Fender 0970923137 Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Fender Malibu Classic is an acoustic-electric guitar model from the legendary Fender brand. Fender has been crafting high-quality guitars since 1946 and is known worldwide for iconic models like the Stratocaster and Telecaster.

The Malibu Classic combines traditional Fender style with modern enhancements, resulting in a versatile and playable acoustic-electric suitable for guitarists of all levels. This review will take a comprehensive look at the Malibu Classic, including the body style and design, tonewoods, neck and fretboard, electronics, hardware, sound, playability, pros, cons, and overall performance. Read on to learn if the Malibu Classic is the right acoustic-electric for you.

Body Style and Design

The Fender Malibu Classic sports the iconic dreadnought body shape that Fender is known for. This large body style provides a generous, balanced tone that projects well when playing live.

The Malibu Classic has a natural gloss finish over solid Sitka spruce on the top. The finish allows the wood's natural beauty to shine through. The dreadnought's generous proportions and curved shoulder allows easy access to the higher frets while remaining comfortable to hold. An attractive multi-ply pickguard provides protection from scratching.

The neck attaches to the body at the 14th fret, which is a classic design feature on steel-string dreadnought acoustics. Overall the Malibu Classic has a stylish, traditional appearance perfect for a variety of musical genres. Players who prefer the robust, balanced voice of a dreadnought will appreciate the Malibu Classic's traditional design and proportions.

The dreadnought body style has been popular for decades due to its versatile, well-balanced tone. Many iconic acoustic guitars feature this traditional shape, including models from Martin, Taylor, and Guild. While the dreadnought began as a steel-string design, it has also been adapted for classical and acoustic-electric guitars. The large body provides ample resonance and projection, making dreadnoughts a great choice for rhythm playing or soloing. They have a strong midrange, balanced warm bass, and clear treble notes. The Malibu Classic carries on Fender's legacy of quality dreadnought acoustics.

While the Malibu Classic features a traditional dreadnought design, some players may prefer a smaller or larger body size. For example, folk and fingerstyle players often choose auditorium or orchestra models which are more comfortable to hold for long periods. Jumbo acoustics offer even more projection and low-end than a standard dreadnought. The Yamaha FG820 is an affordable acoustic-electric with a concert-style body for balanced tone.

The Malibu Classic's gloss finish not only looks attractive, it helps protect the solid wood top from damage. Open pore finishes showcase the natural wood grain while gloss coats seal the surface. There are also options with a satin sheen which provide light protection with a muted appearance. The solid Sitka spruce top is a popular choice for its balanced and responsive tone. Mahogany, maple, and rosewood are also used for their unique tonal characteristics.

Tonewoods

The Fender Malibu Classic features classic tonewoods that give it a balanced, warm sound. The top is made of solid Sitka spruce, which is a popular choice for acoustic tops thanks to its strong midrange and bright highs that project well. The back and sides are made of mahogany, which offers a warm, balanced tone with smooth mids and excellent low end. Mahogany complements the crisp spruce top nicely and adds resonance and depth to the overall tone. Together, the solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides deliver a versatile and lively acoustic voice. The all-natural solid wood construction ensures that this guitar will open up and mature tonally over time, providing the player years of musical enjoyment as the woods age gracefully. Overall, the Fender Malibu Classic combines traditional tonewoods that highlight the guitar's organic acoustic qualities.

Another excellent acoustic-electric guitar option to consider is the Kala KA-GTR-NY23. This guitar features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, similar to the Fender Malibu Classic. The spruce and mahogany pairing delivers a balanced, warm tone with nice projection and sustain. The KA-GTR-NY23 has a slim neck profile that is comfortable for both chording and soloing, making it a versatile choice for various playing styles. It comes equipped with an under-saddle piezo pickup and preamp system for plugging into an amplifier or PA system. The preamp provides tone shaping control with a built-in tuner for convenience. At around $200, the Kala KA-GTR-NY23 offers excellent value as a gig-ready acoustic-electric guitar with great playability and classic tonewoods. While the Fender Malibu Classic and Kala KA-GTR-NY23 have some similarities in their solid wood construction and spruce/mahogany tonewood pairing, the Kala model offers an affordable option for players looking for amplified acoustic tones and stage-ready performance.

Neck and Fretboard

The Fender Malibu Classic features a maple neck and walnut fretboard. The maple neck provides stability and sustain, while the walnut fretboard offers a smooth feel and vintage appeal.

Maple is a classic tonewood choice for necks, prized for its rigidity and bright tone. The hardness of maple contributes to a very stable neck that resists warping over time. It also provides excellent sustain and resonance. Maple necks pair well with most fretboard woods to create a balanced tonal profile.

The walnut fretboard on the Malibu Classic provides a pleasing contrast to the maple. Walnut has a darker, warmer sound compared to maple, yielding smooth mids and lows. Its smooth grain makes for a very comfortable playing feel. Walnut fretboards are popular in vintage acoustic instruments, giving the Malibu Classic an old-school vibe. The walnut bridge likewise provides vintage aesthetics and balanced tone.

Overall, the maple neck and walnut fretboard make for a strong, stable neck and smooth feel across the Malibu Classic. The tonewood combination provides excellent resonance, sustain, and balanced tone. Players looking for a vintage-inspired acoustic-electric will appreciate the traditional appeal of this maple and walnut pairing.

Electronics

The Fender Malibu Classic is equipped with a Fishman preamp system that gives you excellent amplified tone and versatility. The preamp includes a built-in tuner, which makes it easy to keep the guitar in tune without needing any additional accessories.

The preamp has volume and tone controls, allowing you to dial in your ideal amplified sound. There's also a phase switch, which helps reduce feedback at higher volumes. The preamp runs on a 9V battery or you can use the jack for an optional power supply.

Fishman is known for their excellent acoustic amplification, so you can trust that the Malibu Classic will sound fantastic plugged in. The electronics won't interfere with the guitar's natural acoustic resonance either.

Overall, the Fishman preamp gives you stage-ready amplified tones in a hassle-free and easy to control system. The built-in tuner is extremely convenient as well.

Hardware

The Fender Malibu Classic sports high-quality hardware you'd expect from a Fender guitar. The chrome tuners are smooth and accurate, holding tune through long practice sessions and on stage. The nut and saddle are cut from synthetic bone, which provides crisp and precise intonation up and down the neck.

The bridge is also noteworthy, made of quality solid rosewood which nicely complements the look and resonance of the mahogany top. The chrome bridge pins not only match the aesthetic, but give bright punch and clarity to each note.

Overall the hardware is well-suited for this price range, with very functional chrome parts that feel reliable and built to last. The tuners, nut and bridge in particular are highlights, supporting the Malibu Classic's excellent intonation and resonant tone.

Sound and Playability

The most important aspects of any guitar are its sound and how it feels to play. The Fender Malibu Classic strikes a nice balance between warm, balanced tone and easy playability.

The mahogany top produces a sweet, resonant voice that is well-suited to fingerpicking and strumming. There is a richness to the sound across the tonal spectrum, with articulate bass notes and singing trebles. It's not as bright as spruce, but still has enough crisp highs. The mahogany back and sides add depth and character to the overall acoustic tone.

The 25.3” scale maple neck has a smooth satin finish that makes it very comfortable and inviting to play. The neck shape will feel familiar to players accustomed to Fender electric guitars. The 20-fret rosewood fingerboard has a modern 9.5” radius and medium jumbo frets for fluid lead playing. Fretwork from the factory is very good.

The Malibu Classic is enjoyable to practice and jam on thanks to its balanced, jangly tone and slick playability. It's a versatile guitar suited to many different playing styles and genres. The guitar feels responsive, resonant, and allows one to easily access upper frets.

Pros

Fender's Malibu Classic model offers numerous advantages that make it a compelling choice for players looking for a great acoustic-electric guitar.

• Quality Materials: The Malibu Classic features a solid Sitka spruce top paired with mahogany back and sides. This tonewood combination produces a balanced, articulate tone. The materials are durable and able to withstand the rigors of frequent playing.

• Great Electronics: The guitar has a Fishman preamp system with built-in tuner, EQ controls, and pickup. The electronics accurately reproduce the guitar's natural acoustic tone. The controls allow shaping your amplified tone.

• Comfortable Neck: The mahogany neck has a smooth satin finish that facilitates fast, comfortable playing across the 25.3" scale length. The neck width at the nut is 1.69", which provides ample room for fingering chords and single notes.

The high-quality materials and electronics, as well as the comfortable playing feel, make the Malibu Classic an excellent choice for players who want an acoustic-electric with great tone and playability.

Cons

The Malibu Classic has a few minor drawbacks to consider.

• Higher price point - This guitar sits at the higher end of Fender's acoustic-electric lineup. The solid wood construction and Fishman electronics add cost, making it more expensive than Fender's entry level models. For some buyers, the price may be prohibitive.

• Electronics could be improved - While the Fishman preamp and pickup system delivers quality plugged-in sound, it's not as full-sounding or versatile as higher-end electronics from Fishman or other brands. The equalization is also fairly basic. Players who rely more on amplified tone may want to look at models with higher-end preamp systems.

Overall the Malibu Classic is a premium instrument with some great features, albeit with a higher price tag than Fender's more affordable options. The electronics, while decent, could be stepped up a notch for players who amplify their sound regularly. Still, theMalibu Classic offers solid value given the build quality and impressive unplugged tone.

Conclusion

The Fender Malibu Classic is a solid mid-range acoustic-electric guitar well suited for fingerstyle playing. It has a classic dreadnought body shape with solid mahogany top, back, and sides that produce a balanced, mellow tone. The slim mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard make it comfortable for playing chords and intricate fingerpicking patterns up and down the neck.

The Fishman preamp provides plug-and-play convenience for amplified performances, while the satin finish helps control finger squeaks. Overall, the Malibu Classic delivers classic acoustic Fender tone and playability at an attractive price point. While not as high-end as Fender's USA-made acoustics, it's an excellent value for an all-mahogany acoustic-electric and a versatile choice for guitarists looking for an inspiring instrument to develop fingerstyle techniques on.