Introduction
Fender first introduced the T-Bucket line of acoustic guitars in 2010 as an affordable series aimed at beginners and intermediate players. The T-Bucket 300CE is part of Fender’s recent generation of these value-focused acoustic-electric models.
The 300CE has an attractive dreadnought cutaway body made from laminated tonewoods to keep costs down. It features a slim mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard for smooth playability. The Fishman Isys III pickup system provides plug-and-play amplified tones with bass, mid, and treble control.
With its combination of laminate wood construction and built-in electronics, the 300CE offers great bang for your buck as a stage-ready acoustic-electric guitar. It provides versatile tones in an accessible package for players on a budget.
Body Shape and Construction
The Fender T-Bucket 300CE features the popular dreadnought body shape with a single cutaway, providing comfortable playing feel along with great projection and access to upper frets.
The top is made from laminated flame maple, which gives a nice visual flair while also providing crisp, balanced tone and adequate volume. Flame maple is a common and affordable choice for the tops of mid-range acoustic-electrics in this price range.
The back and sides utilize laminated mahogany, which helps produce a balanced tone with good low-end response. Mahogany is known for its warm yet clear sound. The laminate construction makes the 300CE more affordable than a solid wood guitar.
The single-cutaway dreadnought design allows easy access to upper frets while retaining the classic dreadnought sound. The cutaway adds appeal for lead playing and makes it easier to play barre chords up the neck. Overall the 300CE’s body shape provides an excellent balance of rich acoustic tone, projection, and playability.
Neck and Fingerboard
The neck on the Fender T-Bucket 300CE is made from mahogany which provides stability and sustain. It has a slim C-shaped profile that makes it comfortable for most playing styles. The neck is not overly chunky so it will suit players with smaller hands, yet not so thin that lead players will find it lacks substance.
The fretboard is rosewood which complements the warm, mellow tone of the mahogany neck. Rosewood is a dense tropical hardwood that has a smooth feel under the fingers. The fretwork from the factory is very good with no sharp ends to catch on fingers during bends or slides. It has a standard 25.3" scale length with 20 medium jumbo frets. This gives ample room for soloing and hitting higher notes on the neck.
Overall the neck is fast and comfortable. It provides a nice balance of playability for rhythm and lead playing. The slim profile and smooth rosewood fretboard make it easy to play for long periods without fatigue.
Electronics and Controls
The Fender T-Bucket 300CE comes equipped with a Fishman Isys III pickup and preamp system, giving it excellent amplified tone and versatility. The Isys III is an undersaddle piezo pickup, with an active preamp and EQ for shaping your amplified acoustic sound.
It has volume and tone controls, allowing you to dial in just the right amount of treble and bass. The volume knob also has a useful mid contour switch, letting you boost or cut the midrange frequencies. This helps you adjust the amplified tone for different styles of playing or performance situations.
The Isys III preamp includes a built-in tuner, making it easy to keep the T-Bucket 300CE in tune without needing a separate tuner. The tuner can be activated with a discreet button located just below the tone knob.
Overall, the Fishman Isys III system gives you excellent amplified acoustic tone and flexibility. Between the pickup, EQ controls, and tuner, it’s a great match for this guitar at this price point. It will handle anything from live gigs to recording scenarios with ease.
Unplugged Acoustic Sound
The all-laminate wood construction of the T-Bucket 300CE provides a balanced and resonant unplugged acoustic tone. The laminated flame maple top contributes a pleasant brightness and shimmer to the guitar’s voice. While not as complex in its overtones as a solid wood top, the maple laminate projects well and has a focused midrange.
The mahogany back and sides add warmth and fullness to the 300CE’s acoustic voice. Strumming produces a balanced bass response thanks to the mahogany’s low-end presence. The mahogany laminate also helps the guitar resonate and prevents the tone from sounding too thin. Notes sustain well, especially on the lower strings.
While not as nuanced as guitars with solid wood construction, the T-Bucket 300CE’s laminate maple and mahogany body provides pleasant acoustic resonance and balanced tone. The projection is aimed directly at the player, perfect for solo practice but not loud enough to compete with a rowdy audience. The tone profile favors mids and lows with a crisp yet mellow presentation.
Amplified Sound
When plugged into an acoustic amplifier or PA system, the Fender T-Bucket 300CE really shines thanks to the onboard Fishman Isys III preamp system. The amplified tone is very clear and balanced across the tonal spectrum, with nice sparkly highs and tight low end. Even at higher volumes, feedback is well controlled thanks to the undersaddle transducer and thoughtful preamp EQ.
The Isys III preamp gives you easy control over bass, midrange, and treble using its simple 3-band EQ. Boosting the bass and mids helps give more body and warmth for fingerstyle playing, while cutting the lows and boosting treble brings out the clarity for strumming. There’s also notch filtering to help eliminate feedback at problematic frequencies. Overall the Isys preamp gives you a versatile tonal palette to shape your amplified acoustic tone.
Whether using the T-Bucket 300CE in a coffee shop gig or on stage with drums and other loud instruments, the amplified sound remains clear and balanced. The guitar has plenty of headroom before getting too boomy or harsh. The cutaway body style also gives you freedom to play up and down the neck without feedback issues. Fender’s setup and preamp system makes this an acoustic-electric that can handle just about any amplified situation with ease.
Playability
The Fender T-Bucket 300CE features a slim C-shaped mahogany neck that provides a comfortable and versatile playing feel. The neck has a smooth satin finish that allows for fast, slick movement up and down the fretboard.
The string spacing at the nut is 1 11/16 inches, which is a good width for both strumming chords and fingerstyle playing. The action is set medium-low from the factory, making it easy to fret notes and chords while still having enough room for dynamic picking techniques.
The 20 medium jumbo frets are nicely finished and provide smooth note articulation across the entire rosewood fretboard. The cutaway body style allows excellent upper fret access, enabling you to easily play chords and single-note runs higher up the neck.
Overall, the neck shape, nut width, and medium-low action of the T-Bucket 300CE make it a very playable and versatile acoustic-electric guitar suitable for various techniques and playing styles. The smooth neck and quality fretwork ensure comfort during long practice or gigging sessions.
Build Quality & Aesthetics
The Fender T-Bucket 300CE features solid craftsmanship and attention to detail despite its affordable price point. The maple laminate top has an attractive wood grain pattern. The binding along the top and back helps give it a more refined look.
The fretwork on the rosewood fretboard is cleanly done, with no sharp fret ends. The frets are medium-jumbo size and feel comfortable under the fingers when playing. The neck joint and heel allow easy upper fret access thanks to the cutaway design.
The rosette inlay around the soundhole has an elegant design that complements the 3-Color Sunburst and other finish options nicely. The headstock has the classic Fender shape and the Fender logo is engraved along the top.
Overall the hardware seems durable, with sealed chrome tuners that hold tune well. The nut and saddle are cut from synthetic bone. While not as premium feeling as bone, they get the job done on a guitar in this price range.
The T-Bucket 300CE definitely looks and feels like a more expensive acoustic-electric than its price tag suggests. Fender didn’t cut corners on the fit and finish. It’s an attractive looking and playing instrument.
Pricing & Value
The Fender T-Bucket 300CE typically retails for $349-$399 brand new from most guitar retailers. This positions it as a very affordable acoustic-electric in the sub-$400 price range.
Used Fender T-Bucket 300CE guitars in good condition generally sell for $200-275 on sites like Reverb and eBay. This makes buying a used model an excellent value, as long as it has no major structural or electronic issues.
Compared to other acoustic-electrics in this price bracket, the T-Bucket 300CE competes very well. Models like the Yamaha FGX800C ($299) or Epiphone AJ-100CE ($329) are in a similar tier for value. However, the T-Bucket 300CE edges them out slightly with its cutaway body design and Fishman electronics.
For guitarists looking for the most affordable way to get a solid performing acoustic-electric, the Fender T-Bucket 300CE represents excellent value. While not as premium as a Martin or Taylor, it punches well above its class in terms of features and versatility.
Alternatives to Consider
The Fender T-Bucket 300CE sits in a competitive price range, with many alternatives worth considering from both Fender and other brands.
The Fender T-Bucket 100CE shares a similar dreadnought cutaway design but utilizes all solid wood construction for the top, back and sides. It has a solid spruce top compared to the 300CE’s laminate maple, and mahogany back/sides instead of laminate. The 100CE produces a slightly richer acoustic tone, but comes at a higher cost. Those wanting an all-solid wood Fender acoustic can consider the 100CE for about $100-150 more.
Yamaha’s FGX800C is comparable in price and features laminate construction with a cutaway dreadnought body. It has a solid sitka spruce top which helps projection. The FGX800C comes equipped with a System55T preamp system which provides basic tone shaping. This Yamaha model offers an affordable alternative to the 300CE for those wanting a laminate acoustic-electric.
Another option is the Epiphone Hummingbird Artist, an all-solid mahogany dreadnought with shadow ePerformer preamp. The Hummingbird Artist has a slightly larger body than the T-Bucket 300CE but offers an all-solid wood option for a similar price point. Those wanting a Gibson-style acoustic can consider the Epiphone as an alternative.
Ibanez also produces several acoustic-electric models in this range like the AE245, which has a slightly smaller single-cutaway body and Fishman Sonicore pickup. The Ibanez provides a bright, focused amplified tone in a compact and comfortable size.
Overall the Fender T-Bucket 300CE competes well with other acoustic-electrics around the $300-500 range, providing great bang for the buck. Those wanting an alternative laminate-topped model have options from Yamaha and Ibanez, while Epiphone and Fender’s 100CE present all-solid wood alternatives at a slightly higher price.