As far as I’m concerned, Yamaha owns the budget acoustic market. I’ve rarely found one that didn’t impress. I’d buy a Yamaha over a Fender any day. Just my 2 cents.
I have an older Yamaha F310 - a very cheap guitar, yet I would recommend it without hesitation to people who want to learn to play. Mine has a lot of visual flaws from the factory, but it plays very well, and can handle some abuse as well.
Agreed Yamaha has standards beyond so many other mid priced Acoustics. I’ve owned many Yamahas. I now have the honor of owning a handcrafted hand built LS36. Absolutely a masterpiece. OK I’m bragging sorry.
Yep. Had one person push me towards Fender, but every other person (including music teachers) said "Yamaha". Still can't play worth beans, but I own 3 that sound good, look purty and are eminently playable. Plus are very affordable.
A very simple solution would be to bring back the “Squier” name on cheap acoustics (like the FA-135, CD60) and start manufacturing “Fender” acoustics in Mexico with Martin and Taylor. Also, adopt a singular headstock shape and use the same logos as on the electric guitars. Boom, Fender’s acoustic concerns are solved. I will be sending them an invoice for this consultation.
I have the PD-220E and am extremely happy with it. I am exclusively a finger-style player and find it to be super responsive with a well balanced sound and great action.
Was heavily involved in this project for Fender. Glad to see it getting some love. Fender Acoustic have had some home runs over the years, but the challenge was always fighting the perception that they could be perceived as anything but a budget line. A dilemma not shared on the electric side or the business. This project was a ton of fun, tons of passionate experienced acoustic folks. The result was wonderful. Cool little corner of brand DNA.
Tell me something if possible, why did you guys decided to put the strap pin in that location? Sure it’s more electric guitar like, but I have to say I really dislike it visually. It just seems wrong on a acoustic.
Hey man. Thank you people for working on it. I love my PO220e. Its a very great guitar. I mean the only constructive part that will make this to sell at 700-800 guitar? Is to add grover and better poly coat on the sides. Its to thick. But still sounds good!
I looked at the Sunburst Parlour and it was a very attractive guitar but I thought it was too expensive for an import guitar but I didn't realize it came with a hardshell case. I ended up buying an Art & Lutherie Parlour for a quarter of the price of the Fender. It is made in Canada, flawless construction, feels good to play, and rings for days.
My brother and I have several guitars from them and their sister companies. I.E. Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Godin. They are fantastic for the price. In my opinion, they punch way above their weight class.
The Godin brands are incredible for the money. I have a few and the sustain on both was as good as any I’ve played. I get to go to Sweetwater often and play Taylor, Breedlove, Martin, Gibson, and I can honestly say the Godin brands are really great. They are truly up there head to head for me in the 750-1100 pricing. I cannot afford more than that so I never play beyond my realistic purchase cap. It would tease me too much. I have no real experience for a good opinion on higher end guitars (beyond $1100). My preference of course. Love the warmth and construction. I have a Simon and Patrick songsmith concert hall, I kept, and it is so fun to play, tremendous sustain and tone up and down the fretboard. I like the S&P and not Seagull only because of the look. I like a traditional styled headstock.
So glad you addressed this issue! When they first appeared in music stores, I took a new student in to find his first “decent” acoustic guitar. We both played 12 - 15 budget to intermediate level guitars and left the store with a Paramount! Hell, I even bought a Fender Paramount T-shirt! I thought they were phenomenal for the $ ! I can’t believe I don’t see more of them! Peace
This series, to me, is the greatest value on the market in terms of anything guitar. I own one - bought it last month. I've played many from this series, never a bad one. Heck, I have a beautiful Martin D-18, but still love the Fender. I own the Ovangkol Orchestra model. Under $1000, all solid wood, with a VERY NICE case and humidifier? What a deal! Already saving for a parlor from the same range. Just fantastic value, sound and playability.
I just bought the blonde one. Super happy! Traded another fender dark wood mahogany maybe? Towards it. Absolutely nothing wrong with this guitar. The sound and tone is well balanced and jumps out like it's supposed too. As my other guitar sounded like it had a sock or pillow in it dampening it. Kinda dead. Very classy this guitar and the case comes with very very nice!! I'm getting my bridge cut down for lowest action possible how I like it.
Thank you guys for making this video. I bought a PS-220e all mahogany, partly due to the demonstration you guys did on the series a few months ago. I absolutely love this guitar, the price was right ($830 or so at the time), it feels amazing, and I love the sound. Could not care less that it wasn't made in America, it's a fantastic guitar.
I bought a PM - 1 Standard about 3 years ago and love it. I've played it on stage at venues of various sizes and through several sound systems with just the D. I. and it always sounds great. It's also great acoustically in a campfire situation.
Thanks for the great information and advice for potential buyers and Fender, not to mention other manufacturers. It is becoming more difficult to find music stores nearby where guitars can be looked at up close and personal. That's part of the reason that I bought a lower-priced B-stock demo all-solid African mahogany (Khaya spp.) back & sides, Torrefied European spruce top concert/auditorium guitar "Designed in Bend, Oregon (an 8-hour drive), Crafted in China" from the east coast, tried it out and gave it to my son-in-law guitarist for a Christmas gift a year ago. Described in the catalog as a semi-gloss finish, which was thinner with warm, open, and inviting tones, than the signature verse I bought for myself a month later. Yes, GAS strikes everyone. I think (therefore I am... often wrong) I may be done buying guitars with my current collection. I'm with Ted's guitar philosophy. Manufacturers in North America can look to other guitar companies for examples of improved QC from other countries. PRS-SE, Taylor Academy-300 series, Breedlove's crafted in China models that return to Oregon for final inspection and set-up before shipping (some settling of contents may occur- corn flakes). Humidification is a nice addition. Taylor educated me well on that subject. Education of the consumer? Yes, do that! Alamo Music is really, really good at that! Thanks y'all and here's hoping everyone had a "Happy Groundhog Day!" From the winter-spring-winter-spring-winter-...? weather wonderland.
I don't even want a US guitar, because they're not worth the money. The economy is screwed up, it should be more level, which they could do by subsidizing local manufacture and putting tariffs on imports. But that's not happening any time soon. Luckly, Recording King, Blueridge, Yamaha etc all make superior import guitars to these Fenders. I like the Paramounts because they're flashy, unlike Martin style guitars, but the nuts are just too narrow. My hands are too big to play fingerstyle on them. A 43mm nut dreadnought is totally valid but a concert/OM guitar is bound to be a fingerstyle guitar in some capacity and that narrow nut makes it seem to me like they're not all that serious when it comes to the acoustics game. I also like the Fender headstock Newporters because they're cool and eye catching, and they sound totally decent, but they have the same tight string spacing like an electric guitar, and there's a homely electronics panel on the side. (Some giggers want that, which is fair enough). Also, the big name companies always mess around with the fretboard woods. You either get ovangkol, pau ferro, laurel (which is truly hideous), or richlite, sometimes on a 1700 dollar guitar, with a plastic fretboard. I resent that corporate penny pinching. It's not about tone, it's just that I'm always touching and looking at the fretboard, and I want the correct wood to be there. Charge an extra 50 bucks or something. Manage the environmental side, do whatever it takes. Recording King, Blueridge, Yamaha, etc all make fantastic import models with traditional tonewoods and overall a better pro-tier sound than these Fenders. I do love Fender's design and feel, in all their guitars, but in acoustics they need to improve a bit imo, even as they already have with their current gen of all-solids. I hope they will.
I played that exact model dreadnaught at my local guitar center and was blown away. I’ve never played a square shoulder dread that sounded so good finger picked. The top was so responsive. Great value as well.
But the nut width makes it a flatpicker only imo. Putting a Strat nut and all the eccentric decorations makes Fender look noobish and unserious with these.
Excellent discussion guys and phenomenal playing again by Cooper. I tried the parlor version and its actually excellent. All solid construction and great playability. Yeah I think people are really turned off when they hear Made in China or Indonesia but some of these are made phenomenally great. You might prolly come across a bad one but hey keep on looking. The best way to really determine if their good is to actually play and feel the instrument.
I have a Fender F75 MIJ that I bought in 1980. It is why I continue to look at Fender as a great choice. The sound on these is phenomenal. I so want Fender to be a major player because I absolutely love it.
My F-75 is also a MIJ model with original soundhole label and MIJ sticker on the back of the headstock. It’s 50 years old this year and is rich, warm and perfect for my finger style playing. I also have a newer Made in USA Martin D-16RGT and a vintage MIJ Epiphone PR-650N but MUCH prefer the Fender. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, whatever it is the F-75 is my keeper.
I noticed an immediate difference between the two guitars. I think Chris nailed It! The gloss finish was inferior to the satin finish. I love the Fender name! The satin finish Fender is a huge step in the right direction! Solid woods are good!
I have a PM-2 deluxe parlor that i bought second hand in 2018. It's 1st gen paramount and I bought it based solely on the price/vs specs. The value (for what I paid) is untouchable. I firmly believe that even at twice what I paid for it, it would be worth it. It's a lovely guitar in every way.
After finishing the video, I want to say that I think you are spot on with moving production to Japan or Mexico. Honestly, Mexico really would be a great choice for Fender. They could even offer a nitro finish to compete with Gibson. Speaking of Gibson I think it would be awesome if they moved Epiphone production to Mexico. I’m also surprised that you never mentioned (and so far no one is the comments has either) the Spring Hill series of acoustics that Fender made in 90s in Spring Hill, TN right outside of Nashville and just down the road from GM’s Saturn factory. Those Spring Hill guitars were excellent and comparable to similar Martins. I owned a Fender acoustic for several years in the 90s. I bought it used so I’m not really sure what year it was made (I also don’t remember for sure where it was made but I think it was Korean), but it definitely had been discontinued a few years before I bought it. It was a model called the LaBrea. Mine was apparently the top of the line in that series. It was flame maple top, back, and sides in a transparent amber finish. It was my second acoustic guitar. The first was from Ovation’s budget brand Applause. The Fender sounded much better acoustically, but the Applause had better electronics and the neck was slightly better from a playability standpoint although the body shape (even though it was a shallow bowl) tried hard to negate the neck’s playability. I still think Ovations look cool, but there is no way I would ever buy another one. I would definitely consider a North American made Fender acoustic if the option existed, and they offered something unique from the competition.
Im going to take a moment to say I really admire your video quality. I just watched one of your videos from 6 years ago and damn!!!! You guys are killing these demo's/videos now. Great Job!
I'm taking advantage of the snobbery. Bought a Fender Newporter Classic (new) at a bargain price of £199 when they usually retail over £600. Sounds great, the Fishman pickup system sounds amazing and I love how easy it is to play. I then managed to find a new Fender Redondo Classic for only £299, normally £650. Both great guitars and amazing value for solid body, electro acoustics. I own a Martin D15M and a Yamaha CPX900 and both Fenders are right up their in quality.
A teacher at the boarding school I went to (20+ years ago) had a Fender acoustic I played a couple times-really really great, warm and clear and woody sound. So much so I still remember it and think about it from time to time!
I'm sure Fender makes a fine acoustic, but in that range I'd personally be looking at Yamaha's and others. LL16M is in that range, plus the FS3/FG3 and both are fantastic.
Yes. No comparison. Yamahas all the way. I own an LL16D, an LL16/12 and an FG820. Just amazingly good guitars. The all solids sound AMAZING, but im not a wood snob and for an everyday player, the 820 is just an unbelievable guitar for the little it cost me. Love my Yamahas, and wanting an FG850 now.
Totally agree. I have a 1972 Yamaha FG200, FG800 and an FG3. All phenomenal guitars. I got the FG800 free on Facebook Marketplace. Long story how that happened but it plays and sounds as good as the FG3 with the A.R.E treatment. Kind of makes me think that the A.R.E is BS. Regardless. Yamaha acoustics are awesome. I don't care they are not American made. Everything else is made over seas.
@@paulkline3011 A.R.E. definately makes a tonal difference. But the 800 will improve over time. These are just facts, as is the quality and value of yamaha guitars. Good choice.
Sadly, Yamaha makes very few lefty's. I was going to buy one that was recommended, but it was not made. They only have one higher end model in lefty and it's a Jumbo. It would have been my 1st acoustic and it seemed too much guitar for a bedroom player.
Loved listening to this conversation. Particularly talking about the smaller music shops that are closing down, and thus people have nowhere to try out a guitar. I am having exactly the same problem in Germany. The huge shop that I have ordered a lot of items from (drums, cymbals and accessories for my drums) is Thomann. And it's located across the country from where I live. 9 hours with the train. So I can't quickly pop in and test out a few that I have my eye on. I would love to find a guitar shop/music shop in a 50km radius from where I live to test out various guitar sizes to see which one would work better for me (and then hope that they have the guitars I am interested in actually in the store. Sure, Thomann has a 30 return policy, but I would feel terrible to return a guitar for some reason.
Great discussion. There was a major omission, though. No mention of Godin guitars when you were comparing manufacturers near the beginning. I get that some (many?) people prefer American-made guitars to those made in China but what about North American-made guitars such as those made just across the border in La Patrie, Quebec, Canada? They make some excellent guitars too. I have my eye on a 12 fret solid mahogany back and sides solid spruce top parlor guitar. It goes for around $1,150 Canadian which would be under $900 USD. From a proud Canadian.
I just picked up a PS-220E and I think it's a great guitar with great value. I chose it over a Gibson G-00 and a Martin 000-10E. And for reference, my go-to acoustic is a Taylor 414ce.
You two are the best. I love your honest reviews. I have been considering the PO-220 on and off since they were released. I just haven't been able to decide. They seem to be made well and have a great sound, plus they come with a hardcase. I kinda like the pickguard, but I agree with Cooper on the purfling and rosette; don't hate it but don't love it either.
I am currently sitting on the couch with my PO-220 and I love it. It sounds great un plugged or plugged in and it’s an amazing value, but it’s not just good for how cheap it is. It’s just good.
If I were looking to spend $800-900 in a new acoustic, it would be on Yamaha Red Label 3 series or the L 16 series, depending on the sound I wanted. I will say, after discovering I really didn’t care for trying to learn on an electric, I bought a used Tim Armstrong hellcat Fender acoustic and really loved it. People loved to kid me because I don’t have a hellcat personality, but it was a very fun and nice sounding guitar
I just bought a FG3. Phenomenal guitar. It doesn't even have bone nut/saddle and it sounds incredible. I played it against a D18, D28, J45 and it blew them all away to my ears. $830 compared to $3000+ for the other guitars. Ya. I'm happy with my Yamaha!!! 😃
Having a local shop is great. I need to buy stuff from them to keep them in business. Otherwise, it might be 90 miles tobuy guitar strings. They don't carry everything. I haven't seen or played a Fender Paramount, a Santa Cruz, Larrivee, or Preston Thompson to try one. I have gotten pretty fussy with the neck profile, scale, and nut because of injuries to the fretting hand. Thanks, Cooper and Chris.
Just over a year ago I decided to make a concerted effort to learn to play guitar, found a really clean black Fender DG 60, great action, easy to play and a bright sound, about 7 months later I scored on another never played(birthday gift wrong hand) quilted amber top Hot Rod 300ce with hardcase, extra set of strings, Dunlop capo, 12 picks, strap, and a bottle of Dunlop 65 polish. Adding up the value of the accessories to about 180 dollars(can) I paid 70 dollars for the guitar. A tweak of the truss rod and I've got 2ml. at the 12th fret, this guitar pumps out clear tones beyond what I'd expect from a laminate top, the tuners hold even with string stretching. Very impressed and happy, had a Fender Balboa back in 1984 I bought new, had it set up with low action and it played really well but alas had to sell it to pay the rent, life happens. So far I've had good luck with Fender acoustics and before I'd spend thousands of dollars on a Martin or Taylor I'd hand the money to a luthier to make me something.
Another problem is that at that price point, there is loads of other all solid wood guitars available. They are fine looking guitars. Those Fender custom shop acoustics were never going to take off especially the California ones. The lead singer of Midland plays a red one in concert.
I fell in love with Taylor Guitars after hearing a CD in the late 90s called Sounds Of Wood and Steel. Maybe producing a CD album or EP of prominent Fender players and guitars (such as San Antonio's own Cooper Greenberg) would help people understand Fender's value in the acoustic market.
Thank you for this video! Bought a new Paramount PM3 in 2020 for 700 (solid wood, bone nut and saddle, rosewood fretboard, electronics, fender hard case) with specs and price that didn’t compare to other guitars that I was looking at. Plays and sounds great! Also bought a Yamaha AC5R new for 1250 that gets played much more than my 2100 Taylor 324CE. The Yamaha is great for fingerstyle. Both guitars are underrated. Agree that Fender should build in America and sell in the 1100-1400 range.
Great lesson in marketing, guys! This is one of the best videos you've done. Thank you for your observations and explanation of what is happening in the guitar market, especially in the mid-tier range. That is where the majority of guitar players are most likely looking, including myself. Hope Fender and some of the other manufacturers can zero in on the price/quality "sweet spot" Chris is talking about. Players need to get away from judging based on perceived brand quality and prestige. Everyone will sell, buy and play more guitars that way!
I know it has to do with manufacturing and time and effort, but it blows me away that if I said I was buying a $2,000 electric guitar people would question why, but you read the same forums and these people all have 4 to 5,000 dollars Martins, Taylors, Gibson's and such and can have 2 or 3 of them. BTW, I have a Taylor 214ce-K. Word is, "budget" Taylors play and sound almost as well as their big guns. Reminds me of Audi who makes sure the VW isn't too good. Why buy the more expensive one?
The Fender USA Springhill series nearly established them as a high quality acoustic contender. Sadly they dropped the line. Fender fans want to love their acoustics, but we need to see three things: 1. A visible delineation between high end and low end. 2. Longevity and commitment to good acoustics. 3. A consumer focused price point.
I looked at it. It is a 1-4-5 progression in the key of C. It starts with a Cmaj7 on the third fret, move to the 5th fret for the high e fill, then up again to the f and g. Down by the open positions, same chords, but there is a D minor 7 in there. Hope that makes sense
I have the paramount PD-220E and love it, first solid body I've bought and a serious upgrade from my old budget guitar. I have upgraded bridge and pins and a good set up and it sounds seriously amazing!! Highly recommend
I’m going to chime in one more time. Another company that suffered early on but overcame a negative image is Alvarez. The Yairi association has helped a lot but the old 70’s Alvarez guitars I own and love them and the new ones are consistently solid instruments. Back in the day though Alvarez suffered like fender continues to do. Fenders issue in my opinion is they are not fully vested in the vision of producing competitive acoustic instruments. If they were to put out an all American made fender acoustic again, I would be interested. I feel they just don’t care to venture outside of they’re comfort zone of electrics and amps.
Back in the 60s Fender made the Wildwood series acoustic guitars. I remember I went to Hogan's house of music in Lawndale, CA and played a blue 12 string Fender acoustic with a metal rod that went through the box of the guitar. It did not resonate as loud as my Mexican made 12 String I bought for fifty bucks that I brought back from Ensenada. The fender was heavy and over engineered, great quality. The pick guard was thick and seemed to prevent the top from resonating completely but I liked the guitar and I have always wanted one since, but I don't know why..!
My beginner guitar was a Fender acoustic, action & playability was poor...couldn't wait to get something better. Probably because of that, I have never considered buying another one. BTW Chris, thanks to your review video, I own a Yamaha FG5 & ❤ it! How would you compare the FG3 to this Fender dreadnought?
My experiences with fender acoustics has not been impressive. I owned an FA-15 and exactly same - I had a f-15 and it was so difficult to play. So stiff. The acoustic Fenders at Guitar stores are always poorly set up when I go to play them. They are muffled and tinny. I think it is because they just sit there and no one really plays them.
I think you summed it up really well when you said referring to the Fender Paramount: "If it was really good." That is the whole point. The Fender Paramount is not even good. Poor finishes that are either ruff which affects enjoying playing the guitar, or the finish is so thick that it affects the sound. And the actions on both of the guitars you have in the video and the one I played were too high. My Taylor 714 CE is head and shoulders above the Fender in all respects,. I am still years after buying it, happy with my Taylor. Yes, I understand that the Taylor 714 is much more expensive. In this case, you get what you pay for.
I love the open pore! It's just what an acoustic guitar should look like, an acoustic guitar shouldn't look like a piece of plastic. Thanks for making the video!
Been a big Fender Electric player (strat/tele). Bought a $400 Fender in 2011. This past Christmas I bought myself a PRS Angeles A50 E. One of the big reasons I didn't go back to Fender was because the plugin hole at 9:00 wore down because the strap hold was there too. The PRS had their plugin hold at 7:00 on the guitar away from that strap and just felt and played better for a great guitar just under $1,000.
Personally I love the paramount series. I tried them all and the one that's stuck with me is the Palor... Its more unique at the price range than what other companies offer. If you looking for a dreadnought there's alot more options.
I've got the parlor too. It's all solid wood. Isn't heavy. Has a lovely thin finish. Looks really good, and I think it has a really, really, good sound. Warm, but balanced in the trebble. Truthfully, it sounds bigger and better than many full-size dreadnoughts I've heard/played in a simililar price range. And it came with a hardcase, so you get a lot of guirtar for your money. But, it's the image that's the problem, which is a real shame.
That parlour sounds sooooo sweet. The PD sounded really nice, great bass response and really nice rich tone, but that PO parlour blew me away. I have a MIJ F240A, which I've owned for 30ish years. The only real difference in features between mine and the 3 onscreen is that the F240A had laminate spruce top and mahogany bottom, and came with plastic nut, saddle, and pins, but with the upgraded Gotoh tuners (which are superior to the Grovers - I've had both and the Govers are honestly just terrible). I upgraded the nut, saddle, and pins and it sounds amazing. Workmanship is terrific: I just took it in for a refret and my luthier said it won't need a neck reset for another 20-30 years, and other than some cracks in the poly finish, the body is still solid. I love it and would by another Fender acoustic in a hot minute. Fender just needs to put them into the hands of hot artists using acoustic guitars. It's something that all these companies have done for years with their electrics; they should be doing it with their acoustics.
I have a Paramount with a slotted headstock - PM-2E parlor limited edition - and put nylon strings on it. It sounds great for what it is. The guys and misc musicians I play with love its sound. Being I own a boatload of guitars (GAS - hehe) it’s not my go-to, but when I’m itching for a warm-bodied sound, I pick this one up. The hard shell case it came in is top notched too. I believe I purchased it from musicians friend on a stupid deal of the day for a ridiculously great price about 4 years ago for $430 (can’t believe how prices have gone up in recent years). I believe the quality and sound is overall good and is a good choice for beginners but I just can’t compare it to the higher end guitars in my collection. To me, it’s the subtle things that stand out on higher end guitars that this guitar naturally lacks - feel of the neck/rolled edges on the fretboard, sound projection (depth/warmth/tonal characteristics and spectrum) especially when unplugged, quality of components, etc. Again though, I really believe this is a great little guitar for those that want a step above other beginner guitars that sounds good with minimal setup/alterations, I agree with others wishing that it was manufactured somewhere other than China, but so it is. As an aside, the Taylor Mini is another great little guitar for newcomers to the guitar world and is manufactured in Mexico - at least mine is.
The problem with Paramounts is their fingerboard width. Even if you're used to a strat, acoustics need a wider board for finger picking, or comfortable flat picking. But they honestly sound amazing and most cutaways sold out. Also very lightweight.
I heard cracking your finger joints can cause arthritis in the long run! Cooper at the 21:20 mark. I have late sixties and early 70's acoustic Fenders. Not solid back and sides, but they sound awesome!
If you're over 50, you remember that Fender put out really crappy acoustics for many, many years. (My first guitar was a Kingman, and it was horrible). It's a hard reputation to overcome. More recently, the California series! 😂 They just sound thin, and flat. I did play a mahogany Paramount, and it sounded pretty decent, but it's too late. I've gone Yamaha and Guild, and there no compelling reason to change.
French wine was king and California wine was crap before the "udgment of Paris", a wine competition held in 1976 wherein the French judges blind-tested wines from France and California. California wine won. Should do the same for guitars as well.
Great analysis. Honestly Fender don’t stand a chance as long as you get a Martin Mexican made Road series D10 at a few $$ more. With the Martin, at 12 ft away you look like a pro. With the Fender you kind a will look like a beginner. (Sorry Fender guys) And I’m saying this as a dyed in the wool 100% Fender guy myself.
I would have one of these in a heartbeat. To improve popularity, they need to have these made in Mexico or Japan. China just carries a huge stigma when it comes to guitars.
TY for the info!! Re the open pore being thin. Also for the thicker lacquer finish. You guys DID mention the parlor guitar but did not offer up a demo or a visual. Sonim off to search for it. Thanks guys.
Chris and Cooper, you guys are the bomb. I trust your reviews, insights, etc. Keep making these videos, I love them. Of course, liked and subbed. Thanks. The whole "it's 90% easier to sell to your existing customers" was right on point. That's Fender in a nutshell.
Do you remember the Fender acoustic guitars from the CBS era? How about the acoustic guitars from the 90’s and early 00’s? They have a huge uphill battle with people that experienced their previous offerings.
It used to be that anything made to British standards or them closely followed by Japan was the gold standard for craftsmanship, but those days are gone. Mexican, Korean and even Chinese made guitars aren’t easily identifiable in comparison to UK, Japanese and US guitars. The traditionalists don’t like to hear that but it’s true
I have never been impressed with a fender acoustic guitar- and I work at a music store that’s a fender dealer. Quality seems not all there, tone leaves a lot to be desired. Yamaha and Ibanez both deliver much better instruments for the money
I have never played a Fender acoustic I liked, but this was back during the time they made the Gemini series God they were horrendous. But I will have to find one like you're talking about and give it shot. I own about 8 acoustics right now 2 high end Martins but one that my Mom and Dad gave me, a 70's Alvarez triple alt that sounds beautiful and plays like butter. Honestly as good as my Martins play. After I had the top braces scalloped she sounded better too it has a mahogany sides back and neck with spruce top. Subscribed I wish I had found ya'll earlier. Cheers
I came into Alamo & tried the OM sized Fender Paramount & the playability & tone was not at all what I was hoping for. It’s a nice looking guitar, but I thought the tone was kind of dead, & the setup didn’t even play as well as some of the similar priced Breedlove or Guild guitars.
I love my Fender Newporter Classic HRM California Series acoustic-electric with candy apple red top that I paid $800 for new two years ago. It has the weird electric guitar style 6-on-one-side tuners, but I kinda like that distinctive look. I keep it tuned in Dm, which is great for playing slide on songs like St. James Infirmary Blues.
Making it in the USA or Mexico makes sense. I won’t buy anything that’s made in China if given a choice. I own guitars that are made in the USA or Japan, but I’ve strongly considered buying made in Mexico.
I have one coming in a couple days I just ordered. I think people are missing out. All solid wood guitar with hard shell case, those tuners are awesome. I think people will catch on the prices going to go up. I'm looking forward for its arrival. Thanks guys for the video, I enjoy your channel. Very informative. 🎸👍
I'd love a mid-range Mexican-made Fender acoustic, or even a high-end American-made Fender acoustic. Especially now, with relations with China becoming heated. It's time to start buying products made by allies, democracies with good worker protections.
Mexican made guitars are great for the price. The Fenders and my Taylor are nice. You are right, we need to move away from depending on China. We are gradually moving that way.
I've tried a few of Fender's Paramount acoustics - and I thought they were very good. Sadly people are extremely brand-led, and as Chris and Cooper rightly surmize, the guitar buying public have a pre-conceived idea that just because Fender have traditionally foucssed on building electric guitars, that somehow they can't be any good at making acoustics. The Paramount series demonstrates how wrong this pre-conception is.
As a old dude who has played for 60 years, I’ve owned several Fender acoustics over the early years. They were BAD. But I found the Fender Paramount series to be a well put together instrument. I purchased the Paramount Parlor 2nd generation version with Rosewood back and sides. Great little guitar. Very nicely appointed. Good action (not great) out of the box. Gloss finish could be a little thinner and the tuners better. In the current price point, it’s pretty good, a fun and easy guitar to play. Amped up, it sounds much bigger. And I get nuts when folks say they wouldn’t buy anything made in China. As you said, how about your iPhone? Try and build a house today without China products. I wish EVERYTHING was made in America. But it’s not! Thank you for your videos In general, I think Fender’s past reputation hurts them. Plus, there are other import guitars, like Yamaha, and EPI inspired by Gibson guitars that look and sound great. Plus, they were gloss finish in the earlier version. Open pore? Looks cheap, looks like a cheaper guitar. Fender can make a Paramount guitar that sells. I think the last version was better. That’s my opinion.
I agree completely (as another old guy who started playing back in the 60's). Fender's problem is the Fender acoustics years ago were NOT good, the sound was ok but they were not particularly easy to play and I wouldn't have recommended one to any beginner regardless of how inexpensive they were. If you spend a lot of time making a not-so-great product, you can't really be surprised if sales fall flat even if you've changed build quality; at least not overnight.
I have an Alvarez Grand Auditorium and a bunch of old Yamahas - 2 FG-75-1s, an FG-345, FG-180 in perfect condition, 1 FG-160-1s, an FG-160, a "Centennial" dreadnought, and I just picked up a kooky little Morris parlor guitar, that's beautiful. All of the antiques are in beautiful shape, without noticeable "marring." Also have an FG-830 that I love. But I'm not a guy that hates other makes, and I like the look of these particular Fenders. They sound great too, as played here.
Bought a Tim Armstrong signature a few years back for gigging purposes and absolutely love it. The fishman electronics sound great just going through a DI, plus it sounds fantastic around the campfire all with a hardshell case for around $450
I’m going to go ahead and make a comment while being only 6 minutes into the video. Fender definitely has a less than stellar reputation with acoustic instruments over years which is in and of itself unfortunately because as you already pointed out with the Custom Shop Acoustics there have been great Fender acoustics over the years. That being said, I think Fender’s current hardship with acoustics is 100% tied to country of origin. It’s interesting that Chris would bring up IPhones (one of which I’m using to type this comment). However, Apple doesn’t give us a choice in country of origin. Either we get a Chinese IPhone or we don’t get an IPhone at all. I would gladly pay extra for one made in the US or even anywhere other than China. Luckily, we still have that option in musical instruments even though I honestly feel that we are rapidly headed towards losing it. The thing about Chinese Fender acoustics is that there are North American made options for the same price including Mexican Taylors and Martins and the Canadian brands under the Godin umbrella. Additionally, for those who don’t have an issue with buying a Chinese guitar there is probably a better speced and better quality Eastman in the same price range as Fender. At least Eastman is a Chinese company that apparently takes better care of their employees instead of it being an American or European owned company building guitars in China to enhance the company’s profits. Had to add an edit as soon as I restarted the video. Major misconception about the history of Fender. Fender absolutely WAS NOT founded to build a more budget friendly guitar than Gibson. They were able to charge less for their instruments than a Les Paul, but only because their cost of materials and labor were much lower and their instruments were easier to build. Make no mistake about it their market was the same professional musicians that were buying Gibsons and other established brands. I’ve never researched prices on Gibsons lower priced models in the 50s but I would imagine that an ES-125 was probably similarly priced to Tele or Esquire.
Excellent comment, and a good distinction to mention Eastman as a Chinese luthier done right. It will take the boutique attitude Eastman has to overcome a low-end reputation. They've shown it's possible.
I bought a PM3 all mahogany a year ago. It is now discontinued, I dont know why... I feel lucky to have been be able to buy one of the last units at Thomann.. Astonishing sound, no issues with the quality at all, it is simply a great guitar. I have no problem with the open pore finish at all, it makes the instrument resonant and warm sounding. Re. the American manufacturing thingy... it is important for you, guys, in the US, but for me, from Europe, it seems to be more about patriotism... For me a real difference can be a hand built guitar directly from a luthier. Mass production is just mass production.
Cooper, you need to bring in your custom fender and talk how you came to decide to do a custom with fender, and didn't know fender does custom acoustics. Go over the specs on your guitar. That would be cool. I saw an awsome video of one of your gigs and was shocked to see you playing a fender. Did not know it was a custom. Love your guitar playing, you could make any guitar sound good!
I second the idea of Cooper bringing his in to demo and discuss. The Acoustic Custom Shop was a very short lived thing during Fender’s ownership of Guild. However, I do think some Master Built Acoustics occasionally escape from the regular Custom Shop for those who are willing to part with enough money to make it happen. On a side note, when they talked about how hard it was for a company to be successful at both acoustics and electrics it reminded me that Rickenbacker had an acoustic line briefly which failed because it wasn’t what they were known for and their acoustics were even more expensive than their electrics.
Folks had some bad experience with Fender acoustics back in the 80's when the set up from the factory was poor and installed with wrong gauge strings. The memory never left for those in the age demographic who have money to spend. There are boutique builders seldom referenced on this channel who have deserved attention. As an example, "Godin's" line up from Canada is great value! The Kamloops B.C. boutique factory "Riversong's" River Pacific won MMR magazine's "Best Acoustic Guitar of 2022". Why would anyone want Fender on their head stock when a) the resale value will be poor given their reputation for electrics over acoustics, b) the tremendous selection available now, c) the mystique of owning something unique.
Helpful comments. If I were in texas, I'd be in your store. Although I play a vintage gibson and martin, I also have a "low end" fender dreadnaught originally purchased for my daughter. Although sides and back are laminates, it's actually a great guitar - much better than the "fender" name would suggest. Am familiar with the paramount dreadnaught. Your comments on fender's up market acoustics are spot on, in my opinion. For me, all that matters is the feel and sound; cosmetics don't generally have anything to do with these things.
One thing that bugs me about Fender acoustics is the front strap button placement, I’ve been tempted by the Paramount series a few times, but just can’t quite get it. For me I’d choose a Yamaha at this price point or a Guild. Not bashing Fender, I own 3 Strats and really love those.
I noticed the strap button position at the start of the video and thought it unusual, but then it's similar to where the button is on many electric guitars. I'm interested to find out how it feels. I've bought acoustic guitars without a front button fitted and automatically drilled the hole in the heel "because that's just where it goes" (and there is the wood depth to accommodate it). I can see now that it doesn't take too much to glue a small piece of wood on the inside of the body to support a screw and button anywhere you want.
My first guitar was a 1996 Fender DG21S- solid Sitka top, East Indian Rosewood back/sides. It listed for $500, and I got it for $360 out the door, tax and all (no case). I couldn’t play a note when I bought it, but always have had a good ear. I had a friend bring his 1970s Martin D-28 and play a number of A-B comparisons, and while it wasn’t quite the Martin’s equal, it was better than it deserved to be. Everyone who knows guitars and has ever played it has said the same thing. I still own and play it, and have since had Martins, a RainSong, and a custom built guitar. I’ll never get rid of it for reasons both sentimental and musical- it’s a really good guitar. I’ve never played a $1500 guitar from any other manufacturer that I would prefer over my DG21S. I’ve played other DG21Ss, and they’re not nearly as good as mine- just okay entry level instruments. I got lucky and am grateful.
Fascinating discussion this one, guys. Well done. Some buying decisions are logical, but many are also subject to emotional biases. It can be really difficult to put the brand and coutnry assumptions to one side. It definitely helps to actually get your hands on the instruments.
Yep. I buy with my hands, ears and eyes. In other words, it has to have nice feel, needs to sound awesome and needs to look amazing with great qc. Thats why I own three Yamahas.
I had a Fender Redondo Classic. I had the frets leveled, nut height and bridge height lowered. Even with all that I still didn’t like it. Now I see they are just producing the Player series. I won’t get another acoustic. However I love my Acoustasonic Jazzmaster. I got it when it first came out.
So just a little confused. Normally I agree with your videos but again confused here. You did a video about a year ago on these guitars and I would say was about 90% positive. You liked the looks, the purfling, the price seemed good based on the upgraded pick up and case, etc. Now a lot of the things you liked you seem to not like. I realize you've had time to get more info, but it seems a little odd to come back and go negative on the guitar that you seemed to recommend people buy previously. I have a Paramount dreadnaught with the vintage burst finish and love it. The sound is awesome, the look is killer, and the quality is great.
My son has a low end Fender Dreadnought acoustic that he bought as a beginner. I think it was under $200. The sound is only acceptable. But, playability is awesome, which is IMO the most important characteristic for a beginner guitar.
I own a Fender Paramount Mandolin and prefer t over my Epiphone and Hal Leonard started mandolin. I also own the Paramount banjo and the Resonator Guitar. I think these instruments the bomb. The are well-made and sound fantastic. The instruments are beautiful. Very Happy and very loyal to the Fender brand even though I have Gibsons, including a 1954 ES-295 the first guitar that my mom bought me many, many years ago and D'angelico, Guilds and others.
A family member has an old Martin people have offered over $20k for, and that was my first contact with an acoustic guitar (about 30 years ago). In college, a guy had a Fender acoustic and it was a "toss around" guitar (not solid wood, etc) and it was ok to mess around with. When I FINALLY decided I wanted an acoustic I researched a ton online (videos, reviews, specifications, etc.) before going in and getting hands-on. What I found in playing different acoustics was there was only two real contenders for me: Taylor and Yamaha (I wasn't a fan of the "Martin Sound" especially from lower cost models). In the end, it was a Taylor GT that felt best to me and my shorter fingers. Fenders just don't sound amazing... nothing stands out to me in a Fender acoustic and they almost all sounded muffled either due to wood quality, finish, bracing, or all the above. I won't get into the Acoustasonics (sp)... they don't make logical sense to me. They aren't resonant acoustics and don't sound great via the electronics.
I bought one. As a fender acoustic guy. I have a 48 year old Fender F-15 I have an 11 Year old CD60CE all mahogany with slotted bridge that’s a workhorse. My only two guitars total $350 in price combined and I’ve been playing for 15 years. I wanted an upgrade only because I’m wanting a solid wood guitar not due to any problem I’ve had. Looked at the Yamaha FG3, Alverez MD60/MD70, Recording King RD318, Eastman E6D/E8D and pretty much everything in between for an all solid wood guitar under $1,000. Everyone in the world told me to get the Yamaha or Alverez. I think all of them held their weight equally and all worth more than their price tags. But with the fender you get built in electronics, all of the embellishments, bone nut and saddle. And probably one of the best fender acoustics ever manufactured. I was leaning towards the fender over the Yamaha and then… I found the FD-220E blemished for $600 and couldn’t pass it up.
You sold me ! I am looking at budget brands at the moment, trying to replace the Martins and Taylor’s I have had in the The past . Theses include. Eastman, Art and Lutherie , Guild etc, any way for solid wood models these Fenders have It, after all although all the American lower models are made in China! Thanks guys Rod in London
I feel I was lucky and managed to buy a 2nd hand PM-1 limited edition Paramount made of Rosewood and Adirondack. It sounds great my only wish is that the nut was a tad wider.
I have a Paramount solid mahogany 12 fret parlor, & yes there are places that were not sanded. The fret board also drops at the neck joint, but I still love it.
On what other high end acoustic is the strap pin mounted through the wall of the upper bout? When you wear a strap, is the neck up or down? What is the angle of the strap hole, with respect to the opening? What keeps it from slipping off? How is it mounted? Doesn't that cut down on body resonance? What do you think of the aesthetics of that end pin sitting there like that? Is that a selling point, in your opinion? How do you miss something like that?
I tested the OM version of Paramount, the sunburst model (spruce top) in a shopp. It's a realy nice looking and sounding guitar. The only issue for me is the 43 mm nut widht which I find to narrow for my bigger hands. I own a Baton Rouge X54 OM CHB with 46 mm nut widht and it looks and sounds preaty similar, but for my bigger hands it's much confortable.
I love Fender acoustics, always have. What holds me up on this one is: 1 - Made in China, 2 - where can I test drive it, 3 - the pickgaurd. You hit on all three of my issues. Great video.
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As far as I’m concerned, Yamaha owns the budget acoustic market. I’ve rarely found one that didn’t impress. I’d buy a Yamaha over a Fender any day. Just my 2 cents.
Agreed, Yamaha’s quality is incredibly consistent, even on their lower end stuff.
I have an older Yamaha F310 - a very cheap guitar, yet I would recommend it without hesitation to people who want to learn to play. Mine has a lot of visual flaws from the factory, but it plays very well, and can handle some abuse as well.
And right above Yamaha would be Alvarez Yairi. Sold my Taylor’s and kept my FGX5 and DYM60HD
Agreed Yamaha has standards beyond so many other mid priced Acoustics. I’ve owned many Yamahas. I now have the honor of owning a handcrafted hand built LS36. Absolutely a masterpiece. OK I’m bragging sorry.
Yep. Had one person push me towards Fender, but every other person (including music teachers) said "Yamaha". Still can't play worth beans, but I own 3 that sound good, look purty and are eminently playable. Plus are very affordable.
A very simple solution would be to bring back the “Squier” name on cheap acoustics (like the FA-135, CD60) and start manufacturing “Fender” acoustics in Mexico with Martin and Taylor.
Also, adopt a singular headstock shape and use the same logos as on the electric guitars.
Boom, Fender’s acoustic concerns are solved. I will be sending them an invoice for this consultation.
Tbh I think the California series is an awesome example of what their acoustics could look like.
@@d_ressu I have a Newporter and I love it - the look, the feel, and the sound. Previously I owned a Yamaha that I hated.
I have the PD-220E and am extremely happy with it.
I am exclusively a finger-style player and find it to be super responsive with a well balanced sound and great action.
Was heavily involved in this project for Fender. Glad to see it getting some love. Fender Acoustic have had some home runs over the years, but the challenge was always fighting the perception that they could be perceived as anything but a budget line. A dilemma not shared on the electric side or the business. This project was a ton of fun, tons of passionate experienced acoustic folks. The result was wonderful. Cool little corner of brand DNA.
Tell me something if possible, why did you guys decided to put the strap pin in that location? Sure it’s more electric guitar like, but I have to say I really dislike it visually. It just seems wrong on a acoustic.
@@MrTelecosta For the reason you’d mentioned. The guitar balances more easily with the strap pin that position.
Great job, congrats! Tell me, please, why is PM3 all-mahogany discontinued? That is a really great instrument.
Prove it
Hey man. Thank you people for working on it. I love my PO220e. Its a very great guitar. I mean the only constructive part that will make this to sell at 700-800 guitar? Is to add grover and better poly coat on the sides. Its to thick. But still sounds good!
I looked at the Sunburst Parlour and it was a very attractive guitar but I thought it was too expensive for an import guitar but I didn't realize it came with a hardshell case. I ended up buying an Art & Lutherie Parlour for a quarter of the price of the Fender. It is made in Canada, flawless construction, feels good to play, and rings for days.
My brother and I have several guitars from them and their sister companies. I.E. Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Godin. They are fantastic for the price. In my opinion, they punch way above their weight class.
Ditto
The Godin brands are incredible for the money. I have a few and the sustain on both was as good as any I’ve played. I get to go to Sweetwater often and play Taylor, Breedlove, Martin, Gibson, and I can honestly say the Godin brands are really great. They are truly up there head to head for me in the 750-1100 pricing. I cannot afford more than that so I never play beyond my realistic purchase cap. It would tease me too much. I have no real experience for a good opinion on higher end guitars (beyond $1100). My preference of course. Love the warmth and construction. I have a Simon and Patrick songsmith concert hall, I kept, and it is so fun to play, tremendous sustain and tone up and down the fretboard. I like the S&P and not Seagull only because of the look. I like a traditional styled headstock.
PM2 de luxe was a wonderful Guitar
So glad you addressed this issue! When they first appeared in music stores, I took a new student in to find his first “decent” acoustic guitar. We both played 12 - 15 budget to intermediate level guitars and left the store with a Paramount! Hell, I even bought a Fender Paramount T-shirt! I thought they were phenomenal for the $ !
I can’t believe I don’t see more of them!
Peace
This series, to me, is the greatest value on the market in terms of anything guitar. I own one - bought it last month. I've played many from this series, never a bad one. Heck, I have a beautiful Martin D-18, but still love the Fender. I own the Ovangkol Orchestra model. Under $1000, all solid wood, with a VERY NICE case and humidifier? What a deal! Already saving for a parlor from the same range. Just fantastic value, sound and playability.
I just bought the blonde one. Super happy! Traded another fender dark wood mahogany maybe? Towards it. Absolutely nothing wrong with this guitar. The sound and tone is well balanced and jumps out like it's supposed too. As my other guitar sounded like it had a sock or pillow in it dampening it. Kinda dead. Very classy this guitar and the case comes with very very nice!! I'm getting my bridge cut down for lowest action possible how I like it.
I love Fender and they're pretty af so im buying one too. first acoustic electric
Thank you guys for making this video. I bought a PS-220e all mahogany, partly due to the demonstration you guys did on the series a few months ago. I absolutely love this guitar, the price was right ($830 or so at the time), it feels amazing, and I love the sound. Could not care less that it wasn't made in America, it's a fantastic guitar.
Me too...
I bought a PM - 1 Standard about 3 years ago and love it. I've played it on stage at venues of various sizes and through several sound systems with just the D. I. and it always sounds great. It's also great acoustically in a campfire situation.
Thanks for the great information and advice for potential buyers and Fender, not to mention other manufacturers. It is becoming more difficult to find music stores nearby where guitars can be looked at up close and personal. That's part of the reason that I bought a lower-priced B-stock demo all-solid African mahogany (Khaya spp.) back & sides, Torrefied European spruce top concert/auditorium guitar "Designed in Bend, Oregon (an 8-hour drive), Crafted in China" from the east coast, tried it out and gave it to my son-in-law guitarist for a Christmas gift a year ago. Described in the catalog as a semi-gloss finish, which was thinner with warm, open, and inviting tones, than the signature verse I bought for myself a month later. Yes, GAS strikes everyone. I think (therefore I am... often wrong) I may be done buying guitars with my current collection. I'm with Ted's guitar philosophy. Manufacturers in North America can look to other guitar companies for examples of improved QC from other countries. PRS-SE, Taylor Academy-300 series, Breedlove's crafted in China models that return to Oregon for final inspection and set-up before shipping (some settling of contents may occur- corn flakes). Humidification is a nice addition. Taylor educated me well on that subject. Education of the consumer? Yes, do that! Alamo Music is really, really good at that! Thanks y'all and here's hoping everyone had a "Happy Groundhog Day!" From the winter-spring-winter-spring-winter-...? weather wonderland.
I don't even want a US guitar, because they're not worth the money. The economy is screwed up, it should be more level, which they could do by subsidizing local manufacture and putting tariffs on imports. But that's not happening any time soon. Luckly, Recording King, Blueridge, Yamaha etc all make superior import guitars to these Fenders. I like the Paramounts because they're flashy, unlike Martin style guitars, but the nuts are just too narrow. My hands are too big to play fingerstyle on them. A 43mm nut dreadnought is totally valid but a concert/OM guitar is bound to be a fingerstyle guitar in some capacity and that narrow nut makes it seem to me like they're not all that serious when it comes to the acoustics game. I also like the Fender headstock Newporters because they're cool and eye catching, and they sound totally decent, but they have the same tight string spacing like an electric guitar, and there's a homely electronics panel on the side. (Some giggers want that, which is fair enough).
Also, the big name companies always mess around with the fretboard woods. You either get ovangkol, pau ferro, laurel (which is truly hideous), or richlite, sometimes on a 1700 dollar guitar, with a plastic fretboard. I resent that corporate penny pinching. It's not about tone, it's just that I'm always touching and looking at the fretboard, and I want the correct wood to be there. Charge an extra 50 bucks or something. Manage the environmental side, do whatever it takes. Recording King, Blueridge, Yamaha, etc all make fantastic import models with traditional tonewoods and overall a better pro-tier sound than these Fenders. I do love Fender's design and feel, in all their guitars, but in acoustics they need to improve a bit imo, even as they already have with their current gen of all-solids. I hope they will.
I played that exact model dreadnaught at my local guitar center and was blown away. I’ve never played a square shoulder dread that sounded so good finger picked. The top was so responsive. Great value as well.
But the nut width makes it a flatpicker only imo. Putting a Strat nut and all the eccentric decorations makes Fender look noobish and unserious with these.
Fantastic neck on these..
Excellent discussion guys and phenomenal playing again by Cooper. I tried the parlor version and its actually excellent. All solid construction and great playability. Yeah I think people are really turned off when they hear Made in China or Indonesia but some of these are made phenomenally great. You might prolly come across a bad one but hey keep on looking. The best way to really determine if their good is to actually play and feel the instrument.
I have a Fender F75 MIJ that I bought in 1980. It is why I continue to look at Fender as a great choice. The sound on these is phenomenal. I so want Fender to be a major player because I absolutely love it.
My F-75 is also a MIJ model with original soundhole label and MIJ sticker on the back of the headstock. It’s 50 years old this year and is rich, warm and perfect for my finger style playing. I also have a newer Made in USA Martin D-16RGT and a vintage MIJ Epiphone PR-650N but MUCH prefer the Fender. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder, whatever it is the F-75 is my keeper.
I noticed an immediate difference between the two guitars. I think Chris nailed It! The gloss finish was inferior to the satin finish. I love the Fender name! The satin finish Fender is a huge step in the right direction! Solid woods are good!
I have a PM-2 deluxe parlor that i bought second hand in 2018. It's 1st gen paramount and I bought it based solely on the price/vs specs. The value (for what I paid) is untouchable. I firmly believe that even at twice what I paid for it, it would be worth it. It's a lovely guitar in every way.
Yes PM2 de Luxe. Over the top Guitar ❤
After finishing the video, I want to say that I think you are spot on with moving production to Japan or Mexico. Honestly, Mexico really would be a great choice for Fender. They could even offer a nitro finish to compete with Gibson. Speaking of Gibson I think it would be awesome if they moved Epiphone production to Mexico.
I’m also surprised that you never mentioned (and so far no one is the comments has either) the Spring Hill series of acoustics that Fender made in 90s in Spring Hill, TN right outside of Nashville and just down the road from GM’s Saturn factory. Those Spring Hill guitars were excellent and comparable to similar Martins.
I owned a Fender acoustic for several years in the 90s. I bought it used so I’m not really sure what year it was made (I also don’t remember for sure where it was made but I think it was Korean), but it definitely had been discontinued a few years before I bought it. It was a model called the LaBrea. Mine was apparently the top of the line in that series. It was flame maple top, back, and sides in a transparent amber finish. It was my second acoustic guitar. The first was from Ovation’s budget brand Applause. The Fender sounded much better acoustically, but the Applause had better electronics and the neck was slightly better from a playability standpoint although the body shape (even though it was a shallow bowl) tried hard to negate the neck’s playability. I still think Ovations look cool, but there is no way I would ever buy another one. I would definitely consider a North American made Fender acoustic if the option existed, and they offered something unique from the competition.
why mention what you can't buy?
@@ltcuaa
Why mention what you can’t buy?
The best reason to do so is to make companies aware of demand for products that aren’t currently available.
Im going to take a moment to say I really admire your video quality. I just watched one of your videos from 6 years ago and damn!!!! You guys are killing these demo's/videos now. Great Job!
Do you have any idea what the name of that song is??
I'm taking advantage of the snobbery. Bought a Fender Newporter Classic (new) at a bargain price of £199 when they usually retail over £600. Sounds great, the Fishman pickup system sounds amazing and I love how easy it is to play.
I then managed to find a new Fender Redondo Classic for only £299, normally £650. Both great guitars and amazing value for solid body, electro acoustics.
I own a Martin D15M and a Yamaha CPX900 and both Fenders are right up their in quality.
Cooper could make a soggy cardboard shoebox sound incredible. Let me demo it for real life expectations 😂
A teacher at the boarding school I went to (20+ years ago) had a Fender acoustic I played a couple times-really really great, warm and clear and woody sound. So much so I still remember it and think about it from time to time!
I'm sure Fender makes a fine acoustic, but in that range I'd personally be looking at Yamaha's and others. LL16M is in that range, plus the FS3/FG3 and both are fantastic.
Yes. No comparison. Yamahas all the way. I own an LL16D, an LL16/12 and an FG820. Just amazingly good guitars. The all solids sound AMAZING, but im not a wood snob and for an everyday player, the 820 is just an unbelievable guitar for the little it cost me. Love my Yamahas, and wanting an FG850 now.
Totally agree. I have a 1972 Yamaha FG200, FG800 and an FG3. All phenomenal guitars. I got the FG800 free on Facebook Marketplace. Long story how that happened but it plays and sounds as good as the FG3 with the A.R.E treatment. Kind of makes me think that the A.R.E is BS. Regardless. Yamaha acoustics are awesome. I don't care they are not American made. Everything else is made over seas.
@@paulkline3011 A.R.E. definately makes a tonal difference. But the 800 will improve over time. These are just facts, as is the quality and value of yamaha guitars. Good choice.
Sadly, Yamaha makes very few lefty's. I was going to buy one that was recommended, but it was not made. They only have one higher end model in lefty and it's a Jumbo. It would have been my 1st acoustic and it seemed too much guitar for a bedroom player.
Loved listening to this conversation. Particularly talking about the smaller music shops that are closing down, and thus people have nowhere to try out a guitar. I am having exactly the same problem in Germany. The huge shop that I have ordered a lot of items from (drums, cymbals and accessories for my drums) is Thomann. And it's located across the country from where I live. 9 hours with the train. So I can't quickly pop in and test out a few that I have my eye on. I would love to find a guitar shop/music shop in a 50km radius from where I live to test out various guitar sizes to see which one would work better for me (and then hope that they have the guitars I am interested in actually in the store. Sure, Thomann has a 30 return policy, but I would feel terrible to return a guitar for some reason.
Great discussion. There was a major omission, though. No mention of Godin guitars when you were comparing manufacturers near the beginning. I get that some (many?) people prefer American-made guitars to those made in China but what about North American-made guitars such as those made just across the border in La Patrie, Quebec, Canada? They make some excellent guitars too. I have my eye on a 12 fret solid mahogany back and sides solid spruce top parlor guitar. It goes for around $1,150 Canadian which would be under $900 USD. From a proud Canadian.
I just picked up a PS-220E and I think it's a great guitar with great value. I chose it over a Gibson G-00 and a Martin 000-10E.
And for reference, my go-to acoustic is a Taylor 414ce.
You two are the best. I love your honest reviews. I have been considering the PO-220 on and off since they were released. I just haven't been able to decide. They seem to be made well and have a great sound, plus they come with a hardcase. I kinda like the pickguard, but I agree with Cooper on the purfling and rosette; don't hate it but don't love it either.
I am currently sitting on the couch with my PO-220 and I love it. It sounds great un plugged or plugged in and it’s an amazing value, but it’s not just good for how cheap it is. It’s just good.
If I were looking to spend $800-900 in a new acoustic, it would be on Yamaha Red Label 3 series or the L 16 series, depending on the sound I wanted. I will say, after discovering I really didn’t care for trying to learn on an electric, I bought a used Tim Armstrong hellcat Fender acoustic and really loved it. People loved to kid me because I don’t have a hellcat personality, but it was a very fun and nice sounding guitar
I just bought a FG3. Phenomenal guitar. It doesn't even have bone nut/saddle and it sounds incredible. I played it against a D18, D28, J45 and it blew them all away to my ears. $830 compared to $3000+ for the other guitars. Ya. I'm happy with my Yamaha!!! 😃
I want but can't find the Yamaha LL-16 Sunburst . LL-TA can't be found . Strange . Hmmmmmm
Having a local shop is great. I need to buy stuff from them to keep them in business. Otherwise, it might be 90 miles tobuy guitar strings. They don't carry everything. I haven't seen or played a Fender Paramount, a Santa Cruz, Larrivee, or Preston Thompson to try one. I have gotten pretty fussy with the neck profile, scale, and nut because of injuries to the fretting hand. Thanks, Cooper and Chris.
Just over a year ago I decided to make a concerted effort to learn to play guitar, found a really clean black Fender DG 60, great action, easy to play and a bright sound, about 7 months later I scored on another never played(birthday gift wrong hand) quilted amber top Hot Rod 300ce with hardcase, extra set of strings, Dunlop capo, 12 picks, strap, and a bottle of Dunlop 65 polish. Adding up the value of the accessories to about 180 dollars(can) I paid 70 dollars for the guitar. A tweak of the truss rod and I've got 2ml. at the 12th fret, this guitar pumps out clear tones beyond what I'd expect from a laminate top, the tuners hold even with string stretching. Very impressed and happy, had a Fender Balboa back in 1984 I bought new, had it set up with low action and it played really well but alas had to sell it to pay the rent, life happens. So far I've had good luck with Fender acoustics and before I'd spend thousands of dollars on a Martin or Taylor I'd hand the money to a luthier to make me something.
We have the early model Fender Paramount Series guitars (the parlours ) and love them. All solid wood with electronics. They're great ! Sound great !
Another problem is that at that price point, there is loads of other all solid wood guitars available. They are fine looking guitars. Those Fender custom shop acoustics were never going to take off especially the California ones. The lead singer of Midland plays a red one in concert.
I fell in love with Taylor Guitars after hearing a CD in the late 90s called Sounds Of Wood and Steel. Maybe producing a CD album or EP of prominent Fender players and guitars (such as San Antonio's own Cooper Greenberg) would help people understand Fender's value in the acoustic market.
Thank you for this video! Bought a new Paramount PM3 in 2020 for 700 (solid wood, bone nut and saddle, rosewood fretboard, electronics, fender hard case) with specs and price that didn’t compare to other guitars that I was looking at. Plays and sounds great! Also bought a Yamaha AC5R new for 1250 that gets played much more than my 2100 Taylor 324CE. The Yamaha is great for fingerstyle. Both guitars are underrated. Agree that Fender should build in America and sell in the 1100-1400 range.
Great lesson in marketing, guys! This is one of the best videos you've done. Thank you for your observations and explanation of what is happening in the guitar market, especially in the mid-tier range. That is where the majority of guitar players are most likely looking, including myself. Hope Fender and some of the other manufacturers can zero in on the price/quality "sweet spot" Chris is talking about. Players need to get away from judging based on perceived brand quality and prestige. Everyone will sell, buy and play more guitars that way!
I know it has to do with manufacturing and time and effort, but it blows me away that if I said I was buying a $2,000 electric guitar people would question why, but you read the same forums and these people all have 4 to 5,000 dollars Martins, Taylors, Gibson's and such and can have 2 or 3 of them. BTW, I have a Taylor 214ce-K. Word is, "budget" Taylors play and sound almost as well as their big guns. Reminds me of Audi who makes sure the VW isn't too good. Why buy the more expensive one?
The Fender USA Springhill series nearly established them as a high quality acoustic contender. Sadly they dropped the line. Fender fans want to love their acoustics, but we need to see three things: 1. A visible delineation between high end and low end. 2. Longevity and commitment to good acoustics. 3. A consumer focused price point.
Hi guys! What is the tune Copper plays @17:56?
Great review!
Thanks!🎶🎶🎶
I looked at it. It is a 1-4-5 progression in the key of C. It starts with a Cmaj7 on the third fret, move to the 5th fret for the high e fill, then up again to the f and g. Down by the open positions, same chords, but there is a D minor 7 in there. Hope that makes sense
And this is for the second song, sorry. Haven’t looked at the first yet
I have the paramount PD-220E and love it, first solid body I've bought and a serious upgrade from my old budget guitar. I have upgraded bridge and pins and a good set up and it sounds seriously amazing!! Highly recommend
so does the top unsanded and sharp edge part of the body rough up your arm? Thats the only thing stopping me.
@@cooloutac no, I don't have that issue at all.
@@nickc3930 oh my mistake I was thinking of the PO version
You guys have become my #1 go to RUclips channel. Thanks for being around and doing what you do.
I’m going to chime in one more time. Another company that suffered early on but overcame a negative image is Alvarez. The Yairi association has helped a lot but the old 70’s Alvarez guitars I own and love them and the new ones are consistently solid instruments. Back in the day though Alvarez suffered like fender continues to do. Fenders issue in my opinion is they are not fully vested in the vision of producing competitive acoustic instruments. If they were to put out an all American made fender acoustic again, I would be interested. I feel they just don’t care to venture outside of they’re comfort zone of electrics and amps.
Back in the 60s Fender made the Wildwood series acoustic guitars. I remember I went to Hogan's house of music in Lawndale, CA and played a blue 12 string Fender acoustic with a metal rod that went through the box of the guitar. It did not resonate as loud as my Mexican made 12 String I bought for fifty bucks that I brought back from Ensenada. The fender was heavy and over engineered, great quality. The pick guard was thick and seemed to prevent the top from resonating completely but I liked the guitar and I have always wanted one since, but I don't know why..!
My beginner guitar was a Fender acoustic, action & playability was poor...couldn't wait to get something better. Probably because of that, I have never considered buying another one.
BTW Chris, thanks to your review video, I own a Yamaha FG5 & ❤ it!
How would you compare the FG3 to this Fender dreadnought?
Your first Fender sounds like my F 15. Sounds great but plays poorly. Stiffest action ever.
My experiences with fender acoustics has not been impressive. I owned an FA-15 and exactly same - I had a f-15 and it was so difficult to play. So stiff. The acoustic Fenders at Guitar stores are always poorly set up when I go to play them. They are muffled and tinny. I think it is because they just sit there and no one really plays them.
I think you summed it up really well when you said referring to the Fender Paramount: "If it was really good." That is the whole point. The Fender Paramount is not even good. Poor finishes that are either ruff which affects enjoying playing the guitar, or the finish is so thick that it affects the sound. And the actions on both of the guitars you have in the video and the one I played were too high. My Taylor 714 CE is head and shoulders above the Fender in all respects,. I am still years after buying it, happy with my Taylor. Yes, I understand that the Taylor 714 is much more expensive. In this case, you get what you pay for.
I love the open pore! It's just what an acoustic guitar should look like, an acoustic guitar shouldn't look like a piece of plastic. Thanks for making the video!
Been a big Fender Electric player (strat/tele). Bought a $400 Fender in 2011. This past Christmas I bought myself a PRS Angeles A50 E. One of the big reasons I didn't go back to Fender was because the plugin hole at 9:00 wore down because the strap hold was there too. The PRS had their plugin hold at 7:00 on the guitar away from that strap and just felt and played better for a great guitar just under $1,000.
Personally I love the paramount series. I tried them all and the one that's stuck with me is the Palor... Its more unique at the price range than what other companies offer. If you looking for a dreadnought there's alot more options.
The paramount parlor size (Chris’ guitar) is amazing! I despise acoustics entirely but that’s the one & only I’d ever even strum!
I've got the parlor too. It's all solid wood. Isn't heavy. Has a lovely thin finish. Looks really good, and I think it has a really, really, good sound. Warm, but balanced in the trebble. Truthfully, it sounds bigger and better than many full-size dreadnoughts I've heard/played in a simililar price range. And it came with a hardcase, so you get a lot of guirtar for your money. But, it's the image that's the problem, which is a real shame.
That parlour sounds sooooo sweet. The PD sounded really nice, great bass response and really nice rich tone, but that PO parlour blew me away.
I have a MIJ F240A, which I've owned for 30ish years. The only real difference in features between mine and the 3 onscreen is that the F240A had laminate spruce top and mahogany bottom, and came with plastic nut, saddle, and pins, but with the upgraded Gotoh tuners (which are superior to the Grovers - I've had both and the Govers are honestly just terrible). I upgraded the nut, saddle, and pins and it sounds amazing. Workmanship is terrific: I just took it in for a refret and my luthier said it won't need a neck reset for another 20-30 years, and other than some cracks in the poly finish, the body is still solid. I love it and would by another Fender acoustic in a hot minute.
Fender just needs to put them into the hands of hot artists using acoustic guitars. It's something that all these companies have done for years with their electrics; they should be doing it with their acoustics.
These are great looking guitars in my humble opinion … would like to see you do a sound comparison with similar priced guitars
I have a Paramount with a slotted headstock - PM-2E parlor limited edition - and put nylon strings on it. It sounds great for what it is. The guys and misc musicians I play with love its sound. Being I own a boatload of guitars (GAS - hehe) it’s not my go-to, but when I’m itching for a warm-bodied sound, I pick this one up. The hard shell case it came in is top notched too. I believe I purchased it from musicians friend on a stupid deal of the day for a ridiculously great price about 4 years ago for $430 (can’t believe how prices have gone up in recent years). I believe the quality and sound is overall good and is a good choice for beginners but I just can’t compare it to the higher end guitars in my collection. To me, it’s the subtle things that stand out on higher end guitars that this guitar naturally lacks - feel of the neck/rolled edges on the fretboard, sound projection (depth/warmth/tonal characteristics and spectrum) especially when unplugged, quality of components, etc. Again though, I really believe this is a great little guitar for those that want a step above other beginner guitars that sounds good with minimal setup/alterations, I agree with others wishing that it was manufactured somewhere other than China, but so it is. As an aside, the Taylor Mini is another great little guitar for newcomers to the guitar world and is manufactured in Mexico - at least mine is.
Martin and Taylor are too great to be surpassed. The person shopping for an “iconic” acoustic guitar is not going to buy a Fender
at 17:30 Whoa! Nice playing.
The problem with Paramounts is their fingerboard width. Even if you're used to a strat, acoustics need a wider board for finger picking, or comfortable flat picking. But they honestly sound amazing and most cutaways sold out. Also very lightweight.
Agree. I love my mahogany Paramount except for the nut being too narrow.
I heard cracking your finger joints can cause arthritis in the long run!
Cooper at the 21:20 mark.
I have late sixties and early 70's acoustic Fenders.
Not solid back and sides, but they sound awesome!
If you're over 50, you remember that Fender put out really crappy acoustics for many, many years. (My first guitar was a Kingman, and it was horrible). It's a hard reputation to overcome. More recently, the California series! 😂 They just sound thin, and flat. I did play a mahogany Paramount, and it sounded pretty decent, but it's too late. I've gone Yamaha and Guild, and there no compelling reason to change.
French wine was king and California wine was crap before the "udgment of Paris", a wine competition held in 1976 wherein the French judges blind-tested wines from France and California. California wine won. Should do the same for guitars as well.
Great analysis. Honestly Fender don’t stand a chance as long as you get a Martin Mexican made Road series D10 at a few $$ more. With the Martin, at 12 ft away you look like a pro. With the Fender you kind a will look like a beginner. (Sorry Fender guys) And I’m saying this as a dyed in the wool 100% Fender guy myself.
I would have one of these in a heartbeat. To improve popularity, they need to have these made in Mexico or Japan. China just carries a huge stigma when it comes to guitars.
Agree 100%
TY for the info!! Re the open pore being thin. Also for the thicker lacquer finish. You guys DID mention the parlor guitar but did not offer up a demo or a visual. Sonim off to search for it. Thanks guys.
Chris and Cooper, you guys are the bomb. I trust your reviews, insights, etc. Keep making these videos, I love them. Of course, liked and subbed. Thanks. The whole "it's 90% easier to sell to your existing customers" was right on point. That's Fender in a nutshell.
What's the name of the song you played at 17:30? Sounds incredible!
Do you remember the Fender acoustic guitars from the CBS era? How about the acoustic guitars from the 90’s and early 00’s? They have a huge uphill battle with people that experienced their previous offerings.
It used to be that anything made to British standards or them closely followed by Japan was the gold standard for craftsmanship, but those days are gone. Mexican, Korean and even Chinese made guitars aren’t easily identifiable in comparison to UK, Japanese and US guitars. The traditionalists don’t like to hear that but it’s true
I have never been impressed with a fender acoustic guitar- and I work at a music store that’s a fender dealer. Quality seems not all there, tone leaves a lot to be desired. Yamaha and Ibanez both deliver much better instruments for the money
I have never played a Fender acoustic I liked, but this was back during the time they made the Gemini series God they were horrendous. But I will have to find one like you're talking about and give it shot. I own about 8 acoustics right now 2 high end Martins but one that my Mom and Dad gave me, a 70's Alvarez triple alt that sounds beautiful and plays like butter. Honestly as good as my Martins play. After I had the top braces scalloped she sounded better too it has a mahogany sides back and neck with spruce top. Subscribed I wish I had found ya'll earlier. Cheers
I came into Alamo & tried the OM sized Fender Paramount & the playability & tone was not at all what I was hoping for. It’s a nice looking guitar, but I thought the tone was kind of dead, & the setup didn’t even play as well as some of the similar priced Breedlove or Guild guitars.
I love my Fender Newporter Classic HRM California Series acoustic-electric with candy apple red top that I paid $800 for new two years ago. It has the weird electric guitar style 6-on-one-side tuners, but I kinda like that distinctive look. I keep it tuned in Dm, which is great for playing slide on songs like St. James Infirmary Blues.
Making it in the USA or Mexico makes sense. I won’t buy anything that’s made in China if given a choice. I own guitars that are made in the USA or Japan, but I’ve strongly considered buying made in Mexico.
I have one coming in a couple days I just ordered. I think people are missing out. All solid wood guitar with hard shell case, those tuners are awesome. I think people will catch on the prices going to go up. I'm looking forward for its arrival. Thanks guys for the video, I enjoy your channel. Very informative. 🎸👍
How was it?
I'd love a mid-range Mexican-made Fender acoustic, or even a high-end American-made Fender acoustic. Especially now, with relations with China becoming heated. It's time to start buying products made by allies, democracies with good worker protections.
Yes.
Mexican made guitars are great for the price. The Fenders and my Taylor are nice. You are right, we need to move away from depending on China. We are gradually moving that way.
I've tried a few of Fender's Paramount acoustics - and I thought they were very good. Sadly people are extremely brand-led, and as Chris and Cooper rightly surmize, the guitar buying public have a pre-conceived idea that just because Fender have traditionally foucssed on building electric guitars, that somehow they can't be any good at making acoustics.
The Paramount series demonstrates how wrong this pre-conception is.
As a old dude who has played for 60 years, I’ve owned several Fender acoustics over the early years. They were BAD. But I found the Fender Paramount series to be a well put together instrument. I purchased the Paramount Parlor 2nd generation version with Rosewood back and sides. Great little guitar. Very nicely appointed. Good action (not great) out of the box. Gloss finish could be a little thinner and the tuners better. In the current price point, it’s pretty good, a fun and easy guitar to play. Amped up, it sounds much bigger.
And I get nuts when folks say they wouldn’t buy anything made in China. As you said, how about your iPhone? Try and build a house today without China products. I wish EVERYTHING was made in America. But it’s not!
Thank you for your videos
In general, I think Fender’s past reputation hurts them. Plus, there are other import guitars, like Yamaha, and EPI inspired by Gibson guitars that look and sound great. Plus, they were gloss finish in the earlier version. Open pore? Looks cheap, looks like a cheaper guitar.
Fender can make a Paramount guitar that sells. I think the last version was better.
That’s my opinion.
I agree completely (as another old guy who started playing back in the 60's). Fender's problem is the Fender acoustics years ago were NOT good, the sound was ok but they were not particularly easy to play and I wouldn't have recommended one to any beginner regardless of how inexpensive they were. If you spend a lot of time making a not-so-great product, you can't really be surprised if sales fall flat even if you've changed build quality; at least not overnight.
I have an Alvarez Grand Auditorium and a bunch of old Yamahas - 2 FG-75-1s, an FG-345, FG-180 in perfect condition, 1 FG-160-1s, an FG-160, a "Centennial" dreadnought, and I just picked up a kooky little Morris parlor guitar, that's beautiful. All of the antiques are in beautiful shape, without noticeable "marring." Also have an FG-830 that I love. But I'm not a guy that hates other makes, and I like the look of these particular Fenders. They sound great too, as played here.
Bought a Tim Armstrong signature a few years back for gigging purposes and absolutely love it. The fishman electronics sound great just going through a DI, plus it sounds fantastic around the campfire all with a hardshell case for around $450
I’m going to go ahead and make a comment while being only 6 minutes into the video.
Fender definitely has a less than stellar reputation with acoustic instruments over years which is in and of itself unfortunately because as you already pointed out with the Custom Shop Acoustics there have been great Fender acoustics over the years.
That being said, I think Fender’s current hardship with acoustics is 100% tied to country of origin. It’s interesting that Chris would bring up IPhones (one of which I’m using to type this comment). However, Apple doesn’t give us a choice in country of origin. Either we get a Chinese IPhone or we don’t get an IPhone at all. I would gladly pay extra for one made in the US or even anywhere other than China.
Luckily, we still have that option in musical instruments even though I honestly feel that we are rapidly headed towards losing it. The thing about Chinese Fender acoustics is that there are North American made options for the same price including Mexican Taylors and Martins and the Canadian brands under the Godin umbrella. Additionally, for those who don’t have an issue with buying a Chinese guitar there is probably a better speced and better quality Eastman in the same price range as Fender. At least Eastman is a Chinese company that apparently takes better care of their employees instead of it being an American or European owned company building guitars in China to enhance the company’s profits.
Had to add an edit as soon as I restarted the video. Major misconception about the history of Fender. Fender absolutely WAS NOT founded to build a more budget friendly guitar than Gibson. They were able to charge less for their instruments than a Les Paul, but only because their cost of materials and labor were much lower and their instruments were easier to build. Make no mistake about it their market was the same professional musicians that were buying Gibsons and other established brands. I’ve never researched prices on Gibsons lower priced models in the 50s but I would imagine that an ES-125 was probably similarly priced to Tele or Esquire.
Excellent comment, and a good distinction to mention Eastman as a Chinese luthier done right. It will take the boutique attitude Eastman has to overcome a low-end reputation. They've shown it's possible.
I’m of the same mindset.
I bought a PM3 all mahogany a year ago. It is now discontinued, I dont know why... I feel lucky to have been be able to buy one of the last units at Thomann.. Astonishing sound, no issues with the quality at all, it is simply a great guitar. I have no problem with the open pore finish at all, it makes the instrument resonant and warm sounding. Re. the American manufacturing thingy... it is important for you, guys, in the US, but for me, from Europe, it seems to be more about patriotism... For me a real difference can be a hand built guitar directly from a luthier. Mass production is just mass production.
Don’t forget about Eastman. They’re killin it with the value oriented import all solid wood guitar.
Alamo isn't an Eastman dealer so you won't see them mentioned in an Alamo video and I get that. They are trying to sell what they stock.
Cooper, you need to bring in your custom fender and talk how you came to decide to do a custom with fender, and didn't know fender does custom acoustics. Go over the specs on your guitar. That would be cool. I saw an awsome video of one of your gigs and was shocked to see you playing a fender. Did not know it was a custom.
Love your guitar playing, you could make any guitar sound good!
I second the idea of Cooper bringing his in to demo and discuss.
The Acoustic Custom Shop was a very short lived thing during Fender’s ownership of Guild. However, I do think some Master Built Acoustics occasionally escape from the regular Custom Shop for those who are willing to part with enough money to make it happen.
On a side note, when they talked about how hard it was for a company to be successful at both acoustics and electrics it reminded me that Rickenbacker had an acoustic line briefly which failed because it wasn’t what they were known for and their acoustics were even more expensive than their electrics.
Folks had some bad experience with Fender acoustics back in the 80's when the set up from the factory was poor and installed with wrong gauge strings. The memory never left for those in the age demographic who have money to spend. There are boutique builders seldom referenced on this channel who have deserved attention. As an example, "Godin's" line up from Canada is great value! The Kamloops B.C. boutique factory "Riversong's" River Pacific won MMR magazine's "Best Acoustic Guitar of 2022". Why would anyone want Fender on their head stock when a) the resale value will be poor given their reputation for electrics over acoustics, b) the tremendous selection available now, c) the mystique of owning something unique.
Spot on agree with your comments.
Helpful comments. If I were in texas, I'd be in your store. Although I play a vintage gibson and martin, I also have a "low end" fender dreadnaught originally purchased for my daughter. Although sides and back are laminates, it's actually a great guitar - much better than the "fender" name would suggest. Am familiar with the paramount dreadnaught. Your comments on fender's up market acoustics are spot on, in my opinion. For me, all that matters is the feel and sound; cosmetics don't generally have anything to do with these things.
One thing that bugs me about Fender acoustics is the front strap button placement, I’ve been tempted by the Paramount series a few times, but just can’t quite get it. For me I’d choose a Yamaha at this price point or a Guild. Not bashing Fender, I own 3 Strats and really love those.
I’m with you on that. I’ve come close to buying one a couple of times but that is the reason why I didn’t.
I noticed the strap button position at the start of the video and thought it unusual, but then it's similar to where the button is on many electric guitars. I'm interested to find out how it feels.
I've bought acoustic guitars without a front button fitted and automatically drilled the hole in the heel "because that's just where it goes" (and there is the wood depth to accommodate it). I can see now that it doesn't take too much to glue a small piece of wood on the inside of the body to support a screw and button anywhere you want.
My first guitar was a 1996 Fender DG21S- solid Sitka top, East Indian Rosewood back/sides. It listed for $500, and I got it for $360 out the door, tax and all (no case). I couldn’t play a note when I bought it, but always have had a good ear. I had a friend bring his 1970s Martin D-28 and play a number of A-B comparisons, and while it wasn’t quite the Martin’s equal, it was better than it deserved to be. Everyone who knows guitars and has ever played it has said the same thing. I still own and play it, and have since had Martins, a RainSong, and a custom built guitar. I’ll never get rid of it for reasons both sentimental and musical- it’s a really good guitar. I’ve never played a $1500 guitar from any other manufacturer that I would prefer over my DG21S. I’ve played other DG21Ss, and they’re not nearly as good as mine- just okay entry level instruments. I got lucky and am grateful.
Fascinating discussion this one, guys. Well done. Some buying decisions are logical, but many are also subject to emotional biases. It can be really difficult to put the brand and coutnry assumptions to one side. It definitely helps to actually get your hands on the instruments.
Yep. I buy with my hands, ears and eyes. In other words, it has to have nice feel, needs to sound awesome and needs to look amazing with great qc. Thats why I own three Yamahas.
I had a Fender Redondo Classic. I had the frets leveled, nut height and bridge height lowered. Even with all that I still didn’t like it. Now I see they are just producing the Player series. I won’t get another acoustic. However I love my Acoustasonic Jazzmaster. I got it when it first came out.
You guys can make a matel brand guitar sound good! Really enjoy your videos and demos.
Can you guys do a review or comparison with the new Fender Palamino all solid wood guitars?
Great video and ideas for Fender. I have a Fender acoustic/electric and like it alot
.
So just a little confused. Normally I agree with your videos but again confused here. You did a video about a year ago on these guitars and I would say was about 90% positive. You liked the looks, the purfling, the price seemed good based on the upgraded pick up and case, etc. Now a lot of the things you liked you seem to not like. I realize you've had time to get more info, but it seems a little odd to come back and go negative on the guitar that you seemed to recommend people buy previously. I have a Paramount dreadnaught with the vintage burst finish and love it. The sound is awesome, the look is killer, and the quality is great.
My son has a low end Fender Dreadnought acoustic that he bought as a beginner. I think it was under $200. The sound is only acceptable. But, playability is awesome, which is IMO the most important characteristic for a beginner guitar.
I own a Fender Paramount Mandolin and prefer t over my Epiphone and Hal Leonard started mandolin. I also own the Paramount banjo and the Resonator Guitar. I think these instruments the bomb. The are well-made and sound fantastic. The instruments are beautiful. Very Happy and very loyal to the Fender brand even though I have Gibsons, including a 1954 ES-295 the first guitar that my mom bought me many, many years ago and D'angelico, Guilds and others.
A family member has an old Martin people have offered over $20k for, and that was my first contact with an acoustic guitar (about 30 years ago). In college, a guy had a Fender acoustic and it was a "toss around" guitar (not solid wood, etc) and it was ok to mess around with. When I FINALLY decided I wanted an acoustic I researched a ton online (videos, reviews, specifications, etc.) before going in and getting hands-on. What I found in playing different acoustics was there was only two real contenders for me: Taylor and Yamaha (I wasn't a fan of the "Martin Sound" especially from lower cost models). In the end, it was a Taylor GT that felt best to me and my shorter fingers. Fenders just don't sound amazing... nothing stands out to me in a Fender acoustic and they almost all sounded muffled either due to wood quality, finish, bracing, or all the above. I won't get into the Acoustasonics (sp)... they don't make logical sense to me. They aren't resonant acoustics and don't sound great via the electronics.
I own a PM 1. I also own Taylors and a Martin.. my fender is my favorite.
I bought one. As a fender acoustic guy.
I have a 48 year old Fender F-15
I have an 11 Year old CD60CE all mahogany with slotted bridge that’s a workhorse.
My only two guitars total $350 in price combined and I’ve been playing for 15 years. I wanted an upgrade only because I’m wanting a solid wood guitar not due to any problem I’ve had.
Looked at the Yamaha FG3, Alverez MD60/MD70, Recording King RD318, Eastman E6D/E8D and pretty much everything in between for an all solid wood guitar under $1,000.
Everyone in the world told me to get the Yamaha or Alverez.
I think all of them held their weight equally and all worth more than their price tags.
But with the fender you get built in electronics, all of the embellishments, bone nut and saddle. And probably one of the best fender acoustics ever manufactured. I was leaning towards the fender over the Yamaha and then…
I found the FD-220E blemished for $600 and couldn’t pass it up.
Three month review, still f’kn love it. It’s great. Wouldn’t trade it for a guitar twice its value.
You sold me ! I am looking at budget brands at the moment, trying to replace the Martins and Taylor’s I have had in the
The past . Theses include. Eastman, Art and Lutherie , Guild etc, any way for solid wood models these Fenders have
It, after all although all the American lower models are made in China! Thanks guys Rod in London
No one is buying them because there are better options at their price points.
It’s really a pretty solid guitar at though for $830.00. Probably the best within that range. I’d take that over a Martin D-10e. But it’s close.
I feel I was lucky and managed to buy a 2nd hand PM-1 limited edition Paramount made of Rosewood and Adirondack. It sounds great my only wish is that the nut was a tad wider.
I have a Paramount solid mahogany 12 fret parlor, & yes there are places that were not sanded. The fret board also drops at the neck joint, but I still love it.
I know its older, but I have a MiK Parkwood (2008?). All solid macassar ebony with a cedar top. A gorgeous instrument and she is LOUD!
On what other high end acoustic is the strap pin mounted through the wall of the upper bout? When you wear a strap, is the neck up or down? What is the angle of the strap hole, with respect to the opening? What keeps it from slipping off? How is it mounted? Doesn't that cut down on body resonance? What do you think of the aesthetics of that end pin sitting there like that? Is that a selling point, in your opinion? How do you miss something like that?
I tested the OM version of Paramount, the sunburst model (spruce top) in a shopp. It's a realy nice looking and sounding guitar. The only issue for me is the 43 mm nut widht which I find to narrow for my bigger hands.
I own a Baton Rouge X54 OM CHB with 46 mm nut widht and it looks and sounds preaty similar, but for my bigger hands it's much confortable.
I love Fender acoustics, always have. What holds me up on this one is: 1 - Made in China, 2 - where can I test drive it, 3 - the pickgaurd. You hit on all three of my issues. Great video.