Fender FA-25 Acoustic Pack Review: A Beginner's Perspective

So, you’re thinking about grabbing the Fender FA-25 Acoustic Pack—with hopes of going from noodle-armed beginner to neighborhood campfire MVP. I get the temptation: everything in one box, iconic brand, and visions of that first halfway-decent rendition of “Jolene.” But let’s wrangle the marketing and get into what this pack really delivers.

Let’s start with the guitar itself—it’s a classic dreadnought, so we’re talking the full-size shape you see in almost every 70s music biopic. There’s laminated basswood for the back and sides, and a spruce top on the front. Translation: it’s tough as nails against humidity or dry spells, but don’t expect that lush, resonant tone you’d get from a solid-top instrument. This thing’s sound is more “safe first car” than “vintage Mustang.” Playable? Yep. Memorable? Not so much.

Neck-wise, Fender went with a C-shape, meaning if your hands are average or even on the smaller side, you won’t be cussing after five minutes. It’s not a skinny electric neck, but unless you’re all about nimble lead runs, it’s comfortable enough. The fretboard, made of walnut, is smooth, but honestly, don’t expect it to feel like butter until it’s actually worn in a little. Tuning pegs are the typical closed-gear kind—basic, but they get the job done after a little “settling in” stretch from the strings. Speaking of which, the factory setup isn’t going to win the blue ribbon; you might notice the action (string height) makes you press down harder than you’d like. If you’re serious about sticking with guitar, factor in a pro setup down the road—it’ll save your fingers and your sanity.

As for the so-called “extras,” Fender throws in a padded gig bag (and by “padded” I mean more “hoodie lining” than “winter jacket”); a stand that’s fine unless you have gravity-prone pets or kids; a flimsy but usable strap; a few picks; spare strings (they’re not D’Addarios, but hey, they work); and a clip-on tuner that absolutely screams “Aunt bought it online.” These’ll get you strumming, but you’ll probably be back at the music store soon enough, either out of irritation or necessity. The gig bag especially—don’t expect it to save your guitar from any major bumps or Atlanta curb tumbles.

Here’s the part Fender likes to hype: you get a free trial for their online lessons, Fender Play. Don’t get too cozy—they ask for your card info and hope you forget about the subscription charge. Skip it. There are literally a million free and better lessons online, especially if you don’t want beginner strums explained at dial-up speed or to watch the same canned encouragement videos.

This pack is aimed straight at beginners who want to dip their toes without splurging, and I’m not going to lie: it will let you do exactly that. If you want quality you can brag about, or you plan to move out of your living room anytime soon, don’t bother. The sound is passable (if a touch bland), the bundled accessories are near-disposable, and the “convenience” is more about saving you the headache of piece-by-piece shopping than landing you with anything you’ll want to keep. Still, for a kitchen-table cowboy or someone teaching kids the first chords, it’s all you need to start.

But—if you’re already itching for open mic night or want a guitar that’ll stick with you as your skills grow, steer yourself toward something better. The Fender California Debut Redondo, for example, is a huge leap in terms of sound and feel, and frankly worth saving up for if you think you’ll get serious. You can also find some shockingly good deals on gently-used solid-top guitars at local shops—don’t sleep on that option, especially here in the South where everyone’s cousin’s friend’s uncle seems to have an old guitar to sell.

To sum all this up: the FA-25 pack gets your foot in the door, but don’t expect any musical fireworks. It’s a starter, plain and simple—like a pre-seasoned skillet. Gets you by, but you’ll eventually crave something a bit more special. If you’re fine with that, you’ll get your money’s worth. If you’re dreaming bigger, skip the set and start shopping for the real thing.

My advice? Start here if you just want to see if guitar feels right; move on quickly if you feel even a spark of passion (and trust me, you’ll know). And as always, change those stock strings, keep your tuner handy, and don’t let any marketing jazz make you think “bundled” means “better.” Stay stubborn, practice with joy, and aim for those tunes that give your heart the good kind of ache.