Introduction
Fender has been a leader in the electric guitar market since Leo Fender founded the company in 1946. But over the past few decades, they’ve also made major inroads into the acoustic guitar space as well. The Fender FA-135CE Concert is one of their most popular and affordable acoustic-electric models, aimed at the beginner to intermediate player looking for great value.
As an entry-level concert-style acoustic-electric, the FA-135CE is designed to appeal to new guitarists or those upgrading from a starter instrument. The compact concert body provides comfortable playing feel while still delivering balanced acoustic tone. The addition of Fishman electronics makes this an ideal gigging and recording guitar for players on a budget. Overall, the FA-135CE punches above its weight with solid top construction and Fender’s excellent build quality.
Fender FA-135CE Concert Specifications
The Fender FA-135CE Concert features a compact concert body shape with a single cutaway, ideal for comfortable playing and good upper fret access. It has a solid Sitka spruce top which provides brightness and articulation, along with laminated mahogany back and sides that add warmth and resonance.
The 25.3" scale length neck has a nut width of 1.69", 20 medium jumbo frets, and a 16" radius rosewood fretboard for comfortable chording and bending. It uses a slim taper "C" neck profile that fits nicely in the hand.
For amplification, the FA-135CE Concert utilizes a Fishman Isys III system with volume, tone, and tuner controls. This gives it natural plugged-in tone and flexible EQ shaping.
Other hardware includes die-cast tuning machines, a walnut bridge with compensated synthetic bone saddle, and chrome hardware. The guitar comes in several great looking finish options like sunburst, black, and natural.
Playability and Feel
The FA-135CE Concert features a slim taper "C" shaped neck profile that will be comfortable for most hand sizes. It has a 16" fretboard radius which allows for easy bending without fret buzz. Out of the box, the action and intonation are set up nicely for optimal playability.
Overall, the guitar feels lightweight and well-balanced on a strap or seated. The single cutaway allows good upper fret access for lead playing. The neck width and string spacing make it easy to fret chords cleanly without your fingers cramping up. Whether you’re a fingerstyle player or use a pick, the FA-135CE provides excellent playing comfort for extended practice or gigging sessions.
Unplugged Tone
The Fender FA-135CE Concert produces a balanced unplugged acoustic tone with good projection and articulation. The concert body shape helps project the sound outward with enough volume for small gigs or jam sessions.
The solid sitka spruce top provides the clarity and crispness you’d expect from a quality acoustic guitar. Each note rings out with definition, allowing you to hear the true character of the guitar. Fingerstyle playing is well-articulated, with the spruce top accentuating the attack and decay of each note.
The laminated mahogany back and sides add some midrange punch and low-end warmth to balance out the bright spruce top. There’s enough bass response for strumming rhythms to sound full, while the mahogany boosts the lower mids slightly to prevent the tone from sounding thin.
The FA-135CE Concert has a respectable amount of sustain and resonance given its affordable price point. The solid spruce top provides enough crispness to let notes ring out, while the mahogany body offers a balanced dose of warmth. It’s not as resonant as a high-end all solid wood acoustic, but produces pleasing tones for both fingerstyle and strumming.
Plugged-In Performance
The Fender FA-135CE Concert comes equipped with Fishman’s Isys III preamp system, providing great amplified tone and flexibility. The Isys III system includes volume, bass, midrange, and treble controls, allowing you to shape your plugged-in sound.
The preamp does an excellent job of retaining the FA-135CE’s natural acoustic tone when plugged in. There’s no harshness or quackiness to the amplified sound – it remains balanced and clear. The EQ controls allow you to boost or cut frequencies as needed for the room you’re playing in. Adding a bit of extra bass fills out the bottom end nicely.
One of the most important features of an acoustic-electric for gigging is its feedback resistance. The FA-135CE holds up quite well, able to be played at reasonable stage volumes without howling or squealing. The concert body style helps focus the amplified sound and reject feedback. Overall, the Fishman preamp makes the FA-135CE a very gig-friendly acoustic-electric guitar.
Build Quality and Aesthetics
The Fender FA-135CE Concert showcases excellent build quality and attention to detail, reflecting Fender’s decades of experience crafting acoustic guitars.
The concert-sized body features a solid Sitka spruce top paired with laminated mahogany back and sides. The top is finished in an attractive gloss sunburst, black, or red burst, protected by a thin nitrocellulose lacquer. The body binding and rosette add an elegant aesthetic touch.
The 25.3" scale neck has a smooth satin finish and slim "C"-shaped profile that fits comfortably in the hand. The fretwork is impressive for the price, with neatly dressed medium jumbo frets along the rosewood fingerboard. The neck joint and fret ends are smoothly finished for a seamless feel.
The die-cast tuners keep the guitar in tune reliably, while the compensated synthetic bone nut and saddle aid intonation. The walnut bridge and bridge pins give a pleasing visual contrast. Overall hardware quality is excellent, with no sharp fret edges or excess glue around the bindings.
Fender’s craftsmanship shines through in the FA-135CE’s fine details, reflecting precision construction techniques perfected over decades. While the back and sides are laminated, the guitar’s solid spruce top helps it punch above its price in looks and tone.
Value for Money
The Fender FA-135CE Concert offers excellent value for money considering its features and performance. At around $200, it competes very favorably against other entry-level acoustic-electric guitars.
The main pros of the FA-135CE that make it worth the price include its solid sitka spruce top, slim and comfortable neck profile, Fishman Isys III electronics, and overall playability right out of the box. The solid wood top in particular gives it better tone than laminate top models at this price point.
Compared to the popular Yamaha FG800 which also costs around $200, the FA-135CE offers the benefit of built-in electronics and a cutaway. It’s also more comfortable for electric players thanks to its slightly narrower nut width and fretboard radius. The Yamaha does have an all-solid wood construction, but many players will appreciate the plug-and-play factor of the Fender.
The Epiphone DR-212 and PR-4E starter packs with gig bags, tuners, and picks included are also in the same ballpark at $180-200. However, the Fender offers a more premium look and feel.
Potential cons compared to the competition are the FA-135CE’s laminated mahogany back and sides and its basic electronics. Serious acoustic players may want all-solid wood construction, and those who do a lot of plugged in performing may want a more flexible preamp.
Overall though, the Fender FA-135CE Concert punches well above its weight class in terms of value. The combination of its solid spruce top, comfortable neck, and Fishman pickup make it an incredible bargain acoustic-electric for the money.
Accessories and Variations
The Fender FA-135CE Concert comes with a few useful accessories to get you started. Inside the box, you’ll find a Fender gig bag to protect the guitar when transporting it. The gig bag features 5mm padding and has backpack straps for easy carrying. While it provides basic protection, guitarists planning to gig frequently may want to invest in a hardshell case for better security.
The guitar does not ship with any other accessories like a strap, picks, or cables. As such, you may need to purchase extras like a comfortable strap, capo, tuner, strings, picks, and cables. A strap will help playing comfort during long practice sessions or live performances. I’d recommend a 2" wide leather or nylon strap from brands like Fender or DiMarzio. A clip-on tuner like the Snark SN5 is ideal for keeping the guitar in tune.
Extra light or custom gauge acoustic strings can also help tailor the tone and feel. For picks, the Dunlop Nylon Standard pick in a 0.60-1.0mm gauge works well for strumming. A quality instrument cable like the Fender California Coast 10′ is recommended for the electric side.
Finish-wise, the FA-135CE comes in several attractive options – natural, sunburst, black, and ruby red burst. It’s a great way to get your preferred look. The guitar is also offered in a left-handed model for southpaw players, featuring the same features and finish choices. Overall, Fender provides nice finish and orientation variety at this price point.
Who Is the FA-135CE Concert Best For?
The Fender FA-135CE Concert acoustic-electric guitar is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate level players looking for a quality, affordable guitar. Its features and specifications make it well-suited for a few key musical styles and playing applications.
Musical Styles
With its balanced tone, smooth playability, and built-in electronics, the FA-135CE can handle a wide range of musical genres. It’s a great guitar for pop, rock, country, folk, worship, blues, and more. The concert body produces a versatile sound that works for both strumming chords and fingerpicking melodies.
Experience Level
The FA-135CE is an ideal entry-level instrument for beginners starting out on acoustic guitar. It has a comfortable neck profile, low action, and single-cutaway for easy playability. The onboard tuner is also helpful for new players learning how to tune. Intermediate players will appreciate the solid spruce top and quality components at such an affordable price.
Gigging and Performing
Thanks to the Fishman preamp and pickup system, the FA-135CE is stage-ready right out of the box. It can be plugged directly into a PA system or acoustic guitar amp. The guitar’s feedback resistance allows for live performing at moderate volumes. While not a high-end professional model, it’s certainly gig-worthy for amateur and semi-pro players.
Practicing and Recording
With its resonant, full-bodied unplugged sound, the FA-135CE makes a great practice and recording guitar. It provides excellent tone for working on technique at home as well as laying down acoustic guitar tracks in the studio. The onboard EQ can be used to shape the amplified tone when recording direct via the guitar’s preamp.
So in summary, the Fender FA-135CE Concert is highly recommended for beginner and intermediate players looking for an affordable, quality acoustic-electric for performing live, practicing, and recording a variety of musical styles.
Alternatives to Consider
The Fender FA-135CE faces some stiff competition in the entry-level acoustic-electric market from other major brands. Here are a few comparable alternatives worth checking out:
Yamaha FG800
Like the FA-135CE, the Yamaha FG800 features a solid sitka spruce top and comes in around the same price point. It has a slightly bigger dreadnought body shape, producing a louder and deeper tone. The FG800 lacks the cutaway and onboard tuner but is known for great playability right out of the box.
Epiphone DR-212
Epiphone’s DR-212 dreadnought includes two humbucker pickups and has a slightly edgier rock tone compared to the Fender. It has a select spruce top rather than solid wood. The DR-212 comes as part of a player pack bundle with a gig bag, clip-on tuner, strap, picks, and an instructional DVD.
Ibanez PF15ECE
This Ibanez concert acoustic-electric has a spruce top and mahogany back and sides like the FA-135CE. It features Ibanez’s AEQ-SP2 preamp and onboard tuner. The PF15ECE has a slightly wider nut width and slimmer neck, making it a good option for players with smaller hands.
Fender CD-60S
As a step up in Fender’s acoustic line, the all-mahogany CD-60S dreadnought adds a solid wood back and sides. It has a fuller and slightly darker acoustic tone compared to the FA-135CE. The CD-60S does not have electronics but can be amplified with an external pickup.
Ovation Celebrity Standard
The Ovation Celebrity Standard is unique with its Lyrachord composite plastic bowl-shaped back. It produces a bright and focused plugged-in sound, though some prefer the warmer wood tone of the FA-135CE. The Ovation comes in around the same price point as the Fender.