Description
Review of the Fender Redondo Player Acoustic Guitar in Jetty Black
The Fender Redondo Player is a full size acoustic electric built on a body shape exclusive to Fender, with a painted solid spruce top over painted mahogany back and sides and a Fishman pickup and preamp system. It runs a 25.6 inch scale on a mahogany neck with a slim taper C profile and a walnut fingerboard, finished in Jetty Black with a matching painted headstock. It is aimed at a player who wants a distinctive looking acoustic that can be plugged in, and it is backed by a two year warranty.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Solid spruce top, stated explicitly in the listing rather than left ambiguous. A solid top responds better than a laminate and continues to open up over years of playing.
- Fishman pickup and preamp system, a widely used and well regarded name in acoustic amplification.
- Slim taper C neck profile, a shallower shape that suits players who find chunky acoustic necks tiring.
- Two year warranty, stated in the listing.
- Available in a left handed version, which is far from universal at this level.
Cons
- The listing contradicts itself on the fingerboard. The product name and the description both say walnut, while the specification table says mahogany. The two named sources agree on walnut, but it is worth confirming.
- A painted top covers the spruce entirely. Paint adds a layer over the soundboard, and a heavy finish damps some of the movement a solid top is chosen for in the first place.
- The listing gives no detail about the specific Fishman system fitted, so the number of EQ bands, the presence of a tuner and any feedback controls are unknown.
- No case or gig bag is listed as included.
Detailed Product Description
The top is solid spruce. This is the single most important detail in the specification. A solid top is cut from one piece of wood, while a laminate is a thin veneer bonded over cheaper layers. The solid panel flexes more freely and produces a fuller, more responsive sound, and unlike a laminate it continues to change with age as the wood cells settle under decades of vibration. The distinction is explained further in the guide to solid top versus laminate acoustic guitars.
The complication here is that the top is painted rather than left natural. Paint is a heavier and more opaque coating than a clear satin or thin gloss finish, and any coating on a soundboard damps its movement to some degree. That does not cancel out the benefit of a solid top, but it does mean this instrument prioritises appearance alongside acoustic performance rather than chasing the latter alone.
The neck is mahogany with a slim taper C profile. A C profile is a rounded shape that fills the palm without corners, and the slim taper version is shallower front to back than a standard acoustic neck. For a player used to electric guitars this is a significant comfort factor, because acoustic necks are usually much chunkier. The 25.6 inch scale reinforces that, sitting close to the 25.5 inch measurement used across Fender’s electric range.
The pickup system is by Fishman. The specification lists the pickup type as piezo, which normally means an undersaddle element sensing string pressure. This resists feedback well at volume, which is why it dominates live acoustic use, and produces a bright, slightly compressed character that usually benefits from a small treble reduction. The system runs from the supplied 9V battery. Whether the electronics are worth paying for depends on the intended use, a question covered in the guide to whether an acoustic electric guitar needs an amp.
What Comes with the Product
- The Redondo Player acoustic electric guitar in Jetty Black with a walnut fingerboard
- A 9V battery for the preamp
No case, gig bag, cable, strap, tuner or spare strings is listed as part of the package.
Who It Suits
This suits an electric guitarist adding an acoustic, since the slim taper neck and the 25.6 inch scale keep the feel familiar. It suits a singer songwriter or worship player who needs to plug into a PA without a microphone. It also suits anyone who wants a solid topped acoustic with a look that stands out from the standard natural finish dreadnought.
It suits less well a purist chasing maximum acoustic response, since a painted soundboard is a compromise a bare finished top does not make. It suits less well a complete beginner too, because a bare instrument leaves the tuner, bag, strap and cable still to be bought. Anyone with small hands should check the nut width before committing, as it is not published, and left handed players should note that the description mentions a left handed version exists, a topic covered in the guide to left handed guitars for beginners. Comparable instruments include the Fender California Debut Redondo, the Ibanez PC12MHCE with its onboard tuner, and the Fender CD-60S all mahogany dreadnought. The wider range sits in the acoustic electric guitars section and the full guitar review index.
How to Maintain
A solid top needs more humidity care than a laminate. Keep the guitar away from radiators and out of unheated spaces, and consider a case humidifier in dry winter conditions. The signs of trouble are an action that climbs, a top that sinks or bellies, and hairline cracks running with the grain.
Remove or unplug the battery circuit when the guitar is not in use. Many onboard preamps draw current whenever a cable is plugged into the output jack, so leaving a lead connected is the fastest way to flatten a battery.
Tips and Recommendations
Carry a spare 9V battery. A preamp going flat mid performance is the most common failure mode with any acoustic electric guitar.
Buy a case at the same time as the guitar. A painted finish shows scuffs clearly and there is no bag included. The trade offs are covered in the guide to guitar cases versus gig bags.
Warranty & Support Information
The listing states that the guitar carries a two year warranty. The listing data does not detail what that cover includes, how a claim is made, or whether it applies in every territory, so a buyer should confirm the terms with the seller before relying on it.
Product FAQ
Is the top solid or laminated?
Solid spruce, stated directly in the listing, and painted rather than left natural.
Can it be plugged in?
Yes. It carries a Fishman pickup and preamp system, listed as piezo, running from a 9V battery which is included.
Is there a left handed version?
The description states that the model is also available left handed. This particular listing is right handed.
