Fender 970115021 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Fender CD-60S is an entry-level acoustic guitar from Fender's California Series. As a dreadnought-style acoustic, it delivers a balanced tone and comfortable playability suitable for beginners and intermediate players.

This guitar features a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The combination produces warm lows, bright highs, and balanced mids. The dreadnought body shape projects the tone well, making this a nice choice for both solo practice and jamming with others.

The CD-60S has a natural satin finish that lets the solid wood construction resonate freely. The slim neck profile and smooth satin finish on the back make it a comfortable guitar to play for long periods. While not loaded with premium appointments, it delivers reliable performance and classic acoustic tone at an affordable price point.

Construction and Design

The Fender CD-60S is an acoustic guitar with a solid mahogany top combined with laminated mahogany back and sides. This gives the guitar a rich, warm tone with good projection.

The body has a classic dreadnought shape that provides a balanced and comfortable playing feel with a waist that is easy to hold onto. The guitar has a nice rounded bottom bout that sits well on the leg.

The neck is made of mahogany with a "C"-shaped profile that is comfortable to grip and allows smooth playability across the fretboard. The fretboard itself is constructed of walnut with 20 frets and pearloid dot inlays. The wider nut width of 1.6875" adds room for fingerpicking and intricate chord voicings.

Overall, the materials and construction of the CD-60S are designed for good resonant tone, stability, and an enjoyable playing experience. The all-mahogany body provides warm, pleasing sounds while the fretboard offers smooth playability.

The Fender CD-60S acoustic guitar is an excellent choice for players looking for a well-made, affordable dreadnought model. It delivers rich, balanced tone with its all-mahogany body construction. The comfortable neck shape and smooth fretboard make it very playable as well. Fender has designed this guitar to provide warm, resonant acoustic tones in a classic dreadnought design that feels great to play. For the musician on a budget who wants reliable performance, the Fender AUS-0371812038-COMBO-STD is an outstanding option to consider.

With its solid mahogany top and laminated mahogany back and sides, this guitar produces pleasing sound across the tonal spectrum. The all-mahogany construction provides a balanced, warm, resonant tone. The dreadnought body shape projects the sound outward nicely. Together, these design elements deliver rich acoustic tones.

In addition to great sound, the CD-60S offers very comfortable playability. The smooth C-shaped mahogany neck allows for easy chord changes and fretting. The walnut fretboard further enhances smooth playability. And the wider 1.6875" nut width gives a nice bit of extra room for fingerpicking and complex chords. Overall, the construction and materials make this an acoustic that feels great to play for extended periods.

For guitarists shopping on a budget, the Fender CD-60S delivers impressive performance and quality at an affordable price point. The all-solid wood construction and classic body shape provide excellent value. This is a reliable, consistent acoustic guitar perfect for beginners and intermediate players alike. For warm, balanced tone and comfortable playability, the CD-60S is hard to beat.

Sound and Tone

The Fender CD-60S produces a balanced, warm sound with good projection thanks to its solid spruce top. Though it's one of Fender's more affordable models, the all-mahogany back and sides provide a rich, full-bodied tone you would expect from a higher-end instrument. The spruce and mahogany pair nicely to deliver a dynamic range across the tonal spectrum - the crisp highs of the spruce balanced out by the warm low end of the mahogany. It's a great option for players looking for an affordable workhorse acoustic with classic tonewoods to handle anything from strumming chords to fingerstyle playing. The dreadnought body shape helps project the sound outward, allowing it to cut through when played alongside other instruments. While it may not have the complex harmonics of premium tonewoods like rosewood or maple, the CD-60S punches above its weight with impressive sound for its class.

The CD-60S is an excellent choice for beginners or experienced players looking for a quality, budget-friendly acoustic. The solid spruce top provides bright, detailed tone that opens up nicely as the guitar is played in. The all-mahogany back and sides offer a balanced, well-rounded sound with nice low-end punch. Together, these tonewoods deliver great resonance and sustain. The neck has a comfortable C-shape that facilitates chord changes and riffs up and down the fretboard. The slim neck profile is easy for smaller hands to grasp as well. The guitar stays in tune reliably thanks to its dual-action truss rod and quality hardware. While it doesn't come with fancy appointments, the CD-60S nails the basics with its sound, playability and construction. For more details, check out this in-depth review: Fender 0373453550

Playability

The Fender CD-60S has a comfortable C-shaped neck profile that accommodates many different hand sizes and playing styles. The neck has a smooth satin finish which allows for fast, slick movement up and down the fretboard.

The action on the CD-60S is set quite low from the factory, which makes it easy to press the strings down without excessive finger effort. This can make it easier for beginners to learn on. The low action also lends itself well to fingerstyle playing.

The frets are medium-jumbo size which gives them a bit more height for bending strings and applying vibrato. The fret ends are smoothly finished and don't have any sharp edges that can irritate your hand during long practice sessions. The nut and saddle are synthetic bone which provides crisp note definition.

Overall, the playability of the CD-60S is very good for an acoustic in this price range. The comfortable neck, low action, and quality fretwork come together to make this a guitar that's enjoyable to play.

Hardware

The Fender CD-60S CE comes equipped with die-cast chrome enclosed tuning machines. These provide precise and stable tuning, ensuring the guitar stays in tune even during long practice sessions or live performances.

The nut and saddle are made from synthetic bone, which is durable and smooth. This results in low friction, allowing the strings to glide effortlessly along the nut slots and over the saddle. Synthetic bone also has a similar acoustic resonance to natural bone, providing optimal vibration transfer and lively tone.

The bridge is made from laminated hardwood with a compensated saddle. The sturdy construction prevents buzzing or rattling. The compensated saddle properly intonates each string, maximizing the guitar's intonation accuracy across the fretboard. This results in chords sounding pure up and down the neck.

Overall, the hardware components are thoughtfully designed for playability, stability and bright acoustic resonance. Players can rely on the Fender staying in tune through jam sessions, gigs and daily practice routines.

Electronics

The Fender CD-60S features an easy-to-use and beginner-friendly electronics package. It has a Fishman preamp system with an under-saddle pickup that helps accurately capture the guitar's natural acoustic tone.

The under-saddle pickup placed under the bridge allows the guitar to be plugged into an amplifier or PA system. It produces a balanced and rich amplified tone similar to the guitar's unplugged sound.

The preamp has volume and tone controls that allow you to shape and optimize the amplified sound. The volume knob controls the overall output level, while the tone knob lets you dial in more bass or treble as desired. This gives you versatility when plugging into different sound systems.

The onboard preamp and pickup system make the CD-60S stage-ready right out of the box. It's easy to get amplified acoustic tones dialed in without much fuss, which is ideal for beginner guitarists who want to occasionally plug in. The electronics offer solid performance without adding much complexity.

Pros

The Fender CD-60S is known for its warm, balanced tone that punches above its price point. The all-mahogany body and neck produce a rich, full sound with excellent sustain. Though an entry-level model, the CD-60S has impressive resonance and projection thanks to its hand-sanded X-bracing.

The slim neck profile with smooth satin finish is comfortable and easy to play, even for smaller hands. The guitar feels very lightweight and portable as well. Intonation stays reliable up the neck, and the action is set low and buzz-free from the factory.

This acoustic is an excellent choice for beginners thanks to its playability and classic dreadnought sound. The bundled gig bag, strap, picks, and tuner provide everything needed to start playing right away. Overall, the Fender CD-60S delivers impressive quality and reliability at an accessible price point.

Cons

The Fender CD-60S is an excellent entry-level acoustic guitar, but it does have some drawbacks to consider:

• The sound projection is just decent and it lacks the loud, booming sound of more expensive guitars. It's suitable for personal practice and jamming with friends, but may struggle to be heard in a full band setting.

• The laminated construction makes it more durable, but lacks some resonance compared to solid wood guitars. The tone is a bit duller and less complex.

• The factory setup often needs adjustments to reach optimal playability. Many users have to lower the action for comfortable fretting, particularly on the higher frets.

• Hardware like the tuning pegs are just adequate, and may need to be upgraded for solid tuning stability. The bridge pins are also plastic and prone to cracking.

• There are some complaints about fret edges being a bit sharp on the neck. The fretwork could be smoother and more polished.

• The preamp/electronics are very basic and add minimal tonal shaping compared to higher-end models. The EQ controls are limited.

Overall the Fender CD-60S is highly playable for the price, but those wanting more projection, richer tone, and higher build quality may need to spend more. It's ideal for new players, but not pro-level performance.

Alternatives

The Fender CD-60S is a great beginner acoustic guitar, but there are some other similar options worth considering as alternatives:

• Yamaha FG800 - Yamaha's FG800 is another top beginner acoustic. It has a solid spruce top, Nato back and sides, and a rosewood fretboard. The FG800 produces a balanced tone and plays smoothly. It's an affordable option under $200.

• Epiphone DR-100 - For those looking for a dreadnought style body, the Epiphone DR-100 is a good choice. It has a select spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The DR-100 has a full dreadnought sound with good volume and bass response. It's a bit more affordable than the CD-60S.

• Fender FA-115 - Another great entry-level dreadnought from Fender is the FA-115. It has a laminated spruce top with basswood back and sides. The tone is balanced and warm. The FA-115 comes in under $200, so it's one of the most budget-friendly models.

• Jasmine S35 - For those on a very tight budget, the Jasmine S35 delivers surprising quality and playability for under $100. It has a laminated spruce top with agathis back and sides. The tone and volume may not match more expensive models, but it's great for new players.

Summary

The Fender CD-60S is one of Fender's most popular and affordable dreadnought acoustic guitars. It features a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, which provide a balanced and well-rounded tone. The slim neck profile and low action make it an accessible instrument for beginners and smaller-handed players.

While it doesn't have the richest tones or finest appointments of Fender's more expensive models, the CD-60S punches above its weight class when it comes to quality and playability. The Fishman electronics give it stage-worthy plugged-in tones as well. This workhorse acoustic is ideal for everything from practice to performance.

Overall, the Fender CD-60S is an excellent choice for an affordable, quality dreadnought acoustic. While it may leave some connoisseurs wanting more, it excels at being an easy-playing, great-sounding, lifetime companion for amateur players. For those looking to buy their first serious acoustic or get a beater guitar for travel, the CD-60S deserves strong consideration. Its combination of playability, reliability and resonant tone make it a benchmark in the sub-$200 price range.