Fender CC-60SCE Review – Classic Acoustic Tones with Modern Versatility

When it comes to guitars, Fender usually stands well above the rest. The California company has been producing electric and acoustic guitars for over 60 years now, and that knowledge and experience helps them craft some of the best axes on the market today. Introduced in 2017, their new CC-60SCE is designed to give beginners an affordable, easy-playing acoustic with electronic capabilities to boot. Let’s check out how it compares to the best acoustic guitars under $300.

Body & Neck

The CC-60SCE sports a concert-size body, perfect for smaller players or those looking for a more manageable shape instead of a dreadnought. The solid spruce top – the gold standard for acoustic guitars – aids harmonic vibration and lends a bright, clear quality to the guitar’s sound. For players looking for a different style, the body is available in black as well as the standard natural finish. The back, sides and neck are all mahogany, with a 21-fret rosewood fingerboard. The neck itself features Fender’s new ‘easy-to-play’ shape, which is a cross between thinner, faster-playing shapes and fuller, more traditional acoustic necks. The fingerboard has a standard 12” radius, while the edges are also slightly rolled to increase playability and comfort. A handsome cutaway gives players easy access to play up through the very top of the neck. Inside the body you’ll find Fender’s scalloped X bracing, keeping the guitar lightweight and improving tone and clarity. Overall, the CC-60SCE is easy for beginners to pick up and play, and feels very comfortable for long playing sessions.

Hardware

The CC-60SCE’s main attraction in the hardware department is the piezo pickup and Fishman preamp with onboard EQ. The electric capabilities mean players can immediately go from an unplugged set to an amplified one while maintaining their acoustic tone, while the equalization controls and included tuner allow you to dial in the perfect sound for any gig. On the acoustic side, the CC-60SCE includes a walnut bridge with a compensated saddle, plastic nut and Fender chrome die-cast tuners to help keep your intonation and tuning stable. Finally, this model includes a strap peg on the upper bout of the body – no need to drill holes or tie a strap around the headstock!

Sound

The first ‘C’ in ‘CC-60’ stands for ‘classic’ – so it’s no wonder this guitar pumps out such quintessential acoustic tones. Articulation is crisp and clear, with bright highs and sufficiently full-sounding lows. Treble notes punch a bit more with this model (they can grow a bit pingy at times in the upper range), but for a concert guitar it has plenty of bass. The body size also means this guitar is as well-suited for fingerpicking as it is traditional strumming and lead work. Acoustically, this guitar can play to almost any style. The electronic pickup does a solid job in maintaining the acoustic flavor, though the range sounds significantly more muted and less ‘in-your-face’ than when the guitar is unplugged. Like most electro-acoustics in this price range, the sound isn’t perfect – but it’s more than capable of handling plugged-in gigs with a band. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNDf27DKMYg

Conclusion

The CC-60SCE is a great choice for guitarists looking for classic acoustic tones with added electronic versatility. The focus on playability is great for new guitarists, but the build quality and tones will allow this model to last for years, even as you progress on the instrument. Fender has managed to fit an impressive list of features into this guitar for such a beginner-friendly price. For more info about the Fender CC-60SCE, click here. For more of the best acoustic guitars under $300, click here.