Fender Highway

JRgtar

Just seen these released today. I know they might polarise opinions, but I sort of like the look/concept….though unsure how much use it would really get in preference to a regular acoustic. Any thoughts?

https://www.fender.com/en-GB/acoustic-series/highway-series/

ditchboy

I’ve never been a fan of that type of headstock on an acoustic, it just looks so wrong to me. I quite liked the look of the paramount series but never got a chance to try one. 

BluesLover

I think the all mahogany parlour one looks great. Really attractive.
The strat/tele acoustasonics in comparison were just hideous.

Tannin

Next please.

stickyfiddle

I want to like these but something doesn't work for me. Part of it is that they just don't seem to sound that great in the clips posted. Equally I'm a 6ft bloke who's been playing for 20+ years, so I'm probably not the main market, which I assume is younger/newer players who might favour this as a plug & play option over a "big" acoustic and care less about the sound

Soupman

I agree with @ditchboy , the headstock looks totally wrong on an acoustic - almost like it's a cobbled together spare-parts-bin job.
They may play/sound really nice but there's plenty of competition at around a grand.
But hey, whatever floats your boat!
 
 

Littlejonny

I like the look (reminds me of Turner Model 1) but they sound awful to me. Also the people demoing them seem to be struggling to play them!

Notice she says ‘more reliable setup’ when compared to acoustasonic series. Hmmm typical Fender telling you the latest thing is better than the last.

I admire Fender for trying new stuff, but their approach with Acoustics is just wrong. They need to hire someone who really understands acoustics. They have the money and infrastructure… they should buy out George Gruhn’s new factory and bring back Tacoma. 

Pjon

They don't have any of the tones that the Acoustasonics have, do they?

One of the reviews (Alamo Music) said it sounded like bedsprings. I didn't make it all the way through the review because the quality of the recording was terrible, but he didn't seem massively impressed. 

Yorkie

Asset management as opposed to innovation or creation. Lazy stuff.

guitarjack66

Fender Highwayman?

jasonbone75

Good lord they are awful! What a pointless product.

guitarjack66

I have to say that I dont mind the headstock on an acoustic like this. My caveat is that there are already three previous models like this. One is called a Malibu and I cant remember the other two US related names. They seem to fill most size gaps too. A pointless exercise it seems.

thermionic

I was prepared to hate them, but after watching the video I think they’re all right for the niche they appear to be trying to fill - something easy to play, stands up to the rigours of live use, and sounds close enough to an acoustic guitar to performers and audiences who are used to amplified piezo sounds.

jaymenon

That headstock looks awful.

tomjax

^ wot he said...

lincolnblue

I really don't like the look of them, or the sound from what I've heard. They seem to be made specifically to be played on stage, but surely a normal acoustic with a pickup is just as effective, if not more? There are plenty of acoustics which have a neck that feels more like an acoustic, plus you get to play them at home so they sound like an actual acoustic, rather than these which just sound poor acoustically. I really don't see the point. Many will disagree, I understand that, but they are not for me.

crunchman

lincolnblue said:

I really don't like the look of them, or the sound from what I've heard. They seem to be made specifically to be played on stage, but surely a normal acoustic with a pickup is just as effective, if not more? There are plenty of acoustics which have a neck that feels more like an acoustic, plus you get to play them at home so they sound like an actual acoustic, rather than these which just sound poor acoustically. I really don't see the point. Many will disagree, I understand that, but they are not for me.

The smaller body will make them less feedback prone than a regular acoustic with a pickup in a live situation.

The body is probably a bit less fragile.  The size means that it will be a lot easier to put in a gigbag and carry on a bike or public transport.  I carry my Acoustasonic in a gig bag on my bike.  I don't do that with my Martin HD28V.

The regular Acoustasonic has those benefits though, and gives the option of a usable electric sound.  I think these Highway models are likely to be a very niche market. 

SlopeSoarer

If Fender are watching surely they must think let's stick to what we are renowned for and what we are good at!