Fender Redondo Mini – Is It Good? [REVIEW]

fender redondo mini guitar review

If you’re thinking about getting the Fender Redondo Mini guitar and you’re not sure if it’s worth it or not, don’t worry! In today’s in-depth review, I’m going to take a very close look on that affordable model. Hopefully, this guide will resolve all of your questions!

Overall, Fender Redondo Mini is an inexpensive, great sounding and well-made compact acoustic guitar. It offers a surprisingly nice tone and although it’s not perfect, it’s definitely worth every cent.

Let’s dive deeper with research to find out what exactly makes the Redondo Mini model so good and so popular among the guitarists all around the world. Firstly, we’ll start with a quick overview of the specifications. Additionally, we’ll have a look at the biggest pros and cons of that model. Of course, there will be a few sound demos included as well!

Specs & Pricing

Fender Redondo Mini, Sunburst
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Fender Redondo Mini is an affordable compact-sized acoustic guitar suitable for both kids and adults. This is not a toy though – it’s a really well-made instrument that gives you access to a lot of sweet acoustic tones!

The guitar features a spruce top with mahogany back and sides. There’s also a Nato neck and an easy-playing walnut fingerboard. The scale length of that model has 22.75″, so it’s way smaller than regular-sized acoustic guitars. As a result, it’s perfect for players with smaller hands!

The sound of Fender Redondo Mini is surprisingly rich, balanced and resonant. It’s a small guitar, but it manages to produce a pretty loud sound. It’s caused by the scalloped X-bracing which significantly improves the bass response and it makes the guitar sound fuller.

What’s important, the Redondo Mini is available in two different color versions: Sunburst and Natural.

When it comes to pricing, it’s really affordable. Although it’s not the cheapest compact guitar in the world, it’s definitely one of the cheapest guitars of that type that are currently made by Fender. That being said, it’s definitely worth the money!

Here’s the sound demo – feel free to check it out below.

Who Is It For?

Fender Redondo Mini is suitable for all level players. It doesn’t really matter whether you’re a complete amateur or a bit more advanced guitarist – I’m sure that anyone will benefit from adding this model to their collection!

However, since it’s a cheap and compact guitar, it’s mainly recommended for beginners. It’s a particularly good choice for all kids and teenagers who want to start their own musical journey.

Additionally, it is also worth mentioning that Redondo Mini will also work really well as a travel guitar. It’s much smaller than a regular-sized acoustic guitar, so it’s really easy to carry it around.

What’s more, the Redondo Mini is a very versatile instrument, so it can be used for playing different styles of music. Whether you prefer loud strumming or subtle fingerpicking, you can be sure that it will sound pretty good on that axe.

Overall, I’m positive that the vast majority of guitar players will really enjoy playing on the Fender Redondo Mini. Although it’s not the best guitar in the world, it gets the job done and it offers a great value for the money.

Here’s what you can expect if you decide to get it.

Pros & Cons

Just like any other cheap acoustic guitar, Fender Redondo Mini has its own advantages and disadvantages. It seems pretty clear that it has far more pros than cons, but there’s still a few things that you should be aware of before you decide to get it.

Pros

  • Perfect For Beginners
  • Cheap Price
  • Ideal For Players With Smaller Hands
  • Great Tone
  • Comfortable Neck

Cons

  • The Original Strings Aren’t That Good
  • Gig Bag Isn’t The Best

As you can see, there are a lot of things that can be considered as major advantages of the Redondo Mini. It’s cheap, it sounds good and it’s perfect for beginners and kids. How can you argue with that?

On the other hand, it usually comes with a basic gig bag. This is not a big problem, but if you want to use it as travel guitar, you’ll have to find a better and more durable case somewhere else.

Additionally, the original strings used in that model aren’t the best. If you’re a beginner, you probably won’t notice the difference, so it’s not a problem. But if you’ve been playing for a while, it may be a good idea to replace them with a better set.

Nevertheless, I believe that the advantages of Redondo Mini outweigh its disadvantages. Bear in mind that this is a budget guitar, so it’s totally understandable that it’s not ideal. It’s still a fantastic instrument!

Fender Redondo Mini vs Fender Sonoran Mini

For those who are not aware, Fender also manufactures an another fantastic compact acoustic guitar – Fender Sonoran Mini. In fact, a lot of guitarists can’t decide whether they should choose the Redondo or Sonoran model.

Which one of them is better? Well, that’s a really tough decision to make!

Fender Sonoran Mini, Natural
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The main difference between the Redondo and Sonoran Mini guitars is the size – Fender Sonoran Mini is slightly bigger than Fender Redondo Mini. They sound very similar though!

Summing up, choosing between the Redondo and Sonoran models depends on your own personal preferences. If your’e looking for a guitar for your kid, the smaller one – Redondo Mini – will be probably a better choice.

Here’s a really good video that highlights both of the Redondo Mini and Sonoran Mini models by Fender. I highly recommend checking it out!

Any Alternatives?

If you don’t like the sound of Fender Redondo Mini and you have a feeling that it won’t be a good fit for you, that’s not a big deal! There’s still quite a lot of other really good compact guitars that are also worth checking out.

Of course, choosing a new guitar will depend on your own personal preferences and the size of your budget. Still, here’s a few other guitars that you can also consider.

Alternative Option #1 – Yamaha CS40

Firstly, make sure to check out Yamaha CS40. This is a 3/4-sized classical guitar, so it’s a bit different than the Redondo Mini which is an acoustic guitar. Still, this Yamaha model is perfect for everyone who wants to start their own musical journey.

The main difference between the CS40 and Redondo Mini is the fact that the CS40 has nylon strings instead of steel strings. This is really important if you’re searching for a guitar for your kid, because nylon strings are usually more comfortable to play for beginners.

Yamaha CS40 3/4-Size Classical Guitar
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Alternative Option #2 – Epiphone DR-100

If you’re searching for a bit larger instrument, perhaps choosing a regular-sized guitar will be a better option for you. If that’s the case, make sure to check out the Epiphone DR-100. This is one of the most popular acoustic guitars recommended for beginners.

I had the pleasure to start my own musical journey with that guitar back in 2008 and I have to admit that I have a lot of great memories with that axe. It’s not the best acoustic guitar in the world, but it gets the job done and it’s perfect for all amateurs. On top of that, it’s really affordable!

Epiphone Songmaker DR-100
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FAQ

What strings does the Redondo Mini have?

Fender Redondo Mini is equipped with a set of Fender .012-.052 strings.

Where can I find out more about Fender?

If you want to learn more about this legendary manufacturer of guitars, check out the official website of Fender.

Summary

As you can see, Fender Redondo Mini is a really cool compact acoustic guitar suitable for guitarists of all levels. Whether you’re a complete beginner or a bit more advanced player, you will definitely be pleasantly surprised by the high quality of that affordable instrument.

What do you think of that mini guitar? Would you get it for yourself or do you think that it’s overrated? Leave a comment down below and let me know what you think, I’m really interested to hear your thoughts!

Thanks for checking out today’s review, hopefully it was helpful. If you enjoyed this article and you’re searching for more gear recommendations, you may also like:

Dave
Dave

Hey! I'm Dave and I'm the founder of Best Guitars Now. Thanks for checking out my blog - hopefully you found what you were looking for!

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