Introduction
The Fender PM-TE Travel Acoustic-Electric guitar is designed with the traveling musician in mind. This compact, lightweight acoustic packs impressive features into its small frame.
With a slim, shortened 24" scale mahogany body and neck, the PM-TE delivers warm, balanced tone with easy playability. The onboard Fishman electronics provide natural amplified tone when plugged in. The PM-TE is an ideal couch guitar for small spaces, students, or anyone needing portability.
Check out this quick demo showing the PM-TE’s small stature and great sound:
Fender PM-TE Travel Guitar Demo
Fender PM-TE Standard All-Mahogany Construction
The Fender PM-TE Travel Acoustic-Electric guitar features an all-mahogany construction, with a solid mahogany top, back, and sides. Mahogany is a highly resonant tonewood that imparts a warm, balanced, and articulate tone. The mahogany top produces sweet and complex overtones, with a focused midrange and controlled bass response. This results in excellent clarity and note separation when strumming or fingerpicking.
The guitar’s neck is also crafted from mahogany for tonal consistency across the entire instrument. It has a comfortable slim-taper "C"-shaped profile that feels great in the hand. The rosewood fretboard has 20 easily playable frets, with a 24" scale length that enhances the PM-TE’s portability and playability. Overall, the all-mahogany build provides a light and well-balanced instrument with a vintage-inspired voice perfect for a wide variety of musical styles.
Playability and Comfort
The Fender PM-TE’s ultra-compact size and short 24" scale length make it very travel-friendly and easy to play. The slim-taper mahogany neck has a comfortable modern "C"-shaped profile that fits nicely in the hand. The nut width is a moderate 1 11/16", providing enough room for fingerpicking while still allowing comfortable first-position chords.
The low string action and narrow fretboard of the PM-TE give the impression of playing a much smaller ukulele. Fretting requires very little pressure and barre chords are quite easy to maneuver. The light gauge acoustic strings enhance playability further by reducing tension and finger fatigue. The PM-TE feels extremely well-balanced and lightweight when strapped on, allowing for hours of comfortable playing whether sitting or standing.
While the short scale and slim neck won’t appeal to all players, they make this compact travel acoustic ideal for guitarists with smaller hands or those seeking maximum portability. The easy action and light string tension also make the PM-TE a great choice for beginners and younger students.
Plugged-In Performance
The Fender PM-TE comes equipped with quality Fishman electronics, including an undersaddle piezo pickup and preamp system. This allows you to plug into an amplifier or PA system for amplified performances.
The pickup captures the guitar’s natural acoustic tone and translates it into an electric signal. The undersaddle piezo design allows even and consistent sound reproduction across all six strings. The preamp provides clear tonal shaping and EQ controls right onboard the guitar.
There are volume and tone knobs, along with a simple 3-band EQ for dialing in your amplified tone. The bass, mid, and treble controls allow you to cut or boost frequencies as desired. There is also an onboard chromatic tuner, accessible when plugged in. This makes it easy to tune up accurately before hitting the stage.
When plugged in, the PM-TE delivers a balanced and natural tone. The electronics faithfully convey the warm, resonant character of the all-mahogany body. There is good presence across the tonal spectrum, with nice sparkly highs and tight low end. The midrange has a pleasing focus that cuts through a mix well. Overall, the plugged-in sound is articulate and responsive when playing live or recording direct.
The Fishman preamp also has a phase switch to help eliminate feedback at higher volumes. This comes in handy when you need more gain before feedback. Overall, the PM-TE’s electronics give it stage-ready amplified performance in a compact travel-friendly package.
Unplugged Sound
The Fender PM-TE’s all-mahogany construction helps it produce a balanced, warm unplugged acoustic tone. The solid mahogany top contributes to good volume and projection for a travel-sized guitar.
While mahogany guitars can sometimes sound muddy in the low end, the PM-TE exhibits nice tonal clarity across the frequency range. The mahogany body focuses more on pronounced midrange rather than boomy bass or overly bright treble. It has a pleasantly resonant and focused voice.
When strumming fuller chords, each note comes through clearly. Single note lines have a strong fundamental tone with warm, singing overtones. The PM-TE exhibits nice dynamic range based on your playing technique – it responds well to both aggressive and delicate playing.
The all-mahogany body doesn’t produce extremely deep bass resonance. But the PM-TE still carries enough low end warmth to provide pleasing accompaniment for vocals or other instruments. It offers a balanced tonal palette suitable for a variety of musical genres.
Aesthetics and Finish
The Fender PM-TE Travel Acoustic-Electric guitar features a classic, elegant visual style perfect for players of all levels.
The most popular finish option is the natural satin mahogany, which allows the wood’s beautiful grain patterns to shine through. For those wanting a more traditional look, sunburst and black gloss finish options are also available.
The fretboard and bridge are both made of quality rosewood, providing a rich complementary color to the mahogany. White binding on the body and neck gives it a clean, finished appearance. The rosette around the soundhole consists of three simple white rings, allowing the wood grain to take center stage.
Overall, the PM-TE has a refined, minimalist aesthetic that belies its affordable price point. While not overly ornate, it still looks like a quality, professional instrument worthy of the Fender name. The all-mahogany construction gives it a natural, organic beauty.
For traveling musicians, the PM-TE’s understated good looks make it an ideal guitar to take on stage night after night without drawing too much attention away from the performer. It’s a handsome, elegant workhorse of an acoustic guitar.
Portability
The Fender PM-TE Travel Acoustic-Electric Guitar is designed for maximum portability and travel-friendly use. Its ultra-compact body size measures just 18" long, making it among the smallest full-scale acoustic guitars available. Despite the miniature dimensions, the PM-TE still delivers impressive volume and tone.
Weighing only 4 lbs, the PM-TE is exceptionally lightweight. You can easily sling it over your shoulder in the included hardshell case and carry it anywhere without fatigue. The case features backpack straps for added convenience.
For playing comfort, the PM-TE has strap buttons installed at the heel and tailpiece. An optional guitar strap can relieve neck strain during prolonged standing gigs. The strap buttons also make the PM-TE easy to hang on a wall mount.
Overall, the travel-friendly size and featherweight construction of the PM-TE give musicians maximum portability. Just toss it in the included case and bring vibrant acoustic tone anywhere your travels take you.
Value and Pricing
The Fender PM-TE typically sells for $200 to $300 from most major retailers. This positions it as a very affordable option compared to many full-size acoustic-electrics, which can run $500 or more. For a travel-friendly guitar with solid top construction and quality electronics, the PM-TE provides excellent value.
When comparing the PM-TE to other portable acoustic-electrics in this price range, such as the Yamaha APXT2 or the Martin LX1E Little Martin, the Fender holds up very well. Models from lesser known brands can be found for under $200, but they tend to cut more corners on materials and electronics. The all-solid wood construction and Fishman electronics of the PM-TE help justify its higher cost over ultra-budget options.
Considering its compact size, excellent playability, great unplugged and amplified tone, and portable design, the Fender PM-TE Travel Acoustic-Electric represents a fantastic bang for your buck. For those needing an easy-to-transport acoustic that doesn’t sacrifice on tone or construction, it’s easy to recommend the PM-TE as a top value choice. While the sound may not rival more expensive full-scale guitars, the PM-TE excels at being a great-sounding and playing travel companion.
User Reviews and Experiences
The Fender PM-TE Travel Acoustic-Electric has received glowing reviews from owners who have taken it on the road. Here are some testimonials highlighting the key benefits owners have experienced:
"I bought the PM-TE for travel and couch playing. It’s so easy to just grab and go – super lightweight with a great compact size. The tone is impressive too, very warm and resonant acoustically and sounds great plugged in."
"This is my new favorite ‘bring anywhere’ guitar. I can fit it in overhead compartments when flying and it still plays and sounds fantastic. The mahogany body gives it a nice balanced tone. Highly recommended for any traveling musician."
"I live in a small apartment so I needed a guitar I can play without disturbing neighbors. The PM-TE is perfect – comfortable to play unplugged and sounds amazing through headphones or a small practice amp."
"I love playing jazz on this little guitar. The warm mahogany sound is perfect for chord-melody playing and the slim neck makes it easy to fret complex chords. Plus it looks really sharp on stage in a small cafe or lounge."
Owners praise the PM-TE for its warm mahogany tone, comfortable playability, and travel-friendly size and portability. It’s a great choice for travel, small spaces, practice, and stage use. Some mention wanting a bit more bass response or volume acoustically, but overall agree it delivers impressive performance in a compact package. For traveling musicians or guitarists needing a convenient, quality option, the PM-TE earns high marks.
Conclusion
The Fender PM-TE Travel Acoustic-Electric Guitar is an excellent option for musicians needing a portable, quality acoustic. Its compact size and lightweight build make it ideal for travel and small spaces, while still delivering impressive tone and playability.
The all-mahogany construction gives the PM-TE a focused, balanced sound with nice warmth and resonance. It’s comfortable to play thanks to the slim neck profile and low action. The onboard electronics provide natural amplified tone for plugging in on the go. Overall, it’s a versatile guitar that sounds and plays like a premium instrument, despite its budget-friendly price tag.
This compact Fender is best suited for anyone needing maximum portability, including traveling musicians, dorm residents, and beginners. The affordable price also makes it a great value as a secondary guitar to have around for couch playing or camping trips. Players wanting more robust acoustic bass response or projection for stage use may want to consider a larger dreadnought body style. Those with higher budgets could look into premium options like the Martin Backpacker or Taylor GS Mini for enhanced craftsmanship and tone. However, the PM-TE hits a sweet spot for price, performance and portability that’s hard to beat.