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Average Price: $450
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$200
$1001+
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Description
The Fender Malibu Player blends vintage charm with modern innovation, making it the perfect companion for musicians who value both style and sound. With its exclusive small-body shape and short scale, this acoustic-electric guitar offers a slinkier feel, encouraging exploration of new melodies and chords. The combination of a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides delivers a rich, balanced sound that suits a wide range of musical genres. The mahogany neck is complemented by a walnut fingerboard, ensuring that classic Fender playability that guitarists adore.
Equipped with a Fishman-designed pickup/preamp system, the Malibu Player provides seamless amplified tone for both stage and studio settings. Its user-friendly digital tuner and tone controls for treble, bass, and volume make sound adjustments effortless. The slim-taper C-shaped neck profile is designed for comfort, allowing smooth transitions across the fretboard, whether you're strumming chords or picking intricate leads.
Visually, the Malibu Player stands out with its matching painted 6-in-line headstock and elegant crème binding. The scalloped X-bracing and Graph Tech NuBone nut and saddle further enhance resonance and sustain, making every note resonate beautifully. This guitar isn't just an instrument; it's an invitation to explore your musical potential with confidence and flair.
Key Features:
- Exclusive small-body shape with short scale for a slinkier feel
- Solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides for a balanced sound
- Mahogany neck with walnut fingerboard
- Fishman-designed pickup/preamp system with digital tuner
- Slim-taper C-shaped neck profile
- Matching painted 6-in-line headstock
- Scalloped X-bracing for enhanced resonance and durability
- Graph Tech NuBone nut and saddle for greater sustain
Product specs
| Body type | Malibu |
| Cutaway | No |
| Top wood | Solid Sitka spruce |
| Back and sides | Mahogany |
| Bracing pattern | Optimized |
| Body finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Orientation | Right handed |
| Neck shape | Slim taper C |
| Nut width | 1.69" (43 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Walnut |
| Neck wood | Mahogany |
| Scale length | 24.1" |
| Number of frets | 20 |
| Neck finish | Satin |
| Pickup/preamp | Yes |
| Brand | Fishman |
| Configuration | Undersaddle piezo |
| Preamp EQ | 3-band |
| Feedback filter | No |
| Tuner | Yes |
| Headstock overlay | Not specified |
| Tuning machines | Nickel sealed |
| Bridge | Modern Viking |
| Saddle and nut | Graph Tech NuBone |
| Number of strings | 6 |
| Case | Sold separately |
| Accessories | Info not available |
| Country of origin | China |
FAQs
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What kind of sound can I expect from the Fender Malibu Player's tonewoods?
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The Fender Malibu Player features a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides, providing a balanced tone with a warm, rich resonance and clear articulation, ideal for a variety of playing styles.
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Is the Fender Malibu Player suitable for beginners?
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Yes, the Fender Malibu Player is beginner-friendly due to its slim taper C-shaped neck and shorter 24.1" scale length, making it comfortable and easy to play.
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Does the Fender Malibu Player come with built-in electronics?
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Yes, the Fender Malibu Player is equipped with a Fishman undersaddle piezo pickup and preamp system, featuring a 3-band EQ and built-in tuner for versatile amplified performance.
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How does the Fender Malibu Player's neck profile affect playability?
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The slim taper C-shaped neck of the Fender Malibu Player offers a comfortable grip, making it easier for players to navigate the fretboard and execute chords and solos smoothly.
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What is the body style of the Fender Malibu Player?
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The Fender Malibu Player has a compact parlour-sized body, which provides a sweet, articulate voice and is well-suited for both fingerstyle and strumming.
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What type of strings does the Fender Malibu Player use?
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The Fender Malibu Player is strung with Fender Dura-Tone Coated 80/20 Bronze strings, gauged .012-.052, which offer durability and a bright, clear tone.
Videos
PMTVUK
Fender Malibu Player Electro-Acoustic Review - 2018 California Series
Reviews
PROS
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Arrives play-ready, no setup needed
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Clear, bright sound quality
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Attractive burgundy satin finish and detailed binding
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Compact 24-inch scale ideal for travel
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Comfortable neck feel for easy playing
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Great value, especially when on sale
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Perfect size for smaller players or casual settings
CONS
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Low E-string twangs with heavy strumming
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Built-in tuner is low quality
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Misleading description as a "small body," it's actually a 3/4 size
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Strings may need replacing upon purchase
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Price may not reflect the quality compared to alternatives
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Malibu Player - Burgundy Satin with Walnut Fingerboard.
Build quality
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Owners describe the guitar as feeling like a toy due to its small size and lightweight construction, with cheap-feeling tuning pegs and a nut that can cause intonation issues.
Source
Setup and maintenance
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Using Elixir strings significantly improves the sound quality, though it is still described as middy and muddy.
Source
Use cases and applications
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The guitar is often used more for display as a collector's item rather than regular playing, due to its limited sound quality and small size.
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Value and pricing
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The guitar's value has increased over time, with second-hand models now selling for significantly more than the original purchase price due to collector interest.
Source
Based on 0 Reviews and 0 Ratings
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
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