Back to navigation


A True Throwback to the OG Malibu





This article was


Written By





Our Product Research Team





Get to know them!





With roots originally planted in the mid-1960s, the stylish California Vintage Malibu acoustic-electric guitar bridges the iconic good looks of Fender’s electrics with the songwriter- and campfire-friendly versatility of an acoustic. A combination of a spruce top with ovangkol back and sides means that the California Vintage Malibu plays with a truly time-tested tone and responsiveness that’s highlighted by bright projection and a very prominent midrange. However, contemporary playability is prioritized with an ergonomic modern “V”-shaped neck profile that provides long-lasting comfort for setlists of all sizes. The cherry on top is an extraordinary Fishman Sonitone Plus preamp system, offering up convenient soundhole controls that let you find the perfect blend between the body transducer and the under saddle piezo pickup. Songwriters around Sweetwater are quick to praise the California Vintage Malibu, and it isn’t hard to see why!





Related Videos: California Vintage Malibu Acoustic-electric Guitar - Black


Present and balanced tonality





We know you’ll dig the sound of the California Vintage Malibu, since its extremely present ovangkol body comes topped with a layer of vibrant spruce. With these two tonewoods working together, the California Vintage Malibu exudes a bright and energetic tone with a balanced frequency response, and an extra helping of midrange presence. Some acoustic guitars suffer from a muddied wood tone that distracts from the intricacies of chord formations, riffs, and accents. But with the California Vintage Malibu, songwriters have the peace of mind knowing that their 6-string is ready to translate their tunes with professional-grade acoustic tone.





Serial CC230803416


Serial CC230803416


A vintage/modern mix





With added elements such as its more contemporary feeling modern “V”-shaped okoume neck profile, the California Vintage Malibu sneaks in a few new-age features to accompany the old-school aesthetic and sound. Atop the neck is a body-matching and easy-accentuating ovangkol fingerboard with classic pearloid block inlays, delivering a fret-to-body count of 14 and a naturally responding real bone nut. To top it all off, a set of nickel-plated vintage-style tuning machines with era-appropriate white buttons, a Vintage Viking bridge, and a period-correct binding/pickguard combo supply a balance of functionality and style.





Armed with the Sonitone Plus





The California Vintage Malibu acoustic-electric supplies some seriously stellar tone translation once you plug in, and it's all thanks to an onboard Fishman Sonitone Plus soundhole pickup system. Courtesy of both a body sensor and an under saddle transducer, the California Vintage Malibu provides players with an impressive degree of natural tone capturing that can be manually blended to meet the preferences of the song at hand. With the freedom to sculpt your sound just to your liking, you can rest easy knowing that everyone will hear the very best of what your California Vintage Malibu has to offer, from beachside strums to basement jams and coffeehouse setlists.





Serial CC230803416


Serial CC230803416


Fender California Vintage Malibu Features:


Spruce top with ovangkol back and sides provides a bright and present tonality


Okoume neck with modern “V” profile offers modern convenience for this vintage-styled axe


14-count fret-to-body ovangkol fingerboard offers a detailed playability


Real bone nut and Vintage Viking bridge provide exceptionally natural responsiveness


Plenty of old-school charm by way of vintage-style white button tuners, block inlays, and period-correct binding/pickguard combo


Effortlessly blendable Fishman Sonitone Plus body sensor/piezo system provides phenomenal acoustic translation when plugged in