Alhambra 3F

I bought this neat little Flamenco guitar in March 2001, so it must have been made in 2000. Alhambras are made in a workshop in Muro de Alcoy, Spain. It has a solid European spruce top. The sides and back are made of laminated sycamore. The fretboard, headstock, and bridge are rosewood. The neck is mahogany. Nicely contrasting dark wood binding on the front and back. The rosette is genuine inlay and it's very attractive. Clear plastic tap guard. Comes with a flat top hardshell case.

This is my first real flamenco style guitar. I've owned several classicals over the years, including a beautiful Alhambra 7P. It has a wonderful, singing tone with just a tiny hint of raspiness. Slightly brighter tone overall than a normal classical. A distinctive and pleasant tone that I never get tired of. And, as the spruce top matures, it sounds better all the time.

The action is very low and easy to play. Very suitable for moving quickly up and down the neck. The finish and craftsmanship are top-notch. Alhambra guitars are known worldwide for their quality, and even though this is a low price guitar, it's very well made.

I've owned this guitar for a little over two years and it's gotten a lot of playing time. With normal care, I'd expect it to last for decades. The level of craftsmanhip inspires plenty of confidence.

I think it has some sort of "limited lifetime warranty", if I recall correctly. The fact that I've never needed to use it is a plus, but I can't say whether or not Alhambra's customer service is great or not so good.

I'm giving it a 10 because it truly is a fantastic value. This is not an expensive guitar, but it plays and sounds like one. And the obvious pride in workmanship is evidence that it should keep looking, sounding and playing like a more expensive instrument in the years ahead. In comparison the the Yamaha and Cordoba guitars I played, the 3F is clearly superior. Do yourself a favor. If you have an interest in classical or flamenco playing, get a 3F. You'll be glad you did.

This is a Spanish made entry-level flamenco guitar with a solid spruce top. The back and sides are laminated sycamore. Mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard and rosewood overlay on the headstock. Nicely contrasting dark wood binding. The rosette is very artistic and made of high quality marquetry. On the top, there is a thin clear plastic overlay for tapping - known as a golpeador in Spanish. Very good tuners for a classical in this price range.

Although this IS a flamenco guitar, I use it for standard Spanish/classical fare, as well as fingerpicking folk and blues. It has that distinctive flamenco tone, which is somewhat brighter than a comparable classical guitar. It responds very well to nuances in string attack, and resonates beautifully. The string to string balance is nice, but has that common strong G to an extent. Overall, it's a very pleasing tone.

Since my primary instrument is a Fender Stratocaster, the low action on this Alhambra was what immediately attracted me to it. The traditionally low flamenco string height is very natural and comfortable to an electric player like me. Compared to many other classical guitars I've played over the years, this instrument is exceptionally easy to play.

The fit and finish are very impressive. The woodwork is beautiful and the finish is carefully applied. If I didn't know that this as a relatively inexpensive guitar, I'd guess that it was a much more costly instrument.

The construction is solid enough, but I don't play classical/flamenco in live performance, so I can't really give a valid opinion. However, my hunch is that it will last a lifetime with normal usage and care.

In the year that I've owned this guitar, I've never needed to contact Alhambra or get any repairs.

My playing experience stretches back more than two decades and I've even spent some time playing in local bands. Although I'm plimarily an electric player, I love to play Spanish and classical pieces on a nylon string guitar. Over the years I've owned the usual Takamine and Yamaha lower-end classicals, and I've always been happy with them. This Alhambra is clearly on a different level. Its construction quality and tone are outstanding, especially for the low price. Highly recommended.