Don"t let the low price fool you - this bass will certainly appeal to even more than just beginners

 

 

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What You Need To Know

The Fender CB-60SCE is an acoustic-electric bass, and also part of Fender"s Standard Design series. It is obtainable in 2 colors - organic or black.

 

The CB-60SCE has actually a solid spruce optimal through scalloped X bracing. The concert-sized cutameans body has laminated mahogany back and also sides, which like the top are finiburned in glossy babsence. I"m not sure if the end up is polyurethane or polyester, and also Fender doesn"t say on their webwebsite. Either way, it"s sensibly smooth and blemish-free throughout the entire instrument.

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The bridge is rosetimber, and also the saddle is plastic. The bridge pins are expensive compared to acoustic guitar pins, and are white plastic via babsence dots.

You watching: Fender cb-60sce

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The rosette is pearloid, and while it isn"t specifically huge, it offers a classy visual touch to the face of the instrument.

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While it"s a little bit difficult to see against the black finish of the body, the CB-60SCE comes with a black pickguard to help defend the face of the instrument.

 

The body itself is bound approximately the edges of the optimal through multi-ply binding, although the ago is left unadorned.

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The Fender CB-60SCE comes equipped via Fender Phosphor-Bronze Bass strings (gauges .045-.100)

 

The CB-60SCE has a Dual-Action truss rod, which adjusts at the body end of the neck, just inside the soundhole.

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The headstock harkens earlier to the 50"s era through the spaghetti style logo, although the 2 per side tuning machine layout of the headstock is hardly a vintage Fender technique.

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The chrome die-actors tuners are smooth and host the tuning sensibly well. The nut is plastic and shows up to be well reduced, and also does not capture the strings while you"re tuning up.

The neck is 1.69" wide at the nut. Neck depth is 0.800" at the initially fret according to my digital calipers. The fingerboard has actually 3mm pearloid acrylic dot inlays for place markers, and also white side dots on the 1-ply babsence neck binding also help to store you wbelow you want to be.

 

The Fender CS-60SCE has a 32" scale length - a little bit shorter than the usual 34", however not as brief as a true 30" brief range. The bound mahogany type of neck has actually a gloss complete too, and also comes equipped through a rosehardwood fingerboard via 22 vintage style frets. The fingerboard has nicely rolled edges, which, along with the comfortable C-shaped neck profile and also 12" fingerboard radius, make it exceptionally comfortable to play.

See more: Taylor Gs Mini Acoustic Guitar S (2021 Review), Travel & Mini Acoustic Guitars

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Fender includes a Fishmale Standard Deauthorize pickup and preamp / tuner via the CB-60SCE as conventional equipment, and it"s nice that you do not need to pay added to acquire an acoustic-electrical version. The preamp uses you a volume regulate and bass and also treble EQ knobs. A pair of pushbutlots enable you to inspect the battery and also revolve the built-in tuner on and also off.

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The tuner is fairly exact and rapid in its response time. It instantly screens the existing note, and offers two red signs to either side of the note name to show whether you"re flat or sharp. When you"re in tune, both revolve green and also light up at the exact same time.

 

The output is installed close to the rear of the bass, on the side back by the strap switch, and is built right into a unit that likewise holds the 9V battery. A battery is included through the bass. I really prefer the fact that it"s tool-less and also that you don"t have to loosen the strings and also reach into the bass in order to install a fresh battery.

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Limitations

Unmuch less you have really lengthy arms, the placing of the Fishman tuner at the waist position (wright here it is angled so that it encounters somewhat towards the rear of the bass) renders it very tough to see the tuner"s display screen and also adjust the tuning equipments all at once. This will be a resource of frustration for many neophyte bassists. I"d recommfinish gaining an external tuner and utilizing that instead. Fortunately, the onboard preamp itself sounds excellent and also is easy sufficient to usage, even without looking at it.

 

You"ll be happy to have actually the onboard electronic devices - in many type of instances, you"ll need it. It"s not that this bass does not have a nice acoustic tone (specifically at this price), it is even more a matter of just how a lot volume you can sensibly intend to obtain out of any type of concert-sized acoustic bass. There"s plenty below for sitting roughly through a friend or 2 through acoustic guitars and jamming in the living room, however in many type of various other group situations, you"ll discover that using a small amp will increase your audibility considerably.

 

No case or gig bag is consisted of. Honestly, you probably shouldn"t expect one at this price allude, however you"re more than likely going to need one, so budgain appropriately.

 

 

Conclusions

It is noticeable that Fender has actually put some work right into making this bass a great sounding instrument that is extremely easy to play, while maintaining the price low enough so that it will certainly appeal to a large range of musicians. The rolled fingerboard edges of this bass are even more than just marketing hype - rolling the edges makes an extremely huge difference, and also offers the neck a "broken in" or "played in" feel. In truth, the totality bass is wonderfully comfortable to play. The mid-length (32") scale helps here, as does the comfortable neck profile and relatively compact neck depth and also not as well narrow width. Whether you play through a pick or fingerstyle, you shouldn"t have any type of difficulties - there"s plenty of room for your right hand to occupational between the strings.

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The tone, no doubt aided by the solid spruce optimal, is extremely excellent acoustically (if a little forward in the upper midrange), and the amplified tone is additionally exceptionally nice, and also through the effective onboard EQ, you deserve to shape it to suit your preferences. It"s not the loudest instrument once running unplugged, and also it might have actually trouble keeping up in a tiny acoustic ensemble if the other instruments are on the louder side and also are being played via gusto, but the fundamental acoustic tone is sweet sufficient that you"ll uncover it motivating once practicing at residence or playing through a frifinish or two. It also documents well, both acoustically and also as soon as making use of the onboard electronics to go direct.

 

My complaints are few. You"ll must buy a case or gig bag independently, yet at this price point, that"s not really unexpected. The acoustic volume is sufficient for some instances, but when it"s not, you have the right to constantly usage an amplifier. I favor the Fishman preamp / tuner, however I really hate the placement - it"s too difficult to watch it and also tune at the exact same time, so budacquire for an exterior tuner or get a tuner app for your smartphone and usage that rather and also prevent the frustration.

 

I was surprised by just how a lot worth there is in this bass. While it"s not the least expensive acoustic-electrical bass guitar I had the ability to discover, it"s absolutely among the lowest priced models presently being offered by any kind of manufacturer, yet it has actually a solid spruce peak and it"s an extremely playable - even gig-able bass that will certainly appeal to beginners (and also their parents) as well as to more seasoned yet budget-conscious players that are looking for an inexpensive acoustic bass to add to their collection. If that sounds like you, then you"ll desire to make a allude of trying among these fun basses out for yourself. -HC-

 

Want to discuss the Fender CB-60SCE Acoustic Bass Guitar or have concerns or comments about this review? Then head over to this thread in the Bass Forum right here on Harmony Central and also join the discussion!

 

 

Resources

Fender CB-60SCE Acoustic Bass Guitar ($299.99 "street")

Fender"s product web web page

 

You have the right to purchase the Fender CB-60SCE Acoustic Bass from:

Sweetwater

Guitar Center

Musician"s Friend

 

 

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Phil O"Keefe is a multi-instrumentalist, recording engineer / producer and the Senior Editor of Harmony Central. He has actually engineered, produced and performed on plenty of recording sessions in a varied array of layouts, through artists such as Alien Ant Farm, Jules Day, Voodoo Glow Skulls, John McGill, Michael Knott and also Alexa"s Wish. He is a previous featured monthly columnist for EQ magazine, and his posts and also product reviews have actually likewise showed up in Keyboard, Electronic Musician and also Guitar Player magazines.


Categories: Review