A colleague of ours recently quipped, “Fender makes acoustic guitars? Why am I just learning this now?”
Fender is synonymous with the Telecaster and the Stratocaster, and electric guitars in general. Since these electric guitars are so legendary and have received such worldwide acclaim, it is easy to overlook the fact that Fender is a leader in guitar manufacturing for both electric and acoustic guitars.
Fender started making acoustic guitars in the 1960s, a full decade after introducing the world to the first commercially available solid-body electric guitar; the Telecaster.
Having conquered the realm of electric guitars and starting a revolution in music that would span the globe. Fender knew the next step was to start showing their stuff with their own acoustic guitars.
There were some ups and downs after much initial success. By the 1980s, Fender had basically stopped producing acoustic guitars. But as the 90s rolled around nostalgia and the consumers penchant for vintage-styles of all things musical, aided Fender and their acoustic guitars roared back onto the scene.
Seeking to capitalize on their reputation as a “California cool, laid-back” company Fender went to work establishing some of the old classics alongside newer series that offered style and substance in a way only the company could. One such beauty that Fender produced is the…
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Fender CD 140SCE Acoustic-electric Guitar
Made with all the attention to detail, craftsmanship, and excellence that Fender has repeatedly demonstrated. This guitar rivals any full-sized acoustic guitar available today.
If you are just as amazed as our friend that Fender makes acoustic guitars, we’d like you to join us as we have a look at the Fender CDS-140SCE acoustic-electric guitar…
The Body
This guitar features rosewood sides and back. Rosewood produces big, warm tones that are full of body where the high-end rolls off smoothly.
The finish is a beautiful transparent Gloss that allows the grain and natural reddish hue of the rosewood to be on full display. An aesthetically pleasing guitar with just the rosewood alone, Fender didn’t stop there.
Building on the rosewood sides and back, Fender used solid spruce for the top. Most acoustic guitars feature spruce tops because they are very rigid and offer balance, definition, and warmth to the sound. Spruce tops also help to reduce overtones, make the sound more focused, and enhance the sustain of the guitar.
The complete tone could easily be called robust, thanks to the combination of a rosewood body with a spruce top. None of the frequencies are dull, nor do they overpower in the mix.
The spruce top comes in a Natural Gloss finish that is a creamy white. It contrasts nicely to the reddish-brown appearance of the rosewood body.
The Fender CD-140SCE is a dreadnought shaped acoustic. This means it is a full-size guitar that has lots of presence and volume. Dreadnoughts are usually crisp-sounding. There is always a pleasant ring to even the lowest of notes.
Dreadnoughts are great for finger-picking styles due to their tonal balance and crisp character. But, this shape is also great for pretty much any style of play or musical genre.
The single cutaway design means easier access to the higher frets and a greater range of playability. The tortoiseshell pickguard finishes of the look of a stylish and classic appearance.
The Neck
Fender has outfitted this guitar with a solid mahogany neck. It is sturdy, strong, and smooth. Mahogany is known for its warm tones, so by matching this type of neck with the rosewood and spruce body, you get really nice sounding reverberation and a richly balanced palate of sound.
The neck features a rosewood fretboard with rolled edges to make your playing slick and comfortable.
With Fender’s “Easy-to-Play” neck design, the action up-and-down the neck is quick and effortless. This helps to make the CD-140SCE an ideal guitar for beginners, and agile pros as well.
Hardware
Fender uses Graph Tech for the nut and the bridge saddle. Graph Tech is a polymer that is as close to actual bone as you can get. This material works to enhance clarity, sustain, and natural resonance of the strings in tandem with the tonewoods’ natural textures.
Strong and dependable, the Graph Tech nut and bridge saddle ensure more dynamic response and greater accuracy with intonation.
The Pickup
Fender pulled no punches when it came to the pickup. The pickup on this guitar is a Fishman Prosys preamp. This is one of the most popular acoustic guitar pickups you will find. The Fishman Prosys pickup adds more variety to how you can shape the sound but doesn’t sacrifice any of the natural tone, resonance, or richness in sound.
This pickup features independent controls for bass, mid, and treble frequencies. There is a phase button that allows you to play with the sound by producing a slightly out of phase signal that lays under the main signal and creates a colorful sound that is like having extra reverb added in.
With a built-in tuner and dedicated volume control, this guitar is ready for on-stage performances that shine and shimmer.
Final Thoughts On The Fender CD-140SCE Acoustic-electric Guitar
It is kind of funny how little people know about Fender acoustic guitars. They are exceptionally well-crafted, as you would expect from a Fender. Their sound is lush and full, and the quality behind the construction you know is always top-notch.
This guitar is very much a Fender. It is durable, versatile, and ready for anything you can throw at it.
Fender makes work-horse electric guitars, and they have translated that work-horse mentality to their acoustic guitars as well. It is also quite amazing to see a Fender guitar of any model for this price.
We almost forgot to mention this guitar comes with a hard-shell case, so you know is it safe and secure when not being played.
The quality in construction, sound, tone, and adaptability coupled with an affordable price tag makes the Fender CD-140SCE acoustic-electric guitar a real catch.