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Post subject: CDN240SCE - Fender Classical Nylon Guitars
Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:18 pm
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Hoping to get someone's personal or even anecdotal input/feedback/opinion about Fender's classical nylon guitars.

I recently played a CDN90 and liked it and am thinking of getting the CDN240SCE.

Can someone give some feedback on the CDN240SCE:
1. Are the nut and saddle made of bone?
2. Is there a battery compartment in the guitar? Where?
3. What kind of Rosewood?
4. Has anyone played this? And can offer some feedback on the sound/tone?

Thanks!
C

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Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:55 am
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J-7 wrote:
I'm looking at this model as well. All the specs can be found if you just click over to products, then acoustics, pull up the CDN240SCE's specs. :)
Fender uses some sort of synthetic nut and saddle much like Taylor and everyone else, but the saddle is compensated unlike many classical guitars.
Looks like it uses a 9 volt which lasts longer than the AAs that some use.
Seems like a deal to me. :)


Great! What experience do you have with CGs? Owned one? Played for how long? Why Fender? Me, I actually purchased a Cordoba PRO ROSE 14, and returned it because of some internal buzzing. It was solid top Rosewood (albeit thin), action was too high, visible glue inside ribbing.

I'm considering this Fender because of the low action and understated good looks. You?

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Post subject: CDN240SCE: Initial review
Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 6:11 pm
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I'll keep updating this post/thread as things arise.

INITIAL THOUGHTS:

Overall the FENDER CDN240SCE has some nice appointments, but suffers from some finishing set backs. There are some visible blemishes in the wood in the cutaway. The high gloss finish inside the edge of the sound hole does not go completely around. Within the slots/channels of the head it looks as if the gloss finish is flaking off. The action seems very high compared to a Fender acoustic (steel string) I recently played.

The tone isn't as deep and rich as the solid top Indian Rosewood Cordoba Fusion I returned (it has a bad buzz). But, that's an unfair comparison. The solid cedar of the CDN240SCE puts out a punchier sound, but warm.

I think the back and sides are laminated Bolivian Rosewood. Not sure. It has a little bit of 'flaming' which undulates under light, which is nice.

The action will need to be dropped and I may replace the saddle and nut with real bone. The frets and action feel a bit high (in comparison to my Martin 00028 and the Cordoba Rose Fusion 14). I will definitely need to replace the stock strings that came with it.

I'll update later after all of the changes.

Overall, I think for the ~$400 I paid for it, it is a nicer entry level acoustic nylon guitar. And at that price (with a solid top, electronics, cutaway) I can overlook a few small blemishes.

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Post subject: Fender CDN240SCE: For smallish hands
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 8:09 am
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I'm writing this because I am sure there are adult guitarists w/small hands that want to buy a nylon string guitar and don't want to buy a 3/4, 7/8, "student", "child" size guitar. And why the Fender CDN240SCE, right now is one of the better choices among big brand mass produced (not custom) options.

About me: For some perspective, I am a 5' tall male adult with hands measuring (when laid flat and thumb in), 3.75" wide and 6.75" long.

Here's why I didn't want a 'small' guitar:

1. Small body = small sound. I prefer not to have to plug-in to get decent volume from a guitar.

2. Quality woods and construction. While there are 'travel size guitars (3/4 and 7/8 and even 1/2 scale guitars) made of good tone woods, they still don't have enough body size to project. "Student" guitars, much like anything made for children usually have lesser quality woods and construction (they're not cheap just because they are small).

Why the Fender CDN240SCE is a great choice for small handed players looking for a deal:

1. Scale length. Standard scale length is 650mm. A more comfortable playable scale for small hands is somewhere between 640mm and 644mm. I've looked and haven't found one nylon string guitar among Cordoba, Taylor, Yamaha, Alvarez, Lucero, La Patrie, Gibson, Guild, any of the Rodriguez lines, Ibanez, Alvarez, etc...with this short of scale. The Fender CDN240SCE scale length is 643mm.

2. Width at Nut. Typical classical guitars have a 2" (50.8mm). There are thin neck nylon strings out there. The Cordoba FUSION line has a few around 47mm (1.85") and Ibanez EW Nylon series is 46mm (1.811"). The Fender CDN240SCE is also 46mm. However, the Ibanez EW series is a thin line series, meaning the depth of the body tops out at 3". The Fender CDN240SCE deepest body measurement is 4.92" (deeper body, more volume).

3. 12 vs 14 fret to body joint. There is a lot of debate of whether a guitar whose body joins the fret at 14 vs. 12 makes more or less sound. My preference for joining at 12 is all a matter of reach. This can vary from guitar to guitar, since the size of the guitar body can be longer or shorter. The Fender CDN240SCE measurement from top of nut to middle of waist is 520mm, on my Martin 000-28, it's 527mm. While that's about a .25" difference, I do find playing the Fender CDN240SCE more comfortable because I can reach the 1st fret easier when the guitar waist is seated on my left knee. I sometimes play my Martin on my left knee (I'm right handed) and the .25" of extra reach is noticeable. I know it's only .25" but it makes a difference.

4. Solid cedar top. Most professional quality and custom hand-made classical are made of SOLID cedar or SOLID spruce and SOLID back and sides of ROSEWOOD. These guitars are expensive (STARTING in the $2000-$3000k range). Solid is the way to go no doubt. Do not buy a laminated top guitar. Also at the mid-price range ($300-$500) a factory produced guitar may use spruce, but beware, most spruce in this price range is inferior. Spruce grows with a natural twist in the tree, only very expensive spruce has that twist minimized (depends on the type of spruce). Any of the spruce in the more expensive factory made guitars (like sitka spruce) is more straight than those at a lower price. The less twist, the better tone. Cedar on the other hand grows pretty straight naturally. Cedar is great for finger style playing (classical) and produces a warm deep tone. Spruce does the same but is also retains highs well.

5. Laminated back and sides. For most people it makes no real difference tone wise if the sides and back are laminated. Granted over time an all solid wood guitar will age better, as will the sound. But in the $300-$500 price range, it's hard to find all solid back and sides. It really makes no difference if the laminated wood is Rosewood, Mahogany, Sapelle, or whatever. Mostly it's a matter of look. The Fender CDN240SCE is a Rosewood (not sure which kind), but it is not Brazilian or East Indian Rosewood. But I like the look of it much better than Mahogany.

What needs to change when you get this guitar:

1. The action will need to be lowered.
2. New strings. I would put on D'Addario® EXP™ Classical Strings or Savarez 500CR Cristal Corum.
3. Consider swapping out the nut and saddle with bone.

Considering my size, my price tolerance, minimum features for a decent sound, the ease of making minor changes, and the options offered by other major brands, the Fender CDN240SCE is a great deal.

The Fender CDN240SCE is a better than entry level guitar for small handed players.

If you get this and continue to play classical, save your money and contact a luthier to make you a small 'scale' guitar that keeps a standard depth body, solid top spruce or cedar, spruce bracing, Brazilian Rosewood or East Indian Rosewood solid back, sides and ribbing. Throw in some very nice purfling, binding, sound hole decoration and Rosewood neck and bridge. You'll spend thousands, but it will sound superb. And, most importantly, it will fit you.

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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:38 am
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Location: Jackson, MS
i have a CG-24 (natural stain) that i believe is an '02 or '03. it's a full blown classical with the wide nut, unline the new narrower CDN240's. has a fishman classic 4 9V preamp. i don't see it up on the Fender site anymore, so i guess they stopped making it. anyone know why? i love the thing, won't ever need anything else for my classical playing. it sounds and feels great.


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Post subject: CDN240SCE: Update - replacements and upgrades
Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:40 pm
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So I've had the CDN240SCE for a few months now. The tuning heads (plastic) ended up cracking on me. Fender was prompt in responding to support email and sent me entire new tuning machines.

I've also replaced the strings with Martin classical as well as ordered a bone saddle. I sanded and shaped it myself, lowering the action a bit. The result is better sustain in the GBE strings and a bit more speed in fingering.

All told it was worth the $30 investment in strings and bone saddle and the 3 hours of cutting and sanding.

If you get this guitar, seriously consider making these modifications.

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Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:15 am
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I would like to buy a FENDER CDN240SCE but i don't like too deep guitar's bodies.
Catalog of fender gives 3.94" (100mm) to 4.92" (125mm) for body depth but it seemes too much for a classical guitar style. Catalog gives exactly the same depth for folk guitars and it has very different shapes. :?:

Please CARDOPSKI can you tell me if it is true or, if not, can you measure and tell me the exact thickness of the body of the FENDER CDN240SCE .

Thanks


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2009 6:42 am
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kintz wrote:
Please CARDOPSKI can you tell me if it is true or, if not, can you measure and tell me the exact thickness of the body of the FENDER CDN240SCE .


Kintz I'll measure it today or tomorrow and will post. I'll also compare it to my Martin 000/28 which is not a dreadnought or deep bodied guitar. It is considered a orchestra body (OM). I'll measure in cm and will try and post some photos of where i measured it.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 1:30 am
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Thank you very much CARDOPSKI, but you can give me the dimensions in inches i will translate.
If you can post one photo from the side (guitar on the back on a table for example, it would be the top !

kintz


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Post subject: FENDER CDN240SCE: Photos
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:53 pm
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Kintz, I've posted photos to a separate gallery. Hopefully these will come through. I'll note the image name and then a description of what it is.

Find them here:
http://gallery.me.com/cardolianez#10003 ... grey&sel=5

_MG_1130 - showing guitar on back. Wanted you to see the strap button, equalizer and battery compartment to orient yourself when looking at the rest of the photos.

_MG_1153 - showing measurement at the input jack (end pin) of the guitar. Depth/thickness is 4".

_MG_1154 - showing measurement at the strap pin. This would be the thickness measurement across the top "shoulders" of the upper bout of the guitar. Depth/thickness is 3 5/8"

_MG_1156 - showing measurement across the upper bout (right in front of the equalizer). Depth/thickness is 3 7/8" . The thickness of the body is starting to increase as you move from the upper bout to the waist and down into the lower bout.

_MG_1157 - showing measurement across the waist of the guitar. Depth/thickness is a solid 4"

_MG_1158 - showing the final measurement across the lowest part of the lower bout. Depth/thickness is 4"

Hope that helps with your choice.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2009 2:32 am
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Great thanks to you for these pictures. :D

It confirms what i supposed : official catalog of fender is wrong about FENDER CDN240SCE because it gives a thickness of 3.94 to 4.92 for the body (http://www.fender.fr/products//view_spe ... =CDN240SCE)
I asked precisions to Fender France but no reply...

But i notice that there is only a jack output on this guitar. There is no canon output ?
Other question about the neck : is it totally flat or slightly curved

Are you satisfied of this guitar ?

THank you very much for the time you give to me.


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:47 am
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The back of the neck is by no means "thin or sllim" feeling. It actually feels more like a traditional classical. My Martin and the Fender share the same widths at nut and 12 and 14th frets, but the shape of the neck on the fender is more C shaped than U or V. So the fender will feel 'fatter/thicker'

The fret board is not that radiused. It's pretty much flat (again more like a classical). If the fender is radiused (Ibanez does this on their cross over nylon/acoustics) I can't tell.

C

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:50 am
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Kintz,
I recommend you buy the Fender from Musicians Friend.com and try it out for 45 days. Their return policy is easy and is longer than any in the industry. Be careful not to scratch it or ding it. Play it, and then send it back. Again, I ordered 2 of these FENDERS (I ordered a second and sent it back for craftsmanship reasons.)

If you like how it feels in your hands, then upgrade the saddle and put some new strings on it.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 9:32 am
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Yes it is a good idea because it is impossible to find a CDN240SCE to see and try it here.

Thank you very much for your help anyway.


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