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  • Fender Classic Design Acoustics: Which One Should You Buy?

    Fender Classic Design (or "CD") series acoustic guitars offer a great range of instruments to suit any player. Matt from Music Junkie talks you through the range!

    1st

    July

    2012
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    Fender are one of the most historic Guitar manufacturers most known for the legendary Strat and Tele however they also do some awesome acoustics which are incredibly popular. The Classic Design or CD series is one of their most popular so lets take a close look.  

    Fender CD60 
    The Fender CD60 is where the the series starts out and what a great guitar too! Now for a first guitar this is a great choice as at £100 is doesn't break the bank but has great build quality sounds great and plays well. The last thing you want in a first guitar is something that is difficult to play and the CD60 is definitely confidence inspiring. The body shape is what we generally refer to as a dreadnought body shape and is one of the most popular body designs for and acoustic because if gives a very even tone with plentiful bottom end with sweet mids and highs.  

    Fender also produce the CD60CE with the 'CE' standing for 'cutaway electro' which as you will notice with all the CD series is the same guitar but features a cutaway which give you access to the higher frets and a pick-up system with tuner so you can plug the guitar into an amplifier and stay tunned up. This does add an element of cost to the guitar but if you see yourself playing live then it's a god send! 

    Fender CD100 – And left handed models 
    The CD100 the next model up and features a satin finish. Although it may seem like a satin finish wouldn't make a difference to the sound however it really does. Now we all love nice shiny guitars however theoretically the less finish on there there the better as the less it will effect the resonance of the guitar. As a result the CD100 feels more resonant in comparison to the CD60.

    Again Fender do the CD100CE with the cutaway and pickup system installed for you gigging guitarists. It is also worth noting the this is the model is the lineup in which Fender provide left handed options in the CD100-LH and CD100CE-LH. The annoying fact for Left handed players is most manufacturers do a limited range for you to chose from but thankfully Fender haven't left you out!

    Fender CD140S
    Now lets check out the CD140S and this is where it starts to get tasty! Fender have chosen to put a Solid Spruce top on this model. With any acoustic instrument the materials used make a massive difference to how the instruments sound. Up-to the CD140S they use laminate woods to make the guitars more affordable however the solid top gives you a really nice rich resonance which is really appealing. Further more when solid tone-woods are used they will get better with age as the wood matures.  

    Again Fender produce the CD140SCE which features the cutaway and also a advanced Fishman Pre-Amp system with some great tonal control with treble, mid and bass eq. You also have the ever useful built in tuner so you'll always be spot on tune.

    Fender CD280S
    Moving onto the CD280S and Fender have opted to change the tone-woods used on the main body of the guitar. The top is the same solid spruce that is favoured in the CD140S however on the back and sides of the body are Rosewood instead of the Mahogany used in the models previously mentioned. Rosewood gives a very rich sound which is ideal for this purpose however it adds a certain element of cost to the instrument.  

    Now when it comes to comparing both the CD140S and the CD280S they both have the same body size and use the same great quality hardware but side by side you when the CD280S just had a really sweet, rich tone which for me stands out as money well spent in the upgrade.  

    Again we have the choice of pick-up and cutaway with built in tuner on the CD280SCE.

    So in conclusion Fender have got great series of guitars here which will suit most people from the seasoned musician to the fist time guitar buyer. And as I always say if you're unsure about which to invest your hard earned cash into then come down to Music Junkie's flagship music store in Leicester and try them out!

    Posted In Acoustic Guitars

    Tagged Acoustic Guitars, Fender Guitars




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