In 1991, Eric Clapton made waves with his MTV Unplugged concert, the live album of which went on to pick up six Grammy Awards. This concert, is would be fair to say, gave acoustic music a boost in popularity that it still enjoys today, and the acoustic bass guitar naturally plays an essential part. The CB-60 bass, which is part of Fender's Indonesian-made Classic Design Series, is an acoustic bass with an ergonomically designed cutaway, a medium-scale mahogany neck, a solid spruce top, and a Fishman pickup and preamp system to allow it to be amplified.
The Fender CB-60 bass has numerous features that will put electric bass players at their ease right away: It is extremely light and looks both sleek and cool thanks to its high-gloss finish and classy binding. More importantly, however, its neck features a 32" (81.3cm) scale length and thus feels very close to that of an electric bass while also slightly reducing the string tension, which makes playing easier and provides a smooth and articulate sound. The solid spruce top is reinforced with scalloped "X" bracing and features a pin-type bridge, while the back and sides are made from robust laminated mahogany. The Indian laurel fingerboard in turn has rolled edges for increased playing comfort. This bass can also be amplified using a suitable bass amp thanks to its integrated Fishman Classic Design pickup/preamp system, which features a two-band EQ unit and a built-in tuner and is powered by a 9V battery.
Anyone who is looking for a practice, travel, or backup bass should definitely take a look at the Fender CB-60, all the more so in view of its affordable price. It is also ideal for quiet home practice without amplification, though of course as with all acoustic basses of this type, at least a small amplifier may be required when this bass is played alongside other instruments, and that is where the CB-60's onboard piezo pickup/preamp system comes into play. The bass can thus be amplified to sufficient volume without losing its inherent acoustic tonal character, which makes it suitable even for on-stage performances. What is more, the CB-60's cutaway means that the upper registers of its 22-fret fingerboard are also more accessible than on comparable acoustic basses with standard body shapes.
Fender is without doubt one of the most legendary guitar and amplifier manufacturers of all time. The company was founded in 1946 by its namesake Leo Fender († 1991), whose innovative ideas brought a breath of fresh air into the musical world. His Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass are not only classics – they also continue to shape the styles of musicians in countless genres to this day. Timeless Fender amplifier models such as the Bassman, Twin, Deluxe, and Princeton also enjoy a stellar reputation. Besides maintaining its classic product portfolio, however, the company is also constantly developing new products that make Fender a driving force in today’s music industry.
Acoustic concerts have been "en vogue" for many years - after all, they are not just easier and less costly to organise, they are also fun: Music played at moderate volume levels, a relaxed atmosphere, and sounds that go from the players' fingers to the listeners' ears untainted by any effects. All of this is of course both challenging and appealing, to say nothing of providing a real rush for the players involved. The direct sound and playing feel of an acoustic bass are something that many bass players will not want to forego once they have experienced it. Aside from the obvious benefits it provides, such as unplugged playability and ease of transport, the Fender CB-60's best feature is the captivating acoustic sound itself, which clearly separates it from its solid-bodied electric siblings.