Fender CD-60S AUS-0961281021-COMBO-PRO Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

Overview of the Fender CD-60S

The CD-60S is an entry-level dreadnought acoustic guitar from legendary American guitar manufacturer Fender. As part of Fender's affordable CD 60 series, the CD-60S combines traditional Fender build quality and sound with a budget-friendly price point.

This guitar features a solid spruce top with scalloped X bracing for bright, balanced tone. The back and sides are made from mahogany laminate. The neck is also mahogany with a "C"-shaped profile that's comfortable for both chording and soloing. The CD-60S has a 25.3" scale length and a nut width of 1.69" - measurements optimized for playability.

Overall, the CD-60S is an excellent choice for beginners, intermediate players, and working musicians looking for an affordable workhorse acoustic. While not as fancy as Fender's premium offerings, it retains some hallmarks of the brand, like quality hardware and electronics. The spruce and mahogany body produces balanced tone suitable for various music genres.

Construction

The Fender CD-60S dreadnought acoustic guitar features an all-mahogany body and neck for warm, balanced tone. The top is made from laminated spruce, which provides a nice crisp tone with good volume and projection.

The guitar has a strong build quality thanks to its all-solid wood construction. The mahogany used for the back and sides gives the guitar some extra durability and protection against dings. The spruce top is less prone to cracking over time than a solid spruce top would be.

The neck is also made from mahogany, which provides stability and reduces the chance of warping. It has a smooth satin finish that makes it comfortable to play. Overall, the materials and construction allow this guitar to produce nice full-bodied tones while still being an affordable, well-built instrument.

The all-mahogany body and neck contribute to the warm, balanced tone of the Fender CD-60S. Mahogany is known for its strong midrange focus that complements the bright sparkle from the laminated spruce top. Together, these tonewoods provide a versatile sound across different styles of playing.

The neck is also mahogany, which gives it stability and durability. Since mahogany resists warping, the neck should maintain its integrity over years of playing. The smooth satin finish on the back of the neck enhances playability by allowing fast, comfortable movement up and down the fretboard.

In terms of construction, the CD-60S has an X-bracing pattern inside the body. This helps with projection and volume, allowing the guitar to be heard well when playing live. The bridge pins and fretwire are both chrome, contributing to the modern, sleek aesthetics.

While not as fancy as their high-end models, Fender's budget-friendly acoustics like the Fender 378002506 CD-60S still benefit from the company's decades of guitar-making experience. The all-solid wood construction gives it durability and full sound. Overall, it's a great option for beginners looking for their first serious acoustic guitar.

Sound

The Fender CD-60S dreadnought acoustic guitar produces a balanced, warm tone that projects well without being overly bright or boomy. The all-mahogany construction provides a mellow midrange focus with pleasant sustain and resonance.

The solid mahogany top contributes to the guitar's rich, darker voice. Mahogany generates a smooth, rounded tone with excellent note definition. While not as crisp and bright as spruce, the mahogany top offers full low-end, pronounced mids, and clear treble.

The guitar's dreadnought body shape allows for booming bass and strong projection. The large body provides impressive volume and sustain, filling a room with ease. The CD-60S has a powerful voice that maintains clarity during strumming and single-note melodies.

Overall, the Fender CD-60S delivers a balanced tone focused on the mids and lows. The all-mahogany construction produces pleasing sustain and resonance. It's a great choice for players looking for an affordable dreadnought with a warm, rounded sound.

If you're searching for a quality, budget-friendly dreadnought acoustic guitar, be sure to check out the Fender 0370125557. This all-mahogany dreadnought guitar produces a rich, balanced tone perfect for all styles of music. The solid mahogany top contributes to the warm, mellow voice while the large dreadnought body allows for excellent projection and bass response. Players praise the Fender 0370125557 for its easy playability, quality construction, and great value. It's an ideal choice for beginners and intermediate players looking for an affordable workhorse acoustic. With its versatile sound, comfortable feel, and reasonable price point, the Fender 0370125557 is tough to beat.

The Fender 0370125557 dreadnought acoustic guitar features a solid mahogany top, back, and sides. Mahogany is known for its strong mids, smooth sustain, and overall balanced tone. This all-mahogany construction helps produce the guitar's signature warm, rounded voice. The mahogany top specifically contributes to the rich lows, pronounced midrange, and clear treble. While mahogany may lack the shimmer of spruce, it provides excellent note separation and definition.

In terms of construction, the Fender 0370125557 utilizes a dovetail neck joint for optimal transfer of string vibration and tone. The guitar has a 25.3" scale length and 20-fret rosewood fingerboard for comfortable playing feel. Die-cast chrome tuners provide accurate and reliable tuning stability. A smooth satin finish allows for easy, fast playing while reducing finger squeaks. Overall, the Fender 0370125557 is a well-crafted instrument designed for quality sound and performance.

When it comes to accessories, the Fender 0370125557 comes with everything needed to start playing right out of the box. It includes a padded gig bag for safe transport and storage. An Austin Bazaar instructional DVD provides beginners with a great introductory learning tool. You also get picks, strings, digital tuner, polishing cloth, and strap. Overall, the Fender 0370125557 bundles must-have accessories for new players at an affordable price.

If you want a great all-around dreadnought acoustic but don't want to break the bank, check out the Fender 0370125557. This mahogany guitar produces balanced tone and impressive volume perfect for all styles. With quality construction, bundled accessories, and budget-friendly price, the Fender 0370125557 is an excellent choice for new and intermediate players. Order yours today to enjoy rich, resonant acoustic tone without spending a fortune.

Playability

The Fender CD-60S features a neck made of laminated hardwood with a smooth satin finish. The neck has a comfortable C-shaped profile that provides good control over the strings without feeling too bulky or too thin.

The action on the CD-60S right out of the box is very playable, with the string height measuring about 3/32" off the 12th fret on the high and low E strings. This is optimal for beginner and intermediate players, allowing smooth chord changes and fretting without buzzing. The action can also be easily adjusted at the bridge saddle if needed.

The frets are medium-jumbo sized for comfort when holding down notes and chords. The ends of the frets are smoothly finished with no sharp edges. Overall the fretwork is well-done, providing very clean notes across the fretboard. There are no issues with uneven frets or buzzing.

Hardware

The Fender CD-60S dreadnought acoustic guitar features quality hardware that enables stable tuning and great playability.

Tuning Machines

The CD-60S has sealed chrome tuning machines with smooth turning performance. They hold tuning reliably even during heavy playing sessions. The tuning machines have a classic look that matches the vibe of the guitar.

Bridge

It has a synthetic bone saddle and bridge made of laminated hardwood. The material combination allows for precise intonation while still transferring string vibration well. The saddle and bridge are set and angled optimally for great acoustic tone.

Nut and Saddle

The nut width of 1.69 inches provides comfortable room for fingerstyle playing while still being manageable for chording. Both the nut and saddle are engineered with the proper height and spacing for buzz-free playing across the fretboard. The nut material helps notes ring clearly.

Electronics

The Fender CD-60S utilizes a dynamic, onboard pickup system to deliver its acoustic tone. This system consists of a single-coil under-saddle piezo pickup paired with an active preamp powered by a 9V battery.

The piezo pickup is located beneath the saddle of the bridge. As the strings vibrate, they transmit their vibrations through the saddle to the pickup, which converts them into an electronic signal. This helps produce a balanced and natural acoustic tone.

The preamp provides volume and tone shaping controls, allowing you to shape your amplified tone to taste. It features easy-accessible volume and tone control knobs located just inside the soundhole. The volume knob controls the overall output level, while the tone knob lets you adjust the EQ from warm and rounded to bright and crisp. This gives you versatility for different playing styles and performance settings.

Overall, the electronics onboard the CD-60S give you plug-and-play functionality for amplifying your acoustic tone in live and recording situations. The controls are intuitive and provide a robust toolset for sculpting your amplified sound. Whether practicing at home or performing live, the electronics onboard this guitar make it very stage- and studio-friendly.

Versatility

The Fender CD-60S acoustic guitar is a versatile instrument well-suited for a variety of musical genres and playing styles. Its dreadnought body shape produces a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, allowing it to adapt to both strumming chords and picking melodies.

The CD-60S works well for playing folk, country, rock, pop, and even some blues. Its all-mahogany construction gives it a mellow and warm voicing perfect for accompanying vocals or playing rhythm. It has enough projection to be used in jam sessions or live performance settings. The cutaway body also provides access to upper frets for soloing.

Fingerstyle players will appreciate the comfortable neck, low action, and balanced tone of the CD-60S. It's an excellent choice for playing intricate picking patterns up and down the fretboard. The responsive strings and slim neck profile allow for speed and fluidity.

Whether you're a songwriter looking for a go-to acoustic for composing, a weekend warrior jamming with friends, or a new player seeking a versatile first guitar, the CD-60S is a reliable choice suitable for most playing applications. Its classic dreadnought sound, playability, and affordable price make it a versatile option for guitarists of all levels and styles.

Pros

• The Fender CD-60S has an impressive warm, balanced and articulate tone, especially for a guitar in this price range. Many players are pleasantly surprised by the rich sound that projects well.

• The mahogany neck and laminated mahogany body produce a classic, full-bodied dreadnought sound. There's good bass, vibrant mids and clear treble.

• The guitar feels very comfortable and playable. The neck has a smooth satin finish and the body shape fits nicely against the player.

• It stays in tune well even during aggressive strumming. The chrome tuners help keep the strings taut and stable.

• The eye-catching looks match Fender's classic aesthetic. The tortoiseshell pickguard and binding give it some stylish flair.

• Comes fitted with quality Fender strings and is set up from the factory with good action and intonation. It's ready to play right out of the box.

• The compact dreadnought body style is comfortable for smaller players but still provides full and punchy projection. An excellent choice for kids too.

Cons

The Fender CD-60S has a few notable downsides to consider before purchasing.

• The intonation out of the box may be slightly off. Some customers report needing to adjust the bridge saddles to properly intonate the guitar after purchase. This is not uncommon for instruments in this price range.

• The satin finish, while attractive, may dent or chip more easily than a guitar with a gloss finish. Be prepared to see some minor cosmetic wear over time with the softer satin.

• The neck joint allows some visible glue around the heel. This is only a cosmetic issue and does not affect playability. Those wanting a super clean look may find it unsightly.

• The lower bout lacks scalloping or contours, which can make higher fret access slightly awkward. The tradeoff is a stronger bracing system.

• The tuners are serviceable but upgrading to higher quality tuners can further improve tuning stability.

• There is no cutaway, limiting upper fret access. Those wanting to play a lot of solos may find the lack of a cutaway restrictive.

• The electronics allow plugging into an amp but lack the richness and detail of a higher end acoustic-electric. It gets the job done for simple needs but don't expect studio mic'd quality.

Value

The CD-60S AUS provides excellent value for a dreadnought acoustic guitar in the sub-$200 price range. Though inexpensive, it does not feel or sound cheap. The all-laminate construction keeps costs down while providing good resonant tone from the large dreadnought body.

Compared to guitars in a similar price range from Fender's Squier brand or Yamaha's FG series, the CD-60S AUS holds up very well. It may lack some of the high-end appointments and electronics found in more expensive Fender models, but for a beginner or budget-focused player, this guitar delivers where it counts.

The combination of Fender's trusted build quality and brand reputation, along with the projecting tone and comfortable feel of the CD-60S AUS, make this an appealing choice for new players. More advanced guitarists may want to upgrade down the road, but this dreadnought acoustic can cover a wide range of musical genres and playing applications. Overall, this guitar provides excellent bang-for-buck that outclasses other instruments at the same low price point.