Fender "Grand" Series Acoustics - Opinions?

grantbob · May 26th, 2004, 12:05 PM

Has anyone here played the newer Fender acoustics - either the GA or GD series?

A friend of mine just got a Grand Auditorioum and he can get me a Grand Dreadnaught for a really good price from the same place.

The specs look pretty decent (except for the neck being nato). Spruce top, rosewood back and sides. Has a nice Fishman pickup and preamp on board.

Anyone have any experience/opinions with these beasts?

rockfish · June 2nd, 2004, 08:17 PM

I've tried a GA-43 cutaway, and a cutaway GA-45. I also played a GD-23 folk body. Like you, I was eager to try them because of the woods and specifications: solid tops, rosewood or mahogany back and sides. Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the sound of any of them. The action on the GD was a little high. It sounded the best of the lot (my wife liked the sound), but I decided to keep looking. It could have just been the ones I played. But I doubt it.

grantbob · June 11th, 2004, 04:57 PM

Well, the price was just too good to pass up. I went ahead and had my buddy pick it up for $450. Since Musicians Friend has them for $699, I figure I can get my money back if I don't like it. I know it's not the best, but it will be much better than the Alvarez thin body that it is replacing.

If anyone is interested, I'll review it when it gets here.

May 26th, 2004, 12:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
grantbob TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 36	Fender "Grand" Series Acoustics - Opinions? Has anyone here played the newer Fender acoustics - either the GA or GD series? A friend of mine just got a Grand Auditorioum and he can get me a Grand Dreadnaught for a really good price from the same place. The specs look pretty decent (except for the neck being nato). Spruce top, rosewood back and sides. Has a nice Fishman pickup and preamp on board. Anyone have any experience/opinions with these beasts?

June 2nd, 2004, 08:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
rockfish TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 12	I've tried a GA-43 cutaway, and a cutaway GA-45. I also played a GD-23 folk body. Like you, I was eager to try them because of the woods and specifications: solid tops, rosewood or mahogany back and sides. Unfortunately, I was not impressed with the sound of any of them. The action on the GD was a little high. It sounded the best of the lot (my wife liked the sound), but I decided to keep looking. It could have just been the ones I played. But I doubt it.

June 11th, 2004, 04:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
grantbob TDPRI Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 36	Well, the price was just too good to pass up. I went ahead and had my buddy pick it up for $450. Since Musicians Friend has them for $699, I figure I can get my money back if I don't like it. I know it's not the best, but it will be much better than the Alvarez thin body that it is replacing. If anyone is interested, I'll review it when it gets here.