Fender CP-60S 970120021 Acoustic Guitar: Full Review

The Fender CP-60S is an all-solid wood dreadnought acoustic guitar that provides incredible sound quality at an affordable price point. Part of Fender's Classic Design series, it features a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides that produce a balanced tone with crisp highs and tight lows. The dreadnought body shape projects loud and proud while the 25.3" scale mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard make it easy and comfortable to play. Whether you're a beginner looking for your first serious acoustic or a seasoned player that wants great Fender sound without breaking the bank, the CP-60S is an excellent choice that outperforms its price tag.

Appearance

The Fender CP-60S has a classic, traditional dreadnought body shape that's become the staple for many acoustic guitars. This provides a balanced and full tone, with plenty of projection thanks to the large body size.

The CP-60S comes in an attractive natural gloss finish that lets the solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides shine. The natural look enhances the vintage vibe of the guitar, fitting for its traditional design. While only one finish option is available, the natural gloss is a sound choice that will appeal to most players looking for a classic acoustic guitar.

The tortoise-style pickguard and vintage-style rosette around the soundhole provide some visual interest to the front of the guitar. Overall, the CP-60S has a timeless look and feel with its traditional dreadnought shape and natural gloss finish.

Another popular dreadnought acoustic guitar is the Applause Traditional AB24CS-4S. This model also features a classic dreadnought body shape for balanced full tones. It has a spruce top with mahogany back and sides, similar to the Fender CP-60S. However, the Applause AB24CS-4S comes in more finish options like sunburst, black, and vintage burst. This allows players to choose a look that best fits their style. The AB24CS-4S also has a 3-piece back for enhanced durability. While the CP-60S likely has a great build quality, the 3-piece back indicates excellent craftsmanship and structural integrity on the Applause model. Both guitars have timeless dreadnought designs, but the finish options and build features like the 3-piece back set the Applause AB24CS-4S apart.

Build Quality

The Fender CP-60S is an all-solid wood acoustic guitar, featuring a solid spruce top paired with mahogany back and sides. This combination produces a balanced tone that is well-rounded and clear. The build quality is excellent, as expected from Fender's US-made acoustic guitars. The spruce top is cleanly bookmatched with no irregularities in the grain. The mahogany back and sides have an attractive semi-gloss finish. There are no visible glue spots or other blemishes.

The neck is also made from mahogany and has a smooth satin finish that feels great. The fretwork is very good, with no sharp edges on the frets. The tuners are open-gear style and keep the guitar well in tune. Overall, the materials and hardware used on the CP-60S are high-end and built to last. The all-solid wood construction means this guitar should open up and improve with age. It's clear a lot of skilled workmanship went into this instrument.

Another quality all-solid wood acoustic in a similar price range is the Donner DST-100S. It features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, just like the Fender. The Donner also has a mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. The build quality is quite good for the price, although not on the same level as the US-made Fender. The Donner does an excellent job with its craftsmanship considering it's made in China. The spruce and mahogany tonewoods give it a balanced sound, though perhaps not as refined as the CP-60S.

When comparing the build quality between the Fender and Donner, the Fender clearly comes out ahead. The wood selection, attention to detail, and quality control of the US-made Fender is superior. However, the Donner DST-100S punches above its weight class considering its lower price point. For those on a tight budget, the Donner represents an excellent value in an all-solid wood acoustic. While it can't match the Fender in craftsmanship, it does deliver quality materials and good attention to detail for the price.

Sound

The Fender CP-60S acoustic guitar produces a balanced, well-rounded tone thanks to its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides construction. The spruce top provides brightness and clarity, while the mahogany adds warmth and sweetness to the sound.

This guitar projects very nicely, which is great for live performances or if you need to be heard over other instruments. The larger lower bout helps push the sound outwards so it's not all trapped under the guitar.

Sustain is also quite impressive for a guitar in this price range. The notes ring out for a satisfying length of time after being picked or strummed. The quality build and woods allow the vibrations to resonate instead of immediately damping out.

Overall, the CP-60S delivers a rich, full-bodied acoustic tone with excellent projection and sustain. The blend of spruce and mahogany offers a versatile sound that works for various music genres and playing styles. It's a very capable workhorse acoustic that punches above its weight class tonally.

Playability

The Fender CP-60S features a comfortable C-shaped mahogany neck that provides a smooth feel. The rosewood fingerboard has a 12" radius and medium jumbo frets, allowing for easy chord changes and fast lead lines.

The action on this model is set nice and low from the factory, making it very playable right out of the box. Many reviewers report the action being perfect for their playing style without any buzzing. This is helped by the sturdy truss rod that allows you to fine tune the neck relief as needed.

The wider 1.75" nut width provides a roomy feel that accommodates fingerstyle playing. Overall, the CP-60S offers excellent playability that both beginners and experienced players will enjoy. The comfortable neck profile, low action, and smooth frets create an acoustic that feels great to play for extended periods.

Electronics

The Fender CP-60S comes equipped with Fishman Presys electronics featuring an undersaddle piezo pickup and preamp system with built-in tuner. This provides clear and balanced amplified tones comparable to the natural acoustic sound.

The undersaddle pickup accurately captures the guitar's resonance and dynamics. There are controls for volume and tone which allow you to shape the amplified sound to your liking, with a 3-band EQ giving additional control over bass, mid and treble frequencies.

It has a built-in chromatic tuner which can be easily accessed with the press of a button, allowing for convenient tuning. The tuner works well and is accurate.

The output jack is located just below the controls on the side of the lower bout, providing a connection for amplifying the guitar with an external amp or PA system. It produces a balanced mono signal while retaining the nuances of the guitar's natural acoustic tone.

Overall the electronics allow you to amplify your sound evenly and naturally while giving you the ability to shape your tone as needed. The onboard tuner is very handy for quick and accurate tuning.

Pros

• The Fender CP-60S has a classic, timeless look with its all-solid mahogany body and quality construction that you expect from Fender's California Series.

• The tonewoods produce a warm, balanced sound with nice sustain and resonance. The mahogany gives it a rich low end, while the spruce top provides crisp highs.

• It plays very smoothly up and down the neck thanks to its comfortable C-shaped neck profile and smooth rosewood fingerboard.

• The onboard Fishman preamp gives you control over the EQ and volume, allowing you to shape your amplified tone.

• Overall, the CP-60S punches above its price point in terms of looks, build quality, sound, and playability. It's an excellent entry-level acoustic-electric for the money.

Cons

• The Fender CP-60S is on the expensive side for an acoustic guitar in its class. While the quality and tone are excellent, the price tag puts it out of reach for more budget-minded players.

• The electronics and preamp are fairly basic and may leave some players wanting more control and customization options. The 2-band EQ provides essential tone shaping, but some players will miss having a tuner, notch filter, or feedback control.

• Those looking for more intricate ornamental appointments may find the CP-60S a bit plain in terms of visual flair. The simple rosette and fretboard inlays keep the focus on the sound, but players who want more “eye candy” have more ornately decorated options.

• The mid-size concert body isn't as boomy and bassy as a jumbo or dreadnought. While excellent for versatility, players specifically wanting a deep low-end thump may prefer a larger body shape.

• Natural finish models like this one will show wear, nicks, and scratches more easily over time. Those wanting their guitar to look pristine for stage or studio use may need to be more careful.

Alternatives

Here are some other entry-level acoustic guitar models to consider as alternatives to the Fender CP-60S:

Yamaha FG800 - The Yamaha FG800 dreadnought acoustic guitar has been a popular choice in the entry-level category for decades. It offers a solid spruce top, Nato back and sides, and rosewood fretboard for good value. It has a nice balanced tone and good playability. A great option in this price range.

Ibanez PF15ECE - If you like the smaller body size of the Fender CP-60S but want an alternative, take a look at the Ibanez PF15ECE. It has a mahogany top, back and sides with a mahogany neck for a warm, balanced tone. It comes equipped with a built-in tuner and pickup for plugging into an amplifier. The cutaway body allows easy access to upper frets.

Epiphone DR-100 - Another dreadnought option is the Epiphone DR-100. It features a select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and rosewood fretboard. The tone is balanced with good projection. A very good starter model for learning on an affordable budget from this well-known brand.

Alvarez Artist Series AD60 - The Alvarez AD60 has a spruce and mahogany body with a satin finish for an attractive look. It produces a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum. Alvarez guitars are known for quality craftsmanship and the AD60 delivers as a nice alternative.

Conclusion

The Fender CP-60S is an excellent beginner acoustic guitar that punches above its weight class. Though it has a lower price point, it doesn't compromise on tone or playability.

The spruce top and mahogany back and sides produce a balanced, warm tone that works well for any style of music. It's comfortable to play thanks to the slim neck profile and smooth satin finish. The onboard electronics give you flexibility for plugging into an amplifier or PA system.

Overall, the CP-60S combines quality construction with great sound in an affordable package. If you're a new guitarist looking for a versatile, easy-playing acoustic, the Fender CP-60S is a top recommendation worth checking out. While not a professional-grade instrument, it provides fantastic value for the price.