Fender 971752022 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

Fender has been one of the biggest names in electric guitars since the 1950s, but over the past few decades they have also made major inroads into the acoustic guitar market. The Fender Armstrong Hellcat Acoustic is an example of their foray into more affordable acoustic models aimed at a wide range of players.

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat is a dreadnought style acoustic guitar, featuring a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It's an all-laminate construction, which helps keep costs down while still providing good tonal characteristics. The body shape and tonewood combination aims to deliver a balanced and versatile acoustic guitar tone across different styles of music.

As a Fender guitar, the Armstrong Hellcat brings the iconic Fender headstock and style to the acoustic world. It's a guitar designed to handle both stage and studio uses for gigging musicians who need a dependable workhorse acoustic. With its laminate construction and affordable price point, the Hellcat targets beginner and intermediate level players looking for their first serious acoustic or a reliable backup option.

Appearance

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat is a medium depth all-solid acoustic-electric guitar with an elegant appearance. It has a sloped shoulder dreadnought body shape with a satin natural finish that reveals the attractive wood grain.

The top is made of solid spruce, while the back and sides are solid mahogany. This combination of tonewoods produces a balanced and articulate tone. The mahogany neck has a smooth satin finish and the fretboard and bridge are rosewood.

Overall, the Hellcat has a refined and traditional look with its sloped dreadnought body, satin finish, and combination of spruce, mahogany and rosewood. The elegant appearance matches the balanced and articulate sound it produces.

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat acoustic-electric guitar has an attractive and refined appearance that reflects its quality construction and balanced tonal character. The use of solid spruce, mahogany and rosewood contributes to both the visual appeal and resonant sound. The sloped shoulder dreadnought body shape provides a comfortable playing feel in a classic acoustic style.

This guitar's natural satin finish allows the handsome wood grain to show through while giving it a smooth, elegant look. The mahogany neck and fretboard have a similar satin sheen. The combination of spruce, mahogany and rosewood is a tried-and-true formula for great acoustic guitar tone and aesthetics.

Players looking for a beautifully crafted all-solid acoustic-electric with traditional styling will appreciate the Fender Armstrong Hellcat's quality materials, sloped shoulder dreadnought body, and elegant satin finish. It has a refined vintage vibe despite its modern appointments like the cutaway and onboard preamp.

This Fender acoustic guitar has the warmth of mahogany coupled with the punchy articulation of spruce for balanced, versatile acoustic tones. The smooth satin neck and slim profile make it very comfortable and playable as well. See more details on this model here: Fender 0378301565

The Armstrong Hellcat dreadnought is an excellent choice for players who want an elegant, all-solid acoustic with smooth playability, great acoustic sound and the flexibility of plugging in. It has a stylish appearance, quality materials and hardware, and Fender's trusted build quality.

Build Quality

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat Acoustic Guitar features impressive build quality with solid materials and expert craftsmanship. The top is made from solid mahogany which is known for its balanced tone while the back and sides are made from laminated mahogany. This combination produces a guitar that is tonally balanced across the frequency range.

The guitar features a 25.3" scale mahogany neck and 20-fret rosewood fingerboard which feels smooth and comfortable during playing. The nut and saddle are both made from synthetic bone which helps transfer string vibrations efficiently. Chrome Grover Rotomatic tuners do a great job of holding the guitar in tune.

Overall, the attention to detail from Fender's master luthiers is evident in the Hellcat's construction. The all-mahogany body results in great resonance while quality hardware such as the tuners and nut/saddle enhance playability. This is a well-made instrument that feels sturdy and durable. The Hellcat offers impressive craftsmanship and build quality at its price point.

Another acoustic guitar known for its excellent build quality is the Ortega Guitars RCE138SN-L. This guitar features a solid Canadian cedar top with mahogany back and sides, resulting in a beautifully balanced and resonant tone. The neck is also made from mahogany for stability and is attached with Ortega's signature mortise and tenon joint for superior strength. Chrome die-cast tuners help keep this guitar in tune through intense playing sessions while the slim neck profile increases comfort during long practices or gigs. The RCE138SN-L is expertly crafted in Germany with attention to detail that is evident upon first strum. The quality of woods, hardware, and electronics make this an acoustic guitar built to last. Musicians looking for impressive build quality like that of the Hellcat may also want to consider the finely made Ortega Guitars RCE138SN-L.

Sound Profile

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat acoustic guitar produces a balanced and harmonically rich tone, thanks to its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides.

The solid spruce top provides crisp highs and articulate note separation. Spruce is a popular tonewood for acoustic guitars, known for its responsive and balanced tone across the frequency spectrum. It allows the strings to ring out clearly.

The mahogany back and sides add warmth and body to the midrange frequencies. Mahogany has a mellow and rounded tonal quality that complements the bright spruce top. Together, they create a guitar with nice tonal balance - bright but not too bright, warm but not boomy.

The dreadnought body shape allows for impressive projection and volume. It produces a full and deep acoustic resonance. The sound can easily fill a room when playing without amplification. The jumbo frets and smooth neck profile make it comfortable for strumming and flatpicking.

Overall, the well-matched tonewoods and dreadnought body provide excellent tonal balance, warmth, bright treble, and strong projection. It's an acoustic suited for various genres and playing styles. The expansive frequency response allows the guitar's unique voice to shine.

Playability

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat shines when it comes to playability. This acoustic guitar features a comfortable C-shaped neck profile that provides a smooth and familiar feel for most players. The satin finish on the back of the neck allows for fast, fluid movements up and down the fretboard.

The Hellcat's string action is set low and smooth right out of the box, allowing for easy fretting without buzzing. This makes the guitar accessible for beginners, while intermediate and advanced players will appreciate the slinky, fast feel. The action can also be adjusted to suit individual playing styles.

Overall, the Hellcat is a very comfortable guitar to play. Its modest body depth and beveled cutaway provide good access to the upper frets, while the contoured backstrap and forearm contour maximize playing ease. The rounded fretboard edges prevent discomfort during long practice or gigging sessions. Whether strumming chords or playing intricate lead lines, this Fender is built for playability.

Electronics

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat comes equipped with Fishman Sonitone electronics, which include an undersaddle piezo pickup and simple preamp with volume and tone controls. The pickup aims to accurately capture the natural acoustic sound of the guitar, with the preamp providing some basic shaping of the tone.

Plugged in, the Hellcat produces a balanced and mellow amplified tone. The lack of EQ makes it difficult to get a wide tonal variance, but the overall sound is pleasant and clear. The volume knob provides a good amount of headroom, allowing you to get a loud amplified signal without distorting. The tone knob rolls off some high end and allows you to dial in a warmer or brighter response.

While rudimentary, the Sonitone electronics offer effective plug-and-play amplified performance for the occasional coffee shop gig or jam session. Those needing more sophisticated EQ or electronics may find the preamp limiting, but it fits the price and design of this mid-level acoustic-electric. The undersaddle piezo accurately conveys the Hellcat's woody resonance and balanced tone when plugged in.

Pros

• The Hellcat offers a rich, balanced tone with sweet highs, pronounced mids, and tight lows that provides excellent versatility across musical genres.

• The solid spruce top produces excellent resonance and volume projection, allowing the guitar to be heard over accompaniment while retaining warmth and clarity.

• The mahogany back and sides provide depth and character to the sound. The combination of spruce and mahogany offers a balanced tonal palette.

• The slim neck design with smooth satin finish increases playability and allows for easy fretting and chord changes up and down the neck.

• The bone nut and compensated saddle provide excellent intonation and sustain.

• The die-cast tuners keep the guitar in tune reliably during performances and practice sessions.

• The streak free and high gloss custom finish looks sleek and modern. The Hellcat stands out aesthetically from more traditional acoustic guitar designs.

• Lightweight and comfortable to play with good upper fret access thanks to the cutaway design. The Hellcat is an excellent gigging and practice instrument.

• Comes with a deluxe padded gig bag for safe transportation and storage. Provides protection for a working musician's investment.

Cons

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat has a few limitations to be aware of:

• The wider nut width (1.72 inches) may be uncomfortable for some players with smaller hands who are used to narrower nut widths. It takes some adjustment to get used to the spacing of the strings.

• The bass frequencies can sound somewhat muddy at times, lacking definition. Strumming chords, especially in the lower registers, can sound a bit loose and indistinct.

• Higher notes on the treble strings can sound slightly brittle and zingy. There is a metallic edge to the tone that may be less than ideal for some players.

• The finish scratches and dings relatively easily, so care must be taken to avoid cosmetic damage if this is a concern. The guitar may show signs of wear more quickly than some.

• The electronics and EQ are basic, without the ability to sculpt the amplified tone as precisely as some players may like. It's a simple one band EQ and lacks a built-in tuner.

• Volume and tone controls are located on the upper side of the guitar, which can require some contorting to adjust on the fly. Side-mounted controls aren't as convenient as traditional bottom-mounted knobs.

• The wider nut and heavier bass emphasis limit the guitar's ability to handle delicate fingerstyle playing with clarity and articulation. It leans more towards aggressive strumming.

Overall the cons are minor and many players will find them perfectly acceptable. But the Hellcat does have limitations in finish durability, tonal refinement, and its electronics that some buyers should be aware of.

Ideal User

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat Acoustic Guitar is best suited for intermediate and professional level players looking for a versatile acoustic-electric instrument. While beginners may find the wider neck and heavier gauge strings more challenging to play, the Hellcat rewards more seasoned guitarists with its bold acoustic tone and quality amplified sound.

More specifically, this guitar will appeal to those wanting a folk-style acoustic guitar that can still project in live performances. The solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides produce a rich, detailed acoustic tone. This makes the Hellcat a great choice for singer-songwriters and musicians playing Americana, blues, country, and rock. The built-in Fishman preamp and pickup system provide excellent amplified tone and feedback resistance. So it's also ideal for gigging musicians who want the acoustic sound with the flexibility of plugging into an amp or PA system.

The wider nut width and low action facilitate complex fingerstyle playing, while the 12th fret neck joint provides excellent upper fret access. So fingerpickers and lead players will enjoy exploring up the neck. The durable all-mahogany construction can withstand energetic strumming as well, appealing to rhythm guitarists. Overall, players looking for quality acoustic sound and versatility in a durable and gig-ready package will find their ideal match in the Fender Hellcat.

Value

The Fender Armstrong Hellcat is an excellent value acoustic guitar in its price range of around $600. While not the absolute cheapest guitar, it provides very good sound quality and playability for an all-solid wood guitar made in Mexico.

For many players, the Hellcat will be worth the price due to its resonant solid spruce and mahogany body, comfortable neck profile, and impressive electronics. The build quality and attention to detail are higher than many lower-priced imports.

There are certainly cheaper acoustic options on the market, but many compromise on sound quality with laminate wood construction. The all-solid wood Hellcat provides better sustain and resonance.

Shoppers could also consider the Taylor Big Baby or Martin LX1 for similarly appointed all-solid wood options around the $600 mark. However, neither of these models include onboard electronics like the Hellcat.

Overall, the Hellcat provides an excellent intersection of quality materials, construction, electronics, playability, and tone at a mid-range price point. For players looking for a gig-ready acoustic electric with classic looks and great sound, the Hellcat is absolutely worth the investment.