www.shortscale.org

[Golden-Stang]

Hello everyone, I hope you're all right. I just wanted to buy a new acoustic guitar to spend pleasantly my quarantine so a short scale one would be perfect. I always loved the Malibu and I found it for almost € 300 (€ 292 more correctly) on Thomann in Burgundy Mist finish but I also saw the new Sonoran Mini in Natural finish with bag for €199 on the same site, both with free shipping charge. According to Fender official site, the Malibu has a 24.1" scale (612 mm), 20 frets, integrated Fishman pickup and tuner whereas the Sonoran Mini has a 23.3 scale (592 mm) and 18 frets. Should I go for the cheap alternative with bag or could I regret fo not having paid the extra €100 for a better instrument? Could the Sonoran resemble a toy or is it good enough for future little gigs?
Sonoran Mini

Malibu Player

[Bacchus]

My understanding is that they are all terrible, but pretty.

A mate of mine has a Sonoran that I've played a fair bit. It was not very good. There will be much better acoustics for the money.

I suppose it depends on how much you really want that headstock and those colours.
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[sunshiner]

I tried a Sonoran in a shop. It wasn't good to me. The scale is way too short and I personally felt it was unplayable because of that. It IS very toyish and sounds boxy. Also the action was very high on that particular guitar because of how the bridge was set up and also because the neck had significant relief and needed the truss rod to be tightened. It wasn't worth its money for sure. I haven't played Malibu and have no opinion about it
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[mickie08]

Fender acoustics are shit.

I can't tell you where they sell them since I do not know where you are at check out the Eastman PCH series or the Eastman E1/E2 series.

This is In UK
https://rguitars.co.uk/collections/eastman-pch-series-acoustic-electro-acoustic-guitars

Where are you located.

I have a deal with them so I get them at a great price myself. I have an E10ss, AC520CE, E2OM-cd, and a t486 as well as a mandolin of theirs. Made in China but by amazing luthiers who stated out (and still do) building violins, etc.
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They say great minds think alike....Sometimes we do too...

[Nick]

I have a Taylor Big Baby, I think Martin might also make some smaller models as well...I never played a Fender acoustic that was anything special.

[sunshiner]

Yeah, every Fender acoustic I played was meh. One exception was a CP100 parlor. It didn't sound that good but the combination of the look, how it felt and the fact that despite having a small body it produced enough bass made it desirable. Still sounded rather boxy and dead as most plywood gutars do.
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[robroe]

Both my acoustics are Fenders.

I will fight all of you

[mickie08]

Yeah. They won't stay in tune with a capo on..
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They say great minds think alike....Sometimes we do too...

[paul_]

Fender acoustics aren't great but some of the newer ones are passable instruments... I do think of them as budget guitars at intermediate prices, though.

Those '60s "broomstick" ones like the Malibu and Newporter are dogshit but the new "player" series guitars with the same model names are probably decent enough for a higher-priced entry acoustic... you could get the same amount of guitar for way less money if you forgo the Strat headstock/electric guitar paintjob though... those acoustics GFS sell for under $200 are probably comparable to the sort of Fenders rob has.
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[Fakir Mustache]

I played one of those 90s Fender all mahogany acoustics. Really nice neck.

I've always wanted an Avalon, but seeing that I never play acoustic, there wouldn't be much of a point in getting one.
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[plopswagon]

Has anyone tried one of those Recording King parlor guitars?
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[mickie08]

[robroe]

Yeah dude the guitar fetish acoustics have sicccc finishes





For 200 bucks you get this weird courdaroy wood that I could do epic pick scrapes on

[jagsonic]

I really love the little malibu. Sounds boxy, but thats not a bug, it's a feature. Plugged in it sounds really great. Love the "little" sound of it...

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skullcat guitars

[dots]

there have been two fender acoustics i've played that were worth a damn, and they were both made in the early 90s. one belonged to my late high school friend and did not have the fender-shaped headstock. the other now is in st jimmy's possession after having, first, been owned by our cousin who then sold it to a friend, and then finally landing in my brother's lap. neither were electric. the latter i believe is a redondo series, the full dreadnought (read: no weedly weedly cut-away). as for my friend's, i cannot figure it out, other than knowing it was a full dreadnought with a standard headstock and natural finish.

anyway, both of those instruments sound(ed) good even if not as great as a gibson, martin, or taylor. i haven't picked up any of the newer model fender acoustics, so take that for what it's worth.
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Check out Runway Runaway by Saturday's Child

[sunshiner]

I don't know about the made in the 90s guitars and the current line, but those that were made 5 years ago were like the cheapest feeling guitars that Fender intentionally put its logo on for beginners to buy based on the hype. It seems that nowadays Fender makes a lot of models with a solid top which in theory should be awesome, I haven't played so I don't know
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[sunshiner]

[jagsonic]

[robroe]

[jagsonic]

thx rob
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skullcat guitars