Best Fender Acoustic Guitars: Budget Models to Stage-Ready Picks

The best Fender acoustic guitars are the CD-60S for a first solid-top guitar, the California Debut Redondo CE for a low-cost guitar that plugs in, and the Acoustasonic Standard Telecaster for electric players who want an acoustic that behaves like one. Fender sells acoustics at every step from a first guitar to a stage-ready hybrid, and the differences are about construction and pickups more than the logo. Here is how the best Fender acoustic guitars compare, who each one fits, and where bundles and laminate tops can trip you up.

Our top picks

Top pickFender FA-25 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Check price on Amazon

Also greatFender FA-25 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Check price on Amazon

Also greatFender California Debut Redondo Series Acoustic Guitar

Check price on Amazon

Also greatFender California Debut Redondo CE Series Beginner

Check price on Amazon

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Key takeaways

• Fender’s acoustic line splits into three groups: laminate starter guitars (FA-25, California Debut Redondo), solid-top guitars (CD-60S, Newporter Player) and electric-feel hybrids (Highway Series, Acoustasonic).
• A solid top is the single biggest tonal upgrade at the entry tier. The CD-60S is the lowest-cost route to one in Fender’s line, per maker listings.
• Bundles add a gig bag, tuner and strap but do not change the guitar. Compare the guitar model, not the extras.
• The Highway Series is a thin-body guitar with a soundhole pickup and an electric-guitar feel, so it is for plugged-in playing more than unplugged strumming.
• Most Fender acoustics come with a two-year warranty according to the listings, which is a real advantage over many no-name starter guitars.

Quick comparison of the best Fender acoustic guitars

Tier words are relative. Construction details are taken from maker and retailer listings, and variants differ by finish and year, so confirm the top wood on the specific listing.

How we picked these Fender acoustics

This is a research-based guide. We did not personally use these guitars. We compared Fender’s published specs, retailer listings and published reviews, and we picked one model for each distinct job: cheapest full-size guitar, first plug-in guitar, first solid top, mid-tier stage guitar, electric-feel guitar and hybrid. Where sources disagree on a spec, such as the exact back and sides wood of the FA-25, we flag the disagreement instead of picking a side.

1. Fender FA-25 Dreadnought: Best for the lowest-cost full-size guitar

The FA-25 is the entry point to Fender’s acoustic line. It is a full-size dreadnought with an all-laminate body, which keeps the cost down and makes it tolerant of beginners who might leave it in a hot room. Retailer specs list a spruce laminate top and laminate back and sides, with a satin finish and a walnut fingerboard.

Sources disagree on whether the back and sides are basswood or mahogany, which is common at this level, so treat the exact wood as less important than the construction: laminated, simple and sturdy.

• Dreadnought · laminate body · 25.6-inch scale · C-shape neck · walnut fingerboard · 20 frets
• Comes with a two-year warranty in the listing
• Sunburst, Natural and Black finishes
• Often sold in packs with a gig bag, tuner and picks
• No cutaway and no pickup

Best for: First guitars for kids and adults who are not sure they will stick with it. Skip if: You want a louder, richer tone or any amplified option.

Pros

• Full-size dreadnought feel at a very low cost tier
• Sturdy laminate body
• Warranty included

Cons

• Laminate top limits tone
• No electronics

2. Fender California Debut Redondo CE: Best for a cheap guitar you can plug in

The California Debut Redondo is Fender’s entry model for players who want a modern shape with a built-in tuner and the option to plug in. The CE version adds a cutaway and a preamp, so you can take it to an open mic without buying a separate pickup.

The body is all laminate with a spruce top, and listings describe the neck as nato with a walnut fingerboard and a slim profile. The result is a light, comfortable guitar that is easy to play for long sessions.

• Cutaway dreadnought · laminate spruce top · 25.5-inch scale · slim neck · built-in tuner and preamp
• Available in Natural, Black and Sunburst
• Also sold as a kit with gig bag, stand, tuner, strap and picks
• Two-year warranty listed
• A non-electric Redondo is available at an even lower tier

Best for: Beginners who want to plug in and teens who play with friends. Skip if: You want solid wood or a deeper voice.

Pros

• Built-in tuner and preamp
• Slim, friendly neck
• Kit versions include accessories

Cons

• Laminate top
• Preamp quality is basic

3. Fender CD-60S: Best first solid-top Fender acoustic

The CD-60S is the most commonly recommended Fender acoustic for people who want a solid top without moving up in cost tier. Most finishes use a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, and an All-Mahogany version uses a solid mahogany top for a warmer, drier voice.

The scale is 25.3 inches according to published specs, a little shorter than many dreadnoughts, which makes the strings feel slightly looser. There is also a CD-60SCE version with electronics for plugged-in playing.

• Dreadnought · solid spruce top (or solid mahogany) · mahogany back and sides · 25.3-inch scale · walnut fingerboard
• Two-year warranty in the listing
• Commonly bundled with a gig bag or hard case, tuner and strap
• All-Mahogany version has a different, warmer voice
• No pickup on the base model

Best for: Beginners who want a real solid-top guitar and intermediate players on a budget. Skip if: You need electronics out of the box (look at the CD-60SCE).

Pros

• Solid top at a low-mid tier
• Comfortable scale
• Good amount of volume for the price

Cons

• Laminate back and sides on the spruce version
• Basic hardware

4. Fender Newporter Player: Best mid-tier acoustic-electric

The Newporter Player is Fender’s mid-tier answer to the question of how to build an acoustic-electric that looks and plays like a Fender. It has a compact, mid-size body with a cutaway, an X-braced solid spruce top, sapele back and sides and a slim C-shape nato neck, according to the current spec description.

An older version of the guitar used mahogany for the back, sides and neck, so check the year if you shop used. The guitar has onboard electronics with a preamp and tuner, and it is the one in this list that most closely resembles a traditional small-body acoustic.

• Mid-size cutaway · solid spruce top, sapele back and sides · 25.5-inch scale · slim C-shape neck · walnut fingerboard
• Two-year warranty listed
• Built-in electronics
• Related models: Malibu Player and Redondo Player
• Satin finishes keep the top lively

Best for: Singer-songwriters who want one guitar for the stage. Skip if: You want a full dreadnought sound with more bass.

Pros

• Solid top and stage electronics
• Comfortable neck
• Stylish Fender headstock

Cons

• Layered back and sides
• Quality varies by year

5. Fender Highway Series Dreadnought: Best for electric players who want an acoustic

The Highway Series is Fender’s attempt to build an acoustic for guitarists who learned on electric. The body is thin, only about 2.25 inches deep, per review specs, with a solid top and a Fishman Fluence Acoustic magnetic soundhole pickup. The neck is bolt-on with a C shape and a 1.69-inch nut.

Reviewers note that it is designed for plugged-in playing and does not sound like a traditional deep-bodied acoustic unplugged. The tone comes mainly from the pickup, which is why the guitar is better suited to stage and recording than to a quiet living room.

• Thin-body dreadnought · solid top (spruce or mahogany) · Fishman Fluence Acoustic soundhole pickup · 1.69-inch nut · 12-inch radius rosewood board
• Made in Mexico, per reviews
• 20 narrow tall frets and satin neck finish
• Factory strings are coated phosphor bronze 11-52, per specs
• Parlor version also available, with conflicting scale length in sources

Best for: Electric guitarists who want a familiar feel on an acoustic. Skip if: You want a loud unplugged acoustic.

Pros

• Electric-guitar feel
• Feedback-resistant pickup
• Light and comfortable

Cons

• Weak unplugged
• Upper-mid cost tier

6. Fender Acoustasonic Standard Telecaster: Best affordable hybrid

The Acoustasonic series is Fender’s hybrid line that blends acoustic and electric sounds. The Standard Telecaster has a solid Sitka spruce top over a fully chambered nyatoh body, a bolt-on nyatoh neck with a Modern Deep C shape and a rosewood fingerboard with a 12-inch radius, according to published reviews.

It uses two pickup systems, a Fender Acoustasonic Shawbucker and a Fishman under-saddle transducer, with a blend control. Reviewers note that the Standard drops the voicing selector of the Player and American models, so you get a simpler, blend-based approach.

• Chambered hybrid body · solid Sitka spruce top · 25.5-inch scale · 22 frets · TUSQ nut at 1.6875 inches · Shawbucker plus Fishman
• Made in Indonesia, per Guitar World
• Factory strings coated 80/20 bronze 11-52, per specs
• Runs on a 9V battery
• No case or gig bag included in the listing

Best for: Electric guitarists who want a quieter, versatile acoustic. Skip if: You need a loud traditional acoustic voice.

Pros

• Familiar Telecaster feel
• Two pickups blend
• Less feedback on stage

Cons

• Quiet unplugged
• No gig bag in the listing

7. Fender Acoustasonic Player Telecaster: Best for the full hybrid experience

The Player Telecaster is the more complete Acoustasonic. It shares the Telecaster-style chambered design and the 25.5-inch scale of the Standard, but reviewers describe it as having a voicing selector and a wider range of tones, which is what the Standard drops.

It is listed in a higher cost tier than the Standard, so the question is whether you will use the extra voices. If you record or play in several styles, the added flexibility is the point of the model.

• Chambered hybrid body · 25.5-inch scale · multi-voice electronics · Telecaster styling · 2-year warranty
• Available with a rosewood fingerboard in several finishes
• A Jazzmaster version also exists in the Player series
• Check the current listing for voice count and case

Best for: Players who want one guitar for several tones. Skip if: You only strum and rarely plug in.

Pros

• Wide tonal range
• Strong stage versatility
• Electric-style playability

Cons

• Top cost tier
• More complex controls

Also consider

• Fender CP-60S Parlor: a smaller parlor body for fingerstyle and couch playing.
• Fender FA-125CE Dreadnought: a cutaway acoustic-electric at a low tier.
• Fender Malibu Player: a compact, stylish acoustic-electric in the Player family.
• Fender California Standard Redondo CE: a step above the Debut with a spruce top, sapele body and tuner.

Best Fender acoustic guitars for beginners

For most beginners the choice comes down to the FA-25, the California Debut Redondo or the CD-60S. The FA-25 is the cheapest full-size option and a safe choice for kids. The Redondo CE is the better pick if you want a tuner and the ability to plug in. The CD-60S is the best choice if you can stretch the budget a little, because a solid spruce top will sound noticeably fuller than laminate and will keep improving.

Whatever you buy, pay for a basic setup at a shop. A low action matters more to a beginner than any difference in wood, because high strings make fretting painful and are the most common reason people quit.

Best Fender guitars: acoustic or electric?

If you searched for the best Fender guitars in general, note that this guide covers the acoustic and hybrid side only. The electric Fender and Squier lines are a separate decision based on pickups, bridge and neck, and they involve different choices than a dreadnought. If you play electric and want an acoustic that feels familiar, the Highway Series and Acoustasonic models in this guide are the bridge between the two worlds.

What makes the best Fender acoustic guitars feel like Fenders

Fender’s acoustics do not try to copy the deep, heavy feel of a Martin or a Gibson. They borrow from the electric side of the company: slim C-shape necks, Stratocaster-style headstocks on several models, walnut or rosewood boards and generally lighter bodies. For a player who learned on electric, that familiarity matters more than a fraction of a decibel of volume. It is also why the Highway Series and the Acoustasonic line exist at all.

The trade-off is voice. Fender’s budget acoustics lean bright and clear rather than deep and woody, and the laminate models in particular do not have the sustained bass of a solid-wood dreadnought. If your goal is a big, rounded strummer, the CD-60S and its All-Mahogany sibling are the closest Fender comes. If your goal is playability and amplified versatility, the Newporter Player, Highway and Acoustasonic guitars are better matched.

Common mistakes when buying a Fender acoustic

• Paying for a bundle you do not need. A gig bag, strap and picks add little value if you already own them. Compare the guitar model number across listings.
• Assuming all CD-60S versions are the same. The All-Mahogany version uses a solid mahogany top, while other finishes use spruce. They sound different.
• Buying a Highway Series guitar to play unplugged. It is a thin-body, pickup-driven design, and reviewers describe it as quiet without an amp.
• Skipping the setup. Entry guitars often ship with higher action. A shop adjustment is the cheapest upgrade you can make.
• Ignoring humidity on solid tops. A solid spruce top can crack in a dry winter room. A small case humidifier is cheap insurance.

Bundles versus bare guitars: what to watch for

Many Fender acoustics, especially the FA-25, FA-125, CD-60S and Redondo, are sold in bundles with a gig bag, tuner, strap, strings and picks. Bundles can be useful, but they sometimes add a small markup, and the accessories vary in quality. A bundle is a good deal only if you need every item. If you already have a tuner and strap, a bare guitar at the same model number is the same instrument for less.

Gear that helps

• Fender Acoustasonic 15 amplifier: a small 15-watt combo with microphone and instrument channels for practicing with a plug-in Fender acoustic.
• Fender Acoustasonic 40 amplifier: a larger 40-watt combo with dual 6.5-inch speakers for small gigs.

Buying guide: how to choose among the best Fender acoustic guitars

1. Decide solid or laminate. A solid spruce top, as on the CD-60S and Newporter Player, produces a fuller sound that improves with age. Laminate, as on the FA-25 and Redondo, is more durable and less expensive. If you can afford the solid top, buy it.
2. Pick the body. A dreadnought like the FA-25 or CD-60S gives the most volume and bass. A mid-size cutaway like the Newporter Player is more comfortable and good for stage. A thin body like the Highway Series is built for amplified use.
3. Check the scale. The CD-60S at 25.3 inches is a little looser than the 25.5-inch Redondo and Newporter. The FA-25 is listed at 25.6 inches. The difference is small, but a shorter scale is easier on the fretting hand.
4. Decide whether you need a pickup. If you play at home, skip the electronics. If you plan to perform, buy the CE or electronics version from the start, because a factory preamp is neater than a retrofit.
5. Look at the nut width. The Highway Series lists 1.69 inches and the Acoustasonic Standard lists 1.6875 inches, which are slightly wider than a typical electric guitar. If you have small hands, test before you buy.
6. Value the warranty. A two-year warranty, listed on many of these Fender models, covers defects and gives you recourse that many generic guitars do not.
7. Plan the setup. Budget for a professional setup. Many entry guitars ship with high action, and a good setup can make a low-cost guitar feel much more expensive.
8. Mind humidity. Solid-wood models should stay near 40 to 50 percent relative humidity, according to common maker guidance. Laminate guitars tolerate more variation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Fender acoustic guitar for a beginner?

The FA-25 is the lowest-cost full-size option, the California Debut Redondo CE adds a tuner and pickup, and the CD-60S gives you a solid top. If your budget allows, the CD-60S is the best long-term choice.

Are Fender acoustic guitars any good?

Yes, in the entry and mid tiers they offer good value, especially the CD-60S and the Player-series acoustics. They are best known for comfortable necks and a two-year warranty on many models.

What is the difference between the CD-60S and the FA-25?

The CD-60S has a solid top on most versions, while the FA-25 is all-laminate. The CD-60S also has a slightly shorter scale at 25.3 inches. Both are dreadnoughts.

Do Fender acoustic guitars come with a case?

Many are sold with a gig bag in a bundle, and some with a hard case. The Acoustasonic Standard Telecaster listing does not include a case, so check what is included.

What is a Fender Acoustasonic?

It is a hybrid guitar that blends acoustic and electric sounds, with a chambered body and two pickup types. It is designed for players who want acoustic tones with electric-guitar playability and less feedback on stage.

Is a laminate top bad?

Not for beginners. A laminate top is stiffer and less resonant than solid wood, but it is more durable and cheaper. If you plan to play for years, a solid top will give you more tonal growth.

Which strings suit these guitars?

Most of these models ship with light-gauge bronze strings, and the Highway Series and Acoustasonic Standard are listed with coated 11-52 sets. For a beginner, a light or custom-light set keeps finger pressure manageable, and a fresh set often improves a low-cost guitar more than any other change.

Can I use a Fender Acoustasonic as my only guitar?

You can if you play mostly plugged in or at moderate volume. Reviewers describe the Standard as quiet unplugged and more of a hybrid than a replacement for a full dreadnought, so strummers who play without an amp may want the CD-60S instead.

Does Fender make left-handed acoustics?

Some models appear in left-handed versions in listings, but availability varies and is limited.

Which Fender acoustic should you buy?

• Tightest budget: FA-25 Dreadnought.
• Cheap and plug-in: California Debut Redondo CE.
• Best value solid top: CD-60S.
• Mid-tier stage guitar: Newporter Player.
• Electric player on a budget: Highway Series Dreadnought.
• Affordable hybrid: Acoustasonic Standard Telecaster.
• Maximum flexibility: Acoustasonic Player Telecaster.

If you are unsure, the CD-60S is the safest answer: a solid top, a comfortable scale and a warranty at a reasonable cost tier.

Sources

Fender published product pages, Guitar World, MusicRadar, Guitar Player, Sweetwater and Guitar Center spec listings.

Last updated: October 2026