Description
Review of the Fender Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Natural Bundle
This is a full-size natural-finish dreadnought acoustic-electric with onboard Fender electronics, sold as a bundle with a gig bag, strap, spare strings, picks and an instructional video. It is aimed at a beginner or improving player who wants a large-bodied strumming guitar that can also be plugged into an amplifier or a PA system.
Pros & Cons
- The dreadnought body produces real low end. A large square-shouldered body moves a lot of air, which is what gives the bold bass response suited to country, folk and bluegrass strumming.
- Onboard volume and tone controls are simple to use. Two controls rather than a four-band graphic panel is less to get wrong, and a beginner plugging in for the first time is unlikely to be helped by more knobs.
- The “C” shaped neck profile suits new players. A rounded medium-depth back keeps the thumb behind the neck naturally rather than forcing a stretch, which matters in the first months of playing.
- A walnut fingerboard and bridge are consistently specified. Both the description and the specification table agree here, which is more than can be said for many listings. Walnut is harder and slightly paler than rosewood and stands up well to string wear.
- The pickup system is described as a single-coil. The specification table records the pickup configuration as “S”, which describes a magnetic guitar pickup. An acoustic-electric of this type uses an undersaddle pressure sensor, not a single coil. The listing never names the pickup or preamp model, so what is actually fitted cannot be confirmed.
- No power information is given. Almost every acoustic preamp runs on a 9 volt battery, but the listing states no battery requirement, no battery type and no indication whether one is included.
- No cable is in the bundle. The package contains a gig bag, strap, strings, picks and a video, but nothing to actually connect the guitar to an amplifier, which is odd for an acoustic-electric bundle.
- The 9 pound weight is a shipping figure. That covers the carton and the bundled accessories, not the guitar on a strap.
- A laminate top is durable but will not open up. It resists humidity swings and knocks far better than a solid top, but solid tops gain resonance over years of playing and laminate stays broadly where it started.
Detailed Product Description
The top is spruce over a laminated basswood back, with the body listed as basswood. Spruce is the standard soundboard timber because it is stiff for its weight and converts string energy efficiently. Because the description states an all-laminate body, the top is layered rather than a single solid sheet, which trades tonal development for durability and stability. The solid top and laminate comparison explains what that means over the life of the guitar.
The neck is nato, a hardwood used widely as a mahogany substitute. It is stable, moderately dense and holds a satin or gloss finish well. The scale length is 25.6 inches, the longer of the two common acoustic scales, which gives slightly higher string tension at pitch, a firmer feel and a touch more clarity and volume.
The bridge is fixed, with strings held by pins under a saddle, and it is walnut. Sealed-gear tuning machines handle tuning; the sealed housings keep dust out of the gears so the turn stays consistent over years.
Electronically the guitar carries an onboard Fender interface with volume and tone. On acoustic-electrics of this type the pickup sits under the saddle and reads string pressure rather than magnetism, which is why a plugged-in acoustic sounds different from the same guitar in a room. Strings are bronze, bright when new and quicker to dull than phosphor bronze. Deciding what to plug into is a separate question, covered in the guide to amplifying an acoustic-electric.
What Comes with the Product
The listing states the bundle includes the guitar, a gig bag, a strap, extra strings, picks and an Austin Bazaar instructional video.
Not included, and not claimed: an instrument cable, an amplifier, a tuner, a capo, a stand, or a battery for the onboard electronics. The missing cable is the notable one, since the guitar’s main selling point is that it plugs in and nothing in the box lets it do so. A clip-on tuner is the other item worth ordering alongside.
Who It Suits
This suits a singer or songwriter who needs to be heard alongside other instruments, a beginner who expects to plug in eventually, or a player who wants a big strumming sound with the option of amplification.
It suits less well a small player or a child, since a full dreadnought is a large body to reach around, or an experienced player wanting a solid top that will mature with age. Anyone who will never plug in would be better off with a straight acoustic and no electronics to pay for. Other options sit in acoustic-electric guitars.
How to Maintain
Keep it in a stable room away from radiators and out of direct sun. Laminate construction handles humidity change better than a solid top, but heat still lifts bridges and moves necks.
Wipe the strings after playing, since bronze corrodes quickly with skin oils on it. Unplug the cable when the guitar is not in use, because on most acoustic preamps the jack acts as the power switch and a lead left in will drain the cell. Clean the finish with a dry soft cloth. Oil the walnut fingerboard once or twice a year if it looks dry, and store the guitar in its bag rather than leaning it on a wall.
Tips and Recommendations
Buy a cable and a clip-on tuner at the same time as the guitar. Neither is included and both are needed in the first week.
Start the onboard tone control at the middle and cut rather than boost. Undersaddle systems tend to be too bright rather than too dull, and pulling the tone back usually sounds more natural than adding to it. Fit a set of light phosphor bronze strings when the factory bronze set tires, which will warm the sound noticeably. If the guitar feeds back at volume, a soundhole cover is the standard fix. Retune frequently for the first fortnight while new strings settle.
Warranty & Support Information
The listing states a two-year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. An instructional video is supplied by the bundling retailer. No further support detail or claims process is described in the published data.
Product FAQ
What kind of pickup does it use? The listing describes onboard Fender electronics with volume and tone but never names the system. The specification table records the configuration as “S”, which describes a magnetic single coil and does not fit an acoustic-electric of this type.
Does it need a battery? Not stated. Most acoustic preamps require a 9 volt battery, but the listing gives no battery requirement or type.
Is a cable included? No. The bundle contains a gig bag, strap, strings, picks and a video, but no instrument cable.
What comparable models are there? Alternatives include the Fender dreadnought acoustic bundle, the Yamaha APXT2 three-quarter acoustic-electric and the Donner 41 inch acoustic-electric kit with amplifier.
