Best Fender Acoustic Guitars: Top 10

As a music teacher in my area for over a decade, I’m approached by people all the time asking me questions about everything under the sun. 

And one of the most common ones related to guitars is which are good ones to buy. 

It’s a tricky topic, but you can find an almost-guaranteed safe option sticking with a Fender. 

The brand is stellar, always quality, and reliability durable with great sound. 

Still, there are even a lot of these, so I wanted to take the time and give you a rundown of the best Fender acoustic guitars to help you find the right specific one for your needs. 

Let’s dig in! 

#1 Fender Paramount PM-3

As an acoustic guitar, Fender Paramount PM-3 may be the best all-around made by Fender. It features a clear, rich tone you wouldn’t expect at this medium price point. 

The guitar is all about mahogany. It features a top, back, and side, all made from this hardwood. 

As such, it provides a clear articulation and good dynamic power. However, mahogany also offers some depth to the sound you don’t always get from spruce top guitars which are much more common. 

The design and wood are more of what you’d expect from a higher-end guitar, but it still fits a middle price point. 

It’s one of the best Fender acoustic guitars for the money. You won’t get as much of a deal with most other acoustic options (even from Fender itself). 

The cutaway design where the neck meets the body is a nice feature, and it allows for better solo playing as you go up the fretboard for more advanced solos. 

Professionals will enjoy this guitar, but they will be a little disappointed in the complexity of sound compared to custom and high-end guitars. 

But for the average player, this may be the only guitar you ever need.

Brand-new players may be a little frustrated with the close spacing of the strings and the higher-than-average action (though that’s something a truss rod adjustment should fix).

What we liked: 

• Rich, deep sound
• Powerful dynamics and clarity
• Good price for a higher quality guitar
• Cutaway allows for higher up solo playing

What we disliked: 

• Action is fine but you’ll need to adjust the truss rod (most people won’t do this)
• Finger spacing seems a little closer which may inhibit newer players

Listen to it here: 

#2 Fender DG-8S

There are a lot of teachers and players out there who will kind of sneer at the DG-8S simply because it’s marketed as a “starter pack.” But if they got off their high horse for a second, they’d realize the guitar itself actually has a decent sound for the price. 

Plus, you’ll get a lot of accessories to help ease your way into guitar playing. 

To start, upFender DG-8S has a solid spruce top, giving the guitar a clean sound with some power. 

Most “beginner” guitars will use a laminate or false top, but Fender knows what’s important in a good guitar tone. 

With an X-scalloped bracing and solid construction, this instrument won’t fall apart easily and is perfect for the (slightly clumsy) younger player. 

Along with the guitar, you get: 

• Gig bag case
• Instructional Book
• Strap
• Tuner
• Picks

The back and sides are laminate mahogany. This means instead of one solid piece; the makers layer up the wood. 

It’s a more affordable material, though it sacrifices some of the natural tone and value of the wood. 

Still, doing this mahogany results in some rich tone at a lower price. Just not as complex as solid wood. 

What we liked: 

• Decent sound quality
• Low pricing
• Many accessories for getting started
• Strong sound
• Comfortable design

What we disliked: 

• Thin tone in high and low ranges
• Trouble keeping it in tune
• Buzzing farther up the fretboard

Listen to it here: 

#3 Fender SA-150

Many larger instrument companies will also own a smaller brand. This brand is usually their “budget” brand. 

As the budget brand, they can distance the larger name from the usually lesser quality of the smaller name. 

Squier is the name of this budget brand for Fender. Still, the company uses a lot of the techniques of Fender at large, resulting in one of the best Fender acoustic guitars for beginners.

But when it comes to value for the sound, this may not be for you. 

Still, if you’re under a specific budget, Fender SA-150 is a good one to consider. 

It’s made of good materials with a maple wood top, basswood sides, and maple/mahogany back. 

The quality of the wood and process is a cheaper one. On the one hand, the wood gives a clear and round tone, though it lacks the complexity of the natural woods. 

The neck is designed slimmer for easier playing in beginners, and the action is at a good average height. 

All in all, it’s a solid construction with mediocre sound at a rock bottom price. 

If you’re going to get this guitar, consider the combo pack with the SA-150 down below. 

What we liked: 

• Clear tone
• Easy playability
• Low, low price
• Good durability 

What we disliked: 

• Lacks richness in tone
• Feels slow when you play it
• Loses tuning farther up the fretboard

Listen to it here: 

#4 Fender CN-90

Let’s be clear: the Fender CN-90 is an acoustic classical guitar. This is a different style of guitar than what you may be imagining, but it’s no less interesting or valid. 

Classical guitars have roots in older styles of music. The necks are wider, and the strings are made from nylon. 

All of this results in a gentler, pure tone and playing more complex lines using finger styles. 

If you want to play the traditional pop music you’d hear on the radio, the CN-90 may not be for you. It doesn’t sound the same because it’s not designed the same. 

But if you’re interested in checking a classical guitar that sounds great and doesn’t break the bank, check out the CN-90. 

Classical guitars can get wildly expensive, to the tune of multiple times more than the nicest “standard” acoustic guitars, but the CN-90 takes all the essential parts of a classical guitar and builds it at an affordable price without sacrificing tone. 

It features a laminated spruce top with laminated mahogany back and sides. Combined with the rosewood fingerboard and classical strings, we clear a clean yet gentle tone.

The wider bridge makes some chords a lot harder to play at first, but the nylon strings won’t hurt your fingers nearly as much. Plus, nylon strings are much easier to press down. 

It’s simply a different style of guitar and one worth checking out.

What we liked: 

• Clear, pure tone
• Easy to press strings that won’t hurt
• Affordable classical style guitar
• Stays in tune across the whole guitar

What we disliked: 

• Not a traditional acoustic which may throw people off
• Wider neck
• Less quality wood materials

Listen to it here (yes, the video is in Russian, but the sound is great!): 

#5 Fender FA-345CE

All the guitars on this list are great for a specific purpose, but when it comes to all-around design, sound, and price, the FA-345CE may take the cake for me. 

It’s the best balance of all acoustic guitar elements you may be looking for, including wood materials, tone, affordability, durability, playability, and intonation (tuning). 

Add this up, and this is the hands-down best Fender acoustic guitar for beginners. If you can afford the medium price, get this guitar for your new players. 

The lacewood material around the whole guitar is unusual, but it looks sleek and actually provides a balanced and rich tone in the highs, middles, and lows of the instrument. 

The Fender FA-345CE is tuned specifically at each fret, so it sounds great and holds its tuning. 

It’s also an acoustic-electric guitar, so it features pickups with a good electrical system, a preamp for better controlling the tone through an amp, and an onboard tuner for quick and easy tuning (great for beginners). 

It’s basically everything you’d want in a guitar. 

Will it hold up to the sound of a professional-level guitar? No, but most people don’t need or want that. The FA-345CE is more than enough for the average player. Check it out. 

What we liked: 

• The guitar is lighter than most, good for beginners and easy on the fingers
• Looks great with the lacewood material
• Onboard electronics make it work well as acoustic and electric
• Responsive tone that stays in tune

What we disliked: 

• String quality that comes with it is low (just change them, though)
• Less powerful sound without the hard wood top

Listen to it here: 

#6 Fender CD-140SCE

If you’re looking at getting into the world of 12-string acoustic guitars, the Fender CD-140SCE is the perfect place to start. 

This is a steel string acoustic like most typical guitars, but each string is doubled. This means there are two low E strings, two A strings, and so on and so forth. 

The doubling of the strings amplifies the depth of the sound and offers a unique twist on the acoustic. Comparatively, a 12-string always has a deeper and richer tone, making this one of the best sounding Fender acoustic guitars out there. 

Fender CD-140SCE is an affordable one with some advanced features that make it a step above the competition and a step above starter guitars. 

First, the spruce top and ovangkol back and sides give the guitar a strong, clean tone. It punches through with quite a bit of power. 

In most acoustics, this would come at the cost of depth and complexity. While this isn’t the most complex sound, the string doubling offsets this a lot, and the end result is a beautiful sounding guitar. 

The CD-140SCE also comes with on-board electronics and a preamp system, which works quite well for its simplicity. The dreadnought style cutaway also allows for better solo and lead playing to take advantage of the rich sound from the 12 strings. 

Of course, the extra strings do make this a lot harder to tune, so if you really struggle with the process, it may not be for you. 

Still, it’s worth the effort. 

What we liked: 

• Full, sweet sound that comes from 12 strings
• Easy to play
• Great electronics
• Stays in tune well
• Great quality overall for the medium price

What we disliked: 

• 12 strings make it harder to tune
• Some users report the bridge pulls up over time

Listen to it here: 

#7 Fender FA-125 CE

The Fender FA-125 CE is the acoustic-electric combo model you want if you’re playing somewhere and you’re afraid your instrument will get damaged. 

It’s durable as all get-out, and has a decent sound too. It won’t hold up tone-wise against other models, but the much-lower price makes it a great way to get into acoustic-electrics without feeling like you’ve wasted your money if it breaks or you decided you’re not that into it. 

A spruce top and basswood body is a good combination for a strong sound you’ll hear from across a crowded room, though it won’t seem as rich in tone quality compared to other combinations. 

This is mostly from the lamination of the wood. As I mentioned before, lamination uses the lesser cuts and leftover parts of the wood and layers them together. 

It saves money but loses on sound.

Still, the durability of the design and the quality of the electronics systems will make up for this lack. And to be honest, most players won’t notice a huge difference. 

What we liked: 

• Great price for the combo acoustic-electric guitar
• Easy to play
• On-board tuner helps keep the instrument sounding good
• Quite durable

What we disliked: 

• Thinner tone quality
• Some users report the bridge may pull up

Listen to it here: 

#8 Fender CD-60S

Sometimes an aspiring guitarist will just want a simple acoustic guitar with a good sound at a good price. In this case, I’ll send them to the Fender CD-60S. 

It’s among the best Fender acoustic guitars for beginners. 

While it doesn’t have anything too fancy on it, you don’t need it. I’ve had people play on this guitar for years and never complain once about it. 

If you’re serious about performing for big crowds, this isn’t for you. But for anyone else who just wants a nice acoustic, check this one out. 

The top is solid mahogany, a less common choice for a top, but it works well. The mahogany adds depth to the tone of the guitar without sacrificing much power compared to spruce. 

Plus, being a solid wood is a huge plus at this low price. 

The back and sides are laminated mahogany, which is less than ideal, but it still adds good depth to the sound without adding zeros to the price. 

The CD-60S is a simple dreadnought shape, which works in its favor. With no cutaway, the sound is free to resonate throughout the body more powerfully. 

It stays in tune well and plays easily. Really, it’s simply a great guitar for the price. 

What we liked: 

• Stays in tune crazy well throughout the whole range of the guitar
• Easy to play and designed for newer players to have the most success
• Fully balanced sound with mahogany all over
• Affordable price

What we disliked: 

• Sound power doesn’t compare to higher-end guitars
• No extras such as cutaways or electronics

Listen to it here: 

#9 Fender SA-150 Combo

The SA-150 is already on our list above. For full details on the guitar itself, check it out above. 

In short, it’s a great budget guitar, designed for the new player at a low, low price. 

But if you’re going to get the Fender SA-150, consider getting this combo pack linked here. 

It gives you the good guitar with a whole bunch of extras including: 

• Gig bag (soft case for easy carrying with good protection)
• Clip on tuner for easier tuning
• Extra set of strings
• Strap for easier positioning
• Guitar picks
• Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD 
• Polishing cloth

If you’re brand new to playing, these things will be a big help to you for only a little bit more cost. The video alone is worth it to help you get started. 

What we liked: 

• Clear tone
• Easy playability
• Low, low price
• Good durability 

What we disliked: 

• Lacks richness in tone
• Feels slow when you play it
• Loses tuning farther up the fretboard

Listen to it here: 

#10 Fender CD-60SCE

For all the love I give to the CD-60S, it’s a bit of a simple guitar for some people. If you’re someone who loves the sound of this guitar, but you want it with a few extras, check out the Fender CD-60SCE. 

It features the design, sound, and functionality of the other model, but now we have a lot more features for more advanced players, and we’re still at a medium price instead of a high one. 

All the wood is the same: a solid mahogany top for power and depth and laminated mahogany back and sides for continuing richness at a lower price. 

The thinner neck and rolled fingerboard are present in both models, making it easier for everyone to play and grip. Beginners especially will love this. 

But Fender wanted to add some extras for their more skilled guitarists at this point. 

While the body is still the open and strong dreadnought design, it now features a cutaway near where the neck meets the body. 

As with many higher-end guitars, this allows for better soloing and gives access higher up the fretboard. 

On top of this, they also added the reliable Fishman low-profile pickup system for plugging your acoustic into an amp. I love this system and specifically how it’s “low profile.”

Too much electronics take up space in the guitar body and thin the sound out. Fender knows this and doesn’t want to sacrifice the tone on this guitar, which is why they kept it low-profile. 

What we liked: 

• Stays in tune crazy well throughout the whole range of the guitar
• Easy to play and designed for newer players to have the most success
• Fully balanced sound with mahogany all over
• Cutaway and low-profile pickups for advanced players

What we disliked: 

• Sound power doesn’t compare to higher-end guitars
• Slightly higher price, but still in the medium range

Listen to it here: 

The Verdict

The acoustic guitar is my personal favorite style of guitar, and you can’t go wrong with getting one by Fender. 

The company is a legend in the industry and has earned its reputation time and again with its quality instruments. 

All the 10 on our list are absolutely great, but if you’re looking for one to fit your specific situation here, is what you may want to try. 

For those who want the best-sounding acoustic by Fender, you should check out the Fender Paramount PM-3. Yes, it costs more, but it’s worth the cost. New players may not notice the difference in sound and playability, but if you get it, you won’t need another one. 

For beginners, you won’t go wrong with the Fender CD-60S. The price and quality of tone are great overall. 

If you want something a bit more advanced or in the middle of the road, the CD-60SCE is a good option, but I’d actually recommend the FA-345CE for this type of player. 

Whatever you choose, enjoy playing the guitar. It’s a life-long hobby filled with rewarding experiences for those who stick with it.