Cordoba 75F

I purchased my Cordoba 75F flamenco a?o 2001 new two-and-a-half years ago. The top is solid spruce and the back and sides are solid cypress. Beware, if purchasing a new 75F that is deeply discounted. Some are made with sycamore backs and sides which lowers the value. The fretboard is ebony and the cedar neck has an ebony reinforcing stip.

The finish is lacquer, very durable but a little too glossy in my opinion. The tuners are adequate ? brass with mother of toilet seat buttons ? functional, but aesthetically under-achieving given the guitar's overall appearance. I replaced the stock tuners with a more appropriate set of Fustero's.

This guitar is comparable to the Alhambra 7F in materials, specs, and workmanship. A lot of guitar for the money.

Spec-wise, my main complaint is the neck. By all comparison it is chunky and square-ish. This is my first flamenco. Now that I've played many others, I understand the value of a slender neck.

For the money, this guitar has a great balance of bark and sustain. Every flamenco guitar workshop I go to, another guitarist asks about my 75F. Every time, they'll rip a few rasqueados and smile, then read the label and look puzzled -- disappointed it's not signed by some undiscovered luthier.

I've now played some truly high-end flamencos, the Conde Hermanos 1A being my favorite. The 75F doesn't even come close, but it's the best I have heard in its price range.

A note of caution, indivual examples of the same model can vary wildly. I've played some 75Fs that sounded choked. Be sure you play the one you'll own before you commit to it.

Overall the workmanship is very good. The frets are smooth; the saddle fits deep into the bridge allowing for a pick-up down the road; the action is flamenco-low so that the bass strings rattle nicely when thumped, the rosette is attractive ? though I believe part of it is a decal. The guitar is heavier than average for a flamenco, but I can't say it effects the sound.

It's certainly not the most beautiful, but it's hard to knock this $1,000 factory guitar.

The heavy lacquer, heavy overall weight, and sturdy neck suggest that this guitar was designed to suffer years of heavy playing. The tuning machines are its only weak link. Overall, the 75F may make too many sacrifices for the sake of durability, but it is definitely a work horse.

I've had no need for service or support on this guitar. The action was good when I bought it. Contacting the manufactuer would be next to impossible. Their website has no useful information. None of the guitar store clerks I met in Madrid, Seville or even Cordoba have heard of the Cordoba company. If you need support, you will be relying on dealer you buy it from.

I've been playing flamenco guitar two-and-a-half years. Before that I was a drummer playing jazz, funk and blues. I bought my Cordoba 75F when I first started playing, and I'm happier now with it than I was then. I compared it head-to-head with the Alahambra 7F and several models from Ramirez, Estevez, Antonia Aparicio, and even Yamaha. Several of them "felt" better (lighter and faster), but none sounded better.

Yesterday I ordered a Cordoba Pro F, which I believe is replacing the model 75F. My hope is that the Pro F will sound like the 75F but feel more like its competitors. If so, it will be the perfect $1,200 flamenco guitar.

Made in 2001 in spain by cordoba. Cypress back and sides, spruce top. All wood no laminates. Cedar neck and ebony fingerboard. It has a tap plate and thick top. Good insurance. I have to give it a 10 because that's all a classical guitar can possibly have.

This really suits my style very well. I'm mostly a hard rock lead guitar player. I use this as my main acoustic and it does great. I like it more than an all out classical. It has a deep throaty bass response due to the slightly thinner body but also sounds clearer due to the cypress body. I sometimes play flamenco style guitar and I think I'm actually a pretty good fingerstyle guitarist but it's not what I do best. I needed a good crossover acoustic since I'm used to electrics. I really don't steel string guitars at all. Their too tinny and twangy. All out classicals aren't really clear enough for my tastes so this guitar is a good compromise. Brighter than a typical classer but warmer than a steel string and easier to play than a concert classical or a steel string guitar. Plays feels and sounds great. I compared the cordoba line to the ramirez and I don't really like the ramirez models all that much. Their too woody and deep for my taste. This is a really versatile guitar that I can take pretty much anywhere and sound great. I sometimes play mexican corridos with my friends and it really rips. When I'm onstage with my rock band and use this for acoustic parts it can be smooth but also has that throaty flamenco guitar when you really dig into the strings on chords and lead playing. It's all I need in a classical guitar and it's a great value because it sounds and plays better than guitars costing twice maybe I just got a good one. Another thing everytime I take it out of the case it just keeps sounding better. I'm in love with this guitar.

Best playing acoustic I've ever played. Not even a trace of buzzing even on really high registers on the bass strings. I'll give it a 9 because it still doesn't play as well as my custom built electrics but that's just being picky but then again I am pretty picky. Flawless finish.

I've yet to see. I've had it for 2 years now and it still is really solid. The finish hasn't faded or anything so far. The top and bracing is really solid since it's a flamenco model it has to be. I can depend on it. It keeps in tune real well too.

Not really existent. I have been trying to find a website for cordoba but I don't think they have one. I don't really need any support however since I think this is a solid guitar.

I've been playing for about 8 years now. I own 5 electrics all custom built most of them by me. I own marshall and laney amps. I've set up my own small studio in my basement for writing my type of music which varies from progressive guitar instrumentals to ambient moody instrumentals. This guitar works great for acoustic parts because it has a unique voice and is always clear. Great guitar which I will always have and never part with.

I only have one single comment, but I think it is very important:
I have been trying the Cordoba 75F - Cedar Top at the Guitar Center (two different locations)for the last 2 months. I want to make sure this is the flamenco guitar I am going to live with for the next 5 years. Here is the result:
1) Prices are close but they are not the same. You can negotiate down. The final price depends on your ability and the sales of the day at the store.
2) The price should inlcude the hard case
3) The sound in both guitars is different(this is the main comment). In one it is loud, clear, vibrating, kind of the beatiful sound you want to buy. In the other one, it is opaque, there is no vibration, etc. Which tells me that YOU HAVE TO TRY the guitar you want to buy. Do not "buy fish in the water". The same model may have the same price tag, but they may be worth a very different number.

One if full vibrating. Classical fast pieces like Mi Favorita sound great in this flamenco quitar. Not good in the other one.

Action is great. Very easy to play, without gettin the buzz of a too low action in the first guitar. In the second, the action was a little bit higher. Mayb the same, but felt different.

I think you can play with this guitar live. I am not sure it is going to last for my 5 years. I am very abusive.

Guitar Center is a very easy place to shop. I think they have problems with the customer service. I submitted discount coupons and one was denied, the other was approved, but have not seen the check yet. In terms of care for the guitar, I do not know.

I have played for 4 years. I have a custom made classical cedar top, palo escrito (Mexican Rosewood) back and sides. Paid $500 in Paracho, Mexico. I spent $1,200 getting there to buy it. Total $1,700. It sounds great. I also purchase another one in Paracho for $100. It sounds exactly as the Cordoba 40R, which sells for about $500 in the US. I purchase everything from the Guitar Center, it is conveniently located and they have no problem of me getting there the whole day and play their guitars.

2001 Flamenco, solid cypress back and sides, german spruce top, spanish cypress neck, ebony fingerboard, hand made in a Spanish assembly line. Purfled black, gold, and walnut. Beautiful authentic rosette. Extremely well done laquer finish. Stunning beautiful: mine has some birdseye in the back, and it is bookmatched perfectly. And oh yes, it is definitely a solid guitar.

It is a little heavier built than higher end flamencos, but I think this is wise in a student model (keeping in mind that they mean a real student of flamenco)! This guitar should withstanding all the too heavy tapping of an aspiriing flamenco player.

My one and only complaint is the tuners should have been higher quality. Realizing of course that this would have probably raised the price another 100.00 (their cost). I would say buy the guitar and get a set of Schaller Hauser style classical tuners for 40.00 at http://www.stewmac.com.

This is literally through the cieling for sub 1500.00 flamenco, unheard of quality at this price range.

This guitar rates a very high 10 for its price range. The sound is melodous, with a heavy attack, throaty voice, and rapid decay. The accurate intonation is exceptional, and once again unheard of, in this price range.

Okay, there was one flaw. They forgot to laquer the soundhole edge that adjoins the fingerboard. And the guys slathering on the laquer need to go a little easy at the edge of the fingerboard - a little got on the fretboard, but was easily removed with some spirits.

The action is exceptional, and the intonation is almost dead on (the low a string was off 2 cents at the 12th fret according to my strobe tuner).

This is one of the finest built guitars I have seen for under 2000.00. I compared it head on to an Amalio Burguet 2F, and it was definitely better built. The Burguet had better sound in the lower frettings, but (and this is annoying as all get-out) the intonation on the Burguet sucked.

I have a backup, and would never play without at least one back, even if it were an Ignacio Fleta 25,000.00 guitar - strings break.

There was a flaw on my 75R (slightly different model), and they are shipping a replacement for the guitar at no charge. Now some of this may be due to my dealer (guitar center), but hey, that's customer service!

I have a picky and rather well known instructor (who would rather not endorse a factory made guitar), who first said "Oh, that is an assembly line guitar.... Hmmm, sounds good... Hey, not bad ... This should defiinitely last you until you are ready for a 5,000.00 Concert Flamenco!"

Enough said?