MusicRadar Verdict
Freshman guitars, remember the name, as we sure won't forget the quality.
Pros
- +
Immaculate finish and build. Great neck and tone.
Cons
- -
You might be tempted by the local's open mic night.
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When you lie back and think of Dsus4, acoustic guitars crafted in China are not the most immediate fantasy to spring out of the ether and grab you.
To some, a strummer made in the Guangdong province fails to attract that mythical kudos. That is misinformed snobbery. The Freshman FA250DCE, with its immaculate unplugged and electro-acoustics, will demonstrate why.
Build
"Quality is everything," insists Freshman, whose approach is simple: guitars are lovingly designed in the UK; wood is meticulously sourced; the guitars are assembled by hand in China and after going through 12 quality control checks, the guitars are finished.
The FA250DCE has a flawless finish, marking it as a genuine contender in the shark-infested market for mid-range electro-acoustic guitars.
In use
When we took the FA250DCE out of its case, we were struck by how tactile the natural satin finish is and what a clean design the Freshman has.
With a tasteful mahogany rosette and pleasing herringbone centre back and binding, plus a sitka spruce top and back and neck and sides of solid Canadian mahogany, it really is a player's guitar.
The neck is incredibly comfortable and addictive.
Genuine tonal control comes from the powerful Schertler preamp. Be careful though; the Schertler's bass and treble can overpower the guitar's natural tone.
But it's really just a question of judicious adjustment to keep the sound lively and dynamic. A bit like the Freshman really. Who needs mythical kudos when you can have a great guitar?
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