Alhambra 4C

Featurewise, the Alhambra 4C is pretty traditional. My 4C (since 2004: 4N) dates from 1986 and sports 19 frets, a red cedar top, laminated walnut sides and back, a mahogany neck and a rosewood fingerboard. The layer of wood on the head is probably either walnut or mahogany (lighter and redder than the layer of rosewood Alhambra applies to the head of today's 4N model).

Although Alhambra must churn out thousands of these instruments, there's nothing sloppy about the workmanship. Everything is perfectly assembled and a pleasure to touch and feel.

The original tuners were gold-coloured, but I've since replaced them with silver ones.

Playing mostly classical music, I bought the 4C as a student instrument when I was 14. It sounded great straight away, and I've used it for all styles of music. The guitar responds very well, and while it won't carry the sound very far (it's not a concert instrument), you'll get plenty of sound behind it. For that reason I'm still using on a daily basis for rehearsing, warming up and teaching.
The tone is warm, yet crisp... perfect for those Renaissance and Baroque pieces. Also good for acoustic rock and folk.

The 4C lacks a bit of sustain and clarity in the high frets, but, again, it's not a concert instrument.

As for strings, I've tried virtually everything on the (Danish) market, and I would recommend using medium or hard tension strings. Low tension isn't responsive enough (although perhaps better if you're into Sor and that crowd).

The action has always suited me very well. The strings are about 4 mm above the fretboard, and I've never had to change that. Great for barred chords and hand-breaking finger postitions across 5-6 frets!

Many of my students have borrowed my 4C during classes, and most of them play cheap Japanese guitars. They're always surprised how easy the 4C is to play and control.

The original tuners lasted about 3 years, which isn't enough. I'm currently on my third set, and it pays to shell out the necessary money to buy quality tuners. So far, my current (non-Alhambra) set has lasted 13 years!
Therefore, if you plan to do a lot of re-tuning, consider getting rid of the original tuners and buy yourself some premium ones.

Apart from a few minor dents, you can't tell my 4C is 21 years old. The lacquer finish still looks perfect; the guitar doesn't have (nor ever had) any cracks, and I wouldn't be surprised if it looks and sounds just as great in 21 years. (Unlike me!)

Never used them. No need! :-)

In short: If you're an advancing student or need a backup instrument, get a 4C.

Of my 25 years on the guitar, my 4C has served me for 21 and is still going strong. This guitar is built to last, so don't think twice about buying a second-hand 4C (or 4N).
I've tried many of Alhambra's more expensive models, and while some of them clearly outclass the 4C, I've yet to find a guitar that gives you greater value for money. It's not the cheapest guitar around, but you'll end up thanking yourself for buying it instead of a cheap Japanese or Korean guitar.

This guitar looks like the standard classical guitar, except that the way it is built is almost flawless, apart from one little tiny spot on the fretboard at fret no. 12, which I only noticed after a couple of days.
The difference between this one and the other Alhambra guitars is that, as far as I know, this is the only guitar in the whole range that has Walnut (laminated) sides and back. The cheaper models have laminated Mahogany, and the more expensive ones have laminated or solid Rosewood sides and backs.
The neck is solid Mahogany with a layer of Rosewood on the head of the guitar. The fretboard is also Rosewood and the top is very fine grain solid red Cedar. It is so fine that you almost can see a tigerstripe, just as with high quality Maple. The fifth category of wood is probably Maple, which is used in the bindings together with Rosewood, but since the bindings are very narrow, I am not perfectly sure on this. The whole instrument looks great, great finish, gold plated tuners, beautiful inlay.

Due to the Walnut sides and back the sound is quite special. I tried a number of, some even of more expensive, other Alhambras consisting of other woods and I really fell for this one. The guitar responds very easily and fast, the tones are very bright and rich and there is plenty of sustain. The sound is not as dark or warm as with Rosewood back and sides though, but I liked the brighter crispier character. I also found it easier to play compared to the other instruments. It just sounded more lively and it can produce tremendous volume too. Or played at lower volumes and when played in a more subtle way, with incredible detail and overtones.
One thing you should now about Cedar wood is that it reaches it optimum tonality much sooner than Spruce. Cedar is much softer whilst Spruce is much stiffer and needs a longer playing period to vibrate more freely. Maybe that is the reason why this guitar sounded so great right from the start. When I bought it, I was told it had only been in the shop for two days!

The action is just fine. Not too high and not too low. Great bookmatched solid Cedar top and amazing bookmatched Walnut back, It is a sheer pleasure to look at! The weight of the instrument is very light, as a feather. Flawless apart from the little spot of abt. 0.5x 0.5 mm just beyond the 12th fret.

I think this guitar will last forever if you treat it right. Of course it is not as rock solid as, for instance, my Les Paul Studio which feels tons heavier.

Have not dealt with them yet.

I have been playing for some 25 years now, and I am only sorry that I did not buy this guitar sooner. It is so inviting to play because of the sounds you can get out of it. I also play electrical, LP Studio and Fender Mustang plus an electric guitar I made myself. I also own a nice Yamaha FG 165 S Folk guitar.
The retail price for this one in Holland is ? 418,- , but I bought it for only ? 339,-, which now would be some 400 US declining dollars (June 2003). I think these instruments are a lot more expensive in the US anyway. That's OK, in Holland normally everything is more expensive compared to the US, for any car we pay up to 50% more, so there you have it!

It's pretty much your standard classical, as far as dimensions. 19 frets in all, with 12 clear of the body. Rosewood fretboard, solid western red cedar top with walnut sides and back. Gold colored tuning machines with pearloid buttons. Nice inlaid rosette. The scale length is the usual 25.5 inches (650 mm). Surprisingly rich looking for such an inexpensive model. Alhambra builds them right. Mine came with a hardshell case.

For a guitar in this price range, you won't find a better sound. Very nice mellow tone, typical of a good cedar top. The basses and trebles blend well together. The volume isn't all that powerful, but not bad, either. It responds well to a good set of strings. I like Savarez on mine.

No flaws in the fit or finish. Again, a very well built guitar. The action on mine is nice and low. Plays very easily. The lacquer finish seems to be durable as well as good looking.

I bought this one used, and I give it almost daily use. So far, no problems. The good quality of the construction inspires confidence. Still, it's an acoustic and it needs to be kept in the case when not being played.

Purchased used, so this doesn't apply.

A best buy. For such a low price, this is a lot of guitar. A definite step up from the Yamahas and Takamines that I had been playing before. This is a real, honest Spanish guitar. This model might be hard to find in the US. The guy I bought it from purchased it new in Europe when he was stationed there in the military.

This is a 2001 Model 4C made in Alcoy, Spain. It's a pretty much standard classical guitar with the usual dimensions. The top is solid red cedar with walnut back and sides. Cedar neck with a rosewood fertboard. The bridge is also rosewood and the headstock has a rosewood overlay. Good quality gold plated tuners with pearloid buttons. The rosette is very detailed and made of wood inlay. Binding with purfling on both the front and the back. Glossy lacquer finish. Came with a hrdshell case.

This isn't an expensive guitar, but it sounds like it could be. Very good smooth, mellow tone. It responds nicely to your fingerpicking technique. Not a lot of volume, but it's not meant to be a concert guitar.

The construction is typical of a good quality Spanish guitar. Good attention to detail and nice grain patterns in the wood. The setup as it was originally was a little high, but cutting down the saddle easily took care of that.

I've owned this guitar for a year now and it's been trouble free. There isn't much that can go wrong with an acoustic in the first place, but it holds tune well and has survived some bumps and knocks with no marks on the finish.

For the money, this is an excellent guitar for an advancing student of classical style. Or it would be a good backup for an pro. It looks classy and sounds wonderful. College music majors couldn't get a much better instrument for their needs. Of course, I play other styles besides classical on my 4C. It sounds good for bossa nova, jazz, and blues, too.