Fender Malibu

1969 model, made in Santa Anna, California. Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides. Slot style tuning machines. I was lucky, I
guess; this guitar looks like it came out of a time capsule. 95% condition. Still in the original yellow, plush hardshell case.

As a small body guitar, it doesn't boom like a dreadnought. But the
tone is beautiful. Full, and balanced. I use a Dean Markley, "in the hole pickup", and amplified; this baby sounds better than my high dollar Seagull "artist" model.

Perfect! After 36 years the action is low, the neck (hard rock maple, just like the old telecasters) still straight and true. There's some pronounced varnish cracks, but close examination reveals that the guitar body is crack free.

One of the best country guitar pickers in texas played my guitar hard
while gigging. Not only did his leads licks stand out, while mixed with the other band instruments. But, being a "telecaster" afficianado, he said he loved this guitar. Lead licks or rythm, this
ax can cut it.

None. Zip a dee doo dah. Nil. Nada. Unfortunately, fender has washed their hands of this wonderful guitar.

recently, a fender malibu went thru the Antiques Roadshow ( a program on PBS). It was missing it's pickguard, was missing the original case, and in general was in mediocre condition. The "expert" appraisers put a value of $1500.00 to $2000.00 on it.
So evidently, this guitar is becomming more popular. Mines for sale in case anyones interested.

The guitar was made in Korea during the 1980's and has 20 frets. It has a solid spruce top, with beautiful Flamed Maple back and sides. The finish is a tobaco sunburst, with a gloss finish. The neck is made of mahogany with a Rosewood fingerboard and mother-of-pearl dot inlays. It is of "Dreadnought" body style, with string-throu Rosewood bridge. The neck is as good as when first baught. It is not like it's earlier cousins...it does not have a bolt on neck, but it is fab to play and very fine in size. On the headstock it has a flamed maple finish in the same colour as the body ( BEAUTIFUL ), with the logo of Fender Malibu. The guitar is finished all round ( Neck & Body top and back ) with an off white piping. Very well finished all round.

I play a mixture of styles from picking to rythum, a la JJ Cale/ Cooder. It has a sound similar to that of the J-200, but not as full. Great resonance, with an even tone I would say on the bright side taking full advantage of the maturing sold maple back and sides. I have no dislikes on this guitar.

New, it needed the works done on it. I waited a few years for the wood to settle. The guitar has been well matched with its woods, and I have had it Pro set up, now I can't realy fault this guitar i'm afraid !!

I have giged with this one and still no scratches, the only thing that has worn is the top tuner. They are finished in a faux pearl finish and this one has been replaced with a chrome finger piece.

Never had to deal with any official about this guitar, apart from a Pro set up about ten years ago. Every thing is still as it was.

I have had this guitar for nearly twenty years, and now own almost ten guitars all as dear to me as this one ( A mixture of Electric and Accoustic ). If someone offerd me the right price, or another guitar " to die for " i'd let it go with a tear in my eye, but with the knowledge of what a good partnership is all about ( If you work at it you get there in the end!! ).

Serial number A-5104275, built in 75? in the USA? I don't know yet, if some-one can tell me, please mail me bonmoorkamp@yahoo.com
Beautiful acoustic dreadnought, maple neck and rosewood? fingerboard with small headstock (like the early stratocasters) and 20 frets. Tuners with Fender in red and a red triagel arrow under the name Fender(not the F-type), I have never seen these before. The back and the side of the guitar is also maple the front I don't know. The neck and the body have bindings. The guitar has a red flamed finish the nek is red.

The sound is clear, all the tones get out the right way, low, mid and high. I always thought that only a Martin could sound like this!

This was bad, but I ajusted it, the nut was ok, the neck is always a problem with fenders, also with this one but that is what makes it a true Fender, I think it is the maple (it's alive), but the neckpin is allright so it took a few days to find out the right position but then it is incredible! It plays and feels like a stratocaster! I also had to lower the comb.
The frets are great (small frets)

Everything is like new! No scrathes, I think it is hardly used, but maybe it is a durable guitar. Reliability is like all fenders, the neck will always give you problems, always adjust it before playing!

Don't know it is a used guitar.

I bought it without knowing the background, the salesman gave me almost no information, he thought it was made in Korea, I said it does not seem to me. It had old strings but played great, the neck was to tight, but still I thought it is a beautifull guitar. Two weeks later I bought it because I could not get it out of my head, it is a lot of money ($450). I play it now for a few weeks and forget my other guitars, it is a great experience, the sound the feel and playing comfort are all great, never thought I would ever find such an acoustic guitar, so you see, you never know, what I did see before I bought it was the beautiful maple neck and the maple back, the wood was ok, thats why I really bought it, just like my two Stratocasters from the 70's great wood!

I don't know when it's been made, but it was in the seventies. Usam made guitar, top quality, 20 frets, solid spurce top, rosewood sides and a superb flamed maple back. Set neck with stratocaster style headstock, Fender machineheads, dreadnough body.

Well, the sound is very good. This old guitar sounds awesome, better than a modern Fender or seagull. It suits my music style completely which is rock and folk music like Zeppelin or Niel Young.

The finish was very good for a 30 year's old guitar. No scratch, everything was fine, it sounds like a vintage guitar, but, it's a vintage guitar, that looks like a brand new one

Well, I put some martin Bronze strings on it and it seems to be a good choice. It will last for years and years. No matter. It's a fender, so, it's good anyway

Well, this guitar is fantastic. I will say to young guitar players that they shold buy old guitars because they're better than new Corean and chinese ones. It's hard to find, but there is still some vintage Fenders, framus, burns and Gibsons that are sleeping in their case in a small corner of an attic.

I have no idea when my Malibu was made, I just know it was somewhere between the 50's and early 70's. It has what looks like a solid spruce top. The strings are Sperzels. It has a thin neck, and a rosewood fretboard. 21 frets.
Nothing great, but nothing to complain about.

The sound is great for rock music. It's punchy and bright. It has a very loud sound, considering it's a Fender acoustic.

The action is pretty good. The guitar seems to be put together well. I've heard people complain about the finish on the Malibu, but the sunburst this one is fine.
The only thing is that the strings start to buzz when you play in the bridge position.

All of Fender's guitars seem to hold up well, but after thirty-some years, your guitar is gonna need some repair. The strap buttons look like they have been replaced at least once. It's got one ding, and a few scratches, but that can't be blamed on the guitar.

the Fender company probably forgot about this guitar by now.

Cool overall guitar

This gutair give out amazing sound it is very clear and crisp. I find that if you use to light of strings that the sound wiil be come a little to muffled. So if you fingers can take a little more abuse you sould maybe try using a little heavier strings.

The finish on my gutair has started to fade but I do spend a lot of time on it and just like anything over time a finish will start to wear.

I endjust resently put a pick up in my fender and if I ever to play a gig it is now my primary gutair.

I'm look at buying another Fender Malibu if I can find one. So if any one has one that they no longer want please E-mail me so that maybe we can come to some agreement.

These were made from 1965-1969. Fender came out with another Malibu model in the '80's which is not the same guitar.
The Malibu was very popular in the 60's. Here are some of the people who used them professionally: Steve Stills, Michael Jackson, Johnny Cash, Joan Biaz, Arlo Guthrie, Gerry Garcia, Eric Clapton and many others.
They have a big headstock and maple bolt on neck (4 bolt) that looks and plays like an electric Fender. This is the electric players dream acoustic. It is a small body flattop with spruce top and mahagony back & sides. There is a truss rod adjustment at the heel of the neck. Typical Fender "F" type slotted tuners. I have played this guitar often for over 30 years at gigs, jams and parties. The finish is almost gone but it is still in excellent shape. Fender made other bolt on neck models, most with names of cities on the headstock.

It sounds comparable to most high end small body flattops. I now use light strings because of slight body bulging at the bridge. I used to use 12' but now use 10's. I have had several sound hole pickups on it.
I now use a Seymour Duncan "Woodie" humbucking. It sounds excellent plugged in. Acoustic sound is good but not real loud. Heavier strings increase volume.

The action can be easily adjusted by adding or removing shims between the neck and body. The top looks to be one piece and not bookmatched.
Still has original low frets and they are not grooved. Finish is bad.
It did hold up well for about 20 years but as the guitar ages the wood shrinks. Thus the finish chips off. Still 100% original with no noticable wear except for the finish.

This guitar will withstand an earthquake.
Finish is bad.
Had only one strap button but I installed another at the body, neck joint.
I have gigged with it for decades without a backup with no problems.
I use it occasionally now forgigs & jams but most of my playing these days is electric.

Never had to deal with Fender.

I have been playing for about 40 years.
I would definately get another one if anything happened to this guitar. I see them on Ebay occasionally for reasonable prices. They were in great demand in the 60's and 70's but for some reason they are not popular today. If you find one in decent shape you can't go wrong with buying it. I can't compare it to other guitars. There is nothing like it except for other 60's Fender bolt on acoustics.
I bought this used in '66 because of the maple neck. I also play an old Stratocaster. This guitar plays much like my Stratocaster.
There are a few of these around and they are cheap. I would love to see Fender make re-issues of them.

This is an acoustic guitar with mahogany back and sides and a spruce top. The most significant feature is the bolt-on Stratocaster-type neck with Kluson Deluxe tuners. Acoustic music lovers stayed away from this model in droves (production years 1966-1971) because of the neck. I think the neck makes it a great guitar for practice/learning.

I consider this guitar to be a gem because I also own a 1964 Stratocaster. I do all my 'learning' on the Malibu - it has a similar trebly sound and a nearly identical neck and tuners. If you can get your technique down on the Malibu, you will sound very good on your Stratocaster. I note that nowadays, Fender makes "Stratocoustic' and 'Telecoustic' guitars ... Hmmmmm.

I bought this guitar for $120.00 CAN in 1972, plus a trade-in beginners Japanese guitar. At this time, Malibu's/Palaminos, etc, had just gone out of production, and they were seriously undervalued (and still are).
This guitar has very nice action - comparable to a nice electric. I use Ernie Ball Regular Slinky's, because that's what I use on my Stratocaster. In the past, I have tried bronze wound strings too. The body resonates beautifully with every note played. I love it. The finish still looks very good .. it's a U.S. made guitar after all.

I have reason to believe my Malibu was made in 1966 (serial number 13930, and it has double-line Kluson Deluxe tuners. There is a small vertical crack running down the front center of the guitar. That's it. A 35 year old guitar, that almost looks like new. I am still using the original string pegs!

No experience.

I am 45 years old, and I have been playing guitar off and on since I was a teenager. I have a 1973 Fender Precision bass, a 1964 Stratocaster, and the 1966 fender Malibu. I had acquired all of these by 1975.
I love the narrow neck on the Malibu- no other acoustics have this. If it were damaged or stolen, I would get another one of the same (probably for very little $$)

6-string accoustic w/ strat-style (machines all on left side) neck. This one has a nice sunburst which has held-up to a lot a abuse. The neck is thin and the action decent, but not as low as I'd like. I tried to take it down a little more, but the intonation wouldn't take it. Despite that, the neck allows easy play and sliding.

The guitar is resonate and bassie (sp?). I play a mixture of styles for which this guitar is great. It solo's very well as it can have a clear, singular tone or a mellow rhythme regardless of strings used.

The action was too high from the factory. Everything wlse was solid. At three years the nut on the bass-end chipped (friends don't let friends string drunk), but otherwise very solid.

This is the guitar I will never get rid of. Other than sentimental reasons, she travels well and beginners as well as experts love to play her. The tuners are good, the finish takes whatever comes its way. I've played this guitar virtually every day for over five years and expect multiples of that to come.

I've never contacted Fender. Whatever the warranty was, it's expired. I know this model is no longer produced, which is too bad.

This was my first guitar. I have an Epi Les Paul and an Epi Sheritan II, with which I play-out. If stolen or lost I would cry. I don't know if I would look for another just as I couldn't replace a pet. Pick-ups would be nice, but it's a livingroom, party-jam guitar, not a bar guitar.