Fender CD-60 0970110221 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

to the Fender CD-60 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

The Fender CD-60 is an affordable and high quality dreadnought acoustic guitar for beginners and intermediates. Part of Fender's Classic Design series, the CD-60 offers great looks and an impressive sound at a reasonable price point. This all-laminate dreadnought has a bold, resonant voice that projects well and is equally suited to strumming chords or fingerpicking melodies. With its traditional shape and stylish appointments, the CD-60 delivers classic Fender vibe and tone. An excellent choice for new players or anyone looking for a inexpensive workhorse acoustic.

Construction

The Fender CD-60 features a solid spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck. The top is known for its bright tone while the back and sides add warmth and character to the sound. Solid tops are the preferred choice for most acoustics in this price range as they offer better resonance and projection compared to laminate tops.

The mahogany neck provides stability and durability. Mahogany is a dense tonewood that helps produce clear notes with good sustain. The neck joins the body at the 14th fret in a smooth heel-less transition for easier access to higher frets.

Overall, the combination of a solid spruce top with mahogany back, sides, and neck offers a well-balanced tone and playability at an affordable price point. The all-laminate construction makes the guitar lightweight yet durable for players of all levels.

Another popular acoustic guitar in this price range is the Epiphone PPAG-EAFTVSCH3. This model features a select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and a mahogany neck. The tapered headstock provides good string tension and tuning stability. It has a rosewood fingerboard and bridge for crisp highs and pronounced lows.

The Epiphone PPAG-EAFTVSCH3 produces a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum. The spruce top offers brightness while the mahogany back and sides provide warmth. It has a smooth satin finish on the neck for comfort during long practice or jam sessions. An adjustable truss rod allows you to fine tune the neck relief as needed.

This acoustic guitar comes equipped with a Shadow ePerformer preamp system. It has a built-in tuner and EQ controls for shaping your amplified tone. The under-saddle pickup captures the guitar's natural acoustic tone. You can plug into an amplifier or PA system for live performances or recording applications.

The hardware includes chrome die-cast tuning machines, a plastic nut and saddle, and a pinned rosewood bridge. The tuning machines keep the strings in tune well. The nut and saddle are serviceable if needed. The pinned bridge provides solid anchoring of the strings.

In terms of construction, the Epiphone PPAG-EAFTVSCH3 is an all-laminate guitar as opposed to having solid wood tops. However, the laminates are layered and pressed wood so they provide reliable structural integrity at this price point. The smooth gloss finish gives the guitar an attractive look.

Overall, the Epiphone PPAG-EAFTVSCH3 is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate players looking for a quality, affordable acoustic-electric guitar. It has impressive features and electronics for stage use. The classic tonewood combination delivers balanced acoustic tone. This guitar provides solid value for money.

Sound Quality

The Fender CD-60 delivers a balanced, clear and resonant acoustic tone that punches above its price point. The all-laminate construction provides good projection and sustain.

The bass response is surprisingly rich and full-bodied for a guitar in this range - there's plenty of warmth thanks to the dreadnought body shape and well-braced top. Low end is present without being boomy or muddy.

The midrange tones are focused and articulate. Strumming and fingerpicking have a crisp attack while chords ring out with clarity. There's enough bite on single note runs to cut through a mix.

Treble tones have sparkle and sweetness without sounding harsh or brittle. High notes come through with definition and nuance. The guitar captures the textural details well from aggressive strumming to delicate fingerpicking.

Overall the CD-60 has a very balanced tone profile that works well for various styles of playing. It has enough low-end power for rhythm work and enough clear mids and treble for melodic playing and leads. The warm yet vibrant sound projects pleasingly when playing live or recording.

The Fender CD-60 acoustic guitar delivers impressive sound quality and playability at an affordable price point. This makes it an ideal choice for beginner and intermediate level players looking for a well-built dreadnought acoustic with classic Fender tone and styling. Some key features that enable the great sound include the laminated spruce top, mahogany back and sides, scalloped X bracing, and smooth satin finished neck. This combination results in a balanced, resonant and projecting tone profile that works for various playing styles. It has enough crisp highs, focused mids, and full low end to handle both rhythmic and lead playing. The hardware is also solid quality with chrome sealed tuning machines and a compensated saddle for intonation. Overall the Fender CD-60 punches above its weight class for sound, making it one of the best values in entry level acoustics. For those seeking great Fender acoustic tone on a budget, be sure to check out the Fender HIGHWAYDREADNATRW.

Playability

The Fender CD-60 has a comfortable and fast-playing neck with an easy-to-hold C shape profile. The neck is constructed from nato wood and has a standard scale length of 25.3 inches.

The string action on the CD-60 is quite low and fast right out of the box, making it very playable for guitarists of all skill levels. Both the nut width and neck width are very comfortable as well. There have been a few reports of high action from the factory, but this can usually be easily adjusted by a guitar tech.

The medium jumbo frets on the CD-60 are finished nicely and provide a smooth feel during bends and chords. The fret ends are rolled for comfort. Most users find the fretwork quality to be excellent at this price point. Overall the neck shape, string action, and fretwork come together to make the CD-60 a very playable, beginner-friendly acoustic guitar.

Hardware

The Fender CD-60 comes equipped with reliable hardware that delivers great functionality for an acoustic guitar in this price range.

The tuning machines are open-gear with vintage style buttons. They hold tune well and make string changes relatively smooth. While fancier tuning machines are available on more expensive models, these get the job done.

The bridge is a laminated hardwood saddle bridge. It's a simple design, but it intonates properly and meshes well with the body of the guitar. The compensated saddle helps improve intonation accuracy.

The nut is made from a synthetic bone material. It has a standard 1.687" width and proper string spacing for an acoustic guitar. The slots are pre-cut for proper action and playability.

The saddle is also synthetic bone. It works adequately with the laminated bridge to transfer vibrations from the strings to the top of the guitar. The break angle over the saddle promotes even tonal response across the strings.

Overall, while simple, the hardware components Fender chose for the CD-60 are functional and reliable. They provide good playability without driving up the cost. Upgrades could enhance the guitar, but what comes standard gets the job done.

Electronics: Crisp Tones from Quality Components

The Fender CD-60 acoustic guitar utilizes a Fishman preamp system that includes an undersaddle transducer and soundhole-mounted preamp. This combination produces clear, balanced tones across the tonal spectrum.

The undersaddle pickup accurately captures the guitar's natural acoustic resonance and projection. The signals are then sent to the preamp's 3-band EQ, which allows you to shape the bass, midrange, and treble frequencies. There is also a tuner and phase switch built into the preamp.

Overall, the Fishman electronics provide excellent amplification and let you fine-tune your amplified tones. The components are high-quality and add versatility without compromising the CD-60's inherent acoustic sound. Whether playing live or recording in the studio, this system gives you the flexibility to craft your ideal acoustic guitar tones.

Finish Options

The Fender CD-60 dreadnought acoustic guitar is available in several attractive finish options to suit different tastes and styles.

The most common finish is the natural satin finish which allows the wood grain to show through in a smooth low-luster way. This is a great option for those who like the natural aesthetic of an acoustic guitar.

There are also some nice burst finishes available on the CD-60 which feature a sunburst pattern. These include a tobacco sunburst with a brownish-red center that fades to black edges, as well as a natural burst option that fades from brown to yellow. The bursts add some visual flair to the guitar.

For something more eye-catching, the CD-60 comes in a gloss series with colors like cherry, azure blue, honey burst and crimson red transparent. The gloss finish gives it a bright shiny look that makes the guitar pop on stage.

Other unique finishes include a black semi-gloss finish that gives an understated elegance and a surf green semi-gloss with an aquatic vibe. There are lots of great options to give your CD-60 some personality.

Fender offers enough finish varieties with the CD-60 to appeal to players of many styles. The different colors and gloss choices allow you to express yourself through your instrument.

Pros

• The Fender CD-60 offers great value for the money. It's an affordable entry-level dreadnought acoustic guitar that still provides solid construction and impressive sound.
• The top is made from laminated mahogany which gives a balanced and well-rounded tone across the tonal spectrum. The mahogany helps accentuate the low end while also providing clear and articulate mids and highs.
• The neck is constructed from nato which is a strong and stable wood that plays very smoothly. The neck profile is comfortable for both chording and lead playing.
• The action and playability right out of the box is impressive for a guitar at this price point. The setup allows beginners to play comfortably while also providing experienced players a guitar that's fun to pick up and jam on.
• Hardware includes die-cast chrome tuners and a synthetic bone nut and saddle which help keep the guitar in tune and enhance sustain.
• The body binding and rosette give the CD-60 some nice visual flair that punches above its price class in terms of looks and design.
• Comes with a limited lifetime warranty to original owners, providing peace of mind that any manufacturing issues will be addressed.

Cons

The Fender CD-60 is an excellent entry-level acoustic guitar with impressive sound and playability for the price point. However, there are some shortcomings to consider.

• The use of laminated wood rather than solid wood can affect resonance and tone, especially over time. While the sound is still quite good, solid wood models will offer more richness and depth.

• The hardware is very basic - covered tuning machines and a compensated saddle. Upgraded hardware could provide smoother tuning and enhanced sustain.

• The electronics and preamp are also fairly rudimentary. The tone from the undersaddle piezo pickup is just adequate. Those wanting more natural amplified tone may need to install an aftermarket pickup.

• The fit and finish, while decent, is not as refined as more expensive models. Little aesthetic touches are lacking.

• The dynamic range is also limited compared to premium acoustics. It doesn't project extremely loud or soft.

• The CD-60 is made in China rather than North America or Japan. The craftsmanship meets the price point but is not at the highest level.

While these factors are understandable for the affordable price tag, they do represent compromises versus high-end acoustics. Upgrading key components could help improve sound and playability over time.

Conclusion

The Fender CD-60 is an excellent entry-level dreadnought acoustic guitar that delivers impressive sound quality and playability at a very affordable price point. Its laminated mahogany top produces a balanced, warm tone while the mahogany back and sides add resonance and sustain. The neck has a smooth satin finish that makes it very comfortable to play. Hardware includes chrome die-cast tuners and a compensated saddle for intonation, both of which perform reliably.

In terms of drawbacks, the CD-60 does use laminated wood rather than solid wood construction, so it doesn't quite have the complex harmonics of premium guitars. The action may also require a setup by a guitar tech on some models straight out of the box. However, considering the low price tag, these are understandable tradeoffs.

Overall, the Fender CD-60 presents amazing value for a beginner looking to buy their first serious acoustic guitar or for intermediate players seeking an affordable beater guitar. The classic dreadnought body style and Fishman electronics give it stage-worthy projection. While not the most nuanced acoustic tone, it has impressive volume and resonance that can hang with more expensive models. For the money, the CD-60 is tough to beat and easy to recommend.