Fender California Seriess Newporter Player

W
ith fundamental
design traits that
have proved to be
incredibly successful
since the 1930s, is it
any wonder that the word
traditional is so closely associated
with acoustic guitars? And if it
ain’t broke… but as brands seek to
attract new players to their wares,
sometimes they need to off er
something fresh.
Fender are certainly doing that
with the look of its new California
series. Three new shapes are on
off er with three diff erent spec
option levels in an array of atypical
acoustic colours (and not a natural
fi nish in sight) giving a distinctly
diff erent slant on everything
that’s gone on before.
This Newporter is the mid-size
body in the series, an auditorium
with a shallower body than a
dreadnought. That could well
prove more tactile for those
switching from electric. The Player
edition represents what is by far
the most aff ordable option of the
three on off er, with the Classic and
Special retailing at more than
twice its price on the street – one
fundamental diff erence being the
back and sides here are laminate.
Our Champagne fi nish is
certainly a diff erent kind of
statement for an acoustic, and a
little more classic than some of the
more vibrant blue and red hues
off ered elsewhere in the range. It’s
disappointing to see some small
fl aws and runs where the fi nish
has been applied on the top on our
test model, though, and not
something we’re used to from
Fender. But most eyes will be
drawn straight to the neck, and it’s
an interesting talking point.
A six-a-side headstock on an
acoustic?! What a time to be alive!
Fender have done this before, of
course, and it might be a turn-off
for some, but for this series it
makes sense visually as well as
when you get to grips with the
modern mahogany C-shape neck.
It’s a slim taper and it won’t
feel unfamiliar to Fender
electric players.
This is a mid-voiced guitar for
an all-rounder shape. The lows
aren’t deep but it’s a bright and
lively tonality. And, unlike the
lower-key Fishman Sonitone
system we see on a lot of acoustics,
the company’s preamp here has
controls mounted outside the body
with a handy bass knob to boost
the bottom-end that’s eff ective in
practice, though you’ll need a
preamp pedal or acoustic amp
to coax more earthy tones from
this piezo.
The pricepoint is key here,
because it makes the Newporter
a viable option for live electric
players looking for something to
play a few acoustic numbers or
even acoustic sets with, or indeed
anyone else searching for
something a bit diff erent to start
learning. And for that it’s a
welcome addition to the acoustic
guitar’s story.
Rob Laing
A SIX-A-SIDE HEADSTOCK?
WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!
FENDER CALIFORNIA SERIES
NEWPORTER PLAYER
A well-priced West Coast acoustic wonder
1
2
3
£320
TYPE: Solid top
electro-acoustic
cutaway
TOP: Solid spruce top
BACK & SIDES:
Laminated mahogany
SCALE LENGTH:
650mm (25.6")
FINGERBOARD: Walnut
FRETS: 20 medium
ELECTRICS Fishman
preamp system
HARDWARE: Nickel
Fender-designed
enclosed
machineheads
LEFT-HANDED: TBC
CONTACT: Fender
EMEA 0845 3051122
Fender.com
AT A GLANCE
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
PLAYABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SuMMarY
1
NECK
The slim C-shape
neck is paired with the
organic feel of a
natural satin finish on
the back
2
FRETBOARD
The Player’s
fretboard is walnut
here rather than the
pau ferro found on the
Classic and Special
iterations
3
PREAMP
The Fishman
preamp offers level,
treble and bass
controls with a
chromatic tuner too
Photography: Adam Gasson
JUNE 2018 ToTal GuiTar
REVIEW
95
TGR306.gear_fender.indd 95 25/04/2018 16:30