’s vibrant scenes, these acoustic guitars are fun, colorful, and easy to play. It features an acoustic body that includes a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides to deliver that booming sound you need for concerts. But the slim C-shaped neck makes it feel like you’re playing an electric guitar.
The California series is among the easiest acoustic guitars to play, and the fact that it gives off a rock and roll feel makes it more exciting.
Acoustic Pack Series
And finally, we have the Fender Acoustic Pack Series. Simply stated, this is fender’s acoustic line of budget-friendly guitars that come complete with accessories like tuners, straps, and an instructional DVD, among others. It is a practical choice for people who want to own a Fender-quality inexpensive guitar without breaking the bank.
If you want to look into more Fender acoustics then check here for the Fender acoustic guitar models list.
Top Selling Fender Acoustic Guitars
Conclusion
Fender has been in the guitar industry for decades, and the fact that it remains a big name today only shows how dedicated it is to perfect its craft.
With that said, the guitar brand understands that no one guitar will be the best for all types of guitarists. That’s why they have introduced a wide selection of acoustic guitars to match every personality and every budget. While all the choices may seem overwhelming, you’ll be able to find your perfect Fender acoustic guitar – and we’ve made it much easier for you in this article.