Product: Fender DG20CE
Price Paid: USD 300
Submitted
03/15/2007
at
11:11am
by
Bogo
Email: BogoEN at aol<dot>com
Features
:
6
Natural High Gloss Finish
Dreadnought
Die-cast Chrome tuners
20 frets, Rosewood fingerboard
No included extras
Made in 1999 in Korea
Laminated Spruce top
Built in Fishman Classic 4 Piezo pickup
Laminated Magonany back, sides and neck
Sound
:
7
This guitar was the acoustic I learned to play with. I learned mostly by playing rock when I bought this in 2000 at GC. Since then I moved into fingerstyle and folk.
The guitar sounds well balanced overall and with new strings really holds its own (for an Asian made guitar)
It lacks strong bottom end (as most Fender Acoustics do) and it could use a bit more clarity when fingerpicking between the notes, but this guitar was designed with Rock musicians in mind, so that's not so bad.
It can sound tinny at times, and plugged in it needs a lot of EQ before you get a desired tone. I have yet to take it to a shop and have it looked at or reworked (i.e. new saddle, nut etc). Overall the sound is good, just don't expect it to sound like a Martin D28 or Larrivee. For the price it was very good.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
7
I had no problem with the factory set-up, although when I bought it I knew nothing about proper set-up for an acoustic, and now I feel that it wouldn't be worth the money a rework. The action is just fine, a bit high for some but great if you need to develop a calice. There is rarely a slight buzz on the bottom E, although I haven't heard it in a while. Dropped tunings you can get a buzz occasionally. I like the gloss finish, it gives you license to bang it around a bit, and I have chipped it here and there and it has taken a few dents, but I imagine had it been a satin finish it would be much worse off. Not bad at all.
Reliability/Durability
:
6
This is actually a guitar I would consider for a live show. Its not cheap to worry that its a throwaway and not so expensive that you worry about damage, and with the fishman installed its a great choice for live shows. I have never had a problem with the pickup, however the G string tuner head is slightly loose which has caused the string to break multiple times which needs to be fixed.
The finish wouldn't wear off if you took a sander to it.
I would have liked a strap button at the bottom of the neck rather than having to attatch a string to the nut, but having the 1/4" plug double as a strap button at the bottom is nice. I don't think I would use this guitar as my main gigging guitar, mostly because there are better sounding guitars out there, and this one is much better suited as the backup.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I've never contacted Fender about this guitar, no need.
Overall Rating
:
7
I've been playing now for about seven years, and have only owned this guitar and the Squier Strat which is was my first guitar. However, I have played Tacomas (preFender owned), Guilds, Martins ofcourse and Larrivees(wonderful guitars for the money) and Taylors etc etc. I am about to purchase a new guitar, mostl likely a Martin or Larrivee. I bought this guitar with no prior knowledge from a sales rep at GC and had a I known what I know now, I would have definitely asked why on earth did they sell it to me without a case!? That was my big gripe...I would have also played more guitars in the 300-500 range. At the time I only knew that Fender was THE guitar company and thought that translated to the acoustic line, which is not true in the least. Their forte is the Electric Guitar, naturally.
I have given this guitar a lot of love over the last six years and its seen some live shows, recording etc. Its not a "pro" guitar, but great for beginners all the way to intermediate. I do wish it had a bit more bottom-end, but that's ok. I love how sturdy it is, it's a rock. If this guitar were stolen or lost, I would be sorry to lose the guitar that was my first acoustic with all the nostalgia that goes with that, but I would buy a Larrivee L-03 or Martin SWD to replace it.
