Fender 970713502 Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

Fender has been one of the most iconic brands in electric guitars and amplifiers since Leo Fender founded the company in 1946. While known for its iconic solid body electric guitars like the Stratocaster and Telecaster, Fender has also made its mark in the acoustic-electric guitar market. The Fender 970713502 acoustic-electric guitar offers great Fender sound and quality in a comfortable, easy to play package suitable for all levels of players.

This dreadnought style acoustic-electric gets its name from the distinctive squared shoulders and deep body that provides powerful acoustic resonance and projection. The combination of laminated spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, maple neck and fretboard, and built-in Fishman Presys preamp system makes this an outstanding choice for the player looking for a great Fender acoustic guitar at an affordable price point.

Body Style and Design

The Fender Acoustic-Electric Concert is a 6 string acoustic-electric guitar with a rich, resonant sound perfect for a wide variety of musical styles. It features a concert body shape with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides.

The top is made of solid Sitka spruce, which provides excellent projection and dynamics. The back and sides are crafted from laminated mahogany, giving the instrument warmth and richness. At its widest point, the concert-style body measures approximately 15 inches across, making it a nice mid-size fit between smaller parlor guitars and larger dreadnoughts.

The guitar has a smooth semi-gloss urethane finish that enhances resonance while protecting the woods. It comes in an attractive transparent black burst finish that really makes the wood grain pop. The relatively small body size makes the guitar comfortable to hold and play for long periods of time. Overall the Fender Acoustic-Electric Concert presents an impressive blend of traditional and contemporary acoustic guitar design elements.

Another popular acoustic-electric guitar option to consider is the Donner HUSH-X. This guitar features a dreadnought body shape with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a cutaway for easy upper fret access. It has a built-in preamp and tuner for plugging into an amplifier or PA system. The HUSH-X uses a unique carbon fiber bracing system to reduce feedback at higher volumes. This makes it a great choice for live performances where controlling feedback is essential. It comes equipped with a gig bag for safe transport and storage.

The HUSH-X has a smooth matte finish that lets the wood grains show through nicely. At its widest point, the dreadnought body measures approximately 16 inches across, giving it a bold, full voice. The cutaway allows players to easily reach the higher register notes. While the Fender Concert offers a more mid-range focused tone, the Donner HUSH-X provides deep low end and crisp highs perfect for live settings. Both guitars represent quality acoustic-electric options, just with different sounds, styles, and purposes in mind.

The concert body style of the Fender Acoustic-Electric Concert is a great choice for many players, offering a nice balance of volume, comfort and playability. Many guitarists prefer the mid-size concert shape over larger dreadnoughts or smaller travel guitars. The Fender concert body provides excellent projection and balanced tone across the tonal spectrum. The ergonomic body contours and manageable dimensions make the Fender an accessible instrument for new players while also satisfying more advanced guitarists. If you're looking for a great all-around acoustic-electric that handles both fingerpicking and strumming with ease, the Fender Concert is an excellent option to consider.

Another acoustic-electric guitar with a concert-style body worth checking out is the Donner HUSH-X. This affordable guitar has a concert-style spruce top with mahogany back and sides, similar to the Fender. It has a smooth matte finish and comes equipped with a built-in preamp and tuner for amplifying your sound. The Donner concert body produces balanced tone and good volume like the Fender, making it great for all styles of music. While it may not have the same brand recognition as Fender, the HUSH-X delivers impressive features and playability at a very wallet-friendly price point. If you're shopping on a budget but want a concert-style acoustic-electric with solid wood construction, the Donner HUSH-X is definitely worth a close look.

Neck and Fretboard

The Fender Acoustic-Electric 970713502 features a C-shaped mahogany neck. Mahogany provides a balanced tone, leaning towards warmth and low-end. The neck has a scale length of 25.3", which is standard for acoustic guitars. This offers familiar playability compared to other acoustic-electric guitars. The fretboard has a 12" radius, which is a comfortable curved radius typical on many steel-string acoustics. The fretboard material is rosewood, providing a good balance between warm tone and smooth playability.

The neck utilizes a dual-action truss rod for stability and relief adjustment. The board has 20 frets perfect for chording and intricate playing. The comfortable medium profile neck and standard scale length results in excellent playability and ease of forming chords and riffs up and down the neck. Overall, the neck and fretboard provide a high level of craftsmanship, balancing tonal qualities with optimal playability. Another popular acoustic-electric guitar option to consider is the Epiphone EGSVCHVCH1. This guitar features a cutaway design for easy upper fret access, a spruce top for bright tone, and Fishman electronics for amplified performance. The mahogany back and sides provide a balanced tone while the slim taper neck offers smooth playability. Check out more details on the Epiphone EGSVCHVCH1 acoustic-electric guitar here.

Hardware

The Fender Acoustic-Electric 970713502 features quality hardware that enables great functionality for playing and tuning the guitar.

Bridge

It has a synthetic bone nut and saddle, providing excellent transfer of vibrations and resonance from the strings. The sturdy pinless bridge gives it the classic look of an acoustic while still incorporating electronics.

Tuners

The guitar utilizes open-gear tuning machines with vintage style buttons. They keep the guitar in tune nicely and allow for smooth and accurate tuning adjustments. The chrome finish gives it some visual flair as well.

Electronics

It comes equipped with a Fishman Presys pickup system with an undersaddle transducer. This allows you to plug into an amplifier or PA system for concerts or recording. It has a preamp with volume control and tuner, providing great amplified acoustic tone and letting you switch from acoustic to electric seamlessly.

Sound and Tone

The Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat Acoustic-Electric guitar produces a bright, articulate acoustic tone that projects well thanks to its solid spruce top. The mahogany back and sides add warmth and richness to the EQ. Plugged in, the Fishman pickup and preamp system provides a balanced and detailed amplified tone.

The combination of the solid wood top and laminated mahogany back and sides creates a guitar that is tonally balanced across the frequency range. It has the projection and headroom characteristic of spruce, with good note separation and definition. The mahogany adds midrange punch and low-end warmth. The result is an acoustic tone that's lively and resonant, with crisp highs and robust lows.

When amplified, the built-in Fishman preamp and pickup system accurately reproduces the Hellcat's acoustic character. The tone remains clear and articulate, without sounding too bright or boxy. There's enough low end to give the amplified sound pleasing body and solidity. The Fishman system is able to capture the nuances of the player's attack, making the Hellcat a great guitar for performing live. Overall, it's an acoustic-electric that sounds just as good plugged in as it does unplugged.

Playability

The Fender Acoustic-Electric guitar is highly playable and comfortable right out of the box. The action, or height of the strings from the fretboard, is medium-low and optimized for chord strumming and fingerstyle playing. The lowered action allows easier fretting and reduces hand fatigue during longer playing sessions.

The Ebony fretboard and bridge have a fast feel. The rounded fret ends are smooth and polished for effortless transitions up and down the neck. The nut width of 1.6875" gives a nice spacing between strings making it easy to play intricate chords and melodies.

The body shape provides a good balanced weight between the player's left and right hands. The cutaway grants easy access to the upper frets while the curved forearm and body contours offer a natural fit against your body. Whether sitting or standing, the Fender Acoustic-Electric rests well and allows the player comfort and stability during performance.

Overall, the playability and ergonomic design allow guitarists to realize their full potential on this instrument. The smooth feel inspires confidence to play complex passages, progressions, and solos with ease.

Craftsmanship

Fender is known for its high-quality craftsmanship and the CD-60SCE is no exception. This guitar features solid mahogany back and sides, which provide a rich, full-bodied tone. The top is made from laminated spruce, a strong and lightweight wood that allows the top to vibrate freely for excellent tone production.

Attention to detail is evident throughout, from the herringbone rosette and cream binding that gives the guitar a classic look, to the smoothly finished neck and fretwork that makes playing comfortable. The build quality is very good for an acoustic-electric in this price range.

While it may not reach the exceptional standards of Fender's USA-made guitars, the CD-60SCE still delivers the exemplary fit, finish and reliability that Fender is renowned for. From the solid wood construction to the carefully applied finish, this guitar offers great craftsmanship and quality control given its accessible price point. Players report the CD-60SCE holding up well over time, with very few issues out of the box.

Overall, Fender delivers their expected attention to detail and quality with the CD-60SCE. While not extravagant, the solid woods, electronics and hardware are thoughtfully chosen and well-crafted for an acoustic-electric of this class. The result is an attractive, resonant and road-worthy guitar perfect for playing and performing.

Value and Cost

The Fender FA-115 is priced at around $200, making it an affordable option for beginner and intermediate players looking for a solid acoustic-electric guitar. While not as inexpensive as some entry-level models, the FA-115 offers good value given its features and sound quality.

The all-laminate construction helps keep costs down, though it may impact tone and resonance compared to more expensive solid wood models. However, many players find the tone quite satisfactory for the price point. Those wanting an acoustic-electric with solid wood construction can expect to pay $300-500 more.

Compared to other guitars in this price range, the FA-115 holds up well. It provides an acoustic-electric option with Fender's brand name and quality at a reasonable cost. Players report it sounds as good or better than comparably priced models from other brands.

Overall, while not the cheapest option, the Fender FA-115 offers beginning and intermediate players a quality acoustic-electric guitar at a moderate price point. For those seeking great value without breaking the bank, it's an excellent choice to consider.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Classic dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar body provides full and balanced tone
• Slim neck profile is comfortable and playable
• Fishman preamp gives excellent amplified tone
• Solid spruce top offers clear articulation and responsiveness
• Mahogany back and sides provide warmth and depth
• Rosewood fretboard has a smooth feel
• Die-cast chrome tuners keep instrument in tune
• Comes with a hardshell case for protection

Cons

• Not the most affordable acoustic-electric in its class
• The preamp only has basic controls, lacking EQ adjustment
• Might not have as complex tones as a high-end acoustic
• No cutaway for upper fret access
• Electronics can pick up some feedback at higher volumes
• Unfinished neck might feel sticky to some players

Conclusion

The Fender Acoustic-Electric 970713502 is a great choice for a beginner or intermediate acoustic-electric guitar. It features a classic dreadnought body style, solid spruce top and laminated mahogany back and sides for balanced acoustic tone and projection. The slim neck and low action make it very playable and comfortable.

It has a Fishman preamp system with built-in tuner and easy to control tone shaping, allowing you to plug into an amplifier or PA system. While not the most high-end acoustic-electric, it provides very good value for the price. The craftsmanship and attention to detail is evident in the fit, finish and setup right out of the box.

Overall, the Fender Acoustic-Electric 970713502 is an excellent entry-level acoustic-electric that looks great, sounds good, and is easy to play. For guitarists looking for their first acoustic-electric or those who play casually, it's definitely worth considering. While more advanced players may want to opt for a model with solid wood construction, this is a quality instrument at an affordable price point. It gets high marks for playability, hardware and electronics. For the money, it's hard to find a better acoustic-electric guitar option.