Fender CD-60CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review

Playing a musical instrument is one of the most relaxing things, and playing the guitar is no exemption. A lot of people are fond of guitars because of the flexibility it brings to a song or a band. It’s one of the most diverse instruments that almost anyone and everyone can use.

When you’ve already played an acoustic guitar before, there’s an urge to try your skills on an electric one. Acoustic-electric guitars are famous for being able to be played both when plugged and unplugged, and Fender is known for having excellent artistry in these guitars.

Acoustic-electric guitars can go from a prolonged price range; this can go from less than $500 to a mere $2000. If you’re looking for your first acoustic-electric guitar at an affordable price, you should check out the Fender CD-60CE dreadnought cutaway acoustic-electric guitar.

Table of Contents

1 Fender CD-60CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review

All About the Fender CD-60CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Fender is considered one of the best manufacturers of guitars because of their innovative ideas and the accessories they create to improve the guitarist’s playing experience. Not only that, but this company also ensures you get the best value for your money.

Many people love the Fender CD-60CE acoustic-electric guitar because it’s affordable and has decent sound. You can play in an acoustic version and plug it into your amplifier for less than $300.

It uses laminated mahogany, which gives it a fantastic look and sound quality that offers a bold, rich tone and excellent build quality. The manufacturers’ decision to use only laminated wood instead of genuine mahogany was wise to ensure that the price would still be affordable and lighter for the users.

Features of Fender CD-60CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

One of the many things that make guitars different is the materials used to create their body shape, sound quality, and overall impression. Fender is not only known for innovating guitars but also for using quality materials.

Composition

The Fender CD-60CE acoustic-electric guitar uses rosewood for the fingerboard to ensure it resonates with excellent sound quality. This is very common for acoustic guitars that cost $800 and lower because rosewood is more affordable and still contributes hugely to the overall tone and sound of the guitar.

The top, back, and sides use laminated mahogany to create that good finish for a crisp and mellow sound. Many people, including me, appreciate the laminate mahogany because it almost has the same sound quality mahoganies bring to guitars.

It’s equipped with Scalloped X Bracing to increase the guitar’s resonance and expand its reach regarding tone and volume. This bracing is essential in acoustic and electric versions because it helps you easily reach new heights.

The neck of the guitar uses genuine mahogany to give that needed strength and support to the guitar. This is equipped with die-cast tuners to ensure that the guitar will stay in tune for long hours and better intonation for the strings. It also has dual-action truss rods to increase the guitars’ performance both in acoustics and electric.

The Fender CD-60CE uses a synthetic bone-compensated saddle. The strings use Fender Dura-Tone Coated 80/20, which is bronze. Plus, it has built-in electronics, which are Fishman Isys III System with Active Onboard Preamp and Tuner whenever you plug it into your amplifier for easier tuning.

How Fender CD-60CE Looks

The Fender CD-60CE acoustic-electric guitar has a dreadnought body shape with a gloss finish. Its features make it look unique, including 3mm dot position inlays, black neck body, binding, gold silkscreened Fender logo, and pickguard.

It has a nut width of 43mm and a scale length of 64.3cm, which is suitable for any dreadnought guitar. The mahogany color makes people fall in love with it at first sight because it doesn’t only look like a professional guitar and has a warm, earthy feeling that will make you feel relaxed.

How Fender CD-60CE Sounds

Even under $300, the Fender CD-60CE produces a robust and mellow sound with just the right crisp when needed. It can maintain the sound it produces whether you use it for a band, solo, or even with the electronics. Its dreadnought body produces loud and strong sounds that are perfect for beginners and intermediate-level players.

Personal Opinion

If you’re looking for an entry-level acoustic-electric guitar, the Fender CD-60CE should be one of your top choices. First of all, at under $300, you already got a Fender guitar with its world-class manufacturing techniques.

Second, at its price range, you already have the excellent sound quality from the CD-60CE. The dreadnought body shape gives loud and robust effects, making it great to play in an acoustic version. The built-in electronics are also impressive because you rarely get an acoustic-electric guitar for just $300.

Lastly, Fender manufactures the CD-60CE with excellent materials that contribute to the guitar’s durability and sound. The laminated mahogany enables guitarists to create mellow sounds with a certain crispness that makes it perfect for fingerstyle. The additional accessories like the Fishman Isys III System, built-in tuners, scalloped X bracing, dual-action truss rods, and Fender strings are the perfect combination of the overall performance of this guitar.

Pros of Fender CD-60CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

At $300, the Fender CD-60CE has surprisingly many advantages compared to its competitors in its price range. When you’re considering buying this guitar, here are some of its advantages you’ll get:

• It has good audio both in the acoustic and electric versions.
• The tone is consistent and will stay in tune for long periods, even if you play a couple of hours a day.
• It’s fun to play with because it’s lightweight and easy to use.
• It has a good feel, enabling many people to play it for many hours.

Cons of Fender CD-60CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Even if the Fender CD-60CE has a lot of advantages, it still has some disadvantages at its price of under $300. So if you’re going to buy this guitar, here are some of its disadvantages that you should know about:

• It’s only suitable for right-hand users. So if you’re left-handed, you can contact the Fender Custom Shop to make a CD-60CE for a left-hand version.
• This specific guitar is a little heavier than other dreadnought guitars, which can be one of its significant downsides.

Comparison: Fender CD-60CE vs. Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat Acoustic-Electric Guitar

There are a lot of acoustic-electric guitars on the market today at under $500, but amongst all the brand competitors, one of the most sought manufacturers is Fender. Their CD-60CE and Tim Armstrong Hellcat are considered two of the best guitars in this category and price range.

The CD-60CE is made of laminated mahogany, which enables it to play with quality sounds that are both mellow and crisp. The Armstrong Hellcat, however, is made from solid mahogany, which gives better sound quality than the CD-60CE.

The tuners are also different because the CD-60CE uses die-cast tuners, whereas the Armstrong Hellcat uses Vintage-style open gear to ensure that the guitar will stay in tune even if you play it for hours. These tuners are great, but the Vintage-style gives a little edge compared to the die-cast.

If you’re confused about buying the CD-60CE or the Armstrong Hellcat, it will depend on your willing price. Even though both are under $500, there is a slight $50 difference. CD-60CE is cheaper at $300, and the Armstrong Hellcat costs $350. Both have the Fender signature on them, so you can be sure that the craftsmanship is essential.

Editor’s Rating Card

The Fender CD-60CE acoustic-electric guitar is excellent in its price range. So here’s my rating of the guitar to give you a better idea of its features, materials, sound quality, etc.: