Fender FA-135CE All-Mahogany Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Fender FA-135CE All-Mahogany Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review: Rich Tone and Smooth Playability

The Fender FA-135CE All-Mahogany Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar is an affordable and versatile instrument for both beginners and experienced players seeking quality guitars that provide warmth and clarity in equal measure. It’s been known for its ultra-smooth playability, attractive construction in all mahogany. This is concert-style guitar with built-in electronics for easy amplification. It‘s perfect for home practice, live gigs, or recording.

Key Specifications

• Body Style: Concert with Cutaway
• Top Wood: Laminated Mahogany
• Back & Sides: Laminated Mahogany
• Neck: Nato
• Fretboard: Walnut
• Bridge: Walnut
• Electronics: Fishman Presys Pickup System with Built-in Tuner
• Finish: Natural Gloss
• Scale Length: 25.3”
• Nut Width: 1.69” (43 mm)

Design

The FA-135CE has great all-mahogany that gives it a really great dark look, matched with a natural gloss finish to bring out the wood‘s natural grain. The concert body shape is just a tad smaller than a dreadnought, making the guitar more comfortable to hold and play, especially for the player with a smaller frame or anyone who prefers a more compact body style.

Its cutaway design is both fashionable and allows for quick access to the upper frets, thereby making it comfortable for the player to reach higher notes. Fender‘s “Easy-to-Play” neck profile makes this a slim, beginner-friendly guitar to go up and down all the frets with ease. And the fretboard and bridge of walnut contribute to both visual look and tonal quality, adding to a smooth, cohesive aesthetic.

Build Quality

While built as an affordable model, The Fender FA-135CE All-Mahogany Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar still reflects quality craftsmanship. The laminated mahogany top, back, and sides make sure it is durable and resistant to changes in temperature and humidity. But while it might not resonate as well as a solid–wood guitar, this laminated construction gave this guitar a consistent sound that holds up over time really well, which is ideal for players who need to have an instrument to which they can look for some serious dependability.

The neck itself is made from nato wood–a very common mahogany substitute-renowned for its familiar tonal properties and resilience. The walnut fretboard will feel velvety to one’s fingers, and it will provide a comfortable playing surface; besides, the gloss finish gives an additional layer of protection that will keep this guitar looking new even after extended use. The build quality is impressive given the price: sturdy and comfortable, this guitar does not feel flimsy or cheap.

Sound Quality

With mahogany, a warm, rich tonal quality is achieved. This here has an all-mahogany body, which produces a deep yet resonant sound with a strong midrange. The concert body shape brings forward clarity and projection, thus balancing the sound produced by the FA-135CE with regard to strumming and fingerpicking. This will not have the same depth and complexity that would be obtained with a solid wood guitar; instead, it produces a rather warm, mellow tone that is quite appealing.

The guitar‘s sound profile fits best within folk, blues, and singer-songwriter genres, which is really where mahogany shines. This won’t be as loud as a dreadnought, but clarity and balance make it so great for solo appearances or small ensembles, where the voice of subtle tonal shades can be clearly heard.

The Fishman Presys Pickup System plugs in to bring out the natural warmth and resonance of the guitar. With a volume, bass, mid, and treble control, part of the preamp lets players work their tone against different settings easily. The on–board tuner also makes for quick fly-by adjustments in convenience. This ensures your guitar sounds its best whether you‘re practicing, performing, or recording.

Playability

In particular, the Fender FA-135CE has been noted as an easy player with lots of appeal to beginners and intermediate players. The “Easy-to-Play“ neck profile by Fender is thin and soft on the fingers, with an easy grip that lets players transition between chords and frets as smooth as silk. The cutaway also serves as quite a bonus, offering easier access to the higher frets–a big plus for those who like to stretch out with lead lines and solos.

The walnut fretboard is great under the fingers, while the low action setup makes it painless to press the strings down, perfect for new players or those wanting to minimize hand fatigue. The concert body shape is light and comfortable, with a well-balanced feel whether seated or standing, thus great during extended playing.

Electronics and Amplified Performance

Equipped with the Fishman Presys pickup system, the FA-135CE provides dependable sound when amplified. This particular pickup captures the guitar‘s natural tone, taking the warmth and clarity of the mahogany body into an amplified setting without sounding unnatural. A 3-band EQ enables a player to fine-tune his sound; it is highly adaptable for various environments, from small venues to recording studios.

That is an added plus, allowing one to keep their guitar in tune without the extra equipment. The tuner is accurate, easy to use, and for that reason, you will not have any problems to be in tune on stage or in a rehearsal environment. It is always dependable with the Fishman system to perform wonderfully well at this particular price. It caters to budget players who are seeking great amplified sound.

Durability

The FA-135CE is constructed to be resistant to normal usage and changes in the environment. The laminated mahogany construction is stronger than solid wood in that it does not easily warp or crack. This gives it an excellent status for those players who need a guitar that can withstand temperature and humidity changes without compromising its sound quality.

The natural gloss finish enhances the natural beauty of the wood and adds a layer that protects against minor scratches and dents. With proper care, this guitar will sound and look great for years to come-maybe a good investment for those casual and serious players who will eventually take the stage.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Affordable price with great features
• All-mahogany body provides a warm, balanced tone
• Concert body with cutaway for easy upper fret access
• Fishman Presys electronics with 3-band EQ and built-in tuner
• Comfortable neck profile and low action for beginner-friendly playability

Cons

• Laminated construction doesn’t offer the depth of solid wood
• Smaller concert body may lack bass response compared to larger guitars
• Limited dynamic range when unplugged due to laminate build

Overall Value

The Fender FA-135CE All-Mahogany Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar is an exceptional choice for budget-conscious musicians seeking quality tone, playability, and versatility in an attractive package. All mahogany in construction, it has the propensity toward a warm, inviting sound, while the Fishman Presys electronics promise this will be satisfactory in amplified settings as well. The comfortable neck and the helping cutaway make this model just right for beginners or intermediate players who simply need a reliable, easy-playing instrument.

While it‘s not quite as deep and rich in tone as that a solid wood guitar, the tone is certainly rich and satisfying for the price paid. In this way, the FA-135CE is a very good option for anyone looking for a reliable acoustic-electric guitar that should be able to take the rigors of practice and performance alike. Whether a beginning player in the market for his or her first guitar, an intermediate who wants to upgrade to an acoustic-electric, or even an advanced musician just looking for a more economic backup, the value the FA-135CE offers in an attractive, very affordable package borders on incredible.