Lyrics by James Callanan

Australia Wing | MSRP: $1,799

From the company that brought a host of innovative products to the guitar world – changing the course of musical instruments and popular music as we know it today – comes a modern guitar with a classic design. The primordial fender PO-220E Acoustic Orchestrawith its generous set of well-disguised features, combines contemporary versatility with the style of guitars from a bygone era.

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When removed from the perfectly fitting and matching hard case, the Paramount Orchestra immediately displays the precision and craftsmanship that musicians love from Fender. The solid nickel-plated tuners, bone nut and saddle are nicely complemented by the guitar’s delicate binding ornamentation and snowflake-shaped pearl inlays, showcasing the class of the 30s and 40s that inspired the aesthetic of this guitar. When paired with the near-frictionless satin finish of Aged Cognac Burst, the Paramount Orchestra’s design and feature set results in a workhorse of an acoustic guitar that doesn’t compromise on the style.

The body of the Fender Primordial Orchestra features an all-solid design, with a solid mahogany top (also available with a solid spruce top) capping the solid mahogany back and sides. This method of construction gives a sound that is both warm and round, and is particularly sensitive to the attack of the player’s hand – articulating well when played with the fingers or when strummed with a pick. The tone offered by the solid construction is further added by the offset X-bracing pattern on the underside of the mahogany top, resulting in a truly smooth and resonant output. The C-shaped neck is also made of mahogany and is fitted with an Ovangkol fingerboard – the same wood from which the bridge of the guitar is carefully carved.

While extremely aesthetically pleasing, the Paramount Orchestra is also a gem to play. The dimensions, curvature and natural finish make this guitar feel like an extension of the player’s body when seated, and the guitar is just as easily played standing up, thanks to its light weight. The thin, tapered profile of the neck makes it easy to change between open chords at the end of the fingerboard, with the strings gradually spreading away from each other along the fingerboard, meaning playing leads is a comfortable and comfortable experience. rather forgiving. With a 15.75-inch fingerboard radius and 25.3-inch scale length, players can be sure their bends won’t worry, while still enjoying the rich tone that comes from strings at just the right tension. from a long ladder.

Sonically, the acoustics of the Paramount Orchestra are a pleasure to play and listen to. Being an orchestra-sized acoustic, this guitar naturally focuses on the mid frequencies. What was particularly noteworthy though was the extension into the low-mid frequencies, which was a pleasant surprise, given that this frequency response is normally only exhibited in guitars with much larger bodies, such as jumbo and dreadnought acoustics. This sonic behavior made playing barre chords and Travis-picking a satisfying experience, with the low notes of the fifth and sixth strings being tastefully complemented by the articulation of the middle and treble strings.

When played alongside an acoustic bass guitar and drums, the Fender Paramount’s focused midrange sound was ideal. By filling in the mid frequencies missing from the band, this guitar fits right into the mix, without overlapping the low frequencies of the bass guitar or the singer’s vocals. While refraining from muddying the low end, the PO-220E possessed a sufficient level of brightness, which allowed lead guitar fills and chords higher in the neck to cut through the band’s mix.

The PO-220E does an excellent job of sonic projection, especially when played with a pick. When the acoustic volume just isn’t enough, the Paramount Orchestra is home to excellent electronics, for output to an amplifier or PA system. The guitar’s Fender & Fishman Sonitone Plus pickup consists of a body-sensing transducer, sensitive to soundboard vibrations, along with a Sonicore piezo, located under the bridge saddle. The addition of the body sensing transducer is a big help with the sound when plugged in, this guitar sounding much warmer than those that only have a piezo pickup. A mix of the body transducer and piezo is achievable through the use of the mix dial, so the guitarist can have the desired amount of each in the output sound.

In keeping with the vintage look and neat design, the structure of the acoustic guitar is uninterrupted by electronics, with the volume and blend controls placed just inside the edge of the sound hole and the built-in output jack to the strap button. Overall, Paramount’s built-in mic system allows studio musicians to have a great direct signal to mix with their microphones, and it allows performing guitarists to have versatile and reliable acoustics to use in any environment. what a situation ; from songwriting to club gigs.

The Fender Paramount Orchestra is a reliable and stylish acoustic guitar, which combines a vintage aesthetic with a modernized design to allow its use in a variety of musical situations. With its high-quality materials and construction, warm, well-projected sound, and inclusion of a versatile pickup system, the PO-220E is a brilliant option for guitarists taking it into the studio or on stage.

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