On the bench today is the Fender Limited-Edition California Vintage Palomino Acoustic-Electric Guitar in Antigua.

This is the very first time I have done a video on an Acoustic guitar on the Guitar Collector Guy Channel.

Why did I choose to do one now?

Well, for two reasons.

First, the aesthetics of the guitar are a crossover for me to electric guitars. The guitar has six inline tuners on a distinctively Fender headstock and the finish of the guitar is in Antigua. That all is very appealing to me.

I have grown INTO loving the finish of Antigua. I think at one time I thought it was an ugly finish that made me think to myself – why?

I jokingly refer to it as being the cilantro of guitar finishes. You either hate it or love it. The only other guitar finish that elicits such a polarized reaction from people is relic’ing a guitar.

Second, the guitar is made in China and carries a price point of $800. Well, one penny shy of the $800 price being priced at $799.99.

In video comments I have noticed higher priced Chinese made guitars is also a polarizing subject that people are talking about.

Basically, buying Chinese made guitars at a premium price.

A lot of people when they hear a guitar is made in China they think – cheap. Cheap materials, labor, and as a result cheap price.

I think there is a tolerance level of about $500 as the cap of what these folks are willing to tolerate in price.

Manufacturers are now producing guitars with premium features in China and they are also being sold at much higher prices than what is normally associated with Guitars coming out of China.

One example is that Epiphone is no longer the under $1000 seller with many artists signature models and now the Inspired by Gibson line regularly breaking the $1299 price point. They are made in China, people are buying them, and they are in high demand.

There are many other examples where manufacturers are testing the market with Chinese made guitars at a higher price point.

Whether we agree with the manufacturers or not they are selling us Chinese made guitars for premium prices and people are buying them.

Now Fender has released the Limited-Edition Fender California Vintage line of three acoustic guitars in Antigua and it is following the same model. Chinese made and a premium price or what we perceive as a premium price for a Chinese made guitar.

In time we will see if this trend holds and is successful. I suspicion is it will be successful.

I chose the Palomino model out of the three guitars offered in the Antigua finish because it looks like to me a standard sized dreadnought. Fender calls it an Auditorium style acoustic which to me has a more rounded top than this guitar.

Opening the surprisingly nice, supplied case I was pleased with my choice. It is very dreadnought’y (not really a word). The case is not something I would expect of this quality at this price point. I would expect a less padded more utilitarian type of case if any.

To be honest after Fender releasing the entire line of Player II electric guitars without even a gig bag kind of makes my point.

The overall fit and finish of the guitar is very nice. The Antigua finish is well done, and I do not find or see any marks or blemishes anywhere on the guitar.

I was surprised but pleased to see the satin finished back of the neck while the Antigua finished front of the head stock is in Glass Poly like the rest of the body.

Here are some specifications for the guitar:

Body Back Solid Ovangkol
Body Finish Gloss Polyurethane
Bracing Performance "X"
Body Sides Solid Ovangkol
Body Top Solid Sitka Spruce

Neck Material - Okoume
Neck Shape Modern "V"
Fingerboard Radius 16" (406.4 mm)
Nut Material Bone
Neck Binding Aged White
Scale Length 25.5" (64.77 cm)
Number of Frets 20
Nut Width 1.69" (43 mm)
Fingerboard Material Ovangkol
Fret Size 2mm
Position Inlays Pearloid Block

Controls
Volume, Blend (Body Pickup, Piezo)

Special Electronics
Fender®/Fishman® Presys VT Plus Soundhole Pickup System


Observations

The guitar is far more resonant than I would have expected covered in a thick painted finish. She is a boomer. I sat in my shop playing the guitar both plugged in and not plugged in and was amazed at the volume produced.

The controls for the pickup volume and blend are easy enough to get to and operate.

I checked the fretboard and did not find ANY fret rocking anywhere on the fretboard and the sides of the fretboard were very smooth.

When playing up and down the neck there is no buzzing or muting. Clean sound.

The guitar is lightweight and easy to manage. The proportions of the guitar are comparable to any of the dreadnought guitars I own or have owned.

There is a strap button over the output jack. I have purchased two Martin acoustic/electric guitars that did not come with the screw on strap button, and I needed to buy my own. I appreciate it being there out of the box.