The Ultimate Guide to the Best Fender Acoustic Guitars in 2023

With so many Fender acoustic guitars on the market, it can be hard to know which one is best for you. 

The number of options and variations in price, style, and quality make choosing a new Fender acoustic guitar confusing. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices in their catalog.

The bottom line is the best fender acoustic guitar will be different for everyone. Still, I’ve done all the research and narrowed down my top picks to help you find your perfect match quickly!

My guide is designed to help steer you towards the best Fender acoustic guitars for different use-cases, skill levels, and specific playing styles.

I’ve also included a helpful buying guide at the end to help you discover your ideal Fender acoustic guitar. I’ll discuss size, shape, wood type/style, electronics & more so that finding the best fender acoustic guitar for you won’t be difficult.

Let’s begin!

The Best Fender Acoustic Guitars in 2023 at a Glance

• Editor’s Choice: 
  Newporter Classic
• Best Acoustic-Electric: 
  American Acoustasonic® Stratocaster®
• Best for Travel: 
  Sonoran Mini With Bag
• Best for Beginners: 
  CD-60SCE Dreadnought
• Best for Recording: 
  PO-220e Mahogany
• Best for Fingerstyle: 
  PS-220e Mahogany
• Best for Flatpicking and Strumming: 
  PD-220E
• Best for Children: 
  FA-15 3/4 Steel

The Newporter Classic California Series Acoustic Guitar is one unique-looking acoustic guitar. It has an undeniable vintage style combined with modern features, making it perfect for any player.

The Newporter Classic is a beautifully crafted guitar excellent for fingerstyle, flat-picking, and strumming. The auditorium-sized body and solid Sitka spruce top produce an incredibly resonant sound with plenty of dynamics. At the same time, the mahogany back and sides provide warmth to your tone and durability for a long-lasting guitar.

The Newporter’s slim-taper “C”-shaped neck makes it an excellent choice for electric guitarists who want to transition into playing acoustic instruments.

The scalloped X-bracing provides extra durability and enhances the guitar’s overall resonance, bass response, and volume.

All California Series acoustic guitars come standard with a built-in tuner, EQ, and phase controls. The Fishman preamp system is specifically tuned for each body type, which means you can be confident your plugged-in tone will keep the integrity of the natural tone.

This is an excellent guitar for those looking to have fun without spending too much. It’s also an exceptionally versatile instrument, suitable for beginners and experienced players who are on the go. It’s also a great option for those who want something that sounds great when they’re at home sitting on their couch!

The American-made Acoustasonic® Stratocaster® is another illustration of Fender’s quest for innovative guitar manufacturing.

The Acoustic Engine, developed by Fender and Fishman® electronics, will inspire you with its ability to transform from an acoustic into an electric guitar sound within seconds. I have no doubt you’ll discover new sonic possibilities that weren’t available to you previously.

The innovative N4 Noiseless Strat magnetic bridge pickup delivers a genuine Fender electric tone without the hum. This pickup can blend between an acoustic and electric guitar voice for ultimate versatility in any genre of music.

This Acoustasonic® Fender guitar has a black ebony-capped fingerboard and deep “C” mahogany neck that offers an enjoyable playing experience. The solid spruce top, when unplugged, produces traditional acoustic sounds like those heard on conventional acoustic guitars.

This acoustic-electric guitar is not for everyone, though. It’s got a specific player in mind: the guitarist who performs regularly and doesn’t want to switch between electric and acoustic guitar mid-set but needs both sounds in their arsenal.

All in all, this guitar will inspire you to create new sounds and music. The Acoustasonic Stratocaster will become one of your favorite guitars whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro.

The Sonoran Mini is a small-scale, well-crafted, and versatile guitar that has been designed for beginners or travelers in mind. At just 22 3/4″ long, this travel-friendly axe can be taken anywhere you go, no matter the type of trip!

The body is constructed with mahogany back and sides, while the spruce top makes for a responsive and dynamic sound. The walnut fingerboard and Nato neck add to the guitar’s great player response and durability.

This mini acoustic also features scalloped X bracing, which helps give you better bass response and punch from these smaller guitars.

This miniature guitar is not what it seems – the rich tones are present with this one!

If you’re in the market for a great travel guitar or kids’ guitar, then you should check out my articles:

The Best 1/2 Size Guitar for Your Musical Kiddo in 2023

The 9 Best 3/4 Acoustic Guitars (With Buying Guide) 2023

Looking for the best Fender guitar for beginners? The CD-60SCE Dreadnought body guitar should be at the top of your list!

This Fender acoustic comes with everything you need to get started. The tonewood combination offers excellent sound quality thanks to its solid spruce top paired up against its mahogany back and sides. This classic tonewood combination will give any aspiring player that acoustic sound they’ve been searching for.

The mahogany neck and rolled edge rosewood fingerboard make this a comfortable, easy-to-play guitar for beginners.

The CD-60SCE has a cutaway body guitar that will give you access to higher frets for when you’re ready for more advanced playing styles.

It comes with a built-in tuner and an easy-to-use Fishman electronics system with volume control, so you can jump right into a gig when you’re ready to show off your new skills.

If you’re looking for a quality acoustic guitar with everything you need to get started, the Fender CD-60SCE is an excellent option.

Want to discover more options for the best budget beginner acoustic guitars?

Check out my Best Acoustic Guitar Roundups for the following price ranges:

• Best Under $300
• Best between $300-$500

The Fender PO-220e Mahogany is the best Fender acoustic for recording because it has that perfect combination of warmth and squishy natural compression that studio musicians love. This guitar is made from open-poor solid mahogany, which creates great resonance and reliable construction.

The Orchestra body style produces focused and articulate sound with plenty of bass response. This Fender acoustic guitar can be a perfect alternative for guitar players who want the Martin O00-15M, which costs almost double.

If you are looking for a high-quality acoustic guitar that will give you great sound for recording, the Fender PO-220e Mahogany is worth considering.

It has all of the features that studio musicians love – warmth, natural compression, and great resonance – in a more affordable package than some of the other options on the market.

So if you want to get serious about your music production, the Fender PO-220e Mahogany should be at the top of your list.

The Fender PS-220e Mahogany is an inspiring instrument that appeals to fingerstyle players. Specifically, those who want a small, premium-grade parlor acoustic guitar with organic styling and natural finishes for a reasonable price.

Suppose you are a player who has less dynamic consistency in your plucking hand. In that case, the solid mahogany body will help compress and even out your notes. Making your playing sound more consistent and articulate.

The open-pore finish lets the guitar vibrate freely, producing great resonance while allowing the mahogany tonewood to breathe.

The renewed Fender Paramount series adds elegant details and forward-thinking design elements to increase the tone, playability, and overall “classiness” of the guitar.

The Fender Paramount series features an offset x-bracing which allows the guitar to resonant and flex differently on different sides of the guitar. This helps bring out the articulation and nuance of each guitar string.

There’s also beautiful detail in the binding and fretboard inlays that make this guitar very beautiful to look at.

If you’re in the market for a modern, beautiful-looking fingerstyle guitar from one of the best guitar brands, I recommend checking out the Fender PS-220e Mahogany.

It’s perfect for fingerstyle players who want an inspiring instrument that doesn’t sacrifice quality to help them play and sound their best.

For other great option’s for fingerstyle acoustic guitars, please refer to my article “The Best Fingerstyle Guitars for Acoustic Players and Songwriters.”

The Fender PD-220E Dreadnought body guitar is the perfect choice if you are looking for a guitar that will cut through a busy mix. 

This Paramount series guitar comes with a solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, a mahogany neck, and an Ovangkol fingerboard. This classic tonewood combination creates a guitar with great dynamic range, accentuated highs and lows, and a strong and balanced projection. This makes an excellent guitar for flat-picking and strumming styles.

The PD-220E Dreadnought comes with Fender and Fishman Sonitone Plus Soundhole Pickup System discretely sits within the guitar’s soundhole with easy access controls, so you can maintain the classic vibe while getting an excellent and natural sound from the stage.

If you are a fan of bluegrass, country, or folk music and need a guitar that will cut through a busy mix, the Fender PD-220E Dreadnought is perfect. With its engaging and sincere tone, this Paramount series guitar will become one of your favorite instruments.

Kids will be drawn to this attractive and affordable instrument which features high-quality laminate construction and is less likely to crack from misuse and warp from weather changes.

The satin nato neck provides a lively tone and feel that makes this guitar fun to play while still having a good tone.

This is a no-frills guitar that is an excellent purchase for a little one interested in learning guitar.

If you’re in the market for a guitar for your kid, then you should check out my articles:

• The Best 1/4 Size Guitars for Toddlers (3-6) in 2023
• The Best 1/2 Size Guitar for Your Musical Kiddo (6-8) in 2023
• The 9 Best 3/4 Acoustic Guitars (8-12) in 2023

Have you ever wondered what the best guitar brands on the market are today? Well, I created an ultimate acoustic guitar brand guide and buyer’s guide to help you choose your perfect guitar. Check it out today!

The Fender Acoustic Guitar Buyers Guide

A guide to help narrow down other alternatives that weren’t included in my top picks for the best Fender acoustic guitars.

Body Styles

The body shape of an acoustic guitar is one of the most important things to consider before you purchase.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the different body styles of Fender’s acoustic guitars.

Concert

The Concert body size is a great choice for fingerpicking. Fingerstylist will love this smaller-bodied guitar with a tight bass response that won’t overpower your treble notes. This makes concert body types perfect for chords and multi-voiced sections with complex harmonies.

Oh yeah, they are also highly comfortable.

Popular concert body Fender acoustic guitar:

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat

Dreadnought

The dreadnought body style is the quintessential acoustic guitar body shape. It was invented in 1916 by Martin Guitars and named after a British battleship.

The characteristics of a dreadnought acoustic guitar can be described as big and bold. A perfect body shape for bluegrass, country, and acoustic blues music.

Popular dreadnought Fender acoustic guitars:

Fender CD-60S Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Redondo

Suppose you’re looking for a guitar that can command s room with a big acoustic sound and unique look. In that case, I recommend checking out this California Series Redondo.

The body style is based on s traditional Dreadnought but also offers an option for a cutaway to access the upper frets.

Popular Redondo California Series Acoustic Guitars:

Redondo Classic

Redondo Player

Newporter

The Newporter is a California-series acoustic guitar with an old-school retro vibe. Based on a 1965 design, this instrument will be the perfect choice for anyone looking to strum or fingerstyle their way through some tunes!

You can even get one painted in pastel blue or lipstick red if that’s what floats your boat!

Popular Newporter California Series Acoustic Guitars:

Newporter Classic

Newporter Player

Malibu

The small-bodied Fender Malibu Classic guitar is the perfect choice for those who want an old-school, lo-fi acoustic sound with a vintage look.

This parlor-style acoustic instrument is perfect as your couch or bonfire guitar, so you’ll always have something warm and cool sounding when playing music around friends.

Popular Malibu Californa Series Acoustic Guitars:

Fender Malibu Player

Joe Strummer Campfire Acoustic

Auditorium

The Auditorium fender acoustic guitar body type sits closer to the body compared to a classic dreadnought, usually making for a more comfortable playing experience on stage or at home. This guitar’s sound will complement any environment and audience size.

There’s one official Auditorium-style Fender guitar in their lineup. The FA-345CE guitar comes with a laminate flame maple top, back and sides. So this style will be more affordable than other popular guitar models like the Triple-O, but you’ll miss out on its classic tone or aging due to not being made of solid wood.

Orchestra

Orchestra Fender guitars are inspired by a Martin guitar’s classic body OM body style. This acoustic guitar has a body shape that sits closer to the body, and the pinched contours create a more focused and articulate sound.

The tone and playability for the Fender Acoustic Triple-0 body style will never disappoint, thanks to the all-solid wood construction and understated but elegant inlays and binding.

Popular Orchestra Fender acoustic guitars:

P0-220e

P0-220e All-Mahogany

Parlor

The Fender parlor acoustic guitar is the smallest full-sized model in their lineup. This body type offers a vintage “lo-fi” tone with a rolled-off bass response, which is great for recording or playing solo on your couch.

Popular Fender acoustic guitars with Parlor style body:

PS-220e Standard Parlor

PS-220e Parlor All-Mahogany

California Minis

Fender guitars announced their new California Minis series in 2021, an acoustic guitar designed for travelers and kids alike. The small size can be quickly taken on your next adventure without discomfort or inconvenience, and also small enough for children to learn on easily.

Redondo Mini

The Redondo Mini is a mini dreadnought acoustic guitar. These Fender body types are perfect for beginners and come with a solid spruce top, making the tone of this guitar on par with full-bodied acoustics.

The Redondo has the classic characteristic of all dreadnought guitars, big full tones!

The Redondo Mini is a great 1/2 size guitar, especially for children. If you are in the market for a great guitar for your kid you should check out my article “The Best 1/2 Size Guitar for Your Musical Kiddo in 2023” today!

Sonoran Mini

The Sonoran Mini is a mini concert-style bodied acoustic guitar. This guitar works well for beginners looking for a more focused, articulate guitar suitable for fingerstyle and softer strumming.

This body type from Fender also comes with a solid spruce top making the tone stand up against its full-scale acoustic guitar counterparts.

Tonewoods

It’s critical to think about the woods your guitar is made from. Tonewoods all sound different, and it’s good to know what those are if you want the best Fender acoustic guitar for your style. Tonewoods also considerably impact the tone of acoustic guitars and their dynamic range and playability.

Here is a quick list of the tonewoods you will find on a Fender acoustic guitar.

The Soundboard (Top Wood)

An acoustic guitar’s soundboard (or top wood) is the most important tonewood. When purchasing a Fender instrument, you should buy a guitar with a solid wood top.

Fender’s acoustic guitar line is more limited than other acoustic guitar brands. They come with two options for solid wood, solid spruce, and natural solid mahogany.

A solid spruce top will have a more dynamic range and project a more crisp sound than mahogany.

Mahogany is a stiffer wood with a warmer tone. Mahogany also has an inherent compression that’s great for recording artists and players with uneven strumming techniques.

Some Fender acoustic guitars are built with a laminate top. Laminate guitars usually consist of multiple thin sheets of wood layered together. It can also be made of synthetic materials made to look like wood.

Laminate often doesn’t resonate as well as a solid top guitar and is used for entry-level acoustic guitar models. A benefit of laminate is they don’t crack easily or warp from changing weather patterns.

The Body & Sides

The body and sides of the guitar give the tone some extra “seasoning” and need to be considered when finding the best Fender acoustic for you to purchase.

With Fender acoustic guitars, there isn’t much choice regarding your back and sides. Mahogany is pretty much the de facto selection. More premium guitar models will use solid mahogany back and sides. At the same time, a more affordable guitar in Fender’s acoustic line will feature laminated mahogany.

Mahogany sides will produce an excellent balanced tone and richness to a guitar’s sound.

Electronics and Pickups

When searching for the best Fender acoustic guitars, you should consider whether you’ll need pickups and electronics for gigging out.

Most Fender acoustic guitars come with Fishman electronics tuned to the body type. This customized tuning will ensure a more realistic representation of your sound when plugged into an amplifier or PA system.

However, certain Paramount Series guitars do not include a pickup, which may be a surprise given their price tags. However, suppose you primarily perform recording tasks. In that case, you will not need the pickup system and may save money by excluding it from your purchase.

Scale Length

You can find the scale length of a guitar by taking the distance between the nut and the 12th fret and doubling it.

A full-scale guitar has a scale length of approximately 25.4 inches. In comparison, a shorter-scale guitar has a scale length of about 24.7 inches.

Shorter-scale guitars have a more “slinky” playing feel and are frequently easier to play, especially for beginner guitar players.

Full-scale guitars generally keep their tuning better if you want to experiment with playing in different tunings.

Nut Width

Nut width is a subjective measurement. The best nut width depends on your hand’s size, the length of your fingers, and your playing style.

A wider nut width provides a better fingerstyle playing experience, and a narrower nut width delivers a superior flatpicking and strumming experience.

It’s important to note that nut width affects the fretting hand rather than your picking hand.

Neck Radius

Neck radius is a piece of the puzzle regarding guitar design. Neck Radius’ around 7″-9″ will have a rounder feel that might be more comfortable playing chords. While a larger neck radius of 16″ will allow you to “shred” your guitar more.

Typically it’s easier to bend notes with a larger neck radius.

Lots of Fender acoustic guitar neck designs are derived from their electric guitars. So many models, especially the California Series, adopt a larger neck radius, making them play more like an electric guitar.

These are all things to consider when looking for the best Fender acoustic guitar.

FAQ

Some common questions about Fender acoustic guitars answered.

Why aren’t there any acoustic bass guitars on this list?

You may have noticed that I didn’t include any acoustic short-scale bass guitars on this list. Acoustic bass guitars are a breed all their own, so I created an article that goes over the best bass acoustic guitars that you can check out here.

To Wrap Up

Fender isn’t always known for its acoustic guitars. Still, they have recently come out with some unique models worth checking out.

Fender provides years of experience, tonal variety, and head-turning designs for every player. They offer affordability in their guitars that will satisfy even the most demanding player out there.

If you’re looking for the quintessential Fender acoustic guitar in terms of vibes and playability, then the Newporter Classic is worth checking out!