Product: Cordoba C5-CE
Price Paid: USD 29831
Submitted
10/31/2006
at
02:36pm
by
Classical Guitar Man
Features
:
10
The Cordoba C5-CE is an entry level acoustic electric classical guitar hand made in Protugal. Mine is a 2006 model with solid cedar soundboard, mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, wood binding, rosewood fretboard and bridge, B-Band pickup and preamp with optional woodgrain covers on the preamp and battery access panels. The original strings are D'Addario norman tension, and it has a fine thin lacquer finish. The preamp EQs are brilliance, treble, mid, bass, and volume. There are 19 frets, and the tuners are nickel plated generics which work just fine. My rating takes into consideration the entry level price range for these instruments.
Sound
:
10
The sound is excellent: full and mellow, with equal sound from all strings amplified and at all fret positions. The B-Band A3.2 preamp and under saddle pickup give a very natural sound for classical guitar music. The solid cedar soundboard is excellent quality for this price range, and the sound just keeps improving the more I play it. I set the volume and EQs at full maximun level except for the treble, which is set at mid position (0 db). I use a Washburn QM4 PA system made by Soundtech with full reverb. The intonation is excellent. I plan to change the strings to hard tension when the need changing. I like the bold full sound that hard tension strings give.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
The action was just right for me from the beginning. I found no flaws in the construction, but there was a cosmetic defect in the finish where the top meets the fretboard on the bass side. This can be eliminated with a little super glue.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
I have been playing this guitar hard for about 5 months, and have had no problems. In my experience a guitar that is going to have problems will have them in the first few months, and especially within the first three years. Most of the serious problems that do not show up at the time of purchase are due to poorly seasoned wood, or being subjected to extreme changes in temperature or humidity. I trust that Cordoba uses well seasoned wood in their guitars and careful construction techniques. Time will tell.
Customer Support
:
8
Cordoba offers a three year warranty, and Guitar Center gives a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. B-Band gives a one year warranty. Guitar Center gave me an extra $100 off and a Roadrunner case for $31 because of the cosmetic defect. I checked out the guitar thoroughly in the store before buying it.
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing classical and flamenco guitar seriously for 8 months, self-taught by practice, trial and error, books and magazines. I also have a Ramirez 4E, a Cordoba 45 FCE, and an Alvarez AC40SC guitar. I like all of them and play all of them for different music and different occasions. I would definitely replace this guitar if it were lost or stolen if I could find another gem like this one at this low price. I was genuinely surprised to find this gem in among all the other classical guitars in the store. Each guitar sounds distinctly different in my experience, even the same model with the same specifications.
