Fender Malibu?

Brent Hutto · April 26th, 2008, 04:15 PM

What an oddly named and unusual little guitar. I was in my usual guitar shop today and walked into the acoustic-guitar room for the first time lately. I was sort of window shopping small-bodied guitars thinking at some point I'd like to have an inexpensive and small guitar to take with me on long weekends to the beach.

I noticed a couple of Fender acoustics--who even knew they made them? Other than Guilds of course. Anyway, there was a Korean-made one maybe a bit larger than what I'd call "Parlor" size but way smaller than "Auditorium" like my Taylor. Has a Strat-style headstock with honest-to-goodness slotted vintage tuners with the hole in top. What the heck?

Sounds pretty good. Short scale and narrow neck makes it easy to get around on. Not surprisingly it sounds better than the "Little Martin" on the next shelf, the Fender is wood instead of HPL and bigger to boot. It might be tempting if it weren't $400-odd plus tax. Yikes! Very fun little player, decent action, balanced tone (except for no real bass-bass).

Then again they had a Hohner laminated-wood beginner's guitar that was $99 and actually sounded just as good, although the action was high and stiff so it wasn't as fun to play. I think for a toss-around guitar I'd have to go with the Hohner at 1/4 the price and see if I could fiddle with the strings and nut and bridge to get the action better. I can treat a hundred-dollar guitar as disposable after a couple years, not sure a $450 one is really in the take-everywhere, no-worries category.

guit30 · April 29th, 2008, 08:39 PM

Hey Musican's friend is selling those for $299
Jim

Old'n'Lazy · April 29th, 2008, 08:55 PM

I bought the acoustic/electric model. It fits into a classic guitar case quite nicely. The acoustic sound isn't very much but does OK in the basement. Plugged into a Fender Acoustasonic Jr it does quite well. The guitar has a tuner built in and decent electronics. The extra light strings that came on it have me throwing the picks down and playing it like a nylon string. The neck is kinda narrow for this but it works pretty well and has gotten me some nice feedback from people whose opinion I respect.

RickG501 · April 30th, 2008, 02:06 AM

"I think for a toss-around guitar I'd have to go with the Hohner at 1/4 the price and see if I could fiddle with the strings and nut and bridge to get the action better. "

I did the exact same thing about 3 yrs ago. After I'd had the Hohner for a couple of weeks I carted it back to the shop, and traded up. Not only was it hard to play, after careful inspection of the fit and finish and almost cutting my hand on the rough fret edges, I noticed the herringbone around the top was just printed on to the wood...ink! Do yourself a favor and kick it up a notch. Get a Seagul or a Yamaha or something.

Dennis68 · May 1st, 2008, 08:21 AM

Ah, for the hell of it it while at my local Fender dealer yesterday I also picked up a one of those new Fender California series Sonoran models in Lake Placid Blue for under $300 out the door. I was in need of an inexpensive Acoustic with built-in electroncs to take along on our RV trips, and this thing was perfect for the little amount of money it demanded. Surprisingly, with the Spruce top and the laminated mahogany back and sides it sounds as good or better than the Laminitaed Martins selling for a few hundred more that I put it up against while in the store.

And it actually is more likeLake Placid Blue does in person than the picture suggests...

Brent Hutto · May 1st, 2008, 08:34 AM

I've done a little research and the model I saw was discontinued. It is no longer on Fender's web page. The Malibu S with no cutaway and no electronics was only in the lineup for 2006 and 2007. All of the current models are Malibu SCE, Sonora SCE and so forth. The 2006/2007 acoustic models were built in Korea, has solid wood back (but laminated sides) and a couple other slightly different specs. They were also quite expensive, the Malibu S listed at $714 and tended to sell for around $400. The SCE models are built in China if I'm not mistaken and according to Fender's specs they have laminated back and sides but the list price is a couple hundred cheaper even with a cutaway and electronics. So they tend to sell in the $300-ish range.

Musicians Friend and associated storefronts are blowing out the old ones for $300 and at the price they were originally selling at I suspect they have a warehouse full of them. $400+ for an Asian-built, less than full size acoustic with no electronics is not going to move many unit even with Fender name attached. I think the $300 is a much fairer price.

So I've got to decide whether to jump on a $299 one while they last or whether to wait around and figure some liquidator on eBay will have one I can buy for less in a few months. There is one Malibu S on eBay right now with a Fender hard case for $325, used, and it is mighty tempting. My local dealer has it posted at $449+tax, no case right now. They'd probably come $20-30 off that price at best although if it sit on the shelf through the summer I could probably eventally get it for maybe $400-ish out the door. No deal at that price no matter how much I like supporting the local guys.

The reason I'm not making the guy an offer on the $325 o.b.o. eBay one is that I've got too many guitars in the house anyway and, for a real true "beater" I just eBay'd and ancient Yamaha G-50a classical guitar for fifty bucks. I'm planning on playing around and if it's worth having at all taking it to the beach and leaving it in the closet. It will be interesting to see what nylon strings are all about.

guit30 · May 1st, 2008, 07:05 PM

This one

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar?sku=517576

Brent Hutto · May 1st, 2008, 07:39 PM

Yup, that's the one.

guit30 · May 1st, 2008, 08:12 PM

000 sized? wood in pic looks nice
Jim

PS- how much were acoustic/electric

Brent Hutto · May 1st, 2008, 08:26 PM

I believe the Korean-made 2006/2007 model Malibu SCE went for around $500, as compared to the Malibu S for $400. There is no 2008 Malibu S but this year's Malibu SCE has a laminated back and is made in China. It goes for like $379 or so.

The Malibu S in the local dealer was really a quite decent guitar, I especially liked the fingerboard radius (probably 12" or so) and the vintage slotted tuners, both of which were very familiar from playing a 60's style Strat. Most of the other small guitars have flat fingerboards and modern style tuners. The body is smaller than what I think of as 000 size, kind of odd with a body between 00 and 000 but still a 25-1/2" scale and 1-5/8" nut. I liked it though and would certainly rather have it than some thing like the little Chinese Epiphone 00-size.

Old'n'Lazy · May 2nd, 2008, 08:07 PM

Great knock around guitar - Epiphone FT-120 made in Japan. Kind of a concert size. I bought mine in '78, paid $100.00. Got it to keep the kids from playing my Martin. Discovered I had a bargain. 30 years later the kids are gone but the Epi stays. These guitars are showing up on ebay and going for $100+. Mine is still hanging in there and being bigger than the Malibu has more volume. It has a bolt on neck and has stood up to being hauled around all over for the past 30 years. I love the Korean-made 2006/2007 model Malibu SCE I have but it's really much better through an amp. The Epi is more acoustic and at the prices I've seen on ebay a good one would be worth looking for. Since you can't have too many guitars (I keep telling my wife) get both!

Dennis68 · May 3rd, 2008, 08:05 AM

I'm down to one martin at the moment - a 1997 00-18 Limited Edition Gruhn 25th Anniversary. It's one of those guitars that's great for settling down on the couch with.

And of course, it's one of those desired pre-wing headstock Martins...

I like to spend some of my spare time finding inexpensive acoustic guitars that rival the higher-priced acoustics in feel, tone and finish. There are many out there. Most just need a decent set-up...

Old'n'Lazy · May 3rd, 2008, 03:56 PM

"inexpensive acoustic guitars that rival the higher-priced acoustics in feel, tone and finish. There are many out there."

Hear! Hear!

Dennis68 · May 6th, 2008, 06:06 PM

But in the same vein I'd never begrudge anyone spending more on a guitar that is indeed better, however little or alot.

TeleBrew · May 8th, 2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis68

Ah, for the hell of it it while at my local Fender dealer yesterday I also picked up a one of those new Fender California series Sonoran models in Lake Placid Blue for under $300 out the door. I was in need of an inexpensive Acoustic with built-in electroncs to take along on our RV trips, and this thing was perfect for the little amount of money it demanded. Surprisingly, with the Spruce top and the laminated mahogany back and sides it sounds as good or better than the Laminitaed Martins selling for a few hundred more that I put it up against while in the store.

And it actually is more likeLake Placid Blue does in person than the picture suggests...

I picked up a Sonoran SCE in February and love it. I agree with Dennis regarding it sounding better than the laminated Martins. I bought a Martin DXM last year and hated it. The Sonoran sounds much better. Definitely not much bass, but a great picker and strummer nonetheless. And for $300, it sounds good plugged in too.

Old'n'Lazy · May 8th, 2008, 12:46 PM

"But in the same vein I'd never begrudge anyone spending more on a guitar that is indeed better, however little or a lot."

You make it, you spend it. The pie is only so big and everybody has to decide who gets what outta their pie!

I've owned (and own) some high dollar guitars and some that weren't and aren't. After a certain price point you reach the point of dimishing returns. That point is reached much more quickly than it used to be.

I have an old junker of a Tawian Harmony I paid next to nothing for. Crappy electronics and looks like it was designed by the guy who invented "New Coke". BUT the neck on this thing is as good as it gets.

My point is that in this day and age the name on the headstock means much less than it used to.

Dennis68 · May 12th, 2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old'n'Lazy

My point is that in this day and age the name on the headstock means much less than it used to.

I agree with that for the most part. In 1983 when I was looking for a New strat, the best one I could find was an Ibanez Roadstar, a direct copy of the Stratocaster.. better than anything Fender had on the wall at the time. Fortunately Fender woke up from that sleep.

April 26th, 2008, 04:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Brent Hutto Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 557 6 Photos	Fender Malibu? What an oddly named and unusual little guitar. I was in my usual guitar shop today and walked into the acoustic-guitar room for the first time lately. I was sort of window shopping small-bodied guitars thinking at some point I'd like to have an inexpensive and small guitar to take with me on long weekends to the beach. I noticed a couple of Fender acoustics--who even knew they made them? Other than Guilds of course. Anyway, there was a Korean-made one maybe a bit larger than what I'd call "Parlor" size but way smaller than "Auditorium" like my Taylor. Has a Strat-style headstock with honest-to-goodness slotted vintage tuners with the hole in top. What the heck? Sounds pretty good. Short scale and narrow neck makes it easy to get around on. Not surprisingly it sounds better than the "Little Martin" on the next shelf, the Fender is wood instead of HPL and bigger to boot. It might be tempting if it weren't $400-odd plus tax. Yikes! Very fun little player, decent action, balanced tone (except for no real bass-bass). Then again they had a Hohner laminated-wood beginner's guitar that was $99 and actually sounded just as good, although the action was high and stiff so it wasn't as fun to play. I think for a toss-around guitar I'd have to go with the Hohner at 1/4 the price and see if I could fiddle with the strings and nut and bridge to get the action better. I can treat a hundred-dollar guitar as disposable after a couple years, not sure a $450 one is really in the take-everywhere, no-worries category. __________________ ...ain't much you can beat a Tele for.

April 29th, 2008, 08:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
guit30 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Abington Age: 55 Posts: 273	Hey Musican's friend is selling those for $299 Jim __________________ "He that hath the Son Hath Life, He that Hath Not The Son,hath not Life" Jim's Country Reviews www.geocities.com/guit30

May 1st, 2008, 08:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dennis68 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hudson Valley Posts: 757	Ah, for the hell of it it while at my local Fender dealer yesterday I also picked up a one of those new Fender California series Sonoran models in Lake Placid Blue for under $300 out the door. I was in need of an inexpensive Acoustic with built-in electroncs to take along on our RV trips, and this thing was perfect for the little amount of money it demanded. Surprisingly, with the Spruce top and the laminated mahogany back and sides it sounds as good or better than the Laminitaed Martins selling for a few hundred more that I put it up against while in the store. And it actually is more likeLake Placid Blue does in person than the picture suggests... __________________ -Dennis

May 1st, 2008, 08:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
Brent Hutto Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 557 6 Photos	I've done a little research and the model I saw was discontinued. It is no longer on Fender's web page. The Malibu S with no cutaway and no electronics was only in the lineup for 2006 and 2007. All of the current models are Malibu SCE, Sonora SCE and so forth. The 2006/2007 acoustic models were built in Korea, has solid wood back (but laminated sides) and a couple other slightly different specs. They were also quite expensive, the Malibu S listed at $714 and tended to sell for around $400. The SCE models are built in China if I'm not mistaken and according to Fender's specs they have laminated back and sides but the list price is a couple hundred cheaper even with a cutaway and electronics. So they tend to sell in the $300-ish range. Musicians Friend and associated storefronts are blowing out the old ones for $300 and at the price they were originally selling at I suspect they have a warehouse full of them. $400+ for an Asian-built, less than full size acoustic with no electronics is not going to move many unit even with Fender name attached. I think the $300 is a much fairer price. So I've got to decide whether to jump on a $299 one while they last or whether to wait around and figure some liquidator on eBay will have one I can buy for less in a few months. There is one Malibu S on eBay right now with a Fender hard case for $325, used, and it is mighty tempting. My local dealer has it posted at $449+tax, no case right now. They'd probably come $20-30 off that price at best although if it sit on the shelf through the summer I could probably eventally get it for maybe $400-ish out the door. No deal at that price no matter how much I like supporting the local guys. The reason I'm not making the guy an offer on the $325 o.b.o. eBay one is that I've got too many guitars in the house anyway and, for a real true "beater" I just eBay'd and ancient Yamaha G-50a classical guitar for fifty bucks. I'm planning on playing around and if it's worth having at all taking it to the beach and leaving it in the closet. It will be interesting to see what nylon strings are all about. __________________ ...ain't much you can beat a Tele for.

May 1st, 2008, 07:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
guit30 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Abington Age: 55 Posts: 273	This one http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...tar?sku=517576 __________________ "He that hath the Son Hath Life, He that Hath Not The Son,hath not Life" Jim's Country Reviews www.geocities.com/guit30

April 29th, 2008, 08:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
Old'n'Lazy NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Central Kansas Posts: 7	I bought the acoustic/electric model. It fits into a classic guitar case quite nicely. The acoustic sound isn't very much but does OK in the basement. Plugged into a Fender Acoustasonic Jr it does quite well. The guitar has a tuner built in and decent electronics. The extra light strings that came on it have me throwing the picks down and playing it like a nylon string. The neck is kinda narrow for this but it works pretty well and has gotten me some nice feedback from people whose opinion I respect.

April 30th, 2008, 02:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
RickG501 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oklahoma City Age: 54 Posts: 637	"I think for a toss-around guitar I'd have to go with the Hohner at 1/4 the price and see if I could fiddle with the strings and nut and bridge to get the action better. " I did the exact same thing about 3 yrs ago. After I'd had the Hohner for a couple of weeks I carted it back to the shop, and traded up. Not only was it hard to play, after careful inspection of the fit and finish and almost cutting my hand on the rough fret edges, I noticed the herringbone around the top was just printed on to the wood...ink! Do yourself a favor and kick it up a notch. Get a Seagul or a Yamaha or something.

May 1st, 2008, 07:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
Brent Hutto Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 557 6 Photos	Yup, that's the one. __________________ ...ain't much you can beat a Tele for.

May 1st, 2008, 08:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
guit30 Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Abington Age: 55 Posts: 273	000 sized? wood in pic looks nice Jim PS- how much were acoustic/electric __________________ "He that hath the Son Hath Life, He that Hath Not The Son,hath not Life" Jim's Country Reviews www.geocities.com/guit30

May 1st, 2008, 08:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Brent Hutto Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 557 6 Photos	I believe the Korean-made 2006/2007 model Malibu SCE went for around $500, as compared to the Malibu S for $400. There is no 2008 Malibu S but this year's Malibu SCE has a laminated back and is made in China. It goes for like $379 or so. The Malibu S in the local dealer was really a quite decent guitar, I especially liked the fingerboard radius (probably 12" or so) and the vintage slotted tuners, both of which were very familiar from playing a 60's style Strat. Most of the other small guitars have flat fingerboards and modern style tuners. The body is smaller than what I think of as 000 size, kind of odd with a body between 00 and 000 but still a 25-1/2" scale and 1-5/8" nut. I liked it though and would certainly rather have it than some thing like the little Chinese Epiphone 00-size. __________________ ...ain't much you can beat a Tele for.

May 2nd, 2008, 08:07 PM	#11 (permalink)
Old'n'Lazy NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Central Kansas Posts: 7	Great knock around guitar - Epiphone FT-120 made in Japan. Kind of a concert size. I bought mine in '78, paid $100.00. Got it to keep the kids from playing my Martin. Discovered I had a bargain. 30 years later the kids are gone but the Epi stays. These guitars are showing up on ebay and going for $100+. Mine is still hanging in there and being bigger than the Malibu has more volume. It has a bolt on neck and has stood up to being hauled around all over for the past 30 years. I love the Korean-made 2006/2007 model Malibu SCE I have but it's really much better through an amp. The Epi is more acoustic and at the prices I've seen on ebay a good one would be worth looking for. Since you can't have too many guitars (I keep telling my wife) get both!

May 3rd, 2008, 08:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
Dennis68 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hudson Valley Posts: 757	I'm down to one martin at the moment - a 1997 00-18 Limited Edition Gruhn 25th Anniversary. It's one of those guitars that's great for settling down on the couch with. And of course, it's one of those desired pre-wing headstock Martins... I like to spend some of my spare time finding inexpensive acoustic guitars that rival the higher-priced acoustics in feel, tone and finish. There are many out there. Most just need a decent set-up... __________________ -Dennis

May 3rd, 2008, 03:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
Old'n'Lazy NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Central Kansas Posts: 7	"inexpensive acoustic guitars that rival the higher-priced acoustics in feel, tone and finish. There are many out there." Hear! Hear!

May 6th, 2008, 06:06 PM	#14 (permalink)
Dennis68 Tele-Holic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hudson Valley Posts: 757	But in the same vein I'd never begrudge anyone spending more on a guitar that is indeed better, however little or alot. __________________ -Dennis

May 8th, 2008, 12:46 PM	#16 (permalink)
Old'n'Lazy NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Central Kansas Posts: 7	"But in the same vein I'd never begrudge anyone spending more on a guitar that is indeed better, however little or a lot." You make it, you spend it. The pie is only so big and everybody has to decide who gets what outta their pie! I've owned (and own) some high dollar guitars and some that weren't and aren't. After a certain price point you reach the point of dimishing returns. That point is reached much more quickly than it used to be. I have an old junker of a Tawian Harmony I paid next to nothing for. Crappy electronics and looks like it was designed by the guy who invented "New Coke". BUT the neck on this thing is as good as it gets. My point is that in this day and age the name on the headstock means much less than it used to.