Oscar Schmidt OA10CE Mini OA10CEFN-A-U Acoustic-Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Oscar Schmidt OA10CE mini is an affordable, entry-level acoustic-electric guitar perfect for beginners or travelers looking for a portable instrument. Part of Oscar Schmidt's long-running Original Acoustic series, the OA10CE mini delivers classic acoustic guitar tone and playability in a slim, compact body.

Measuring just 36 inches long, this petite auditorium model is 3/4 the size of a standard dreadnought. The small body makes it easy to handle and ideal for smaller players. While mini guitars often compromise tone for portability, the OA10CE mini produces a balanced, resonant sound with Oscar Schmidt's proprietary bracing design. It plays nicely for chord strumming or fingerstyle thanks to its slim neck profile and low action.

With both acoustic projection and plugged-in tones from the onboard preamp, the OA10CE mini gives you versatility in a super portable package. This is a great choice as a starter instrument for kids, an ideal travel companion, or even a couch guitar for casual practice. While it doesn't offer premium features, it's built to Oscar Schmidt's consistent quality standards and comes at an attractive price point.

Body Style and Design

The Oscar Schmidt OA10CE Mini has a compact mini auditorium body shape with a smaller lower bout than a traditional dreadnought. This makes it a comfortable fit for smaller players or anyone looking for a travel-friendly acoustic-electric guitar.

The mini auditorium style provides a balanced and articulate tone, with good projection thanks to the oval soundhole. The smaller body reduces boominess compared to a jumbo guitar, making it well-suited to fingerstyle playing.

Despite the compact size, the OA10CE Mini still produces a rich and full tone. The scaled-down auditorium body is an excellent compromise between playability and balanced acoustic resonance.

In addition to the Oscar Schmidt OA10CE Mini, another great option for a travel-friendly acoustic-electric guitar is the Donner DJC-1000S. This mini jumbo acoustic-electric has a slightly larger body than a mini auditorium, providing fuller low end and increased projection. The DJC-1000S has a laminated spruce top with mahogany back and sides, producing a balanced tone suited to various styles. It comes equipped with a built-in preamp and tuner for plugging into an amplifier or PA system.

The Donner DJC-1000S mini jumbo body strikes a nice balance between portability and fuller acoustic resonance. Its smooth matte finish and binding make for an elegant look as well. While not as small as a mini auditorium, it still has a compact profile for travel. The onboard EQ helps shape your amplified tone, with both a volume knob and tuner built right in. For an affordable acoustic-electric travel guitar with nice appointments, the Donner DJC-1000S is an excellent choice.

When choosing between the Oscar Schmidt OA10CE Mini and the Donner DJC-1000S travel-friendly acoustic-electrics, consider your playing style and needs. The OA10CE Mini's auditorium shape lends itself better to fingerstyle, while the Donner's slightly larger mini jumbo body provides more projection for strumming. Both models come equipped with preamps and tuners for plugging in. And they have slim, portable designs well-suited for travel and smaller players. So whether you prefer the balanced tone of a mini auditorium or the fuller sound of a mini jumbo, both Oscar Schmidt and Donner make great compact acoustic-electric options.

Tonewood Composition Provides Well-Balanced Sound

The OA10CE features a spruce top with mahogany back and sides, a classic acoustic guitar tonewood combination known for its balanced and well-rounded sound.

The spruce top lends the guitar brightness, clarity, and articulation. Spruce is a stiff and lightweight wood that resonates efficiently. It produces strong and balanced overtones from the highs to the lows. Spruce tops are prized for their crisp treble and open midrange.

Mahogany is used for the back and sides. Known for its warm and mellow tone, mahogany balances out the bright spruce top. This wood adds depth and body to the midrange frequencies. The mahogany's dense composition also provides volume and sustain. Together, the spruce and mahogany offer an excellent tonal balance that works well for various playing styles and genres.

The all-wood body construction and complimentary tonewood pairing allow the OA10CE to produce warm and textured acoustic tones with sparkling highs. The guitar's resonant properties project a balanced and nuanced sound. The OA10CE is an ideal choice for guitarists looking for a well-balanced acoustic-electric with great playability and classic tonewoods. It's a versatile instrument suitable for various musical genres and playing situations. For another quality acoustic-electric option, check out the Cordoba C5 CD. This nylon-string guitar produces a warm, rich classical tone with excellent projection and dynamics. It features a solid Canadian cedar top with mahogany back and sides. The C5 CD is equipped with a dual-action truss rod for stable action and intonation. The built-in passive electronics have a tuner and EQ for amplified performance. Cordoba is known for finely crafted acoustic instruments, and the C5 CD offers fantastic value in a beginner-friendly classical acoustic-electric model.

Neck and Fretboard

The Oscar Schmidt OA10CE mini acoustic-electric guitar features a Nato neck and rosewood fretboard. Nato is a dense, durable wood that provides stability and allows the neck to resist warping. It has a smooth, fast feel that facilitates comfortable playability up and down the neck.

The rosewood fretboard complements the Nato neck nicely. Rosewood is known for its rich, complex overtones that enhance sustain. It also has a smooth surface that is comfortable on the fingers during long practice or playing sessions. The rosewood fretboard on the OA10CE has a 12" radius and 19 medium frets, allowing for clean articulation and bends. Overall, the Nato neck and rosewood fretboard offer a great feel for varied playing styles.

Electronics

The Oscar Schmidt OA10CE mini acoustic-electric is equipped with a piezo pickup and preamp system, allowing it to be plugged into an amplifier or PA system. The piezo pickup is located under the bridge and converts the vibrations of the top into electronic signals. Piezo pickups are known for providing a very accurate and natural acoustic tone when amplified.

The preamp features a 3-band EQ for shaping your amplified tone - it allows you to boost or cut the bass, midrange, and treble frequencies. There is also a built-in tuner and a phase switch, which can help reduce feedback at higher volumes. The preamp requires a 9V battery to operate. Overall the electronics setup on the OA10CE is straightforward but very functional, providing you with everything you need for amplifying a mini acoustic-electric in live or studio settings. The piezo and preamp allow the guitar to be heard clearly even when performing alongside louder instruments.

Hardware

The hardware on the Oscar Schmidt OA10CE mini acoustic-electric guitar includes chrome tuners and a compensated saddle.

The chrome tuners do a good job of keeping the guitar in tune, even during longer practice or gigging sessions. They can feel a little cheap compared to higher-end tuners, but they get the job done. The tuners are also lightweight, which helps keep the overall weight of the guitar down.

The compensated saddle is designed to intonate each string properly up the neck, helping maintain good intonation when playing higher up on the fretboard. It's not a high-end saddle, but it intonates reasonably well and aids the overall tuning stability and intonation of the guitar. Some musicians may choose to swap out the saddle for something higher quality in the future to get the absolute best intonation possible.

Overall, while the hardware is budget-friendly, it performs admirably well and gets the job done on this entry-level acoustic-electric guitar model. The chrome tuners and compensated saddle help offer stable tuning and intonation for practice, jamming, and live playing.

Sound Quality

The OA10CEFN-A-U mini acoustic-electric guitar produces a well-balanced, warm, and pleasant sound. The solid spruce top contributes to a nice projection and balanced tone, while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and sweetness. Despite its small size, this mini guitar is capable of rich and full acoustic tones.

When plugged in, the built-in electric pickup accurately captures the guitar's acoustic voice. The pickup blends nicely with the natural acoustic sound, rather than overpowering it. The tone coming through an amplifier or PA system maintains the balanced and warm characteristics of the guitar. The electronics seem well suited to the guitar, providing nice amplification without excessive noise or feedback.

Overall, the OA10CEFN-A-U mini guitar delivers a pleasing tone whether played acoustically or plugged in. The sound quality exceeds expectations for a budget-friendly travel or beginner instrument. While not as loud as a full-size guitar, the well-balanced and projected sound belies the compact size.

Playability

The Oscar Schmidt OA10CE mini dreadnought features low action and a comfortable, slim neck profile that makes playing easy and enjoyable. The slim neck allows for quick chord changes and comfortable fretting even for players with smaller hands. The low action - the distance between the strings and the fretboard - facilitates easy pressing down of the strings without excessive finger effort. This allows you to play for longer without fatiguing your hands. The neck is crafted from nato wood and the fretboard from rosewood, both smooth and playable tonewoods that complement the neck's profile. Overall, the OA10CE mini offers superb playability right out of the box, requiring minimal setup. Both beginners and experienced players will find this an accessible, playable acoustic-electric guitar for practice and performance. The smooth neck and low action really allow the player to focus on the music without struggling with the instrument.

Pros

The OA-10CE mini guitar has several notable pros that make it an attractive option for players looking for a quality acoust-electric travel or beginner guitar.

Quality Materials

The OA-10CE mini features solid wood construction, with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The use of solid tonewoods helps produce a full, balanced acoustic tone and ensures the guitar will mature well with age. The mini jumbo body shape also provides good projection and volume for a small-bodied guitar.

Good Electronics

The guitar comes equipped with Oscar Schmidt electronics featuring a built-in tuner and quality pickups and preamp. The pickups accurately capture the OA-10CE's warm, mellow acoustic tone. The onboard preamp provides EQ controls for shaping your amplified sound, including both bass and treble adjustment. The guitar's integrated tuner makes it easy to keep the OA-10CE in tune.

Cons

While the Oscar Schmidt OA10CE offers excellent bang for your buck as a beginner acoustic-electric, it does come with some drawbacks typical of a budget-friendly mini guitar.

• Not as loud as full-size guitars: Given its smaller body size, the OA10CE won't produce as much volume and projection as a full-size dreadnought or auditorium acoustic-electric. It's best suited for more intimate playing rather than trying to compete with drums and other amplified instruments in a band setting. While the preamp and pickup system allow you to plug into an amp or PA system, the smaller body still caps the overall acoustic volume you can expect.