Hi Martin, yep the Fender acoustic do vary alot in quality, mine is an early 
model with the squarish type head on it, a Korean made one.
I think what happens is, they make their first models of good quality to get 
a name in the market, then the quality drops of abit.
As with your friend, I have noticed the low end is good, but not great 
sounding, generally I have found my Fender acoustic a good instrument.
Mind you, their a better quality ones around.
When I took a friend shopping for a new Fender Electric, we wen't to 5 
different shops just to try out the guitar, all shops that had Fenders 
varied, strange thing about guitars, never buy the first one you see, try as 
many as you can( of the same model) as they do varie in sound.
Take care.
Garry Lawson
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