Full Look at the Fender CD-60S Acoustic Guitar

In our Fender CD-60S review we evaluate the guitar's performance in seven different categories, based on actual use and testing. Keep in mind: These grades are given based largely on how the guitar plays and feels. It's not simply a rundown of specs.

For our Fender CD-60S review we're focusing primarily on tone, wood, and construction, in an effort to establish an ideal buying scenario.

We want to help you understand whether or not this specific guitar will work in your situation.

Our ratings system, that we put all our acoustic guitar recommendations through, score the following numbers for the CD-60S, with different weights for each category:

Fender CD-60s Pricing from Additional Vendors

Price Alert (based on Sweetwater retail)

Price History (based on Sweetwater retail)

We've seen some publications like PMTV describe this acoustic as "not too light or too chunky."

We'd disagree as the tone profile of the CD-60S is decidedly lighter and not as full as we'd like to hear. Thus, we only give it a 70 in our tone quality rating. It sounds okay, but it doesn't have the warmth and fullness that you get from even marginally more expensive acoustics.

After our audit of the CD-60S, we'd argue chunkiness is not the problem.

Single notes have good sustain and even fast, melodic solos sound somewhat thick. But open chords and barred progressions are less satisfying and don't draw as much quality out of the solid Spruce top as what you'd get on something like the more expensive Taylor 114ce.

This is not to say the CD-60S is a bad choice.

It's still a fantastic beginner acoustic guitar. Yet certain reviewers are overselling it beyond a beginner's context.

The solid top does seem to give it a wider resonant projection than its laminate counterpart, the CD-60 (without the "S"), but tone concerns keep it firmly in the beginner guitar camp.

We wouldn't recommend it for intermediate players or any kind of performing.

Read more: Acoustic guitars for intermediate players

Tone Highlights and Descriptors 

• Good sustain
• Chimey 
• Thinner
• More crisp and cool than warm and full
• Not as full as more expensive acoustics

In the Yamaha FG800, the Martin LXK2, and the Taylor BT2, you have better tone with a more professional sound that's lacking in the CD-60S.

Yet, both the FG800 and the CD-60S have solid tops.

The LXK2 and BT2 are all laminate, making it difficult to tell exactly what's causing the tone differences in each guitar. Based on our testing, it's not as simple as saying, "a solid top always sounds better." It can be part of the solution, but not the only part of the equation.

Tonewood

As we've already mentioned, the tonewood mixture in the CD-60S includes the solid Spruce top. In past versions of the CD-60, Fender has also used Mahogany tonewood for that top piece. 

For the back and sides Fender still uses a Mahogany laminate.

This is a fairly typical combination, which helps create the brighter, more intense tone of the CD-60S, similar to the melodic tone profile of the Taylor 114ce. 

Though Mahogany is not as visually appealing, it is one of the most widely used tonewoods in the world. When used in the back and sides it's known for producing warmth and punch, though in the CD-60S it seems to go much harder after the midrange frequencies.

Keep in mind, the CD-60 was originally an all-laminate acoustic.

Based on our testing, it seems Fender threw a solid Spruce top over this guitar at cost to some of the natural warmth and punchiness you should get out of the Mahogany. It seems to favor the Spruce brightness more than the Mahogany warmth.

Bracing and Construction

Overall, the CD-60S checks off a lot of boxes we like to see in the construction category. It has the solid top and scalloped X bracing, which gives it some natural longevity and a longer lifespan than most acoustic guitars in this price range.

The reason we don't rate it higher than 80 is that the CD-60S doesn't seem to get as much good tone out of its construction as other guitars. Good construction - in and of itself - is not the end goal, but a good sound.

Fender's acoustics often put together a good specs sheet that doesn't always translate into the best tone experience.

Electronics

The Fender CD-60S recoups points is in its electronics system, which you get when you buy the CD-60SE or CD-60CE versions.

That system is a Fishman add-on with a two-band EQ, volume, a tuner, and a battery life indicator.

In some cases, we thought the amplified signal through the Fishman sounded better than the natural resonance of the acoustic.

While it's a fair assumption that this preamp is designed cheaper for wide distribution, we still like the flexibility and improvements that come with it. For those considering the CD-60E, we'd recommend the preamp be an important part of your "want list."

If not, you're paying for something you don't need, when you could get a better unplugged acoustic elsewhere.

Of the beginner guitars we like most, the CD-60E pumps the most resources into their preamp and pickup system.

Value

One of the CD-60S's most attractive features is price.

Since we've given it an overall rating, we can compare those numbers with approximate retail and ratings of similar acoustics. This will help us get an idea for how value can be calculated using a simple Excel graph.

In the following diagram, lower and further to the right is better:

This graph shows us that the Fender CD-60S is priced about "right" and consistent with its quality. You can see it performs better than the Martin LXK2 and the Fender FA-100, but not as good as the Yamaha FG800. It's not a perfect comparison, but gives you a general idea of how much quality you're getting for the price.

Best Fit and Context

Conclusion

Fender's wheelhouse has always been electric guitars, amps, and bass guitars.

When they delve into other areas like acoustic guitars and (heaven forbid) guitar lessons, the results are often mixed and hard to pin down.

While we certainly like the CD-60S for its low price and desirable features, it's firmly in the beginner acoustic camp without much headroom. 

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