Fender Acoustasonic Player | Better than the US model? | Thomann

Kris and Guillaume try the brand new Fender Acoustasonic Player and compare it to the US model. Can it keep up with the US model? Or is the Acoustasonic Player even the better guitar for the money? Let's find out...
Gear used: bit.ly/3FhtaCW
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
Monitors optimised through Sonarworks: tho.mn/sonar
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Intro
0:42 Introducing Fender Acoustasonic Player
2:47 Playing acoustic sounds
3:20 Today's Rig
3:49 First impressions
5:17 Playing Lo-Fi sounds
7:08 Playing Tele sounds
8:17 Talking specs and price point
10:36 Differences between the player and US model
12:25 Comparison: Player vs US model
15:14 Conclusions
18:49 Thanks for watching!
19:35 ...the gigbag
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[@fender]

Sounding awesome guys! Thanks for the support 🤘💥

[@johnwortham1595]

A Fender Acoustisonic BASS (especially 5 string) would be top of my "get it next!" list. What are the chances, Fender?? 😁

[@martin-1965]

And for the poor among us... a Squier version maybe? 😁

[@danielwatkins877]

Why didn't the player come in the crimson red?!?! Got an email from MF and was super excited--cheaper and a 9 volt. You'd have gotten my money TODAY if you had one in red! Just bought a Newporter--very useful guitar by the by--but would've been happy to have paid three times more for this.

[@danielwatkins877]

And now that, I've gotten to the end of the video, love these controls, too

[@andreiter]

what's the difference in the prices of Mexican and American made....?

[@Phillospillo777]

Just bought one today and man I’m blown away. I’m an acoustic singer songwriter here in my home town and I loop live and play solos. This guitar feels like it was made for me, for what I do. So happy fender made an affordable version.

[@MatthewRivers]

I am just looking at getting the Mexican made one myself. Just wondering if you use the guitar for beats on your loops and if so, how does the percussion sound? Really excited about this guitar!

[@Phillospillo777]

@@MatthewRivers I use the middle pickup switch and do my beats on that selection. The volume is a tad low so before I make my beat I use an mxr boost at like 20%. Sounds cool, kinda of like a lo-fi hip hop sound

[@eternalforce116]

Do you use acoustic or electric guitar strings? Apparently it's been designed so both are usable. I wanna grab one and use acoustic strings, but add locking tuners. Reckon that would work fine? I know fenders locking tuners drop right in 🙂

[@Phillospillo777]

I use acoustic string which makes bending a little tougher so I usually utilize sliding more. Locking tuners would be an awesome addition. I don’t know why they didn’t come stock.

[@davewheatley3149]

Great video guys, lots of useful information and nice sounds. The best Acoustasonic demo I've seen to date.

[@jBjr73]

Best review on these guitars I've seen so far! Great job! Just ordered one of these based on your review. I hope it sounds good through my Fender Tone Master twin reverb.

[@32shumble]

Almost there Fender. 12 string voicing too? If YES - take my money.

[@ArturBrzozowski444]

It's cool that Fender took making Acoustasonic cheaper with caution. Great video guys, can't wait to try one out!

[@whitehotmusic001]

I bought one based on this fantastic review. Watched it 7 times. Thanks guys!

[@joannebeauchamp1169]

Good job demoing the Fender Acoustasonics, guys! 👍🏿👍🏿

[@josephhughes9490]

Kris, Hey my friend. As usual your playing is phenomenal. Amazed both you and Guillaume actually agreed 😄😄. I love acoustasonic guitars but don't own one. Is it worth purchasing one? Great show as always. 👍

[@karl-wilhelmschreitz8549]

Great move by fender, great release. Everything is said. Wanted an american one, was to expensive. Ordered a Player one and will receive it from Thoman on monday after christmas. I`m looking forward for it. I have all my life (65 years old) played Telecasters. Since some years I love to play acoustically, like Solo pieces (Chet Atkins, Tommy Emmanual ....). Because of age I developed arthritis in shoulders, elbows an in the hands. I was not able to play my great acoustic guitars like Lakewood, Gibson J-45 any more. This is the solution for me. Playability and good sound in a small body and easy to play neck profile and saddle-width. Ever thought about promoting these as acoustics for elderly citicens???

[@jimmyj4811]

Thanks for a great review!

[@johnwortham1595]

Can Fender PLEASE do this for bass?? Five string would be awesome as well. 🙂

[@newtondelmar4416]

A push/pull volume knob to activate the mag pup WITH the piezo might be cool...or just a 4th position on the switch :) I'm a fan of these designs...if the Player was $799...I'd DEF have one :)

[@joermnyc]

I think the blend knob instead of the 2-way rotary switch is an improvement.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

The blend gives you just so many usable options, right? Clever decision. 👍//Kris

[@otaviofenderstrat4220]

Yes ...i think the same.

[@kingoimkenya]

What a nice sounding guitar. It is indeed a blend of acoustic and electric.

[@HumbleHeartMinistry]

Very little difference. The cheaper one sounds a bit thinner to me. But as you said, it’s hardly noticeable! Love the fact that the cheaper ones battery is not built in! Great review! I subscribed!

[@breakandrun70]

Great extensive review of the two guitars, Thanks for the great review, you helped to make up my mind. I purchased a blond acoustasonic a couple weeks ago.I'm getting it set up with flat wound strings, easier on the fingers. I'm 70yrs young and full of arthritis, but it could be worse. be careful & be safe.

[@tberrardy]

Flat wound acoustic or electric strings?

[@timcastle165]

You guys are off the hook!! How does it sound unplugged (as if it was a plain old acoustic guitar)? Now which one is the better model to buy (the Strat style, Tele style or the Jazzmaster style)? AWESOME video!!!!! 🎸

[@jinbyun]

Replaceable 9v battery would actually be a plus in my opinion.

[@briancoyne6700]

Agreed!

[@tberrardy]

For sure, I wouldn’t want the rechargeable, just more to go wrong.

[@gerimayawhyte154]

It is for sure my book as well, but it's kind of a drag that you have to lose to pick up body sensor for percussion. It's too bad that they could to just split the difference in price a little more and include that.

[@annedarlington5837]

I do love this guitar, so much I bought one! ❤

[@maxhighstein]

On comparing the acoustic sounds of the Mexican and American models, I heard a much richer and fuller sound coming from the American version. The Mexican version sounded thinner to me -- not a volume difference, but a tonal difference. I'm surprised they didn't hear and remark on that. I thought it might have something to do with the way the two guitars were recorded into the video, but when they played the electric sounds, they sounded virtually identical to me, so the difference it must be in the guitars.

[@d.wilson1402]

I personally think so many people miss the boat as to why people love these guitars. There are the obvious normal reasons why people like certain guitars, but sometimes there are other reasons that aren’t quite so obvious. For me it’s playability and comfort. A jumbo just isn’t ergonomic and the thickness of typical acoustic guitar bodies can cause issues with shoulders and arms.

[@maxhighstein]

Yep. That's exactly why I'm looking into these. I want an acoustic guitar that's shaped like an electric.

[@fugalibrana]

I got it a week ago, and what could I say? Ergonomics Playability Comfort Versatile I'm using this guitar with a Fishman Aura preamp to get a more natural sound. Next step will be a decent EQ pedal. Some cons: depending on the EQ, there's a lack of sustain in some ranges in the 6th string (staring at B, 7th fret). But it can be fixed with a good EQ. The other thing is the electronics consume lot of battery. I don't know for how long the original battery was inside, but it worked just one week from the unboxing (in 1 hour of use aprox.). So I got new rechargeable batteries to be sure for how long it works.

[@robhodgkinson7858]

I got one as I can no longer play my lovely full bodied acoustics, due to shoulder issues, as you mentioned. I have the American version, and Im glad I do, as I don’t think much to the onboard sounds, and use the sensors/pickup. I find the other sounds have way too much high end, from about 6KHz up, which is the way that some acoustics on modern recordings can sound, but isn’t actually what they sound like.

[@PRDewhurst]

Exactly why I’ve picked one up. Rotator cuff tendon RSI in my right shoulder from 25yrs of playing SJ200s, Doves and D18s. My American Acoustasonic Jazzmaster (picked it up mint used £1k cheaper than new!) is a gamechanger for me. At 43yrs old and 4000 gigs in, my mindset is marathon rather than sprint, and these guitars are so physically comfortable without compromises in plugged in tone compared to a standard electro.

[@ding210]

Watch the decibel meter when they strum the G chord. The American seems to have a 2-3 decibel higher reading than the Mexican version. They both picked up on the “boost” from the Fishman but it was their ears that caught it and not the meter. Well done guys.

[@scottbecker3485]

As an owner (and lover) of the original American (tele) model of this guitar, I congratulate you on publishing the only (!) video so far (I‘ve watched about 5 so far on the new, Mexican version) that does a proper head-to-head comparison of the only sort-of comparable tones on each. Your sound samples confirm the impressions I have gathered from the bits and pieces demoed on the other videos: I think the dreadnaught sound modeling used for the Mexican model is actually better than that of the original, and you touched on the reason: It seems (and I have felt this way from the start) that they went a bit too far with the original modeling, perhaps adding in a bit too much EQ and/or compression (!), such that the attack on the American model, when fingerpicking, makes a kind of unnatural „thunk“ on each gently played note - something totally foreign to a true acoustic tone. It‘s not noticeable when strumming, with pick or not, but is when fingerpicking, which I do I lot. And it pisses me off that Fender didn‘t come up with a way to make the sounds tweakable by firmware or online patches. You get what you get, and can‘t swap out sounds you don‘t like or need. Why, in this day and age, did they miss out on that opportunity? Especially on the model with the USB plug, you‘d think it would have been easy to implement - especially at the higher price point. Anyhow, I don‘t use the body resonance settings on my American version much, so actually prefer the basic acoustic sound of the new version, which strikes me as more natural and „warmer“ - or to put it more critically - less fake or brittle or „attackish“. As for the electric tones on both models, none of them knock my socks off, but with pedals they can be made to work. I‘m seriously considering selling my American model and getting the Mexican one (in black), instead, making a bit of a profit in the process. As a mainly acoustic player, the Fender is just an extra flavor in my set, and the cheaper model will do just fine. The playability is excellent on both, so the switch should be easy.

[@jackblack2321]

Do these play like an accoustic or electric guitar. Can the string height be adjusted and do they use accoustic or electric strings. Want to buy one this fall. Thank you

[@algreen1231]

Nice guys...I vote the mex one...

[@marksc1929]

Great comparison 👍

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks a lot Mark! Cheers //Kris

[@samire2151]

Hello Guys, What Fender affordable amp would you suggest for this guitar ? I mean a versatile amp that can cover all acoustasonic player telecaster mods. Thanks for your help !

[@usmcyounggun6879]

The only difference I can tell is that the player doesn’t have the body sensor and the body sensor adds some clarity and top end sparkle to the sound. But I think the player sounds great and I am much more interested in the player than I was in the American made model. If they come out with the Stratocaster or Jazzmaster version here soon I will probably have to pick one up.

[@PHeMoX]

I still think that for a guitar that's over a grand, it really should have a much better electric guitar tone. Not saying it is bad, but this is really 95% just an acoustic electric guitar. Not a hybrid. If you are into electric guitars and want a hybrid or want something extra, I'd recommend the Line6 Variax series over this one for sure. Just much better tones. If acoustic electric tones are your main jam and you get into percussion on your acoustic guitars, the Acoustasonic Player could be for you. But you can forget about some screaming electric guitar solo tones with this guitar, as it really just can't handle / doesn't respond well to amps in that sense. They also already have a Jazzmaster version out. I'm not sure they will release a Player version for the entire line of Acoustasonics. Probably not. If they do, it'll happen after the Strat version.

[@thearoom]

is the pickup 1 and 2 position lower volume that the rest. Mine is a little lower. I have the Mexican version thanks

[@urbansoban2669]

As for the acoustic sounds, I'm pretty sure that what's going on here is actually IR's. Fishman makes the Aura pedal and Ellipse preamp (that I've built into my Gibson J-45, replacing the very basic VTC system that came with the guitar originally).

[@adriane8412]

With which amps was the Acoustasonic Player Tele played in the video? Which amp can you recommend for the Player Tele?

[@bralis2]

How durable is the top of these guitars for tapping ?

[@Malio75]

Having tried both the US and Mexican version a few days ago, I can confirm that the US sounds deeper and more complex in the “acoustic” mode. I think this is likely due to the body sensor adding more dimension. If you’re a solo performer who is used to an acoustic, this may be a bigger deal. In a duo or band, maybe not as much. The magnetic pickup sounds almost identical in this video to my ears.

[@gerimayawhyte154]

Yeah I noticed that right off the bat. I'd definitely go with the American myself. The acoustic tone sounds richer and less tinty. I solo live loop so the closer acoustic tone plus the body sensor for percussion are important deal breakers for me. The Mexican version seems more for someone in an acoustic duo maybe as a secondary rhythm/solo player.

[@Gibson45er]

How do these sound through an electric guitar amp? Like a Dr. Z MAZ 18?

[@OverJam52]

Would be curious how it sounds unplugged.

[@jeffreyhill5137]

I have the American one. The reason, I like more acoustic and two pickup blends is when you loop an acoustic rhythm track say position 4 then are playing lead over the top - you can go to 3 or 2 and the lead stands out more without having to goose the volume if you had used just 4 for both. I’m I crazy?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Makes all the sense! I love the way you make use of the voicings! Clever! //Kris

[@daleturner3507]

Was that some Brent Cobb in there on the Lo-Fi setting?

[@cvanhetkaar96]

Lovely guitars ! Thank you for this demo.. Now.. Fender needs to make accoustasonic Baritones !!!

[@guilhordas]

How to.split de signal amd send the acoustic tones to a mixer and the guitar tones to a amp.or a simulator??

[@briancoyne6700]

I just compared the American to the Mexican at my local Guitar Center. They played equally as well in terms of feel. When plugged in to a Fishman acoustic amp, the American had a much fuller, louder, articulate sound. The Mexican sounded good. But the American was superior in sound.

[@jsarty54]

Any word on a left hand player model ?

[@drumsticknuggets5123]

How does the action compare to a solid body fender?

[@SiggyMe]

However, you forgot the body sensor in the American and absent in the MIM version. Cheers it was funny and informative.

[@LearnHowToBlog]

In the comparison at the end, I liked the Mex better than the US.

[@gerimayawhyte154]

I think a pretty big thing that's left out of the Mexican version is that it doesn't have the body sensor pickup for percussion. That's kind of a big deal for musicians who want to use it for looping, but I don't feel like anybody is straight up saying that the Mexican version does not have it, which is a little strange.

[@officialWWM]

I want one so bad, sounds like it would be perfect for recording n my home studio and using for teaching students. I love the Mexican made instruments they represent great value for money for me.

[@briandevitt6903]

Some great playing as usual. Does 1100E count as an affordable Guitar though?

[@Hell_Inc]

nowhere on Earth this is affordable

[@PaulCooksStuff]

It's more affordable than the American. Whether either are affordable to you is different for every person.

[@Hell_Inc]

@@PaulCooksStuff I don't think you know what affordable means. If you wanna say it's CHEAPER than the original guitar, than sure, it is, but affordable means another thing entirely. A Ferrari 812 Superfast starts at $350,000 and a Ferrari Monza SP2 starts at $1,000,000. Does it mean the former is AFFORDABLE? No, it's cheaper.

[@PaulCooksStuff]

@@Hell_Inc Maybe my nuance was too subtle for you? Oxford Languages Dictionary defines affordable as "inexpensive; reasonably priced". It is impossible to argue mathematically that £949 isnt more affordable and more reasonably priced than £1600. Whether that's expensive/inexpensive and reasonable/unreasonable depends entirely on your income and lifestyle. "Nowhere on Earth this is affordable". And yet Fender/Gibson/PRS sell thousands of custom shop guitars every year at treble this price and £1k is broadly considered midrange for guitars. It is easily affordable to many, it's just not good value but that's a different equation.

[@Hell_Inc]

@@PaulCooksStuff First, you probably don't know what "nuance" means either if you think your post was nuanced. Second, 1k+ for this thing ISN'T "inexpensive" or "reasonably priced". Learn how to read and interpret information. Also, you pretty much proved my point copying and pasting the definition of the word. Thx. Third, "easily affordable to many". How many? 1000 people on Earth? Google how many people there are on the planet just like you googled "affordable" to maybe have a better perspective on how money works.

[@ivank4305]

Now we just have to wait until CNC'd acoustasonics are available from Squier. Then everyone will get one!

[@MaartenAnna]

The Mexican doesn't have the body pickup. So, if you're doing percussive things on a looper for example, you'll miss that. I actuallg think the Mexican sounds better, warmer an that lo-fy is awesome. I wonder what the Squier version in 2 years will have in store 😉 A humbucker rather than noiseless pickup? No voicings, just the transducer, humbucker & a threeway switch, 2 piece spruce top, maple neck & finger board.

[@pinto_ukes8406]

Hello guys, to play in electric mode, I have to buy a amplifier to electric guitar? I have a Acoustic amp. It is to play at home. Thanks

[@N0Camping4U]

It will work with your acoustic amp.

[@christophervincent8420]

They did cut a few guitar options out, but it does give that telecaster dirty sound. Wished you would have ran it through a electric guitar amp to here the comparison for dirty tones

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey, we actually did. Watch the full video, there's the segment, where I play the magnetic PU through a clean amp and then with some dirt too. //Kris

[@bondar1987fm]

Thank you for the video ❤ Can you please tell what should be a proper distance between strings and fretboard on Acoustasonic player with acoustic strings? Mine are almost at 1/4 inches at the 12th fret and it feels to high. And if it is, how to lower it? If you can help me out, I would be forever grateful.

[@BRIANFRANKMUSIC-st4zt]

neck tilt, on the back of the body, where the neck attaches to the body, slightly loosen the 4 screws and use the supplied Allen wrench in the hole in the plate to adjust neck angle. mine was very high also. do a quarter turn at a time and tighten the front two screws first then the rear two. I brought mine down until it buzzed then backed off a little. now it plays like a dream. patience and gentleness are the key to adjustments, never go gorilla on screws, they are only held by wood and if you break it it is broke for good. then it's luthier time. good luck you can do it ,it's easy.

[@bondar1987fm]

@@BRIANFRANKMUSIC-st4zt thank you so much !!! 🙌

[@jamesepler7156]

Fender is trying to introduce guitar playing to younger as well as more people. That's the point of a less expensive option. Thank you Fender.

[@petermcgarrymusicandflying]

Nice

[@kylecravens6501]

I think there's a greater level of articulation in the US. I can appreciate the place for both of them and value to consumer. Personally I would choose the US and may start saving up to get one!

[@mickeyfuck5489]

i own the US TELECASTER… Trust ! This is a awesome cool guitar !

[@Stirling62]

Don't drop the pick down the soundhole, it could mean taking the back panel off to retrieve it!

[@MM-rr1kp]

not sure if its the difference in the new model alone or perhaps a combination of that with your rrig setup but it is q little better, less nasal tone still, I dont find these instruments pleasing to listen to

[@startreker8591]

Boundaries are the difference a stone’s throw or rock away

[@mzomenor]

I have problems with the 9V battery. It barely lasts an afternoon.

[@maciekharon2164]

unplug the jack when not playing

[@mzomenor]

@@maciekharon2164 thank you

[@waynechurchill7212]

They is drift but it got to EQ

[@croggers1]

The magnetic pickup isn't supposed to be played through an electric amp, it has amp modelling on the pickup.

[@Leppits]

Thomann/Harley Benton version when?

[@basilandrigsby]

Sounds very nice. No good for camp fire jamming though...More of a bar heater

[@joselimon4711]

Viva México

[@vadergrd]

~1000euros is something ... but i have to say ... it's tempting...

[@StevesSlideandJazz]

Ensenada is 100 miles from Corona!

[@RobertNolan]

It's actually about 180 miles factory to factory.

[@miner49er79]

where's Julia ?

[@vitezslavjanda1141]

The american model is a bit warner

[@Hell_Inc]

on what planet 1.1k is affordable for this thing?

[@minisurfbanana]

They sould have a 12 string voicing

[@PooNinja]

Pancakeosonic or buskers breakfast band

[@padmakamirihagalla1551]

You don’t have the full range on stocks

[@chickenlickin3820]

hi frankie and shirley how you doing?

[@monkusbee]

So you don’t need 2 guitars, you need 2 amps?

[@leondantas]

The Blend Knob is more useful than the USA made design

[@garrya100]

The blend knob is the same on both of them.

[@nekkon1989]

Kris flexing his socks 😅

[@slimturnpike]

Neither fish nor fowl.

[@SibzelChebst]

They sound amazing but the controls are just stupid.

[@dyziko]

Nice socks, Chris

[@EntropiaGuitars]

Telecaster heads always look like they’ve got a tumour.

[@MercilessGuitar151]

I'll stick with my Martin acoustic.

[@Barry101er]

Great sounding, goofy looking guitar ;)

[@Justic3h]

So with an 1100 euro price tag, with 6 voicings with only 2 real acoustic voicings, it makes more sense now to buy a mid rangey acoustic and play the shit out of it. 🤷🏼‍♂️ might just be me.

[@titi64230]

Still don t understand this série of guitar ...

[@hansendesigns]

Slightly rude that fender gives the mexican version a visibly lamer sunburst 🙀

[@briancoyne6700]

Will this lower the resale value of the Americans?

[@charlesbolton8471]

It most likely will, and a lot of dealers have lower the price on new American made ones. It’s probably just a holiday promotion endorsed by Fender, but if you want an American one many places are selling them for $1,599 and offering similar discounts on the more expensive limited edition colors and the exotic wood models.

[@briancoyne6700]

@@charlesbolton8471 Thank you, Charles!

[@sirwilliamkarl5591]

Fender finally figured out how overpriced they were?

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hi, making products in the US is expensive and as a company they also have to make a profit. So at the end of the day those models are not more overpriced than any other product ever produced. So you could say the whole world is overpriced, or you could say that's what these products cost, end of story. It's a matter of the perspective. Fact is, that it's a good decision from Fender to offer a medium price range version of the Acoustasonic and I'm happy to see, that they didn't cut on quality or the important features. Cheers! //Kris

[@thedogwoods5716]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses i guess they’re overpriced for what they can do. They shouldn’t cost more than $1,500

[@deborahmcalister3936]

The American made one sucks!. .. cheaply made, neck very uncomfortable, rough wood with sharp frets for 2000 bucks! Needless to say I returned mine.

[@adrianbambrough7366]

Really disappointed with this model it doesn’t stand up to professional use and this video doesn’t take into account the short falls of being giged . Also the experience I have had from your after sales is quite frankly scandalous. It’s the first and last time I ever buy a guitar on line and definitely the last time I make a purchase from you .

[@MrStupidHead]

Professional use? What profession? Baseball? The thing has only been out 6 months and youve broken it?

[@spaghettimeatballswow]

The look is terrible, like someone pasted a photo of an acoustic guitar on the top. I rather they finish it properly

[@fredymendez855]

The American price never made any sense at all !!!! There are so many better options to get at a 2000 dollar range !!!!!! In the end of the day its a hybdrid and it gets the job done but its never gona replace a true eletric or accoustic. Iam so mad this came out now because i just got the aged candy red tele mexican player plus Nashville telecaster. I will definently wait for the Jaazmaster body shape as i felel its the most confortable to play with period.

[@andrewmuelleranantababaji8073]

To mich money for what it is thousand overpriced playing for name give me a break

[@greenwave792]

2 thumbs down for both