Introduction
The Fender Newporter Mini acoustic guitar has been making waves as an ultra-portable travel companion for guitarists on the go. This compact guitar packs impressive tone and playability into a mini body that’s perfect for travel, camping, small spaces, and practice on the couch.
With its smaller auditorium body shape and shorter 23.5” scale length, the Newporter Mini is designed from the ground up for maximum portability without sacrificing rich acoustic tone. The solid spruce top and mahogany back/sides produce a balanced, resonant sound that belies the guitar’s diminutive proportions.
The Newporter Mini’s growing popularity, smart design features, and uniquely travel-friendly format make it a great candidate for an in-depth review. In this article, we’ll take a hands-on look at the Newporter Mini’s specs, sound quality, playability, and value as a versatile “grab and go” acoustic. Whether you’re a frequent flyer, outdoor explorer, or apartment dweller, read on to see if the Newporter Mini could be the perfect portable acoustic guitar for you.
Fender Newporter Mini Specs & Features
The Fender Newporter Mini packs impressive specs and features into its compact travel-friendly body. It has an exclusive Fender auditorium body shape that’s scaled down to a narrower waist for enhanced comfort and portability.
The top is made from solid spruce, which provides excellent resonance and projection for such a petite acoustic. The back and sides are mahogany, which adds warmth and clarity to the overall tone.
The fretboard and bridge are rosewood or laurel, both great tonewoods that transfer string vibrations efficiently. It has a quality bone nut and saddle for improved sustain and brighter tone.
The Newporter Mini uses open-gear tuning machines, which provide smooth and stable tuning functionality. It has a shorter 23.5" scale length compared to a full size acoustic, making it very easy to fret and ideal for players with smaller hands.
One unique design feature is the iconic Stratocaster-style headstock, giving the Newporter Mini a signature Fender look and feel. Overall the materials and hardware allow this travel-sized guitar to punch above its weight in terms of acoustic sound quality.
Sound Quality
The Fender Newporter Mini produces a warm, balanced tone that belies its small size. While it doesn’t have the booming bass and projection of a full-size dreadnought, it delivers impressive volume and resonance for a travel-sized acoustic.
When played unplugged, the Newporter Mini projects well enough for smaller rooms and intimate gatherings. The solid spruce top and mahogany back/sides give it a balanced tonal profile that handles both fingerpicking and strumming nicely. It won’t rattle your ribs like a jumbo acoustic, but most guitarists will find the unplugged volume very usable.
Plugging in the Newporter Mini reveals its hidden talents. The built-in preamp and pickup system does an excellent job of capturing the guitar’s natural tone and projecting it through an amplifier or PA system. The EQ controls allow you to shape the tone to your liking, adding bass, midrange, or treble as needed. Recording direct with the Newporter Mini produces clean, rich acoustic tones perfect for any studio mix.
Compared to full-size dreadnoughts, the Newporter Mini has a warmer, more intimate voice. It excels at delivering balanced, nuanced tones in a portable platform. While it can’t match the booming projection of a jumbo, its amplified and recorded sound rivals that of much larger guitars. For performance and studio use, the Newporter Mini punches far above its weight class.
Playability
The Newporter Mini features a slim C-shaped neck profile that feels comfortable and allows for easy fretting and chord changes. The satin finish on the back of the neck enhances the smooth, natural feel.
The string spacing is a bit more narrow compared to a full-size dreadnought, but still comfortable for most playing styles. The action is set low from the factory, making it very playable right out of the box.
The fretwork from the factory is good, with smooth, finished frets. There were no sharp ends or dead spots on the fingerboard.
The Newporter Mini accommodates both fingerstyle playing and strumming nicely. The slim neck and low action facilitate quick lead lines and runs during soloing. The smaller body size can make very aggressive strumming a bit more challenging, but for most playing styles it offers great comfort and playability.
Overall, the neck shape, string spacing, action and fretwork come together to make the Newporter Mini a very playable instrument for travel-sized acoustic guitar.
Aesthetics & Build Quality
The Newporter Mini is available in a few classic Fender finishes including a natural gloss finish that showcases the spruce top and mahogany back and sides beautifully. The mini guitar also comes in a two-color sunburst and an all-black finish.
Fender has done an excellent job with the attention to detail on the Newporter Mini, from the body binding and rosette around the soundhole to the vintage-style open gear tuners. The materials used, including a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, are high quality.
The overall build quality and durability of the Newporter Mini is impressive for a travel-sized acoustic. The neck joint and bridge are both securely attached and the gloss finish appears resilient to scratches and dings. The guitar seems well equipped to handle transportation without taking on any serious damage. While it may not stand up to abuse as well as a full size dreadnought, the Newporter Mini is built to last.
Value for Money
The Fender Newporter Mini offers excellent value for money given its premium build and impressive sound quality. The typical street price for this mini acoustic guitar is around $179-$199. This is very competitive compared to other travel-sized acoustics on the market.
What really adds value is everything that’s included in the bundle. The Newporter Mini comes with a padded gig bag for protection, a set of Fender strings, picks, a polishing cloth, and reference materials. Some retailers may also include a clip-on tuner.
When comparing prices, the Newporter Mini is very similarly priced to the Martin Backpacker, Taylor Baby Taylor BT1/BT2, and Yamaha JR1. However, the Fender offers all solid tonewoods, rather than laminate. It also includes more accessories than most competitors in its price range.
Overall, the combination of premium appointment, great sound, and included extras make the Fender Newporter Mini a fantastic bargain for a travel-sized acoustic. It’s budget-friendly for what you get, making it easy to recommend for guitarists wanting portability without sacrificing tone or value.
Customer Reviews & Ratings
The Fender Newporter Mini acoustic guitar has received very positive reviews since its release, with an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars across major retailer websites.
Most reviewers praise the Newporter Mini for its impressive tone and volume considering its compact travel-friendly size. Many describe the guitar as having a rich, full sound with good bass response and bright treble tones. The solid spruce top earns consistent praise for providing great resonance and projection. Players are also impressed by the comfortable playability afforded by the slim neck profile and low action.
Common compliments include:
- Warm, balanced tone
- Good volume and sustain for a mini acoustic
- Quality build with premium tonewoods
- Easy to play thanks to slim neck and low action
- Lightweight and extremely portable design
In terms of criticisms, some customers felt the smaller body shape lacks the bass response of a full-size dreadnought acoustic. A few reviewers mentioned the narrow string spacing took some getting used to. There were isolated complaints about fret buzz or sharp fret ends from early production models, but quality control now seems to have addressed those issues.
Overall, most customers agree the Fender Newporter Mini punches above its weight in terms of sound and makes an excellent portable acoustic for travel or smaller spaces. It earns high marks for quality construction and matches Fender’s reputation for great playability. For an acoustic guitar optimized for portability, the Newporter Mini satisfies on all fronts.
Alternatives to Consider
When looking for a great mini or travel acoustic guitar, the Fender Newporter Mini has some strong competition from other top brands. Here are a few solid alternatives to consider:
Other Fender Mini Acoustics
Fender makes several other quality mini and travel acoustic guitars besides the Newporter Mini:
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Fender CC-60S – This concert-style mini acoustic has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The neck has a comfortable "C" shape profile. It comes in natural, black, or sunburst finishes. The CC-60S is known for its warm, balanced tone and costs less than the Newporter Mini.
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Fender MA-1 – The MA-1 has a small auditorium-style body with laminated mahogany top, back, and sides. The slim neck and shorter 23.5” scale length make it very comfortable and portable. It comes in several bold color finishes. The MA-1 is one of Fender’s most affordable mini acoustic options.
Models from Taylor and Martin
Two of the biggest names in acoustics also make great portable models:
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Taylor GS Mini – Taylor’s GS Mini has layered rosewood back and sides with a solid Sitka spruce top. It has a 25.5" scale length and Taylor’s patented neck joint for smooth playability. The GS Mini is known for its full, resonant tone. It costs more than the Newporter Mini but is seen as the premium option.
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Martin LX1 Little Martin – This mini guitar uses all solid tonewoods – Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It has a 23" scale length and slim neck profile. The LX1 Little Martin is acclaimed for its impressive volume and tone for a smaller-bodied acoustic. It’s comparable in price to the Newporter Mini.
The Newporter Mini stacks up well against these models in terms of portability, build quality, and overall value. But it’s worth trying some of these alternatives to find your perfect mini acoustic travel companion.
Final Verdict
The Fender Newporter Mini offers an excellent blend of premium tone and enhanced playability in an ultra-portable package ideal for traveling guitarists and musicians with limited space.
This mini acoustic really shines for certain use cases. Its compact size makes it the perfect couch guitar to keep within arm’s reach for practice and leisure playing. The shorter 23.5” scale length facilitates easy fretting, while the slim neck profile provides comfort during extended playing sessions. The Newporter Mini is also ideally suited to life on the road. Its durable construction and included gig bag make this mini acoustic ready to toss in the backseat or overhead bin for your next trip.
When it comes to tone, the solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides produce a balanced, warm acoustic voice that belies the Newporter Mini’s diminutive size. While it may not offer the same powerful projection as a full-size dreadnought, it provides impressive volume and resonance for a mini acoustic. The smaller auditorium body shape retains enough tonal nuance to handle fingerstyle playing and lighter strumming styles.
In terms of playability, the slim neck and shorter scale length create an easy-playing experience ideal for guitarists of all skill levels. The low action and narrow string spacing also facilitate comfortable fretting and chord changes. The satin finish and smooth fretwork make this a fast-playing neck that feels great under the fingers. The only potential downside is that wider-spaced players may find the string spacing somewhat cramped.
When considering value, the Newporter Mini delivers a lot of quality and versatility for under $200. Between the road-ready construction, resonant solid wood top, and built-in electronics on upgraded models, this mini acoustic certainly gives you plenty of guitar for the money. The inclusion of a padded gig bag further adds to the overall value proposition.
Overall, the Fender Newporter Mini’s ultra-portable design, quality materials, and accessible playability make this travel-sized acoustic a smart choice for guitarists needing a take-anywhere companion. While it may lack the volume and bass response of a full-size acoustic, it provides ample projection and a pleasing voice in a compact and lightweight build. For traveling musicians or casual players short on space, the Newporter Mini is an excellent acoustic guitar choice worth checking out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What accessories are recommended to get?
The Newporter Mini doesn’t come with any accessories, so here are some useful additions to consider:
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Gig bag or hard case: A padded gig bag or hardshell case is highly recommended for protecting the guitar during travels. The Fender Deluxe Molded Case is a great option.
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Guitar strap: A strap makes playing while standing much more comfortable. Look for one with a wide, padded neck that evenly distributes the weight.
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Guitar tuner: A clip-on tuner like the Snark SN-2 is perfect for quickly tuning the guitar on the go before performances or practice sessions.
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Extra strings: Having an extra set of strings in your case is handy in case one breaks at an inopportune time. Fender 80/20 Bronze strings are a good fit.
How does it compare to the Fender CC-60S?
The CC-60S is another excellent mini acoustic from Fender, with the same 23.5" scale length and travel-friendly size as the Newporter Mini. The Newporter has a spruce top while the CC-60S has laminate construction, so the Newporter may have slightly better resonance and projection. The Newporter also has an Auditorium body shape compared to the CC-60S’s Concert shape, which some find more balanced tonally. They are otherwise very similar guitars, so try both to see which you prefer.
Is it good for beginners or just experienced players?
The Newporter Mini is a great choice for beginners due to its short scale length, low action, and comfortable neck profile. The small body size makes it ideal for younger players too. The all-solid wood construction means it has tone that will satisfy intermediate and advanced players as well. Overall it’s a versatile mini acoustic that works for all skill levels.
What’s the difference vs a full-size dreadnought acoustic?
The Newporter Mini’s small Auditorium body produces a focused, balanced tone, while a full-size dreadnought has a much deeper, booming voice with more bass response. The Newporter’s 23.5" scale length makes fretting easier than a dreadnought’s 25.5" scale. The tradeoff is that the Newporter has lower volume and projection. So the Newporter is more portable and playable, while a dreadnought provides more volume and bass.