Fender Gemini II Acoustic

Built 1987 Korea Purchased 1992 $150 This has to be rosewood on the back. The sound is just too good.

I was prompted to write this review because I had not played this guitar in 4 or 5 years and yesterday, I put down my Gibson J45 and pulled this out of it's case. And Wow. Just Wow. This guitar sounded better than the Gibson (which is brand new). I was stunned and so was my wife. Incredible sound. This has to be aged rosewood as a back. I am still stunned. The aging of the wood inspite of the thick laquer, is just tops. Yup better than the Gibson.

Needs a well deserved tune up. Slight buzz on two strings. Other than that the nato neck is great and the fingerboard although showing grooves and wear, is still very nice.

It is 22 years old and still looks and plays good. No cracks or loose parts

If you ever comes across one these 80's Korean guitar, buy it. I came to appreciate this great guitar after comparing it to a several thousand dollar Gibson. I will now take care of it.......maybe even get it a humidifier and decent case.

Standard Gemini II. Bought in 1994 for me as a 1st Wedding Anv present. Has been all over the place. And still sounds great. I'm not the best player in the world, and dont read too much into the diffrent types of wood in the make up, its sounds good, that'll do me.

Nice rich sound, agree with one of the posters, Martins sound lovley, will be trying Elixir's soon, just for the comparision. Have played the Fender with people who have had more upmarket guitars, and the little baby more then held it's own, so much i've had cash offers for it, there and then. I play anything and everything on it, and its all good.

Never a problem.

Its still 100%, finnish is lovley. It will be going for some TLC as it has devoloped a slight crack in the nut, while its in, new strings and a clean up.

Not needed.

For christmas the good lady bought me another guitar, A Sheridan BF501EQ, Jumbo guitar, but I cant see the Fender being retired, rather both will now have pride of place.

The Fender was bought to replace an old ARIA which had a fight with a staircase and lost, badly. I'll never sell it. Its like a good wine, getting better with age, like its player, ;-)

I have a Fender Gemini IIE (Electric). It was made in Korea and has a laminated body. It has 20 frets. When I got it, the bridge pickup did not work and I had to have it fixed. Other than that this guitar has stood up to 17 years of my abuse. Still to this day, it stays in tune and sounds great. I have had a friend borrow it, and return it with broken strings but I still blame this on him rather than the guitar. Speaking of strings, they tend to die of old age rather than break. Unlike my Ibanez and Fender electric guitars and aucoustic which strings have to get changed because they break so often, the Gemini IIE tend to be the oposite. I change the strings because they are so old that they sound dead. This is by far the longest lasting guitar I have ever owned.

I can play anything on this guitar. Blues, Rock, Country, Jazz, you name and this guitar can do it. If there was any guitar that could be used for any style of music, this is it. Of course it doesn't sound nearly as good to the player as it does to the crowd, but that is simply because of the sound hole. It's not the fault of the guitar, and besides it's the audience that counts anyways.

I have nothing to complain about. I have never had to change anything on this guitar other than the strings and getting the pickup repaired once. It is very durable and has latested 17 years of playing.

Other than getting the pickup replaced, (because the bridge pickup needs to be strung carefully), this guitar is amazing. Strap button is very solid, and the guitar overall is very dependable.

I have never had to deal with customer support. When I needed the pickup fixed, I took it to a local guitar tech who said that he got everything he needed from Fender without any hassle. The pickup was fixed, and to this day still functions properly.

I have owned this guitar for 17 years. Other than what was mentioned, this guitar has lasted longer than any other guitar I have ever owned electric or aucoustic. I know that I will play this guitar until the day I die. It has been a friend, and a companion that will never leave my side. People think that because of it's age it cannot hold it's own against current models, but time and time again it has won every battle I have placed it against. If you are lucky enough to find a Fender Gemini II, or Gemini IIE, don't think twice about buying it. It will be one of the best guitar you have ever owned.

I have a Gemini II that was made in Korea. I'm 16 and I've had it my entire life. It was my dad's and he's had his for a while. It has a laminate top that it could do without in my opinion. It is my only acoustic and i love it.

I play rock, blues, and a little heavier stuff on it and it can play them all. The sound is just spectacular(especially having a laminate top). The sound is just so full. I play with light Martin acoustics and they fit very well together.

I don't know anything about this besides the action is fairly low for an acoustic.

this guitar is a tank. I've beaten it up for as long as i have been playing it and it shows nearly no signs of wear and tear.

N/A

This is the only acoustic for me. I don't see the point in paying more for an acoustic guitar that i might like when i have a monster of a guitar sitting in my lap right now for free.

basic just what you need

can play with anybody

well enough, mine has never been in a case and feeling somewhat abusive to the axe this past weekend i took goo-be-gone to it to remove duct tape residue that held a pick up on it. it shined up great and i added a new pair of martin phos/bronze lites and it sounds great

it's passed the test, like i said it's never been cased. though due to it's sustained condition i am going to get a first rate case for it.

who needs it?

solid, playable, sounds good, better than a timex. with the take a lick'en kinda thang!

hi everyone been looking at your imputs to i just bougt my gemini at a garage sale found out most were built in the 80s i paid 50 usa dollars for mine needed new strings plays great

sounds great better than paying top buck for them all

cant beat it for the price i was amazed

yes u can depend on it

i fix my own guitars

been playing for 30 years own alot of gear to much but thats the rock and roll business

I purchased this guitar new in 1991. It has a pickup under the saddle and volume/tone knobs above the heel. I rarely use the pickup though because it sounds so beautiful naturally I always mic it! This is a solid instrument! Made in Korea but made flawlessly. I've owned it for 16 years and will own it for decades more. The only flaw I'd say is that it is very laminated. I would love to hear this model without the laminate! Still, the tone is absolutely gorgeous, especially with phosphor bronze strings (I use Martins and they sound like gold on this guitar). This is my #1 acoustic and it is aging quite well! The tone keeps getting better! I would give it a 10 if not for the laminate.

I play mostly folk and acoustic rock on it. I play classical as well, but save that for my Cordoba, but I do like to noodle with it on my Fender.

The sound is quite full! The high ends are not too biting, very smooth and the lows have plenty of growl but maintain just enough brightness! Basically, this guitar with the strings I mentioned has provided one of my two signature acoustic tones! The other being my Applause with Elixirs...

I have NEVER had to mess with the setup! The action is about as perfect as it gets and not a buzz to be found! Not a single flaw in construction other than a bit too much laminate.

16 years with nary a problem! Yep, it's durable! Haven't changed a bit of hardware other than having to replace the bridge pickup when it wouldn't grab the low "E."

I don't use it with a strap often, but when I have the button has held firm.

It's my #1 acoustic and I play it in a folk duo. The other member of the duo plays 2 Martins and a Taylor and they sound wonderful with my Gemini II!

Never needed customer support. The guitar shop I bought it at replaced the pickup.

I have been playing for 30 years and have a collection of about 20 low to mid priced guitars with a couple of higher end elecric gems thrown in. This is one of the finest instruments I've ever played. It gets better with age! Of course, it's been well cared for. Stays completely in tune and has become a part of my signature tone!

Korea made Gemini II. Not sure what the wood is, assuming Alaskan Spruce and Indian Rosewood. 20 frets.

I will play any kind of music that I want to play, from country to blues to jazz to folk to rock, and it rings out no matter what. I can take a punk song or Bob Dylan and it sounds perfect. Singing higher strings and wonderful low strings makes it a perfect balance. It sounds good with new or old strings, and I've never had a problem with it's sound.

One of the tuning keys broke off after a little more than a year of ownership, and the third fret is slightly raised - it has a tendency to catch my 1st E string under it and make my G string buzz on lower notes. Other than that, no problems.

This guitar was given to a 15 year old boy with no respect for it. It's fallen down, left in the rain, left in the sun, outside in the cold, and survived Greyhound buses (for the most part; a particularly bad bump cracked the neck). I play this guitar live all the time and will never tire of it. Occasionally the strap will slip off, but that's all.

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I"ve only been playing for about a year and a half, but I've played a lot of guitars and thsi is number one by far. I also have a Squire Strat by Fender and a Marco Polo classical I picked up at a yard sale, but my baby Gem is number one. If it was stolen or lost, I'd probably, no, definitely, be broken-hearted.

My gemini 11 is 15 years old. Can't keep it in tune. Tried different gauge strings. Tuning it in the 5th fret is a disaster. When its hot it needs constant tuning. When its cold it needs constant tuning. It is in great shape except for fadeing under strings. I've played with other gemini 11 that are in perfect tune. Maybe mines a lemon.

Made in Korea - 20 fret dreadnought acoustic. Made in 1986 (20 Years old). Tuners are typical of Fender acoustics - had to repair one in seven years of ownership - not bad though.

I play a lot of Blues on the old girl. Also more modern tunes like Oasis, Coldplay. She will play virtully anything and make it sound pretty good. I recently played a gig at a club using a Ibanez Mid way through, got really sick of it, and picked up my baby...... I kid you not, she really turned the gig round. Bright deep sound from an acoustic.

After 20 years she is as beautiful as the day she was lovingly crafted by the hands of a thousand virgins. Very good all round.

This has outlasted my wife. Which is something at least.

My Gem has been beaten, thrown around, taken around Europe a few times - in the minus 20 of the Alps, and the blazing sun of St. Tropez. She couldnt be any sturdier.

Never dealt with Fender.

Goota say, I was gonna buy a new guitar this year.......Oh no. Not after chacking the rubbish that is pumped out today. I couldnt find one below #800 that would match my little gems characteristics.

From The Mad Manc in Manchester uk.
themadmanc@hotmail.com

Just a standard guitar. When I started to learn guitar, all I wanted was a non-dime store standard guitar. And thats what I bought.

Let me just say that I've had the guitar for over 18 years - purchased it new. I've had several high end guitars since and still own a couple of high end Takamines. This is the guitar that I keep lying around the house - it has the most unique and comforting sound and I enjoy playing it more than any other acoutic guitar I've owned. Others are impressed by its sound and the guitar is very responsive to player input - its amazing what you can get out of it.

Being just a "standard guitar", the fit and finnish was excellent when I purchased it. Even to this day its a fine guitar! The action has always been "right there" and for whatever reason, this guitar holds its tune.

After 18 years, the fretboard and frets are showing their age as is the finish on the spruce top - lots of character cracks. No complaints here.

After about a month of ownership, it had an unfortunate incident where the neck cracked slightly around the body. The local guitar shop fixed it up and it has not so much as hinted at cracking in over 18 years. Other than that, just the usual set-ups and fret dressings.

This guitar has survived several trips to the middle east. Its been through some of the most extreme temperature and humidity swings you can imagine (cold Canadian Winters to boot), tripped over, slept on, banged about in cars, boats, campers, shot at by a pellet gun (1 pellet still remains lodged in the back wedged between a brace - 17 years ago)and the biggest stress test of all - 3 kids! It continues to play and sound awesome!

Never had to contact Fender. Initial repair was taken car of promptly and professionaly by the store I purchased it from, Rainbow Music.

Been playing over 18 years. Currently own Tak 6 and 12 string acoustics, Washburn classical, American Strat plus, Korean Telecaster .. I think thats it. A few amplifiers.

If it were lost would I replace it? I think I would.

In short, one of the most robust, reliable and hard working guitars out there.

Gemini II Acoustic Made between 1984-1987. Mine was purchased new end of 86'. Korean Samick factory no doubt - or worse. Laminate woods everywhere. Spruce top / Nato back and sides. Most likely a low grade rosewood fretboard. Bridge is made from God-knows-what because it's obviously painted. Dreadnought shape (Martin copy). High-Gloss finish is obviously too thick on the top, preventing proper vibration (a common problem on inexpensive instruments). Neck and headstock exhibit a smooth polyurethane or satin finish. Tuners are friction fit, complete junk and, I need to replace them. Terrible garbage. Mother-of-Toilet-Seat plastic circle fret markers.

Sounds like the big engine that couldn't - even for $200. Poor wood selection (laminates) coupled with poor craftsmanship result in an over-bearing, box-like drone. No piano-like crispness in the bass notes married to twangy high notes without body. If you are tone-deaf, this is the instrument for you.

Action has been average from day one. One of the tuners does not match the other five exactly. It's close but obviously a whoops and not noticed during the original purchase. Interior craftsmanship is poor but typical of instruments made for this price. The guitar does have volume but the tone is unrefined and unbalanced - even for a dreadnought. The treble can barely be heard and it's collectively just BLAH. In short, I've heard it better coming out of my toilet. What is everyone else thinking on this page?

Well, for almost 20 years it has withstood very little playing and much storage. Guitars made from laminate woods can last longer and be more durable than solid woods though. This is the only thing going for it - it's a tank. My Mother purchased it for my Father as a gift because it was in the right price range. Stay away from this instrument if your a player. But, as a starter for a teenager who is big enough to hold it properly - it's a gem.

n/a or unavailable information

I've been playing for 20 years. I own 12 top-end guitars from Gibson, Martin, Fender, ESP, Schecter, Jackson and Ibanez. I suppose I have a seasoned ear and an intense love of guitar construction and tonewoods. There are many books, encylopedia's, and publications on guitar manufacture and repair that I enjoy reading and collecting. The price My Mother paid for this guitar in 1986 is now shocking. She could probably get her money back now because it says "Fender" on the headstock.

This is a 1986 Fender Gemini II acoustic dreadnought guitar made in Korea. A very nice acoustic axe - real East Indian Rosewood back and sides and Alaskan Sitka Spruce top with a Rosewood fretboard to bring it all in. A look inside shows solid Spruce bracing and probably Mahogany or Rosewood kerfing. The factory tuners work wonderfully; the thing stays in tune for weeks. The finish is your standard polyurethane finish which shows the woodgrain wonderfully, a trait in common with Fender's acoustic and electric guitars from the post-CBS era. Although polyurethane doesn't really present any tonal advantage over satin or nitrocelluose(in fact, it sort of pales in comparison to either of them).

"The Gem" as I have named it suits my playing like no other acoustic I've played short of the higher end Martins. I play tons of rock and soem blues here and there on the side. (Ya' know. Those expensive suckers that'll run you $3200 from the warehouse catalogs like Musican's Friend.) It has a tone that brings to mind Epiphone's Masterbuit series of acoustics, like the AJ-500RE (a winner of Guitar Player's Editor's Pick awards) or even some of the more accessable Martins. (The ones that are priced at around $1500 from different catalogs.)

The tone of The Gem is loud without being rude or too boomy. The sound is very well-balanced with very clear projection. The mid-range is a very nice part of the tone, too. The sound is never muddy; very well balanced with any kind of chord you want to strum away with. And the 19 or 20 years under it's belt only helps make that tone better.

The Gem's action is nice, but, then again I got this as a used item for chump change. When I reach for an electric, I reach for a Fender Strat, so the rather low action was familar to me. It's not too low as to make you think it may have a problem - a costly problem - but low enough to feel comfortable and reassuring. But, don't get me wrong, it's not as low as a Strat. Just low in acoustic terms.

The finish is great. Tough and sturdy. When I bought it, it was in great shape for a guitar pressing on 20-years old. It had a few scratches, but no ghastly rips on the finish. Whoever owned this before me kept this thing stowed away in a case or under a bed for years-on-end for it to be in such great condition.

I have no doubt in my mind The Gem will withstand a major gig. (Like MTV Unplugged... Well, think Alice In Chains Unplugged rather than Insert-No-Name-Pop-Star-Here Unplugged.) And as for needing a backup... What back up? I wouldn't need no stinkin' back-up.

I wouldn't doubt that it will last longer than I will. Like I've said previously, the finish is tough and sturdy. It's not easy to scratch or chip. And I bet if I treated it like a pure dog, it would still come back for more abuse.

Well, I've had to deal with Fender's customer support on fixing one of my Strats... And if they're responsible for putting a Squier pup in my '92 Sunburst Standard, I'd like to kill 'em. (I beleve it to be the shop's doing, but I still wonder.)

As far as I know, all Fenders produced after CBS sold the company to a group of investors have a limited lifetime warranty. And I beleve it is fully transferable.

I've been playing for 5 to 7 years now, and although that is a short amount of time, I've managed to cram all I could learn in that amount of time - guitar facts and other worthless nougats included. I currently own a '92 Fender Strat, a Custom Fender Strat with a Kahler Trem, a '03 Squier Tele Special, and a '04 Epiphone Hummingbird.

The Gem is the 5th guitar I've purchased and own. I prefer playing this to my Epi... As a matter of fact, since I bought The Gem, I haven't played the Epi since. If some rat bastard robbed me and took this guitar, I will be looking for another. Anyhow, I don't beleve I'll part with it or sell. So, if you want mine, you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead fingers!

well it plays like a dream and its mint its smooth and it gives you the sound you need

well I started playing 7 years ago on a washburn electric and i play lead like crazy and when I get on my acustic I dont have to slow down a bit the action lets me play what I want to play with great sustain and vintage feeling

Well the neck is very smooth and none of the frets bog out and you can get unbelievable harmonics out of it It squeels like a pig and whispers like the wind

I play pretty hard and this thing shown no sign of slowing down I have a feeling It will be around alot longer than I will

I got this guitar as a gift from my grandmother she bought it roughly 20 years ago for another person and never gave it to them and it was put up in their attic for years never to see the light of day and one day she gave it to me about a month ago and its never been damaged or anything and whats weird is it has the original strings on it and I pluck them hard playing solos and they never break. I break string all the time on my electric guitars Im up to guage 12 in strings.

Have been covered

I've had this guitar 15 years and it gets better with age. Has a deep, rich, reverberating sound. A bit bassy, but really kicks with a pick

I have never had it adjusted, but the action is too high. I've played with the rod a bit, and it buzzes too much when lowered. The finish has stood the test of time. It stays in tune fairly well.

This is a durable guitar. Mine was damaged at the base when shipped(due to poor packing) but still plays great years later. A very durable and well made guitar.

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Overall this guitar is a steal at the $200 or so it cost. I would prefer it to be more, 'player friendly' as you really have to work your fingers on the frets to get it to sound clean, but I don't think I'll ever get rid of it.

I inherited this guitar from my dad so I don't have any details on the woods used, etc. I think other reviewers have covered this pretty well, however. One thing I noted when I took it in for a setup, is that according to my guitar tech, the bridge on it (which I'm 99% certain is the original) is bone and of good quality. I have not felt the need or desire to replace it. However, I believe the original nut was plastic or some other relatively low quality material and it cracked after a few years (see below). The factory tuners are reasonably good quality (15:1 ratio), but are worth replacing.

This guitar sounded pretty good to begin with. After replacing the standard bridge pins with some Tusq pins from Graphtech (if you're going to do this, the larger Martin-style pins fit perfectly) and putting a Tusq nut on it, it sounds great! I can honestly say that I've not found an acoustic guitar selling for under $1,700-2,000 that I like the sound of better than my Gemini. Individual notes are clearly discernable when jamming out chords with a pick, yet it is still clean and plenty loud enough for fingerpicking, especially with the new nut and bridge pins. The sound is not what I would call "punchy," (e.g. scooped/deep), but nonetheless it is very full, with great sustain, good balance, even volume across the strings, and notes that ring clearly from the lowest E to the higest fret I can reach on the fingerboard.

When I first got the instrument, the G string was very weak and muddy sounding compared to the others, but when I replaced the nut I found that the old one was cracked directly underneath that string, and it's been fine ever since the new nut was installed.

I can't speak to the factory setup because I got the instrument from my father several years after he purchased it, but I've always found the action to be good and the neck to be very playable and pretty fast for an acoustic instruments. I generally use Elixir Light or Custom Light strings on it. I tried mediums (13s) once, and it was fine tuned down a half step, but as soon as I tuned it up the G string snapped. I wouldn't recommend anything heavier than 11s or maybe 12s.

The factory tuners did start giving me some trouble recently; not holding their tuning well and not making smooth/fine adjustments, but the instrument is over a decade old so this is not abnormal. I had them replaced with some 18:1 Planet Waves tuning machines and was right back in business, although I did have to have the 11/32" diameter peg holes redrilled to the more common 10mm size.

I've banged this guitar on door frames, counter tops, chairs, tables, and lord knows what else more times than I can recall. I've dropped it or had it knocked over by my cats on many an occasion. I've left it in my car in the heat of summer and dead of winter before I knew better, and after all of that it looks and sounds as good as new aside from one or two small dings in the body's finish, only one of which is noticeable if you're not looking for it. I think it would take an intentional effort to seriously damage this guitar.

Never had to deal with them.

I've been playing guitar as a hobby for about 8 years now, but just started playing "seriously," if you will about a year ago. This guitar was easy to learn on, and is still a very capable, useful, nice sounding instrument. When I asked my guitar teacher (who has been playing seriously for over 12 years), if I should get a "better" instrument, he told me flat out I wouldn't find a better one for less than $1,500. Now that I know what to look for in an instrument, I wholeheartedly agree. I can't find anything I don't like about this instruemnt. If it were ever lost, stolen, or irrepairably damaged, I would be quite upset and would definitely get another one if I could find it. Sure, there are better instruments out there, but you won't find one for anywhere near this price point.

Just a cheapo I picked up at a garage sale with no tuning keys and a hole in it.Went back to the same sale a week later and found the keys on a junk yapaneze axe.Put on new fender accoustic strings and she sounded sweet right from the gate.

Been playing since the Hippie days in So.Cal.Sounds good and can take alot of abuse.No problems with keyboard or tuning keys.

First I have big hands.OK have had no problems with this old beater.Would sell my Ibanez before this one.

What can I say,it's the Ford F-150 of guitars.Takes a likin and bounces back for more

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After trying all the high dollar crap out there,this puppy rocks

Bought new in 1990
made in Korea
serial S00000127
medium frets, excellent condition after playing for 13 years, good wire
the Fender info tag I got with it says, "The tops, on some models, are made of Alaskan sitka spruce", " the backs and sides of selected models Indian rosewood is used"
Case

I bought this while in the US ARMY , stationed in Suadi Arabia during desert storm. It was around 200 dollars through AAFES catalog. THe sound is very nice. It has a very " full range" voice, with long midrange sustain.

The action was very high on this from the beginning, I thought maybe the neck was warped "up-bow" from the heat in Saudi. I have just lived with it (makes for strong fingers). The neck and side, back wood is very dark and tight. This guitar has lasted a long time. The fit and finish compared to a johnson guitar I bought was excellent, I would give that a ten, but then I will mark it down for the action being so high.

It's lasted 13 years, I had this thing for a year in suadi, then drug it to virginia and back home to michigan and all around. It would be safe to say, I have really beat on this thing, the fret wire on my other guitars is really worn, but this fret wire has really stood up.

never had to deal with them

I have been playing 20 years. The sound is my favorite thing about this guitar. I think it's very soulfull. It reacts to the way you play it. The harder you play it, the louder it gets, but maybe that's true of any guitar.

Made in Korea 1964
22 frets, I don't know where it came from it given to me as a inheritance but for the several years i've had it its been a good guitar Probably a maple neck with asolid top. Its finish is transparent a big Gemini II with a slightly sawed down birdge and perfect action, with a fat neck.

It sounds great regardless of what strings i've had on it unless when its out of tune. Has a good sound for playing classical guitar,and a bright loud sound.

The neck was a little bent when i got it and the bridge was too high but with ten dollars i got it fixed

I've moved this thing in and out alot and dropped it several times and it only has a few minor dings, also it has been able to suvrive the Hot Texas weather for many years and its finish still looks brand new

Despite the few problems with it when i got it this thing has rocked on!

This guitar is my husbands. It has a ligkly wider neck than other Fender's I have come across inclding my f200. Other than that, it seems pretty standard, for an acoustic. The neck is Rosewood. It works great for my Husband who has average hands and for his friend who has huge hands, but not so well for my teeny tiny hands (but that's why I have an f200).

Te sound on this guitar is great. It's loud without being abnoxious, and not too bright. We did replace the strings however, because the first strings were pretty bad. For a used and very inexpensive guitar, we feel like the sound is 100x better than we expected.

The action ok. It could be a little lower, but that may be just because it needs adjusted. We bought it used and I think it had been pretty abused because it was VERY dry. Considering it's previous abuse the finish is in wonderful shape, with no cracking or crazing. The fretwire does need filed though, probably as a result of the humidity.

This guitar was probably kept in a barn based on the horrible smell of the gig bag it came with. The gig bag went in the garbage, and we stuck a humidifier in the guitar for a few weeks and polished the guitar and used some lemon oil on the neck. When we restrun the guitar we were very surprised at how good it sounded after the abuse. It has only one scratch on it, where the previous owners installed a button for the guitar strap. This guitar has also withstood the attentions of a 7 year old and 18 month old. This has to be an incredibly durable guitar. For the price we paid, I give it an a+

Never dealt with Fender.

I've only been playing for about 6 months, but my husband wanted to learn to play, but my guitar was too small so we bought this off Ebay, keeping our fingers crossed that we weren't throwing money away:) ... It was the best 50.00 I've spent. (But it did take a few weeks to see that our investment paid off). If it were lost or stolen I would buy it again if I could get it for the same price. It seems to be a great beginner guitar.

I think most of this has been covered below already by other reviewers. Please see the reviews below for details in this category.

This was my first guitar...purchased about 13 years ago. At the time I didn't know about Fender's horrible reputation for low-end acoustics, but it was my first and I just wanted to learn. After 13 years of playing, I have played numerous guitars and have 6 included in my collection. This guitar still amazes me after I return from a trip to local guitar stores. It has a beautiful tone, as long as you don't play above the 11th fret. The guitar has been through hell...kept in trunks during 115 degree summers, dropped, had things dropped on it etc... Anything played above the 11th fret bottoms out as the strings touch higher frets and make a dead pinging sound.

I bought one of these models and took it home. I found that some of the frets weren't set properly into the neck and caused a lot of buzzing. I had to take it back to the shop and pick through a few of the ones they had in stock to make sure I had a good one without problems. The shop didn't seem very concerned with customer service and wanted to keep the guitar for a few weeks to have their luthier fix it (even though I had just purchased it the day before)...but after some strong words, they succumbed to letting me pick out another one instead. The action was pretty high as well, but after adjusting the truss rod I was able to get the action down low enough to play comfortably. There was a small blemish on the neck, but otherwise, the finish, tuners, and manufacturing on the guitar seem good for the price range.

Since I've had this guitar for around 13 years now, I am able to speak from a perspective of a large amount of time. The guitar could probably stand some TLC from a luthier to bring back some of it's original splendor, but the price to fix the guitar would probably far exceed it's re-sale value. I still might do it just because it was my first and is very special in that aspect. I basically use it as my beater/thrasher guitar when I need something to take to a friend's house or to go camping with or to let my kids play around with. I don't have to worry about it much...even though it has incredible sentimental value. Seeing as how it's lasted 13 years, I think most of the settling that is going to happen has probably occurred by now...so I think it has held up very well. The tuning pegs keep the guitar in tune very well and I've never had a problem with them. The finish has some marks and dents from mishaps...but overall has no major cracks or anything that could be considered a flaw of cheap manufacturing. I really wouldn't use it live because you can only play down toward the nut...unless you want to risk the huge "dead zone" that starts around the 11th fret.

never dealt with Fender

I've been playing about 13 years now. I own a Takamine EF349C acoustic, a Takamine classical, a Schecter C-1 Elite electric guitar and a Martin 12 string. I play through a Crate GX40D electric guitar amplifier and a Crate CA60D acoustic guitar amplfier.

I wish I had studied a bit more before buying the guitar. I ended up buying it from the highest priced shop in town and could have definitely acquired it for much cheaper.

I probably wouldn't buy another one if it was lost or stolen, but it is special to me so I'm not going to give it away or sell it either.

I wish it sounded good all across the fretboard, but I feel that my own naive negligence is probably to blame for most of it's problems.

Made in Korea. 20 frests. Probably spruce top. Might be laminated back and sides. Rosewood fingerboard maybe. Typical dreadnaught.

It does what I ask it to do. Install a new set of strings and this baby comes to life. Mix of flatpicking, strumming and fingerpicking. I've played more expensive guitars (at the music store) with older strings that don't sound as good as this one with new strings.

Haven't had to adjust the neck or anything. Looks kinda sloppy inside, but who cares.

This thing is built like a brick shithouse. It's been though jungle like humidity in the summer and been bone dry in the winter. It doesn't care. Glossy finish on the neck and body. It's got dings, but that has no effect on sound. I had to add a strap button on the base of the neck. No cracks so far.

No need so far.

Been playing on and off for 23 years. Also have an '87 Fender American Standard Strat, a '97 Guild Bluesbird and a '64 Fender Mustang. If this was stolen, I'd search E-Bay for the exact model. Can't remember what I paid for it, but it was cheap. Excellent bang for the buck.

The guitar was bought new around 1984-1985. Standard "Fender" signature at the top of the neck. It has twenty frets. The high ones are a little tough to get to, but a lot easier than many other acoustics I have played through the years. It seems to be made of a dark maple. It's a really nice, simple looking guitar. There's a sticker inside the body with "Fender Model Gemini II" and the serial number printed on it. I would be interested to know where and when it was manufactured.

I learned how to play guitar on this Fender and I've had it for sixteen years. It has influenced my style of playing acoustically as much as anything I've ever heard, perhaps even more. I wouldn't characterize the sound as being especially bright, even with new strings, but it is definitely a warm, rich, full sound. I have constantly composed songs using different, odd tunings and this has seemed to have no effect on the bridge, neck or whatever. It sounds especially good with those fat, open note chords.

Like I said, the guitar is built like a workhorse. It's not fancy, but everything works. And the action is great. I've always liked it. I have played guitars that have felt better and were easier to play, but these were vastly more expensive. I'm probably used to this action anyway, after all these years.

This guitar has been through hell. It spent two years in the heat and humidity of tropical Africa. At one point, it was resting against a wall in a pool of water after a particularly heavy rainfall, but, other than a little damage to the finish, it's still trucking on.
I have played it heavily and constantly for the past sixteen years and treat it like crap, to be honest. In other words, it's REALLY durable!

Customer what?

I love this guitar. What can I say?

6 strings, decent tuners,umm.. sound hole? Nice clear varnish finish. 25.3" scale (I think),still know very little about acoustics,don't need to as this one asks very little and gives a lot.
First trip to acoustic land,and only purchased after advice from friends and looking at over a dozen cheaper acoustics in several shops in the Greater London area. 25.3" scale (I think).

The neck radius is fairly flat and the back profile is kind of like a thinner Gibson [C type?],whilst still being quite comfortable for general open chord and rhythm work, the board width being similar. The fretboard is rosewood,seemingly. Frets are narrow and quite low.

Surpisingly good sound,clearest and most resonant of the lot of 12 or 13 (various low end acoustics) in 6 or 7 music shops,and, no, I wasn't influenced in a positive manner by the "Fender" on the headstock,as I was into late 80s Ibanez stuff (!follies of youth!). I realize it's a cheapo guitar but the sound depth and qualitity delighted me. It's got a bright sound with new strings, although it sounds better after they have "died" for a couple of weeks, sounds as good or better than many Wasburns,Aria,Yamaha and Ibanez acoustics which I have heard..won't try it against a J200,tho.:) Usually use Dean Markley "Light gauge?". I have heard better acoustics ,but, not below #250-300.

Action, Fit, & Finish: 9.5
Fit and finish = tougher than the toughest of old boots (see below), the playbility is fine and has a nice,while not super low action. The neck radius is fairly flat and the back profile is kind of like a thinner Gibson [C type?],whilst still being quite comfortable for general open chord and rhythm work, the board width being similar. The fretboard is rosewood,seemingly. Frets are narrow and quite low,the 3 frets nearest the nut have dinks in them under the high E and B string positions,so i now get a little buzz. It has NEVER had a setup,and the nut seem to be wearing a little now. Time to get the tools out.Intonation is inexact above fret 14 ,and was before age and wear set in,[loses half a point],but I cannot usually reach higher than that .It has a 14th fret neck join. Tuners look cheap,but hold tune very well if posts well wrapped with string.

Reliability/Durability: 11!
Everything still seems solid. Cosmic! see below...in the overall rating section.

Never had to,never will.

Overall Rating: 9.75
I own/owned a wide range of guitars and have played quite a few. This is one I will never think of parting with. The only gripe is the bridge pins are a pig to get in and out,but, i beleive that this is common to acoustics. The only other acoustic i owned, for a long while, was an Aria,costing almost twice the price..let's just say that one was hardly played and was traded in for something decent when able.

Kudos to Fender and many thanks for the quality product of budget nature.

"Made in Korea"

At the time of purchase i expected to "upgrade" or replace this in 5 or so years time..I was very wrong.


This is a summary of why this little "beater" gets a high rating...



Fender Gemini II, Acoustic-- 10yr report.


General usage and synopsis:

Bought new in July 1992.
Played heavilly by everyone I knew at the time from 1992-94 ("Oh, that sounds *fine* can I borrow it for the weekend?") slung around in general,It has been "camping" **get this** --Physically IN a river more than once-- (not fully submerged), at parties, played in damp situations, street parties. Name anywhere short of a Crack house and it's probably been there. Aquires small dig in back of neck,varnish is intact. Taken for long trips in the boot/trunk of car,often without case or gigbag ..youth,stupidity?

1994-97 declining in use,but still played around an hour a day,most days.
1998 moderate usage.
1998-99 fairly heavy usage,in Jam band situation,small "gheto blaster" falls on it, this leaves crescent scar about an inch long "imprinted" in the front of the guitar just behind the bridge,playability unimpaired.
1999 Cat knocks over guitar this breaks tuner head ,which is superglued back on and, replaced in 2001.
1999 to 2000 not much use.
2001 to date light usage.


In this time it has never had a case or cardboard box and "moved house" 12 times,packed carefully, but not over dilligently (was a student).

If you can find a tougher acoustic guitar,it will probably be made from steel..(James Trussart acoustic?).

Made in Japan I bought it in Amsterdam in 1986. I was a busker then. It has 20 frets, a solid top. I changed the tuners because the factory ones sucked. There was a passive Shaller bridge pick up mounted an a new bridge from real bone was installed. I bought it together with a hard case.

It has a gentle friendly sound to it self. On the street I had to use a Tiger mini amp (2 watts) to not make it dissapear to my voice. Amplified I could plug in everywhere, ajust the gain and it sounded wonderfull.

After the new tuners and brigde now the frets are beginning to wear a bit. But I've played it so many times that it unbelieveable they are still on there. She playes like a Fender should light and easy.

If you knew what this guitar has been thru on my 5 years of traveling as a busker, in a soft case and you look at it today you will not belelieve a word I say. This is an unbelievebly well made guitar that endured heat, beaches, tents, people sitting on it, falling down numerous times and so on.... It made me so much monoey and never failed on me. It stays in tune and handeled me pounding it night after night after night.

Never needed it.

In the 25 years I'm playing this guitar will have a special place in my heart forevers. I will never want to lose her. Mabey I get a Fishman build in her for better performance......And burry my new bought Ibanez.