1960s Fender Newporter 00-Size Guitar

Overview: In the mid-late '60s, Fender began making their own, home-grown acoustic guitars in a new, Santa Ana factory shop devoted to it. This Newporter, while bearing nothing useful for dating it, was probably made around '68 or '69. It was in the "second generation" of these guitars and, originally, lacked the interior aluminum stiffening rod fit between the endblock and neckblock that the earlier Fender-built acoustics had. It's a 00-size guitar with a solid mahogany top and ply mahogany back and sides and was meant to be sold more as a "folk" model instrument, rather than a pro-level model like a King/Kingman or the like from the same time. These guitars get a lot of negative press out there on the net, but if you know how to work on them to get the best out of them (and make them good and stable), they turn into wonderful sleeper acoustics that have both good value and stand-out looks.

Interesting features: The neck handles like a Strat neck from the time -- medium-C profile, narrower 1 5/8" nut, and curvy fretboard. It's great! Strangely-enough, I really like this as a fingerpicking guitar, though as a flatpicker it does do nice, midsy, woody, cowboy-chord stuff just dandy, too. The stylistic elements of these guitars were designed by Roger Rossmeisl, who'd previously worked at Rickenbacker, and you can see some of those Ricki-like cues at play in the cool pickguard, mustache bridge details, and the like. It's a good-looking box.

Repairs included: Sarah repaired a couple of hairline cracks on the top (cleated), leveled/dressed the frets, modified the original saddle for better intonation, and set it up. I helped her install a 1/2" dowel that runs from the neckblock to the endblock internally. This replicates the function of the earlier aluminum rods that were found in the original-model Fender-made acoustics made just a few years before this one. For me, this is a key element to keeping these guitars stableas the neckblock area is not sufficiently braced adjacent to the block to keep that part of the design free from drifting with weather changes. I've owned a LOT of these Fender acoustics and this is my conclusion after having played and worked-on them over the years. Anyhow, it's playing spot-on, now, and has been stable in service. It's ready to go.

• Weight: 4 lbs 11 oz
• Scale length: 25 1/2"
• Nut width: 1 5/8"
• Neck shape: slim-medium C
• Board radius: 7 1/4"
• Depth at first fret: 7/8"
• Depth at seventh fret: 57/64"
• Body width: 14 3/8"
• Body depth: 3 7/8"
• Top wood: solid mahogany
• Back & sides wood: ply mahogany
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: maple
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 50w-11 (I suggest 11s max on these for E-to-E tuning)
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-lower

Condition notes: It's completely original save for replacement (Grover) tuners and the 1/2" dowel (painted black) we installed to stiffen the neckblock/endblock areas of the build. We also have lightly-tacked-in shims set in the neck pocket to keep it more stable there, too, as most of these neck pockets were cut too wide at the factory (this one certainly was). There are two hairline cracks repaired on the top. There's weather-checking throughout the finish and scuffs, scratches, and dings here and there throughout as well.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: LCL