Fender 0970713121 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Fender Redondo Player Acoustic Guitar represents an excellent value for beginner and intermediate players looking for a quality, affordable acoustic guitar. Part of Fender's Player Series, the Redondo delivers the classic Fender experience in an accessibly priced package.

Fender has been a leader in guitars and amplifiers for decades. Founded in 1946 by Clarence Leonidas “Leo” Fender, the brand is synonymous with iconic models like the Telecaster, Stratocaster, and Precision Bass. While Fender’s reputation lies more with its solid body electric guitars, the company has made strides in recent years to produce acoustic guitars accessible to working musicians. The Redondo Player model aims to capture Fender's signature sound and style in a budget-friendly acoustic.

The guitar features a concert-style cutaway body, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, "Easy-to-Play" neck profile, and Fishman electronics. It delivers warm, balanced tones well-suited for small gigs and practice sessions alike. While it may lack some bells and whistles found on premium models, the Redondo Player offers great value for those looking to enter the world of Fender acoustics.

Appearance

The Fender Redondo Player acoustics have a classic, familiar design reminiscent of vintage Fender acoustics from the 1960s and 70s. They sport a rounded body shape with smooth curves, available in several attractive finish options.

The Redondo Player has a satin urethane finish on the body that gives it a smooth, natural feel. It comes in three classic color combinations: Natural, Sunburst, and Black. The Natural model has a light brown top with darker back and sides, which allows the wood grain to show through. The Sunburst features a warm, reddish-brown burst pattern radiating out from the soundhole. The Black has an elegant, deep black finish all over.

The pickguard and binding are done in faux tortoise shell plastic, which complements the colors nicely on every model. The headstock features Fender's classic logo in gold lettering. Overall the Redondo Player has a vintage acoustic appeal, with its classic body shape, smooth finish, and choice of traditional colors. It's an instrument that looks at home among Fender's historic acoustics.

In addition to its attractive visual appearance, the Redondo Player is designed to be comfortable to play. Its rounded body edges and curves fit nicely against the player's body. The neck has a smooth satin finish that allows for fast, slick movement up and down the fretboard. The string spacing at the nut is 1 11/16 inches, providing room between strings for fingerpicking. There are 20 frets total, with rolled fretboard edges for smooth transitions. Overall, the Redondo Player has an ergonomic, player-friendly design.

The Kadence SH-02-03-04 acoustic-electric guitar is another excellent option for players looking for comfort, playability, and classic acoustic tone. It features a concert-style body with a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The SH-02-03-04 has a smooth satin finish on the neck for fast playing. It comes equipped with a built-in preamp and tuner for plugging into an amplifier or PA system when needed. This allows for versatility in both acoustic and electric settings. Some additional benefits of the Kadence SH-02-03-04 are its comfortable body shape, low action, and quality construction. For those seeking a great acoustic-electric guitar for practice, performance, and recording, be sure to check out the Kadence SH-02-03-04.

Body & Neck

The Fender Redondo Player features a beautifully crafted body and neck that contribute to its full, balanced tone. The top, back, and sides are all made of solid mahogany, which gives it a slightly scooped midrange and emphasizes the low end. Mahogany is a popular choice for acoustic guitars as it has a balanced tonal character.

The body shape is Fender's original slope-shouldered Redondo design. It has a rounded lower bout that gives it enhanced low-end presence. The Redondo is a comfortable size for playing, not too large or small.

The neck is also mahogany, with a smooth satin finish that makes it fast and comfortable to play. It has a standard 25.3" scale length. The nut width is a very playable 1.69", accommodating various fingerstyle techniques while still comfortable for chord playing and strumming. Overall the body and neck specs make this a versatile, well-playing acoustic.

The solid mahogany construction contributes to the balanced, well-rounded tone of the Redondo Player. Mahogany has a nice warmth and sweetness acoustically. The smooth satin neck also facilitates great playability up and down the fretboard. The Redondo has the size and build for comfortable playing over extended periods. If you're looking for a great all-purpose acoustic with nice appointments, the Redondo Player is an excellent choice.

Another popular acoustic guitar with excellent playability is the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany. This is a 3/4 size guitar with a mahogany top, back, and sides. Despite its smaller size, it produces a very full, rich tone. The 23 1/2" scale length makes it very comfortable for chord shapes and intricate fingerpicking. The neck has a smooth satin finish that allows for fast, fluid playing. The mini body style is extremely comfortable for long practice or playing sessions. With its great tone, playability, and portability, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is a great option for players of all levels looking for a high-quality, versatile acoustic.

Sound & Tone

The Fender Redondo Player has a balanced and well-rounded sound profile that works well for a variety of musical genres. The solid spruce top produces clear, bright treble tones and good note articulation. The mahogany back and sides add warmth and resonance, providing a smooth midrange and nice bass response.

The guitar has impressive sustain and resonance across the tonal spectrum. Many reviewers praise the Redondo Player for its full-bodied and rich resonance that fills the room. It has the balanced tone expected from a dreadnought body, with defined bass, pronounced mids, and shimmering highs.

The Redondo Player has a warm, vintage-inspired voice thanks to its all-solid wood construction. It has the lively and complex tone often associated with all-solid guitars in this price range. The guitar resonates deeply with rich harmonics. While it has a vintage vibe, the tone remains balanced and flexible.

Overall, the Fender Redondo Player lives up to its name with a musical, well-rounded sound. It offers enough tonal colors to handle various musical styles, from country to rock to fingerstyle. The guitar projects well and has satisfying resonance. For an all-solid wood guitar under $500, it punches above its weight tonally.

Playability

The Fender Redondo Player has excellent playability that makes it comfortable and enjoyable to play for long periods.

The neck has a smooth satin finish that feels fast and slick. It has a slim "C"-shaped profile that fits nicely in the hand. The wider nut width provides a bit more spacing between strings, allowing for cleaner fingering and chords.

The laurel fretboard is very playable, with neatly finished medium-jumbo frets. The action out of the box is set up nicely, providing just enough space between the strings and fretboard to allow comfortable playing without buzzing. The action is also adjustable at the saddle and truss rod if needed.

Overall, the guitar feels great to play, both when seated and standing with a strap. The smooth finish, comfortable neck profile, quality fretwork and playable action make the Redondo an acoustic that you can enjoy jamming on for hours without hand fatigue.

Hardware

The hardware on the Fender Redondo Player acoustic guitar is designed for reliability and ease of use.

• Tuning Keys: The guitar features chrome sealed-gear tuning keys that hold tune well and make string changes smooth. The keys have an elegant vintage-style button design.

• Bridge: It has a walnut bridge with a compensated saddle for proper intonation up and down the neck. The bridge transfers string vibration well for balanced tone and sustain.

• Electronics: The Redondo Player comes equipped with a Fishman Presys preamp system with volume and tone control knobs. It has a built-in tuner and delivers amplified tones with plenty of warmth and clarity. The preamp is discreet but offers excellent plugged-in sound.

Durability

The Fender Redondo Player is built to last. The all-solid mahogany body and neck provide strength and stability that can stand up to years of playing. The gloss finish protects the wood from damage during transport and gigging.

Many reviewers mention the guitar feeling solid and sturdy in hand. The neck joint and bridge are both securely attached. Owners report bringing this guitar along to gigs and open mics without worrying about it getting bumped around or knocked over.

Unlike cheaper laminate models, this Fender does not seem prone to issues like the neck warping over time. The quality components and wood should hold up well under string tension and changes in humidity and temperature. While no guitar at this price will have the longevity of a high-end instrument, the Redondo Player has very good build quality for the price point.

Most owners plan to play this guitar for many years. It provides reliable performance night after night, indoors and outdoors. While gigging acoustic guitars are always at some risk of taking damage, the Redondo Player is built sturdily enough to withstand normal wear and tear. This makes it a great choice for working musicians.

Value

The Fender Redondo Player presents an excellent value for players looking for a high-quality acoustic-electric guitar without breaking the bank.

At around $500, it sits in the midrange price point, making it very accessible for intermediate players or pros looking for an affordable gigging or practice instrument. While not the cheapest option out there, the Redondo Player punches above its weight class when it comes to features, tone, and playability.

Compared to similarly priced models from other major brands like Taylor, Martin, or Gibson, the Redondo Player is competitively priced. Models in this range often cut costs on hardware, electronics, or use laminate woods rather than solid tonewoods.

The Redondo Player doesn't cut any corners - it has a solid spruce top, quality Fishman electronics, Grover tuners, and a comfortable neck that rivals more expensive models. Considering everything it brings to the table, it's an excellent value purchase.

The bang-for-your-buck factor makes the Redondo Player a great choice for players who want pro-level features without the premium price tag. While not exactly a budget model, it delivers professional quality and tone at a very reasonable cost.

Alternatives

When purchasing a new acoustic guitar like the Fender Redondo Player, it's worth considering some alternatives in the same price range and style. Here are a few other acoustic guitars to consider before deciding:

Yamaha FG800 - Yamaha is known for making quality acoustics at affordable prices. The FG800 has a nice balanced tone with crisp highs and tight bass response. The playability is very comfortable right out of the box. The downside is the plainer cosmetics, but for pure value this Yamaha is tough to beat.

Epiphone Hummingbird Performer - For those wanting a bit fancier styling, the Epiphone Hummingbird Performer provides ornate pearl inlays with nice visual flair. It has a slightly bigger and more bass-heavy sound compared to the Fender. The midrange tones are quite pleasing on this model.

Seagull S6 Original - This all solid-wood Seagull S6 produces very warm and detailed tones. The cedar top allows for excellent resonance and dynamics. The wider neck may feel too big for some. But overall it's a durable workhorse acoustic that sounds fantastic for the price.

Takamine GD30CE-NAT - For players wanting electronics, the Takamine GD30CE-NAT is a worthy alternative with its preamp and built-in tuner. The cutaway body allows easy access to upper frets. And it produces balanced tones across the frequency spectrum. The downside is a higher cost.

The Fender Redondo Player certainly stacks up well against others in its category and price range. But testing some of these other models can help find the right fit based on your musical needs and budget.

Summary

The Fender Redondo Player acoustics guitar offers a lot of value for its price point. Some of the key pros of this guitar are its bright, balanced tone that works well for various music genres, comfortable neck and body size, and quality hardware such as the Fishman preamp system. The guitar looks stylish with its concert-style body and tortoiseshell pickguard.

Some downsides are that the bass response may not be robust enough for some players, and the laminate construction makes it less lively than a solid wood guitar. However, considering its affordable price tag, the Redondo Player punches above its weight when it comes to features and tone.

Overall, the Fender Redondo Player is an excellent choice for beginner to intermediate level players looking for a versatile, gig-ready acoustic guitar that won't break the bank. It may not have the rich, complex tones of premium solid wood guitars, but it provides impressive quality and playability for its price range. The guitar's stylish looks and comfortable feel also make it a pleasure to play. I would recommend the Redondo Player as a great value option for players looking for their first serious acoustic or a quality gigging guitar.