Alhambra 3C

for the price i love this guitar. even though i've been playing for 15+ years this is the first non-junky guitar i've owned and i love it. bought it as i was beginning to get serious about fingerpicking and the big wide neck makes it very easy to play, though it took a little getting used to. it always stays in tune unless it is very humid, like at a very crowded show. i had a fishman pickup installed after-market, and had some feedback problems until i got a fishman preamp, now i have no problems. i've had the guitar for 4 years, play it every day and have had no problems.

mellow sound, fun to strum, easy differentiation between strings when finger-picking. it doesn't sound it's best if you're flat-picking a la willie nelson, but still holds it's own (unless you're really looking to rock out hard -- in that case i suppose a flamenco guatar might be better). after some experimentation early on, i now use high-tension nylon strings and this improved the tone considerably. i think this guitar sounds better than a lot of higher end models i've tried, and blows away similarly priced ibanez or yamahas just as far as sound quality.

everything was set up fine from the factory, and i haven't had it touched since. took it in to the shop i bought it from (music emporium in lexington massachusetts, excellent shop) and they gave her a once over and said she was still in tip-top shape. the finish still looks really nice, this is a handsome guitar. only dings were stuff that was my fault. i play the guitar so much the neck is getting darker, but it just adds character.

i've used it live a lot, and like i mentioned i needed a fishman preamp to offset feedback. i had a fishman pickup installed at time of purchase. i can get a really nice live sound, esp with the preamp, though it is difficult to get her really loud w/o feeding back. but she's a widebody acoustic, after all.

never needed anything, couldn't say.

i compared this guitar to a lot of others and was impressed with the sound and playability -- i would definitely buy another alhambra, or at least try one out if i was upgrading. the neck is so wide and easy to play, i would have a hard time switching.

Solid Top (Cedar), Laminated back and sides (Mahogany). Made in Spain. Standard Classical Guitar size body with 650mm (25 1/2") scale length and 52mm (2")nut width. Nickel plated tuners, mahogany neck with indian rosewood fretboard. Apparently made in Late 1999 according to Alhambra, purchased new in 2000. Paid $400 US including nice hard case. They seem to be selling new on the internet for about $500 with a hard case these days.

Excellent sound for a fairly low end student classical guitar. Very mellow, as one would expect with a cedar top. Good volume, nice balance between trebles and basses. Have used many different string types, but always return to D'Addario Classic J31 Hard Tension. These give me a really nice warm sound one associates with "Spanish" guitars.

The action came set up fine from the factory, but after playing for 2 years and improving I started using the hard tension strings and replaced the original bone saddle and plastic nut with fossilized ivory saddle and nut, lowering the action a bit at the same time. The workmanship on this is excellent considering the price range. It came from the factory with no flaws in the finish. No excessive glue inside or out, good fret wire placement. Again, an excellent buy at this price range then and now.

I've been playing this guitar almost every day now 6 1/2 years. The finish shows little wear, and other than a few dings I've put into the finish it looks almost new. The only work done to it is the above mentioned replacement of the nut and saddle. I did this not because there was a problem, but as an experiment to improve an already good tone and to adjust the action a bit to better suit my taste and playing style. The fossilized ivory added a bit of sustain and brightened the tone a bit, not much, but enough to notice. It made the hard tension strings ring (to my ears at least) a bit more bell like without lossing the mellowness.

I have only contacted Alhambra once, via email, to determine the actual manufacture date and they, as another reviewer indicated, responded promptly with the info. I've never had a warranty issue.

I bought the guitar in 2000 from Randy at Fine Fretted Stringed Instruments in Campbell, California. They allow 100% trade-in on all guitars purchased from them when buying another instrument of higher value, as long as there is nothing beyond normal wear on the guitar (with NO time limit). The replacement of the nut and saddle will not effect this if I ever decide to trade my Alhambra in. Can't beat a deal like that.

As I've said, I've had this guitar for 6 1/2 years with no regrets. It is not the only guitar I own, and it isn't the most played any more but it has been an excellent value. If stolen or lost, I would probably replace it with a different, higher-end model simply because I play better now. But I would look at other Alhambras as I searched for a new guitar. In its price range, it is an excellent value and they can often be found used, in nice condition, on ebay where they would be an exceptional buy.

Bought this new last January (2005) for $500 USD which included a nice hard case and my pick of 3 sets of strings.
This is a made in Spain standard sized classical guitar with a 650mm scale length and 52mm (2") nut.
Solid Cedar Top is very nice looking.
Laminated Mahogany Back & Sides look great
Neck Mahogany which is very comfortable with Indian Rosewood Fingerboard

I've been playing for a year now and I'm very happy with this guitar. It has very balanced sound according to my instructor. I'm currently using Galli Genius GR60 silver plated hard tension strings which ring nicely. As expected from a cedar topped guitar it has a very warm, rich sound.

The action and finish are all very nice. It came set up nicely and plays easily, even for a beginner like me. No flaws in the finish. Well made.

So far (1 year)I've had no problems with finish or hardware.

Haven't had any problems

I think this is (and my instructor agrees) a great student model classical guitar. It's well made, easy to play, and sounds very nice.

Guitarra comprada en diciembre de 2005, de Manufacturas Alhambra, situada en Alicante (Espa?a).
La guitarra es un modelo Auditorium, similar al estilo 00. De la Serie 3, que esta construida con tapa de Abeto Aleman macizo, aros y fondo de palosanto de la india macizo, diapason y puente de ebano, con perfiles en arce. Acabado en brillo.

Clavijero dorado, trabaja muy bien.

Electronica: fishman Premium, combina pickup con un microfono de condensador, montado en un cuello de cisne orientable.

Viene preparada con los enganches para correa, lo cual normalmente no trae ninguna otra marca de guitarra, mas llave allen para ajustes en el alma, y un peque?o folleto sobre conservacion de la guitarra y otros consejos.

Esta guitarra tiene un sonido soberbio, suena a madera. Los graves son potentes pero naturales, y los medios y agudos hacen destacar la melodia. Yo toco fingerpicking y fingerstyle y es una guitarra ideal para este estilo, muy comoda, su cuerpo es mas peque?o que una Dreagnout. Tiene una afinacion perfecta que se conserva durante mucho tiempo. Tambien es perfecta en octavacion. Si tocas en los trastes bajos en combinacion con alguna cuerda al aire el empaste es perfecto entre las cuerdas que son pisadas y las que no.

Tiene un volumen alto para ser una guitarra de cuerpo peque?o. Su sonido es rico en armonicos, con un sonido que se sostiene. Responde muy bien al toque, siendo facil matizar las interpretaciones: pasar de un toque suave a otro agresivo, la guitarra sabe transmitir bien esos cambios de matiz en la interpretacion.

En cuanto al sonido enchufada, me reservo la opinion ya que no tengo amplificador de guitarra acustica, mi proxima compra.

La guitarra viene perfectamente ajustada. Las cuerdas que trae son Elixir 0.12-0.53. Accion baja, las cuerdas no estan duras. Es una gran ventaja no tener que hacer ningun tipo de modificacion en la guitarra, lo cual no puede decirse de la inmensa mayoria de guitarras que hay en el mercado.

En cuanto al acabado, es perfecto, nada que rese?ar, es una guitarra sencilla pero elegante. Muy bien construida. Son las unicas guitarras que se fabrican uniendo el mastil al cuerpo mediente el tradicional sistema de cola de milano, como las guitarras clasicas.

Es una guitarra consistente, que me va a durar espero muchisimos a?os, una gran guitarra.

Alhambra tiene una atencion muy buena al cliente, a traves de su pagina web, un foro de atencion al publico, donde responden todas las cuestiones que le plantean, todas las preguntas son contestadas rapidamente, y se ofrecen a ayudarte en cualquier problema que puedas tener.

Llevo tocando la guitarra unos 20 a?os. Mi primera guitarra acustica era una Suzuki, muy barata, luego me compre una Martin DXME. Ahora con esta Alhambra, se lo que es una guitarra de verdad. Mi intencion era comprar una Maton Ebg 808 o una Taylor 314 ce, pero decidi comprar la alhambra por la calidad de sus maderas y el precio. Si me faltara esta guitarra desde luego no dudaria en comprarme otra, ha sido una eleccion acertada.
Ahora he ganado en interpretacion, es una guitarra perfecta para todos los estilos: blues, ragtime, celta, etc... ya que destaca muy bien las melodias y tiene unos graves muy potentes.
Si alguien quiere alguna informacion o preguntarme algo puede contactar conmigo en mi mail: juanmitta@hotmail.com , y con gusto le atendere.

This is a low end Alhambra with a solid red cedar top and laminated mahogany sides and back. The neck is mahogany, the finger board is indian rosewood, the tuners are nickel-plated. The tuners are smooth with no jumps or creep. It is a standard 650mm x 52mm size. The neck thickness goes from about 22mm to 25mm and is a comfortable size for my average sized hand. The guitar was made at the Alhambra factory in Muro De Alcoy, Spain. It was started in November of 1998 and finished in January of 1999 (per emailed info from Alhambra--they have info going back to 1987 on their computers). I just bought it used last month (June, 2005) through my teacher (a former student was upgrading). Though used, it is in excellent, almost mint, condition. I've only been playing about 4 months and this is my first guitar, though I used a Alhambra 6P (a slightly upscale model with laminated indian rosewood sides and back) before I bought the 3C. The current street price seems to be about $400-$450 w/case. I paid $275 w/generic hard case. I think this is a great guitar for the price.

As a beginner, my "ear" is still developing, but I like the sound. It seems warm and bright to me and to my unlearned ear sounded just as good as my instructor's 6P. He was statisfied with it, calling it an excellent beginner's guitar at a great price, new or used. It stays in tune with no buzzing. It currently has a new set of D'Addario Classic (J28) sterling silver, normal tension strings on it and sounds even better now (it originally had new D'Addario Pro Arte (EJ45) normal tension strings that had a good sound, but I like the Classics much more.

The action is great for me, not to high, not to low, and as far as we could tell has not been modified from the factory settings. The frets and soundboard, fit and finish all appear excellent. All in all I think (and so did my instructor) that it's an great guitar for the price.

Since the guitar is already 6 years old and well taken care of, and in near mint condition, though used for approximately 3 years by the previous owner, I see no reason for complaints about it's reliability or durability. Though a low end guitar, it isn't cheap.

When I contacted them about the manufacturing date of the guitar, they promptly answered my email. I asked about care and locating local dealers and they once again were very prompt in answering my questions. They seem to be very consumer minded with their help.

I've only been playing about 4 months now, but I am very happy with the guitar. Since my budget was limited to about $400 max I wanted to get the best guitar for my money. I looked at many guitars (new and used) in that price range and found few that I thought were very good or worth their price. With the help of my instructor, I believe I got an outstanding deal on a guitar that is an excellent deal in the under $500 range new. If I had to replace it, and stay within the under $500 range I would not hesitate to buy another 3C new.