Summer NAMM 2018: Fender goes back to black with new California 12-string and bass acoustic guitars

SUMMER NAMM 2018: Fender is filling out the gaps in its California Series of acoustic guitars with a pair of new additions: the Villager 12-string guitar and Kingman Bass.

Both guitars feature a gloss black finish, electric stylings and mid-range price points, which sounds pretty good to us.

In addition, the company has announced left-handed models of the Redondo Player and Newporter Player (£320 apiece). Big southpaw thumbs up.

For now, here’s the info on that new 12-string and bass, straight from The Big F…

Villager 12-String - £435

The 12-String has a modern twist on the historic Villager headstock body shape with an attractive gloss black finish, comfortable cutaway Newporter shape and high-quality Fishman® electronics. With superb playability, distinctive looks and unmistakable Fender vibe, the Villager 12-String is an instrument for a new generation of fearless players.

Kingman Bass - £519

Decked out in an electric-inspired style and reinvigorated with a new body shape that’s modeled after the widely popular Newporter guitar style, the Kingman successfully merges the electric and acoustic categories to stand out within its bass line. It features a gloss black finish, smooth- playing mahogany Jazz Bass® neck and convenient cutaway for easy access to the upper reaches of the fingerboard.

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Michael Astley-Brown

Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and 15 years' experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. His writing also appears in the The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.