Cordoba FCWE

2003 model, 20 frets, flat ebony fretboard, solid spruce top, thin cutaway body, narrower than classical nut width so you can kinda hook your thumb over like a steel string but its not as narrow as a steel string, hard case included. fishman built in pickup.

I got this guitar because I wanted to get the John McLaughlin sound in "Friday Night..." It has a lead flamenco sound. If your looking for a big fat sound this isn't it but it is a loud guitar regardless of the body size. I would describe the sound as dry and sometimes almost "banjo-ish." There is a unusually distinct difference in the sound when you play right over the sound hole (classical style) and by the bridge (flamenco style).

The action was poor compared to what I expected. I read somewhere that the guitar was set up really low almost like an electric because it was a flamenco guitar. It's more like a regular classical guitar. I plan on purchasing another bridge bone saddle and sanding it down so I can lower the action. I noticed two flaws, one of the internal braces had a frayed end, like the wood wasn't cut smoothly and there was a small red drop stain on the bridge nut. It looks like varnish or glue. For the price I expected the workmanship to be flawless.

This guitar feels delicate because of the thin body and it's light weight but if your a flamenco/classical player then you won't have any problems with this guitars durability because you'd already understand that these instruments are more delicate than your regular solidbody electric. Avoid excessive humidity and dryness. I keep it in the case when I'm not playing it even if it's in an airconditioned room. All parts feel solid. I'd gig without a backup.

Haven't dealt with them. I live in the Philippines so I'd have to send it back to the states to have it repaired. Shipping costs around $350 one way so thats $700 back and forth to have it repaired.

I started playing guitar again about a year and a half ago before that I think I played about 4 years. Currently, the inventory is composed of a les paul standard, custom shop les paul, ibanez jem 7vwh, prs mark tremonti, a yamaha classical, mesa boogie single rectifier, mesa boogie DC5. If it were lost I'd buy a higher end flamenco guitar with a bigger body. I like the clean look and the unique sound. What I don't like is that I can't just take it anywhere because of the woods suseptibility to humidity.

Also refer to the Harmony Central review for the Cordoba RCWE. This is the Flamenco Version. This guitar is also sold as the Gipsy Kings FCWE. Mine was made in 2001. I bought it new in 2003. It features a solid German Spruce Top, solid yellow cedar back and sides (some of the Cordoba brochures also list solid yellow cypress - I'm not sure which mine is), Hunduran Cedar Neck, ebony fingerboard, and excellent gold machines that absolutely hold tune. This guitar is a thin body cutaway. The neck is 50mm at the nut. The action is very low for a nylon stringed guitar. The FCWE comes with a Fishman Pro-Blend Pickup with both piezo and internal mike. The fit and finish of this Spanish handmade guitar are absolutely stunning - from the headstock, to bindings, to the beautiful rosette!

Cordoba markets this guitar as an "excelent choice for cross-over players"! The range of sound in this guitar is excellent plugged in (I play it though an Ultrasound Amp). Unplugged it produdes very good volume for a thinbody - louder, fuller, and brighter than many full-bodied guitars I tried. This guitar feels "alive" when played. You can actually hear (and feel) the sound coming from the wood- not though the hole! Like a good Flamenco, it is crisp and bright but it can also produce the mellowest of tones.

The fit and finish of this guitar are excellent. No setup adustments were required. The top is perfectly book matched. This is an absolutely gorgeous instrument to look at. The action is very low for a nylon string guitar. I love the ebony fingerblard. The somewhat narrower neck (50mm versus the standard 52mm) should make an easy transition for steel players. I can also switch back and forth easily between this and my Classical. (Alas, I've sold my steel string guitars!)

This guitar is definitely not entry level,listing at over $2400. This is a handmade Spanish guitar. I bought it at Guitar Center and received a very nice discount.I could find nothing even close to this guitar for the money and expect that it will be very durable, although I also "baby" my guitars. The guitar came with a very classy custom case, to which I added humidification (SKB humidifier), as 'humicases' are not manufactured for the RCWE and FCWE guitars. I wish Cordoba manufactured a 'humicase for this model', particularly in light of their extended warranty policy. Guitars like this certainly warrant special care and they are inherently more delicate that your average steel string guitar.

Cordoba is distributed exclusively by Guitar Salon International. These people are wonderful to deal with (refer also to RCWE reviewer - same experience.)They repond even to to "little questions" quickly and personally - even by phone in response to an e-mail! I have never experienced more attentive and professional service from a manufacturer or distributer. Cordoba warrants their guitars for three years or for life, if you buy a humicase.

I have been playing on and off for well over 25 years (came back a few years ago after a many years off). I am a relatively recent convert to nylon (1 year) and will never go back to steel! I would classify mylsef as a "cross-over player", primarily interested in jazz and Brazilian jazz, with a developing interest in classical and flamenco. If my FCWE were lost or stolen, I would replace it......immediately! I tried many other guitars before buying this. Nothing came close. By the way... the folks at Guitar Center in Pittsburgh (thanks Brian) were wonderful and patient with my deliberations on the guitar purchase! Although internet mail order may may look attractive at first, there is no substitute for dealing with a knowlegeable salesman/guitarist in person and having to opportunity to get acquainted with the guitar before selecting it (its a relationship thing!) These guitars also reveived the Players Choice Award for 2002 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine!