| Build Quality: |  |
| Hardware: |  |
| Sound: | |
| Value: | |
| Average: | |
Pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Balanced sound
- Beautiful design
Cons:
- The tuner could have been better
Is it possible to improve your guitar skills in little to no time? Can someone triple their possibilities with a snap? If you had asked me that question before, I would have answered with a strong, hard no. But this time I have to say that you can actually double and even triple your capabilities if you purchase a real beast. Fender has created a triple monster that will amplify your craftsmanship and deliver fantastic results, even if you are just learning. I’m sure you’ve guessed that I’m exaggerating slightly, but the fact that this guitar is a masterpiece can’t be doubted. PM-3 Standard is manufactured by a brand that is still fighting for its name in the acoustic world. But I strongly believe that they will win the hearts of many if they continue with this pace and deliver such high-quality instruments in the future as well. I don’t even have any suspicions that they will manage to amplify their acoustic game even more and come out with irresistible pieces. If you don’t want to spend all your savings, but still desire a kickass guitar, then this article is the perfect one for you. Let’s begin our discussion, break down the features of PM-3 Standard and figure out together whether it’s a good match for you or not.
Build
The guitar that deserved so much appraisal from me must be a real deal, right? If you did make such an assumption, you’re absolutely right. The build quality of this fella is top notch – it’s basically flawless in terms of construction and design. I’ll get the latter out of the way so that you can get an idea of what this baby looks like. PM-3 Standard has a natural finish with a tortoise style pickguard. The body has a single cutaway, which is not only beautiful, but it also has a practical application (you know, the access to the frets and all that jazz). Checkered purfling and rosette are reminiscent of the ‘60s and immediately take you back in time. The nostalgia connected with this guitar doesn’t end there: the headstock repeats the design of ‘70s acoustic guitars from Fender, the bridge design also belongs to that period, and the logo is almost as old as Fender itself. As simple as it is, there are several details that turn PM-3 Standard into a beautiful and distinctive piece.
Enough about the looks, let’s move on to the tonewoods. Just like the majority of acoustic guitars out there, this puppy features a solid “A” grade Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides. It has a quartersawn scalloped X-bracing, which has proved to work really well a thousand times (maybe even more). The neck is made from mahogany as well, and is combined with a rosewood fingerboard. The former has a C shape, which is convenient to play even for novices. The scale length is 25.3 inches, while the body size is Triple 0. It’s slightly smaller than its siblings and happens to be lightweight as well, which, once again, means comfortable playing. I don’t know about you but I really can’t see why anybody would dislike the build of this magnificent guitar. Great stuff!
Hardware
I think you know this, but I feel like I should tell you this anyway. Each guitar is composed of various parts and none of them can function without another. Take a guitar body and remove the bridge, saddle, nut, strings and you’ll be left with a non-functional piece of wood. These parts can work wonders together and each of them has to be of amazing quality for the guitar to succeed. That’s why it’s really important to dig deep into the hardware.
Bone nut and saddle are combined with a vintage-style bridge to make sure the strings sit perfectly on the body and neck of the guitar. The nut width is 43mm, while the bridge spacing runs around 55mm. This means you have a lot of room for picking the strings and nailing desired chords. PM-3 Standard is an acoustic-electric guitar, which is equipped with a piezo pickup. Fender has collaborated with Fishman to design a useful, high-quality preamp. It comes with Bass and Treble controls, as well as a Phase switch to eliminate any feedback with ease. The in-built tuner works decently, but it could have been a bit more accurate at this price point. Other than that, this fella is virtually immaculate.
Fender PM 3 Sound
As mentioned, Fender collaborated with Fishman to develop a preamp and pickup system that would reproduce your sound with accuracy and would not add an artificial character to it. Though piezo pickups aren’t the most natural things in the world, this guitar still manages to maintain that raw, organic feel. PM-3 Standard has a smaller size, but that doesn’t mean that the sonic qualities are compromised. On the contrary, this Triple 0 sounds full and rich. Its low end is beefy, the mid-range is balanced, while the highs are expansive and sparkling. If you dislike any of them, you can easily tame or amplify their character with the in-built preamp. The phase switch is extremely useful on stage, as it can get rid of the feedback which is such a common issue with acoustic guitars and different venues as well. PM-3 Standard has the tendency to create a sublime sound that easily captivates your attention, your heart and your soul. This guitar is inspiring and motivating as if it’s asking to be played.
Conclusion
Be it vintage elements or innovative details, when the guitar has a capable body, it is highly likely to benefit from those additions. Fender Paramount series is really an amazing one, especially the PM-3 Standard that we’ve discussed above. Its medium size (compared to two other models) makes it a perfect match for anyone regardless of their body size. You’ll really enjoy its essence even if you’re a beginner. Even though a single guitar can rarely be suited for huge masses, this one could probably win that label. Good luck!
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