Surprised (again) by a FENDER all-laminate acoustic guitar

[Mikeymac]

I certainly didn't need another guitar... but there I was, minding my own business in a Music Go Round shop after meeting a colleague for coffee, and I was looking through all the used guitars hanging on the wall with little expectation of finding anything left-handed that would interest me.

And there it was... nothing special for sure, and I almost didn't play it - but they had a lefty Fender dreadnaught acoustic with a cutaway, and it looked like it wasn't all beat up (like a lot of their stuff - pure junk and old crap). So I pulled it off the wall, tuned it up a bit and started playing. Hmmm... sounds pretty good for an all laminate guitar. Action was reasonable, too (although I could tell it had never been set up properly - strings were too high at the nut - a pet peeve of mine).

I have no idea how old this one is, but it's in great shape except that the nut was broken next to the low E string (but the string still stayed in its slot, and didn't buzz or rattle).

They had it priced at $139. Since it played pretty well and sounded pretty decent, I plugged it in and the pickup worked (tuner did not, even after a battery change), but it didn't sound too good (but I learned later that was the cheap amp I was plugged into - I won't say what brand, since it was used as well).

After very brief wheeling and dealing (pointing out that the nut needed to be replaced) I walked out with it for $100! When I got it home I replaced the nut with one I had in my stash - after some brief set up and new strings, it looked and played great!

Plugged it into my older (non-DSP) Fender Acoustasonic Jr. amp, and was very surprised - sounded very good to excellent with a little knob tweaking on both the guitar and amp! (The pickup on this is low end - volume knob and B/M/T sliders, plus the tuner that didn't work.) This guitar is actually very giggable - it has great action, and the notes sound balanced all the way up into the cutaway - and I wouldn't worry about taking this $100 guitar to some fairly rowdy places, or out into the heat or cold. I had thought about mounting an LR Baggs sound hole magnetic pickup in this thing (I have one sitting around), but the internal pickup sounds good enough - why bother?

I've noticed that Fender has built a few laminated top models that sound quite good - I was with my band's bass player at a local shop a couple months ago, and picked up a random low-end Fender acoustic off the wall, and was very surprised at how balanced, rich and 'woody' it sounded - not typical at all of all-laminate guitars. It sounded better than a couple of Taylors and Gibsons hanging on the wall.  Someone said that Fender recently hired a luthier designer (don't remember who they used to be with - Guild? Tacoma?) who has helped them revamp their acoustic line and raise the bar - if these two guitars I've played recently are any indication, they're doing things right.

I sure didn't need another guitar, but am pretty happy with this one...

Here's the newest version of this Fender CD100 CE Left-handed at Musician's Friend. The only real difference between mine and the one in the pic: mine has a standard, Martin style bridge on it, not curvy like this one, and on mine, the battery is in the preamp module (so only one hold in the side of the guitar!).

[Scrambler17]

I played a Fender D with a cutaway that I bought around 2000 for over a decade as my only acoustic, I do think it was solid wood.  While it doesn't hold a candle to my Larri, it had a pretty good sound and playability, especially for a guitar that cost somewhere around $400.  I've kept it as a beater, but really haven't gotten it out at all since I've moved on :)  Congrats on the find. 

[JOYCEfromNS]

Going to be running out of room soon Mike, better save a little for the 50th Anniversary 

[Mikeymac]

Going to be running out of room soon Mike, better save a little for the 50th Anniversary 

Yes...even as I was walking out of the store with this thing I was thinking to myself, "What am I doing? What is wrong with me? I have a sickness!"

But, part of my sickness is the same thing Danny suffers from - I like the challenge of fixing up or improving an instrument. I'm certainly no where near the level Danny is, but I can do basic set-ups and tune-ups. So after I changed out the nut, lowered the nut slots, cleaned off the fretboard and restrung it, it played great, and sounded even better. I didn't even have to touch the truss rod.

It's actually a very serviceable instrument, with better than expected tone for an all-laminate - and plugged in, it's above average.

See...we can always justify our dysfunctions...

[broKen]

It's actually a very serviceable instrument, with better than expected tone for an all-laminate - and plugged in, it's above average.

See...we can always justify our dysfunctions...

It helps if you can play well too. Every time I get close to buying another, I'm reminded of that. My wife helps with that. 

[Mikeymac]

Every time I get close to buying another, I'm reminded of that. My wife helps with that. 

See...perfect example of family dysfunction. Your wife, I mean... 

[JOYCEfromNS]

See...perfect example of family dysfunction. Your wife, I mean... 

[Danny]

Yes...even as I was walking out of the store with this thing I was thinking to myself, "What am I doing? What is wrong with me? I have a sickness!"

But, part of my sickness is the same thing Danny suffers from - I like the challenge of fixing up or improving an instrument. I'm certainly no where near the level Danny is, but I can do basic set-ups and tune-ups. So after I changed out the nut, lowered the nut slots, cleaned off the fretboard and restrung it, it played great, and sounded even better. I didn't even have to touch the truss rod.

It's actually a very serviceable instrument, with better than expected tone for an all-laminate - and plugged in, it's above average.

See...we can always justify our dysfunctions...

when I first joined the forum I had two Fender acoustics, one was a 12  string, the other all solid wood made in the U.S. in 1970 by Harmony.  The 12 string is long gone but the Fender/Sovereign is in the total rebuild, Ladder to X-brace queue.
    Yup, I am sick, and Mike you got the same bug.  

But it's good to have some less expensive guitars to give to friends and family.

[Mikeymac]

   
Yup, I am sick, and Mike you got the same bug.  

But it's good to have some less expensive guitars to give to friends and family.

I agree, Danny... I just need to find some more lefty players to give a few of mine new homes.

[Gordo in OZ]

Fenders are weird. Most of them are ho hum at best but every now and then you find a cheap Fender that has it all. I always try them out when I see them and when the price is bargain. They make good presents as there are already too many instruments in this house.

[cwa11is]

A ha! I'm sick too, but maybe not alone. Bought my first guitar of my 2nd attempt to learn how to play seriously  about 2 years ago. A Fender cd-140. It looks and sounds good to my beginner ears and fingers, but now I want something really good. Ordered myself a L-09 for Christmas that I won't even have for 6 to 10 more weeks and I'm already heavily researching Les Paul Standards and amps.  I am the sole inmate running my own asylum and I know what is going to happen.  Fly away money, fly away!!!   

[Mikeymac]

A ha! I'm sick too, but maybe not alone. Bought my first guitar of my 2nd attempt to learn how to play seriously  about 2 years ago. A Fender cd-140. It looks and sounds good to my beginner ears and fingers, but now I want something really good. Ordered myself a L-09 for Christmas that I won't even have for 6 to 10 more weeks and I'm already heavily researching Les Paul Standards and amps.  I am the sole inmate running my own asylum and I know what is going to happen.  Fly away money, fly away!!!   

Wow, you really dug up an old thread! But welcome to the Larrivee Loony Bin: "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."

I've still got my Fender mentioned in the OP, but it doesn't get played much as I have much nicer acoustics. I was going to use it to go caroling this Christmas in the Minnesota cold, but then decided we didn't need a guitar along - voices alone are better.

I'd reassess my original optimistic review of the tone down a couple notches, just because over time I've come to realize how much better the all solid acoustics I have are (shock, right?).  Those include several Larrivees, Martins and a Gibson J-45, so ovbiously there's no comparison.

But it still remains a good "beater" guitar to have around when you're going to be in an environment hazardous to a nice acoustic...

[cwa11is]

It is an old thread. I didn't read the dates on these. I'm just a old guy beginner soaking up the information as fast as I can. Sorry. It's all new to me.  Posts like yours make me feel like I fit right in with the mindset at least. Thanks.  .

Also, I'll be new for the rest of my life, so do I post doughnuts perpetually?

[Danny]

Heh, I'm 65, you are doing fine, welcome and thanks for the donuts. 

[Mikeymac]

Heh, I'm 65, you are doing fine, welcome and thanks for the donuts. 

And I just turned 60 on Thursday, so welcome the the good ol' boys (and girls) club...

Keep reading and posting - it's a great place to learn.