Introduction
Fender has been a leader in the electric guitar market since the 1950s, but the company has also made major strides with its acoustic guitar offerings in recent years. The California Series, launched in the early 2000s, brought Fender’s classic styling and craftsmanship to the acoustic world. These guitars blend traditional aesthetics with modern playability to deliver versatile, great-sounding instruments.
The Sonoran SCE dreadnought is one of the standouts of the California Series. As a premium all-solid-wood acoustic-electric, it exemplifies Fender’s commitment to quality and innovation in the acoustic guitar space. Featuring a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, the Sonoran SCE delivers the balanced tone, warmth, and projection that players expect from a workhorse acoustic guitar. The addition of Fender’s GT-Vibration pickup system gives it amplified versatility for live gigs or recording scenarios.
With its single-cutaway dreadnought body style, the Sonoran SCE is designed for intermediate to advanced players who want the comfortable feel of a Fender electric guitar in an acoustic package. The slim neck profile and smooth playability allow for easy transitions between acoustic and electric. As a do-it-all guitar ready for any scenario, the Sonoran SCE has become a go-to choice for gigging musicians and hobbyists alike.
Overview
The Fender Sonoran SCE is a premium single-cutaway dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar. The single-cutaway dreadnought body style provides a balanced tone with great projection, making it an excellent choice for both unplugged acoustic playing and amplified live performances.
The Sonoran SCE incorporates traditional dreadnought aesthetics with modern appointments like the cutaway and onboard electronics. This allows players to access the entire fretboard while still retaining the iconic visual style of a vintage dreadnought.
Fender Sonoran SCE Features & Specifications
The Fender Sonoran SCE dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top paired with mahogany back and sides. This classic tonewood combination produces a balanced and versatile acoustic voice. The spruce top offers crisp highs and articulate mids, while the mahogany back and sides provide a rich, warm low end.
The neck has a comfortable slim-taper "C"-shaped profile, making it easy and fast to play. It is topped with a 20-fret rosewood fingerboard for smooth playability. The 25.3" scale length and 1.68" nut width give the Sonoran SCE a familiar feel for both acoustic and electric players. Overall, the slim and comfortable neck design allows for easy fretting and string bending.
Electronics & Hardware
The Fender Sonoran SCE comes equipped with Fender’s GT Vibration pickup system, which is designed to accurately capture the full acoustic tone of the guitar. It features an undersaddle piezo pickup with a built-in preamp and tuner.
The preamp allows you to shape your tone with bass, mid, and treble controls, as well as add effects like chorus and reverb. There’s even an anti-feedback notch filter to tame problematic frequencies when playing live. The preamp has an easy-to-use interface with a single volume knob and buttons to access various functions.
The onboard tuner is extremely convenient for quick tuning on the fly. It can be easily accessed with a button press. The tuner features a bright display that is visible even under stage lighting.
The guitar has a rosewood bridge with a compensated saddle for proper intonation up and down the neck. The bridge and saddle are made from quality tonewoods that complement the spruce and mahogany body.
Overall, the electronics and hardware elevate the Sonoran SCE beyond being just an acoustic. With its built-in pickup and preamp system, it’s stage-ready for live performances.
Sound & Playability
The Fender Sonoran SCE delivers a rich, balanced unplugged acoustic tone with plenty of volume and sustain thanks to its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The spruce provides sparkling highs and crisp articulation while the mahogany adds a warm, woody midrange and strong low-end response.
This dreadnought produces a full-bodied acoustic voice with excellent projection, making it a great choice for jamming and practicing unplugged. It has the depth and resonance to provide rhythmic support in group playing scenarios. Single note runs and fingerpicking patterns are also well-articulated.
When plugged in, the Sonoran SCE’s custom Fender SCE pickup system accurately captures the nuances of the guitar’s acoustic tone. The onboard preamp with 3-band EQ allows you to shape the amplified tone to fit a mix or account for room acoustics. There’s enough power and dynamic range to hold its own alongside drums and electric instruments in a live band context.
The guitar feels very comfortable and playable thanks to its slim, modern neck profile and smooth satin finish. The action is set up low and fast out of the box, making it easy to fret chords and bend strings. The wider nut width provides ample room for fingerpicking while still playable for strumming. Overall it offers a very enjoyable playing experience suitable for long practice or gigging sessions.
Build Quality & Aesthetics
The Fender Sonoran SCE is built to Fender’s high quality standards with solid wood construction that is crafted to last. The guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top, which is known for its clarity and responsiveness. Sitka spruce is a popular tonewood that provides a balanced sound across the frequency range.
The back and sides are made from mahogany, which adds warmth and richness to the guitar’s overall voice. Mahogany is a very durable wood that helps project the top’s sound. The neck is also mahogany for a smooth and comfortable feel.
Attention is paid to small details like the fretwork and bridge. The frets are smoothly finished for comfortable playability up and down the neck. The rosewood bridge and compensated saddle provide excellent intonation.
The overall fit and finish is flawless, with smooth glossy exteriors and no visible imperfections. The open-gear tuners are vintage-style with a classic look and smooth tuning functionality. While designed with vintage aesthetics, the Sonoran SCE has modern appointments like the cutaway and electronics.
This is a high-end Fender acoustic that is built to last for years of playing. The all solid wood construction gives it the resonance and sustain that makes a great acoustic guitar. The quality is on par with Fender’s American-made guitars despite being crafted in Mexico.
Available Finishes
The Fender Sonoran SCE comes in three attractive finish options that offer slightly different looks.
Surf Green
The iconic Surf Green finish has a mint green color with a glossy nitrocellulose lacquer finish. It evokes Fender’s classic vintage surf-rock guitars from the 1960s. The color really makes the spruce top pop and gives it a lively, beachy vibe.
Black
For players who want a more understated aesthetic, the Black finish has a deep, rich black color. The dark finish contrasts nicely with the lighter tonewoods to create a bold but refined look.
Natural
Natural is perfect for guitarists who want to highlight the beautiful solid wood construction. It has a transparent satin finish that showcases the grain patterns and hues of the spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and rosewood fretboard.
Comparison to Similar Guitars
The Fender Sonoran SCE holds up well when compared to similar acoustic-electric guitars in its price range from other top brands like Taylor and Martin.
The Taylor 310 is comparable as a mid-priced solid top dreadnought. It offers a bright and articulate tone thanks to its layered sapele back and sides, making it great for fingerstyle playing. However, the Sonoran has a bit more warmth and bass response due to its all-mahogany construction.
Martin’s Road Series guitars like the DRS1 are also competitors that come in at around the same price point. They have a punchy midrange-focused sound that works for strumming. Yet the Sonoran SCE provides more tonal balance between lows, mids, and highs.
When looking at Yamaha, the A3R dreadnought has a similar preamp and cutaway design. It produces a well-rounded tone but can’t quite match the Fender’s clear and open voice. The Sonoran SCE’s solid spruce top helps it edge out the Yamaha.
Overall, the Fender Sonoran SCE can stand toe-to-toe with all of these big names. While they all have their own character and appeal, the Sonoran provides an excellent balance of warm lows and bright articulate highs perfect for a diverse range of musical genres and playing situations.
Pricing & Value
The Fender Sonoran SCE has an MSRP of $999, but the typical street price ranges from $600-$800 from most major retailers. This makes it very competitively priced for a premium dreadnought acoustic-electric in its class.
While the list price is nearing $1000, Fender has set the MSRP there to allow retailers to offer big discounts and still make a profit. With an average street price of $700, you’re getting a guitar with solid wood construction, quality electronics, and the trusted Fender name for an excellent value compared to the competition.
The included deluxe gig bag also adds additional value, as it provides a protective way to transport the guitar versus a basic thin gig bag. Overall, the combination of quality, features, and affordable street pricing makes the Sonoran SCE a great bang-for-your-buck choice in the crowded acoustic-electric market. It delivers professional performance and craftsmanship without breaking the bank, appealing to gigging musicians and hobbyists alike.
Conclusion
The Fender Sonoran SCE acoustic-electric guitar delivers the perfect blend of vintage vibe and modern performance. With its solid wood construction, slim neck profile, and Fishman electronics, this guitar sounds fantastic both plugged in and unplugged.
The balanced tone suits a wide range of musical genres, from mellow fingerpicking to aggressive strumming. While the price tag sits at the higher end, you’re paying for top-notch Fender build quality that will last years.
If you’re seeking a stage-ready dreadnought that looks classic yet plays like a dream, the Sonoran SCE is tough to beat. Between its resonant voice and flexible electronics, this model offers incredible versatility perfect for gigging musicians.
Overall, the Sonoran SCE earns a rating of 4/5 stars. Fender has crafted an inspiring instrument that feels familiar yet fresh. From the vintage vibe to modern playability, everything about this guitar screams quality. For players wanting the Fender name on an acoustic built to perform, look no further than the Sonoran SCE.