Fender CD-60S 961596221 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Fender CD-60S is an entry-level dreadnought acoustic guitar that combines traditional looks with modern playability. Part of Fender's Classic Design series, the CD-60S features a stylish duplex bridge and die-cast tuning machines that provide great stability and ease of tuning. With its solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, maple neck and walnut fingerboard, this guitar produces balanced tone and resonance. While not as fancy looking as Fender's more expensive models, the CD-60S delivers classic dreadnought sound in an affordable package. An ideal choice for acoustic guitarists on a budget, it provides warm, full-bodied tone and comfortable playability.

Appearance

The Fender CD-60S has the classic dreadnought body shape that Fender is known for, featuring a nice curvy waist and graceful lines. The body is made of laminated mahogany which gives it an attractive wood grain appearance.

The CD-60S comes in several great looking finish options. The natural and sunburst finishes showcase the wood grain of the mahogany laminate beautifully. There is also a classy black finish and a striking mahogany burst finish. The gloss urethane finish is smooth and durable. Overall the appearance options of the CD-60S offer players a choice between natural wood beauty or elegant colored finishes.

Another popular acoustic guitar known for its beautiful appearance is the Cordoba 6 C5-CE CD. This guitar features a hand-inlaid rosette and ebony appointments that give it an elegant and refined look. The solid Canadian cedar top has a rich amber color that produces a nice visual contrast against the mahogany back and sides. The satin polyurethane finish allows the natural beauty of the tonewoods to shine through. This lightweight guitar is comfortable to play and hold while also being a real head turner. If you're looking for an acoustic with striking visuals to match its impressive sound, the Cordoba 6 C5-CE CD is an excellent choice.

Both the Fender CD-60S and Cordoba 6 C5-CE CD are attractive, well-crafted acoustic guitars. The Fender offers classic dreadnought looks with different finish options to suit player preferences. The Cordoba has a more ornate appearance with detailed inlays and a smooth satin finish. The visual aesthetics of a guitar, though not as crucial as the sound and playability, are still an important consideration for many players. Personal taste in appearance may draw a player towards the elegant refinement of the Cordoba or the familiar vibe of the Fender. Either way, both of these guitars deliver on good looks and great sound.

Build Quality

The Fender CD-60S dreadnought acoustic guitar features a solid mahogany top, back, and sides, which gives it a balanced and well-rounded tone. The all-mahogany construction makes this an extremely resonant and vibrant sounding acoustic.

The hardware on the CD-60S is excellent quality for an acoustic in this price range. The bridge and fretboard are made from quality rosewood, providing crisp and clear notes across the fretboard. The nut and saddle are synthetic bone, which helps transfer string vibrations efficiently.

The fit and finish on this Fender acoustic is very good. The neck joints and body bindings are smoothly cut and fitted. The satin finish gives the mahogany a smooth, velvety feel and appearance. From the pearl dot inlays to the gloss headstock, it's clear attention was paid to the details on the CD-60S.

Overall, the all-solid mahogany build gives the CD-60S excellent resonance and sustain. The hardware, fit, and finish exceed expectations for a sub-$200 acoustic and make this a very playable and reliable guitar. If you're looking for an affordable, quality acoustic guitar, the Angel Lopez EC3000CN is also an excellent option to consider in this price range. It features a solid cedar top with mahogany back and sides, giving it a lush, warm, and balanced tone. The neck has a comfortable C-shape profile that's easy to play. It comes equipped with a quality preamp and built-in tuner for amplified performances. The craftsmanship and attention to detail on the EC3000CN is fantastic, with intricate abalone rosette inlays and smooth gloss finish. While the Fender CD-60S is an excellent choice, the Angel Lopez EC3000CN matches it on build quality and sound at a similar affordable price point. Be sure to check it out as another quality option when shopping for a great sounding and playing acoustic on a budget.

Sound Profile

The Fender CD-60S produces a balanced, warm sound with clear notes across the tonal spectrum thanks to its solid mahogany top. Mahogany provides a mellow bass response and sweet, smooth mids and highs. The use of laminated wood rather than a solid wood top helps control unwanted boominess that can sometimes occur with mahogany dreadnoughts.

The back and sides are also mahogany, which further enhances the warm, rich tones. There's enough crispness in the treble to avoid sounding dull or muddy. It's not an overly bright or jangly sound, but an excellent balanced acoustic tone for playing chords and fingerpicking.

The CD-60S projects well when played unplugged thanks to the large dreadnought body shape. It's a full, rounded tone with good bottom end. The mahogany body gives it a vintage, organic flavor fitting for blues, rock, country and more. Overall it's a pleasing, versatile acoustic guitar tone at this price point.

Playability

The Fender CD-60S features a comfortable, slim C-shaped neck that makes chord changes and lead runs a breeze. The nut width comes in at a respectable 1.69 inches, providing enough room for advanced chord shapes without feeling too wide for smaller hands.

The action out of the box is set reasonably low for an acoustic, measuring about 3/32" on the treble side and 5/32" on the bass side. This allows easy fretting and lets the strings ring clearly with little excess effort required to press them down. While some may want the action a bit lower for their playing style, most will find it very playable as-is.

The medium jumbo fretwire has ends that extend slightly over the edge of the fretboard, providing a smooth transition up and down the neck. The fret ends are smoothly finished and don't have any sharp edges that can irritate hands during long practice sessions. Overall the frets feel very polished and professional.

Intonation up and down the neck is accurate thanks to Fender's skilled luthiers. Chords ring true all across the fretboard with no dead spots or uneven spacing. The nut slots are cut just right so each string seats properly in its groove.

Hardware

The Fender CD-60S has quality hardware that enhances its playability and sound. The tuners are open-geared chrome with vintage-style knobs that hold the strings in tune reliably. The nut and saddle are made from synthetic bone which provides a smooth feel on the strings and contribute to the overall bright, articulate tone of the guitar.

The bridge is also noteworthy - it's made of solid rosewood which gives it a clean look that fits the overall traditional dreadnought aesthetic. The material and construction allow it to transfer vibrations efficiently for excellent resonance and sustain. Some guitars in this price range cut costs with a cheaper compensated plastic saddle but the CD-60S has an uncompensated bone saddle. This helps produce a more organic, warm tone.

Overall the hardware complements the solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides to deliver great playability straight out of the box. The tuners, nut, saddle, and bridge are thoughtfully designed and well-made.

Electronics

The Fender CD-60S features a durable Fishman preamp and pickup system that delivers excellent amplified sound across genres. The Fishman Presys preamp and pickup system includes an under-saddle pickup, soundhole mounted preamp with easy-to-use volume and tone controls, and a built-in tuner.

The under-saddle pickup captures a balanced and natural amplified acoustic tone, while the preamp provides clear volume boost without distortion or feedback. The tone controls allow shaping the EQ for fingerpicking, strumming, singing, or soloing. The tuner is highly visible and makes tuning fast and convenient.

Overall, the Fishman electronics equip the CD-60S with professional plug-and-play amplified performance for gigs, open mics, recording, and practice. The preamp and pickup are thoughtfully designed for versatility across playing styles.

Pros

• The Fender CD-60S has a classic, attractive dreadnought body shape that looks great on stage or in the studio. Many reviewers loved the compact but comfortable size.

• It has a solid spruce top which provides crisp, balanced tone. The mahogany back and sides also add warmth and resonance to the sound.

• Most users found the tone to be bright and articulate. The mahogany helps add some richness and bass to balance out the crisp treble from the spruce top.

• The neck has a smooth satin finish that makes it very comfortable and easy to play. It feels great in your hands even during longer practice or gigging sessions.

• The action and playability right out of the box get high marks from many owners. It's easy to play barre chords and complex runs up and down the neck.

• Tuning stability is excellent, according to many reviews. It does a great job staying in tune even during heavy strumming or aggressive playing.

• It has a Fishman pickup and preamp system, which reviewers say does a nice job amplifying the guitar's acoustic tone. The EQ controls allow you to shape the amplified sound.

• Considering the affordable price point, most feel the CD-60S punches above its weight in terms of build quality, playability, and sound. It's an excellent value.

Cons

The Fender CD-60S is an excellent entry-level dreadnought acoustic guitar for the price, but it does have some drawbacks that more advanced players may notice.

• The action may be too high for some players' preferences, making it more difficult to fret notes and play complex chords. Adjusting the action usually requires professional setup.

• Like many budget acoustic guitars, it can be prone to intonation issues up the neck. Notes may sound slightly out of tune higher up on the fretboard.

• The guitar's laminated top means it doesn't quite have the full, open resonance of solid wood guitars. The tone is a bit muted compared to premium models.

• The tuners work decently but can have issues holding tuning over time. Upgrading to higher-quality tuners may be desired.

• The electronics and preamp are functional but thin-sounding. The preamp lacks the richness of discrete preamps.

• The plastic nut and saddle don't quite provide the resonance and sustain of bone or tusq options. Replacing them can enhance the tone.

• The CD-60S lacks the midrange punch and defined highs of all solid wood guitars. The sound can be somewhat "muddy."

• Like many dreadnoughts, the large body can accentuate bass notes and cause muddiness. This may not suit all playing styles.

Overall, the Fender CD-60S cuts some corners to meet its affordable price point, but still provides very good value as a budget full-size acoustic. Upgrading some components can help extract more nuance and tone over time.

Conclusion

The Fender CD-60S is an excellent entry-level dreadnought acoustic guitar that punches above its weight class. Though it has a budget-friendly price tag, its impressive sound, playability and overall quality make it a great choice for beginner and intermediate players alike.

The mahogany neck and laminated mahogany top give the CD-60S a balanced, warm and full tone. It has a rich and resonant sound that projects well, allowing it to hold its own when jamming with others. The playability is also smooth and comfortable thanks to its slim neck profile and low action.

Overall, the CD-60S offers fantastic value by delivering pro-level tone and playability at an accessible price point. While the use of laminate instead of solid wood does have some impact on sound quality and dynamics, it's a necessary trade-off to hit this price range. For those looking to buy their first serious acoustic or a reliable backup guitar, the CD-60S is easy to recommend. Its quality and performance exceed expectations. This is a guitar that can be enjoyed for years even as playing skills progress.