We’ve uncovered today's best deals on Fender’s best-rated entry-level acoustic
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When you’re on the hunt for a killer acoustic guitar for beginners, as well as sounding great and built to last, you should invest in an instrument that will reward your efforts and entice you to keep picking it up time after time. The Fender CD-60S is one of our favorite beginner acoustics right now, with craftsmanship and playability way ahead of most of its peers and is a real stand out in the price bracket.
Whether it’s a guitar to learn on or one to simply have around your studio for those moments when creativity strikes, the CD-60S is a dream to play and excels across a range of different musical styles. What’s more, it shows how far the entry-level bar has risen in the acoustic guitar world. Where once the thought of an entry-level acoustic would be a scary prospect and something to avoid, with models like the CD-60S there’s proof that quality exists at all levels if you know where to look.
Many players start their guitar journey on cheap acoustic guitars. You may remember them; flimsy, boxy guitars with a string action high enough to slice cheese. And, while we look back on those callus-creating models as ‘character building’, any one of us would have swapped for something easier to learn on.
Things have changed though, and the Fender CD-60S is the perfect example of how. With the CD-60S, you get an entry-level acoustic guitar which feels, plays and sounds streets ahead of what a beginner model would have been in the past. Every detail has been tweaked and refined, from the inviting neck shape and balanced tonality, through to the overall look and build quality.
For under $/£220, you’re getting either a solid spruce or mahogany top with laminated mahogany at the back and sides, along with a mahogany neck and walnut fingerboard housing 20 frets. Fender has paid special attention to the neck shape, making it slim enough that it's easy to play without feeling flimsy. Tonally, the CD-60S can be best described as mellow and warm, without the muddy low-end you can find on some more inexpensive models.
We found the Fender CD-60S is at home across a range of different genres. The aforementioned neck shape means those first few tricky barre chords aren’t the battle they can be on lesser models, while it boasts enough high-end sparkle to make fingerpicking a breeze. Visually, the CD-60S is a treat, with a few different finish options available. The spruce-topped model comes in either black or traditional natural finish, while the all-mahogany version is truly a sight to behold. Whichever version you go for, the Fender CD-60S is a near-perfect guitar for beginners, yet has enough style and quality about it to appeal to anyone of any skill level.
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The sub-$/£220 mark is home to a huge number of acoustic guitars, as you can imagine, but not all are created equal. For us, the Epiphone DR-100 is a similarly great option though and comes in a few different finishes. Yamaha is also a heavyweight in the entry-level bracket, with a decent selection of options. The Yamaha FG800 is perhaps the best alternative to the Fender, with superb build quality putting a cut above what you’d expect from a beginners’ model. For younger players, we’d also highlight the Yamaha JR1, which is a ¾ sized acoustic that offers the perfect way to get kids started on their playing journey.
Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Dawsons Music. Chris loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar gear and synths, to microphones and music production hardware.
