Fender 0971722106 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

Fender is one of the most iconic guitar brands, known for making high-quality instruments with classic styling. The Fender 0971722106 is an acoustic-electric guitar that exemplifies the Fender brand's reputation.

This dreadnought guitar features a solid spruce top paired with mahogany back and sides. The classic body shape produces balanced tone and good projection. The 0971722106 comes equipped with a Fishman preamp and pickup system for plugging into an amplifier or PA system.

Overall, Fender's 0971722106 delivers traditional dreadnought sound and aesthetics along with stage-ready amplified tones. This acoustic-electric is an excellent choice for guitarists who want classic Fender style and versatile electric capabilities.

Body & Neck

The Fender 0971722106 acoustic-electric guitar features a slim dreadnought body shape made from solid mahogany, which gives it a balanced and well-rounded tone. Mahogany is a dense, strong wood that emphasizes the midrange frequencies, providing punchy mids and strong projection. The neck is also made from mahogany, with a smooth satin finish that makes it very comfortable and fast to play. It has a standard 25.3" scale length and narrow 1 11/16" nut width, with 20 frets and a modern 9.5" radius for easy chord changes and bends. The slim C-shaped neck profile is great for players with smaller hands.

Overall, the all-mahogany body and neck give this guitar a rich, earthy tone and comfortable feel that make it versatile for various music styles. The shape and finish are designed for playability and durability. While mahogany is a popular choice for acoustic guitars, there are other wood options like spruce and cedar that produce brighter, livelier tones. Mahogany tends to sound warmer and more subdued. For players looking for more sparkle and crisp highs, the Pyle PEAG99 is a more affordable option featuring a laminated spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The combination of spruce and mahogany creates a nicely balanced tone. The PEAG99 has a classic dreadnought shape with a wider nut width and radius for comfortable full chord shapes. The X-bracing provides good projection and volume. Overall it delivers good bang for your buck if you're seeking an acoustic guitar with more articulation and treble cut through. While it won't match the richness and nuance of a solid wood instrument, it makes a great entry level choice.

Electronics

The Fender Acoustic-Electric Guitar comes equipped with a Fishman pickup and preamp system that provides excellent amplification and versatility.

The guitar has a Fishman Presys Blend pickup with volume and tone controls mounted just inside the soundhole for easy access. This gives you the ability to blend between the mic and pickup signal to achieve your desired amplified tone. The Presys Blend combines the crisp, clear sound of the undersaddle piezo pickup with the warmth and nuance of the condenser microphone.

There is also a built-in tuner with LED indicators that makes tuning quick and hassle-free. The tuner can be easily accessed by pressing a button located on the preamp control panel.

Overall, the electronics setup on this guitar allows for great amplified acoustic sound and flexible tone shaping right at your fingertips. The blend system gives you a wide range of tonal options, from bright and articulate when using more pickup to warm and resonant when blending in more mic. And the tuner ensures you can keep the guitar in tune without needing any extra accessories.

The Fishman electronics provide natural acoustic amplification that retains the true unplugged sound of the guitar. Many acoustic-electric guitars use piezo pickups which can sound harsh and artificial when amplified, but the Presys Blend combines the piezo pickup with a microphone to capture a more balanced and authentic acoustic tone.

If you're looking for another quality acoustic-electric guitar option, check out the Gretsch G5700 2515902548. Gretsch is known for making classic hollow and semi-hollow electric guitars, but they also produce excellent acoustic instruments. The G5700 has a comfortable single-cutaway body shape with a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It comes equipped with a Fishman Sonicore pickup and Presys preamp system, just like the Fender. This allows for the same great amplified acoustic sound with microphone and piezo pickup blending.

The Gretsch G5700 has a smooth and balanced acoustic tone with plenty of warmth and richness. It handles amplification very well and retains the true acoustic sound when plugged in. The Fishman electronics provide excellent versatility for shaping your amplified tone. And with the single-cutaway body style, the G5700 is comfortable for playing up the neck.

Both the Fender and Gretsch acoustic-electrics are great options if you want a guitar capable of natural amplified acoustic sound. The Fishman pickup and preamp systems allow you to sculpt a balanced tone whether playing plugged in or unplugged. And they retain the true sound of the guitar when amplifying, unlike many piezo-only systems. So check them out if you want an acoustic guitar with excellent electronics and amplification capabilities.

Having versatile electronics is an important consideration when shopping for an acoustic-electric guitar. You want the ability to shape your amplified tone to suit different musical scenarios. The Fishman Presys Blend system on this Fender model provides an excellent blend of acoustic nuance and amplified clarity.

Other top acoustic-electric guitar brands like Ibanez also offer great electronics options. Ibanez often uses Fishman preamps and pickups on their higher-end acoustic-electrics. Models like the Ibanez GRGM21BKN have rich Fishman electronics that enable both stage-ready plugged-in tones and natural unplugged sound.

When testing out acoustic-electrics in the shop, make sure to plug into an amplifier to evaluate the amplified sound. Toggle through the blend and EQ options while playing to get a feel for the tonal versatility. The guitar should sound balanced and full when plugged in, without excessive quackiness on the low end or shrill highs.

Pay attention to the preamp controls as you play unplugged as well. Things like the tuner should be easily accessible without too much hassle. Reaching the battery compartment and changing out the battery is another aspect to check.

While electronics shouldn't drive your entire buying decision, having flexible and responsive amplification is a big plus for acoustic-electrics. The Fender model featured here delivers professional-quality plugged-in and unplugged tones thanks to the trusted Fishman electronics. This allows you to use the guitar in diverse live and studio scenarios where both types of sounds are needed.

Sound & Tone

The Fender 0971722106 Acoustic-Electric offers a well-balanced tone profile that's versatile for various music genres. The solid spruce top produces bright, crisp highs with good resonance and sustain. The mahogany back and sides add warmth and fullness to the midrange frequencies, providing a balanced EQ.

When unplugged, this guitar has a rich, full acoustic voice. It's capable of bright shimmery tones when strummed, while fingerstyle playing brings out the low-end warmth. The Fishman preamp gives you control over the EQ when plugged in. You can boost the bass and treble to shape the tone to your liking. The undersaddle piezo pickup accurately reproduces the guitar's natural acoustic voice.

Overall, this Fender offers a great balance of articulate highs and strong low-end, suitable for strumming chords or intricate fingerpicking. The electronics provide flexibility if you need more brilliance or bass response for live performances or recordings. While not as loud as a jumbo acoustic, it provides satisfying unamplified volume for practice and small gigs.

Playability

The playability of the Fender Acoustic-Electric is one of its standout features that makes it appeal to a wide range of players.

The neck has a comfortable "Modern C" profile that feels great in your hand. It's not too chunky but still substantial enough for solid grip and control. The satin finish on the back of the neck allows for smooth sliding up and down the fretboard.

The fretboard itself is made of rosewood which provides a very nice balance of smoothness yet still enough texture for your fingers to grip. The fretwork from the factory is impressive with no sharp edges to cause discomfort.

The factory setup on this model has a nice low action that makes chords and solos very comfortable to play, especially for a guitar in this price range. Strumming and picking are effortless without buzzing. Overall the playability right out of the box is fantastic.

Between the comfortable neck profile, smooth rosewood fretboard, and low action, the Fender Acoustic-Electric excels in terms of playability across different playing styles. The ease of playing makes this guitar appealing for everyone from beginners to more advanced guitarists.

Hardware

The Fender Acoustic-Electric Guitar features quality hardware that enables smooth, reliable performance.

Bridge

This guitar has a synthetic bone saddle and compensated synthetic bone nut. The compensated nut helps improve the guitar's intonation by evening out the string lengths. The synthetic materials reduce friction and allow the strings to glide smoothly. Overall, the nut and saddle components help transfer vibrations efficiently from the strings to the body of the guitar for optimal resonance and sustain.

Tuners

The headstock is outfitted with chrome sealed-gear tuners that do an excellent job of holding the guitar in tune. The gears turn smoothly for precise and accurate tuning adjustments. The sealed design prevents contamination from dust and debris to ensure long-lasting performance.

Strap Buttons

There are two secure strap buttons - one at the bottom bout and one at the neck heel. They allow easy, stable attachment of a strap for playing comfort when standing. The strap buttons are sturdy and have a low profile that doesn't get in the way while playing.

Comfort & Ergonomics

The Fender 0971722106 acoustic-electric guitar features a comfortable and ergonomic design. The body shape is well-balanced and contoured for playing ease.

The guitar has a nice lightweight feel to it, weighing in at just over 7 lbs. This makes it comfortable for both seated and standing playing positions, without feeling too heavy or causing fatigue even after prolonged playing sessions.

The neck has a smooth satin finish that makes it easy to glide up and down during chord changes or soloing. It feels natural to grip and doesn't stick to your hands. The wider nut width provides a roomy feel that accommodates both smaller and larger hands.

The cutaway body style allows easy upper fret access. You can easily reach those high notes without straining your wrist at awkward angles. This adds to the overall playability and comfort.

The smooth contours, light weight, and thoughtfully designed neck come together to create a very comfortable and ergonomic acoustic-electric guitar that feels great to play.

Versatility

The Fender 0971722106 acoustic-electric guitar is well suited to a wide range of musical genres and playing styles thanks to its versatile sound and smooth playability.

The slim neck and comfortable body shape make this an easy guitar to handle whether you're strumming chords or playing intricate fingerstyle melodies. It works great for folk, country, rock, pop, blues and more. Both amateurs and professionals will find this to be a highly adaptable guitar.

The classic dreadnought body produces a balanced and full tone. You can dial in everything from bright, jangly tones to deep bass resonance. This tonal flexibility lets you craft diverse sounds - from driving rhythms to intricate arpeggios.

The built-in preamp and tuner provide the convenience to plug into an amplifier or PA system. You'll love the natural amplified tones, allowing you to jam with drums and other loud instruments. Unplugged, this guitar still maintains excellent projection and sustain.

Overall, the Fender 0971722106 is a versatile acoustic-electric that excels in multiple musical scenarios. Its great feel and adaptable sound cater to songwriters, performers and hobbyists alike.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Classic, iconic Fender shape and styling
• Laminated spruce top produces bright, balanced tone
• Fishman electronics provide natural acoustic amplification
• Easy to play neck with smooth satin finish
• Lightweight and comfortable to play while standing up
• Versatile for playing many musical genres

Cons

• Not a full solid-wood guitar, so some limitations on tone
• Electronics can feedback at higher volumes
• Less projection than higher-end acoustic-electrics
• Only 20 frets limits upper note range
• Not as customizable as other acoustic-electrics

Conclusion

The Fender Acoustic-Electric Guitar is a great option for players looking for versatility and ease of use. Its slim neck profile and comfortable body shape make it a joy to play unplugged or plugged in. The onboard electronics sound natural and let you amplify your acoustic tone at the push of a button.

Overall, this guitar punches above its price point in terms of quality and features. The laminated mahogany top produces balanced tone across the frequencies, while the Fishman preamp gives you refined amplified sound. Hardware and electronics are road-worthy for gigging musicians.

For acoustic players who sing and want to amplify their guitar live, or anyone seeking an accessible electro-acoustic with classic Fender looks, the Fender Acoustic-Electric is easy to recommend. It packs professional features into an affordable package. This guitar covers a lot of musical ground, from songwriting to jamming live. For versatile acoustic tone at a wallet-friendly price, check out the Fender Acoustic-Electric Guitar.