New fender acoustics

[ICBM]

Ah yes, famous Martin player Johnny Cash...

Indeed. They made their first ever black guitar for him. Just thought it was funny to see him posing with the Fender - I have no idea if he ever used one for real or not though.

But come on, have an open mind! I'd never say any Fender acoustic was as "good" as pretty much any Martin, but they make a *vast* range, and actually some of them are very nice if you take them for what they are, and not as a Martin...

The 60s ones like that one are very cool in their own way - they have a lot of character in the same sort of way as a better Eko, Framus, Levin, Harmony or other mid-quality acoustic, and usually play better than most because of the separate (and adjustable) neck.

Of the more recent ones, a friend of mine had a modern Takamine/Taylor-like one (can't remember the number, it was a cutaway cedar-topped Concert style) that was as good as a Takamine for half the price... if maybe not quite in the same league as a Taylor - which is what she replaced it with when she got a deal, although the funny thing is that the Taylor's electrics failed almost immediately, whereas the Fender's never did!

In between, yes they've made a lot of plywood crap that I wouldn't defend, but so have a lot of mass makers much more highly regarded for their acoustics.

And I really do think they need the *proper* Fender head. Without that, they're just another mid-priced generic acoustic with no particularly defining character. With it, they're distinctive and you can recognise one from the back of the venue, so it really surprises me that they haven't stuck with it.

I assume most acoustic players are just even more conservative than most electric ones...

And if you still need convincing, try these:





They sound pretty good to me, if perhaps not with quite the warmth and body of a good Martin... but then Taylors don't have that either, and most people think they're pretty good.

[bobsbobbackwards]

I think it's okay, but no mention of a solid top, which at the price (assuming you can make a solid top with ash) might be a little less than expected. But I quite like it and if it played and sounded good would have no issue with it.

[Tone71]

Not a lover but each to their own, I love the Johnny Cash promo though

[paultheoneyoulove]

I'd like it more with the Fender headstock. Love the butterscotch idea - it's my least favourite fender colour (I know, I know...) but it's lovely to see an acoustic that looks a bit different.

Sadly, I've never played a Fender acoustic! I fell in love with a 200 quid Epi hummingbird the other day that, flaws in the finish asides, played and sounded incredible - compared side by side with 500 quid acoustics (it really did sound better to my ears!). Neck could have used some scotch brite, but...

[bertie]

They sound pretty good to me, i

yes but we established long ago, that you're no judge of acoustic tone

... but then Taylors don't have that either, and most people think they're pretty good.

they're not to be trusted either

[mellowsun]

they're not to be trusted either

A high-end acoustic guitar dealer who shall remain nameless was of the opinion that some brands of acoustic guitar were built to sound good in the shop, but perhaps don't age well.

[Steelarts]

I

And I really do think they need the *proper* Fender head. Without that, they're just another mid-priced generic acoustic with no particularly defining character. With it, they're distinctive and you can recognise one from the back of the venue, so it really surprises me that they haven't stuck with it.

I assume most acoustic players are just even more conservative than most electric ones...

And if you still need convincing, try these:

I still need convincing. These examples just don't do anything for me I'm afraid and if I was buying at this pricemark would probably go for an Epiphone AJ 220 over the Newporter and a Faith Neptune would blow the Kingman clean out of the water.....no contest!

And I'm sorry, that headstock looks absolutely ridiculous on an acoustic! I know Fender are trying to keep their trademark headstock but it just looks plain silly to me, like it doesn't quite know where it wants to be....is it an electric with acoustic tendencies or an acoustic aspiring to be a strat???

Nah, not for me I'm afraid but I'm sure there are others who love them.

[ICBM]

I still need convincing. These examples just don't do anything for me I'm afraid and if I was buying at this pricemark would probably go for an Epiphone AJ 220 over the Newporter

You can't be serious.

and a Faith Neptune would blow the Kingman clean out of the water.....no contest!

No, still don't agree. They sound different, and I personally prefer the Fender. I'm not really keen on the Faiths I've heard.

For what it's worth, I like the traditional Martin/Gibson/Guild tone too, I'm not really a fan of modern acoustic sounds. The Fenders bridge the gap to an extent, to me. I still prefer the old 60s ones to these modern ones though - they're not as "good" in some ways, but they still sound more distinctive.

And I'm sorry, that headstock looks absolutely ridiculous on an acoustic! I know Fender are trying to keep their trademark headstock but it just looks plain silly to me, like it doesn't quite know where it wants to be....is it an electric with acoustic tendencies or an acoustic aspiring to be a strat???

It's a *Fender* acoustic.

Nah, not for me I'm afraid but I'm sure there are others who love them.

Each to their own of course . These are some of the nicest modern acoustics I've seen (if not heard in person) and I think the Fender head looks perfect on them - especially the Newporter, but the Kingman (which is actually a Jazzmaster head, not a Strat) nearly as good, Johnny Cash or not!

[Steelarts]

Hey, this is what makes the world go round isn't it? No right or wrong, just different ways we perceive things. The world would be incredibly boring if we all played the same guitar wouldn't it? Faith, to me, have to be some of the best guitars in the price bracket. I'm not a great fan of overly bright guitars but I think Faith have struck a good balance between a modern and classic sound. Up against my mate's Taylor D3 it sounds much better (even my mate agrees). Not that I dislike the Taylor sound (it's growing on me) but it does need more bass to even things out.

Granted, these Fenders are far from the worse I've heard but these have obviously been recorded under optimal conditions. There's a fabulous Asian girl on You Tube who has a fantastic singing voice but she plays a Fender acoustic and it really doesn't compliment her at all well, but what the hell? If she's happy with her guitar that's all that matters. Luckily her voice more than makes up for the guitar backing but if it didn't it would be a totally different story check her out www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJQ3zGtiFzo

[daveyh]

Indeed. They made their first ever black guitar for him. Just thought it was funny to see him posing with the Fender - I have no idea if he ever used one for real or not though.

Yes, yes he did