Fender FA-135CE Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Fender FA-135CE Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar (Sunburst) Review: A Budget-Friendly Acoustic-Electric with Classic Fender Style

The Fender FA-135CE Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar represents an unusually stylish, yet very affordable, entry into the world of acoustic-electric guitars. Indeed, it has come to be known for its warm, balanced tone and easy, intuitive electronics. This model sets an excellent platform for players who want to step up from a basic acoustic guitar. Fender has actually brewed up a guitar that can deliver a good sound with good playability at an attractive price. This guitar features a Sunburst finish, concert body shape, and Fishman electronics-on top of it all. It has become so popular and loved by beginners and intermediate players.

Key Specifications

• Body Style: Concert
• Top Wood: Laminated Spruce
• Back & Sides: Laminated Basswood
• Neck: Nato with a gloss finish
• Fretboard: Walnut
• Electronics: Fishman® Preamp with built-in tuner
• Bridge: Walnut
• Finish: Sunburst gloss
• Scale Length: 25.3”
• Nut Width: 1.69” (43 mm)

Design

The Fender FA-135CE sports the classic Sunburst gloss finish for an exceptionally appealing look with a really nice, subtle vintage vibe. Fender‘s choice of concert body shape works rather well for players who find larger dreadnought models too bulky, particularly beginners or those players of smaller frames. This concert shape is comfortable to play while still offering good sound projection.

Adorned with the Fender logo on the headstock, a seal of quality for so many musicians, it gives an even more authentic look. The walnut fretboard has dot inlays, adding to its traditional feel, which is just perfectly complemented by the Sunburst color. The aesthetic elements of this guitar have been well thought out; it‘s an appealing blend of style and modern functionality.

The black pickguard conceals the wear and tear on the guitar‘s finish from strumming and adds to the classic Fender appearance. Employing walnut on both the fretboard and bridge warms the model up with a touch of warmth, balancing the brightness of the spruce top with the depth brought in by walnut‘s darker tones. This is an attractive-looking but functional guitar for stage performance or home practice.

Build Quality

Fender has built the FA-135CE for tone and durability. The laminated spruce top is a trusted choice, balancing strength and tone to provide a guitar that resists drastic changes in temperature and humidity without any effect on its sound. Spruce offers brightness and clarity to the guitar‘s tone, which is very well-suited for a range of playing styles.

The laminated basswood back and side contribute to the guitar‘s balanced tone while keeping the overall weight manageable, making it an ideal option for players who value portability. In contrast, laminated wood is a more robust instrument, well-suited for touring musicians or those who perform outdoors quite frequently, even though it does not resonate as deep as solid wood.

Fender‘s use of a nato neck gives this FA-135CE a strong but comfortable profile. Nato is a dependably mahogany-like substitute that boasts of strength and tonal warmth, adding some extra bass weight to this guitar beyond what would be expected from such a reduced size. The neck is gloss-finished for a smooth, slick feel that’s quite conducive to easy up-and-down-the-neck playing-something very helpful for beginners and players who require quick responses for chord work and fingerstyle.

Sound Quality

The Fender FA-135CE has a well-balanced, articulate sound for all kinds of musical tastes. Its concert body shape and laminated spruce top mean that it has a pretty bright sound with a very good projection level-mid and high areas. That makes this guitar great for playing fingerstyle or with very light strumming, since the guitar‘s natural resonance focuses on clarity and definition.

The laminated basswood back and sides ensure a smooth, warm tone that balances out the brightness of the spruce. Perhaps predictably, it does not produce the deep resonance of a dreadnought or solid wood guitar; still, the FA-135CE has enough low end to give chords a full and satisfying sound. It would also be well-suited for folk, blues, and soft rock styles where clarity of articulation is paramount.

When plugged in, the Fishman preamp system enhances the guitar‘s natural sound with no over-coloration. The tone stays true to the acoustic character of the instrument by delivering a clean, bright tone that sits well in live settings. It is perfect for small gigs, jamming sessions, and home recordings.

Electronics

One of the major features of the FA-135CE is the Fishman® preamp system. It’s a high-quality electronic system that delivers a natural amplification of the acoustic sound of the guitar. The preamp, featuring tone and volume controls, will enable you to shape your sound when plugged in, versatile enough for any musical environment.

This built-in tuner is extremely convenient, especially for beginning musicians who might not always have a dedicated tuner on hand. The tuner itself is accurate and easy to use, allowing players to make quick adjustments on the fly. This is particularly helpful during live performances where staying in tune is crucial or at-home practice sessions for convenience‘ sake.

From a purely functional standpoint, the electronics setup on the FA-135CE makes it a great choice for anyone who wants to plug in and explore an amplified acoustic without getting too caught up in a steep learning curve. Controls are intuitive. Playing them is comfortable, thus allowing players to focus more on their music rather than adjusting settings.

Playability

The FA-135CE has been designed with a player‘s comfort in mind. A slim neck profile together with a concert body gives it a great choice for beginners and the players who make ease of playability their priority. Set up with a lower action, this guitar allows for easier string pressing, taking some strain off one’s hands, thus giving an opportunity to practice more and for longer with comfort.

The finish is high gloss on the nato neck, which is very smooth and comfortable to hold. The walnut fretboard feels natural under the fingers. This setup makes it easy for players to navigate the fretboard without excessive friction-a must, especially for beginners learning chords or practicing fingerstyle techniques.

The guitar‘s slim neck and narrow nut width bring out advanced up-and-down-the-neck, detailed playing from experienced players. Where the FA-135CE really shines is in strumming, picking, or alternate tunings. The consistency of play will appeal to everything from indie rock to traditional folk.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Attractive Sunburst finish adds visual appeal for stage and home practice.
• Fishman preamp with built-in tuner for easy amplification and tuning.
• Comfortable concert body shape ideal for smaller players or those who find larger guitars bulky.
• Balanced, clear tone well-suited for folk, blues, and fingerstyle playing.
• Great value for the price with solid electronics and decent build quality.

Cons

• Laminated basswood back and sides provide less resonance than solid wood models.
• Less volume and bass response than a dreadnought body style.
• Not as dynamic for bass-heavy genres or advanced players looking for more resonance.

Overall Value

The Fender FA-135CE Concert Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Sunburst, is an affordable, great-looking option for anyone in the market for an acoustic-electric guitar that won’t break the bank. Comfort, quality electronics, and a very attractive design make the Fender an exceptional choice in the entry-level acoustic-electric field. The Fishman electronics and ease of playability are ideal for budding players wanting to take their acoustic skills to the stage.

While that might not be a guitar to satisfy any tonal needs of an advanced player who’s after deep resonance, it is great for anyone who may want to get a budget-friendly performance-ready guitar: versatile, tough, and great for learning and performing. The FA-135CE can be a great option to consider if you’re starting or continuing onto an intermediate player in your musical journey.