Kadence SH-02-03-04 Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

Kadence is a relatively new brand to the acoustic guitar scene, having been founded in 2007 in Taiwan. However, in their short history they have made an impression by focusing on building high quality instruments at affordable prices. Kadence prides itself on its expert craftsmanship and attention to detail. They use solid tonewoods and quality hardware even on their most affordable models. The Kadence Slowhand series aims to bring this same level of quality to beginner and intermediate players looking for a workhorse acoustic-electric guitar.

The Kadence Slowhand is an attractive, well-made instrument that delivers impressive sound and playability for its low price point. This makes it an appealing option for new players or those on a budget. In this review, we'll take a close look at the build quality, sound, playability, electronics and pros/cons of the Slowhand model to see how it stacks up.

Overview

The Kadence Slowhand Premium Acoustic Electric SH-02-03-04 model guitar is designed with the working musician in mind. This model features a solid spruce top with scalloped "X" style bracing for enhanced acoustics. The mahogany back and sides and smooth satin finish give this guitar a balanced, warm tone.

It comes equipped with a built-in tuner and preamp system featuring tone and volume controls. The onboard EQ gives you the flexibility to shape your amplified tone from bright and punchy to smooth and warm. The cutaway design provides easy upper fret access making this an excellent choice for lead guitarists. Overall, the Slowhand offers pro features and impressive sound at an affordable price point.

Build Quality

The Kadence Slowhand acoustic-electric guitar features a solid spruce top with scalloped X bracing, which helps project the sound and provides stability to the guitar body. The back and sides are made from laminated sapele, an affordable and durable wood that delivers warm, balanced tone.

The guitar has a mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Rosewood is known for its rich overtones that complement spruce nicely. The nut and saddle are synthetic bone, which is made to have similar acoustic properties as natural bone.

The hardware includes die-cast chrome tuners, which keep the guitar in tune well. The guitar body binding and rosette provide an elegant look. Overall, the materials and construction are very good for a guitar in this price range. While not all solid wood, the use of laminates helps keep costs down while still delivering quality sound and reliability.

When looking at build quality, it's also important to consider the electronics on an acoustic-electric guitar. The Kadence Slowhand features an onboard preamp with tone and volume controls, allowing you to shape your amplified tone. It has a built-in tuner, which is very convenient for keeping the guitar in tune. The pickup and preamp system should accurately convey the natural acoustic tone of the guitar when plugged in.

Compared to other acoustic-electric guitars in this price range, such as the Pyle PMGTRKT101, the Kadence Slowhand stands out for its solid spruce top and quality appointments like the chrome tuners and rosewood fingerboard. While the Pyle uses laminate for both the top and back/sides, the Kadence has a solid spruce top, which generally provides better sound projection and dynamics.

The electronics and pickup systems may be fairly comparable between the two models. However, the Kadence seems to use better materials for the vital acoustic components like the top, neck, fingerboard and bridge. This likely translates to better overall acoustic tone and musical performance. Considering these factors, the Kadence Slowhand represents a good value in this price point if build quality is a priority.

Sound Quality

The Kadence Slowhand acoustic-electric guitar produces a bright, balanced tone with nice sustain thanks to its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The all-solid wood construction provides excellent resonance and projection.

The solid sitka spruce top contributes to a detailed high end with sparkling treble notes. Spruce is a popular choice for the soundboard of acoustic guitars as it has the right balance of strength and flexibility. It allows the top to freely vibrate and project the strings' energy into full-bodied sound.

The mahogany back and sides add warmth and depth to the tone. Mahogany boosts the midrange frequencies, filling out the guitar's voice with rich overtones. The combination of spruce and mahogany creates a nicely balanced sound across the tonal spectrum - crisp treble, balanced mids, and rich bass.

The 25.5" scale mahogany neck also enhances sustain and resonance. Overall, the Kadence Slowhand produces a bright yet warm acoustic tone with excellent clarity and dynamics suitable for various playing styles. The all-solid wood body allows the guitar to be played acoustically or plugged in without compromising on tone.

When looking for a quality acoustic-electric guitar, it's important to consider the wood used for the body. Solid wood construction from tonewoods like spruce and mahogany will provide better resonance and sound projection. The Kadence Slowhand utilizes these premium tonewoods to deliver excellent acoustic performance.

The guitar's electronics also play a role in shaping the amplified tone. The Kadence Slowhand comes equipped with a built-in preamp and pickup system to reproduce the natural acoustic sound when plugged into an amplifier or PA system. The preamp equalizes and shapes the tone, while the pickup captures the sound of the vibrating strings.

High quality electronics with a natural sounding pickup and preamp will ensure the rich acoustic tone carries over when amplifying the guitar. This allows you to easily transition from acoustic to electric tones.

When shopping for an acoustic-electric guitar, you'll also want to look for quality hardware like sealed die-cast tuners that hold tune well and a comfortable neck profile. The Kadence Slowhand features a slim mahogany neck and chrome sealed tuners for smooth playability and tuning stability.

Testing out the unplugged and amplified sound of any acoustic-electric guitar you are considering is advisable. This will allow you to hear how the woods, construction, electronics, and hardware influence the tone and playability. Listen for a balanced and responsive acoustic sound, as well as a natural amplified tone.

Brands like Fender offer high quality acoustic-electric guitars that deliver impressive sounds suitable for practice, recording, and live performance. The Fender 0310202503 is an affordable solid top acoustic-electric that produces warm, balanced tones acoustically and through an amp. With a slim neck, quality electronics, and stylish looks, it's an excellent choice for players looking for great sound and versatility.

When evaluating acoustic-electric guitars, the Kadence Slowhand's solid wood body, smooth mahogany neck, and quality electronics allow it to produce excellent acoustic resonance and naturally amplified tones. Testing the sound and feel yourself can help determine if a particular model suits your needs and playing style.

Playability

The Kadence Slowhand SH-02-03-04 acoustic-electric guitar features a comfortable and playable neck design. The neck has a slim C-shaped profile that allows easy fretting and chord changes. Many players find the C-shape provides a good balance of comfort and playing speed.

The string action on the Slowhand is set up well right out of the box. The action is not too high or too low, avoiding buzzing while still being easy to press the strings down without excessive force. Players report the action facilitates complex chords and fast lead playing without hassle.

Overall, the playability of the Kadence Slowhand ranks among its best features. It offers a smooth and comfortable playing feel ideal for practice, performance, and extended playing sessions. The quality setup and neck design make this a very playable instrument even for demanding guitarists. If you value comfort and playability, the Slowhand is an excellent choice to consider.

Electronics

The Kadence Slowhand SH-02-03-04 features dual L.R. Baggs Element Active pickups with piezo and contact mics allowing for a versatile acoustic-electric sound. The preamp is L.R. Baggs Element Active with a volume, blend, bass, mid, and treble controls. The electronics provide great tonal control to shape your amplified sound.

The L.R. Baggs Element Active pickup produces a balanced, natural amplified tone without coloring the sound from the guitar itself. With both piezo and contact mic elements, it captures the true acoustic resonance and string articulation. The adjustable mid-range boost gives you great flexibility. The under-saddle piezo and soundboard contact mics are placed optimally for even and accurate response across all frequencies.

The built-in L.R. Baggs Element Active preamp gives you volume, bass, mid, and treble controls right on the guitar. The unique midrange Trim control lets you add presence without harshness. You can sculpt a variety of tones from bright and punchy, to warm and deep by adjusting the tonal controls. The mid-contour switch provides additional voicing options. The preamp runs on a standard 9V battery and produces plenty of clean headroom and reach. The onboard tuner is always handy.

The preamp features a balanced XLR output for noise-free sound and flexibility. There's also a standard 1/4" output. The preamp automatically senses when a cable is plugged into the XLR output and activates it, while disabling the 1/4" out. This allows for easy switching between live and studio setups.

Overall the electronics offer excellent versatility for amplifying the Slowhand with accurate acoustic tone and great control over shaping your amplified sound. The dual-source pickup combined with thoughtful preamp EQ delivers stellar amplified acoustic performance.

Pros

• The Kadence Slowhand guitar has a rich, warm sound with great bass response thanks to its solid mahogany top. The solid wood construction allows the guitar to truly resonate and project.

• Users say the SH-02 model offers a high quality, full sound that holds up well when plugged in. The onboard preamp and pickup is able to reproduce the acoustic tone very accurately.

• The slim neck profile and shorter 24.75" scale length make this instrument very comfortable to play and easier to reach frets, especially for those with smaller hands. The smooth satin neck also promotes fast playing.

• The guitar is described as having excellent tuning stability that holds up over time. The advanced bone nut and saddle along with quality tuning machines keep the SH-02 in tune through changes in temperature, humidity, and more intense playing.

Cons

• The Kadence Slowhand guitar has a wider nut width (2.25") which may be uncomfortable for some players with smaller hands. The spacing between frets is also slightly wider.

• The build quality is not as refined as higher-end acoustic-electric guitars. Some users report issues with rough fret ends or loose fittings that needed adjustment.

• While the electronics allow you to amplify the guitar, the preamp and pickup system is pretty basic. It lacks the tonal control and features of higher-end electronics. The amplified sound may not have the nuance and richness desired by some players.

Comparable Models

• Martin LX1E - Another popular affordable acoustic-electric option. The Martin has a solid Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides, producing a balanced tone. The neck is also slightly wider than the Kadence. The Martin has an undersaddle piezo pickup and preamp system, but no onboard tuner. The Martin may provide a more organic, resonant acoustic tone for those who don't need lots of bells and whistles.

• Fender FA-135CE - This guitar has a laminate spruce top, mahogany back and sides, 20-fret neck, and cutaway body like the Kadence. The Fender has a Fishman preamp with tuner and tone controls. The Fender may be a comparable option for those looking for a very affordable acoustic-electric with solid electronics. The Kadence likely edges out the Fender in build and sound quality.

• Yamaha FGX800C - Yamaha is known for quality acoustic instruments. This model has a solid Sitka spruce top with Nato back and sides. It has a slimmer neck profile than the Kadence. The Yamaha has a System66 piezo pickup with preamp and built-in tuner. The Yamaha competes well with the Kadence, providing another quality option in a lower price range. The Kadence may have slightly better electronics while the Yamaha likely has better acoustic resonance.

Conclusion

The Kadence Slowhand is an excellent choice for those looking for a high quality acoustic-electric guitar in the mid-price range. Its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides produce a balanced tone that works well for various musical genres. The slim neck profile and low action facilitate comfortable playing, while the onboard preamp and tuner provide plug-and-play functionality.

While it may not have some of the premium appointments of more expensive models, the Slowhand excels where it counts - in its construction, sound, and playability. For its price point, it's hard to find a guitar that can match the Slowhand. Its quality and versatility make it a great choice for gigging musicians, recording artists, or hobbyists looking to invest in an acoustic-electric that will last.

Overall, the Kadence Slowhand is highly recommended for its impressive specs, robust construction, and rich acoustic tone. For intermediate players or professionals on a budget, it delivers professional-grade performance and reliability at an accessible price point.