Almansa 403

2001 model, made in Almansa Spain. It has a solid Cedar top, laminated Mahogony back & sides, Indian Rosewood Fretboard,Saple neck,& nickel plated machine heads.The finish is a very beautiful gloss. The manufacturer did an excellent job applying the finish & with the over all features of the guitar.

This is the killer.....when it first arrived I opened it up, picked it up, & was thinking: "Where's the beef?" Then, I struck the first notes & fell in love! Talk about a wolf in sheep's clothing! The sound will knock you down for sure! It is very balanced, very true, very rich, & very romantic. You would never dream it would sound so good just by its appearance!

The action is very typical for a classical, just a tad bit high. Of course, this helps with the sound projection immensely. The finish is very good, there seems to be a couple of small places where the finish has fogged up on the back of the guitar, but nothing huge.

As with any classical, one must handle with care! This guitar is very well built, but very delicate to handle! It will provide a lifetime of use with the proper care. As far as a back up, I never gig without a back up.

Never dealt with them.

I've been playing about 25 years, all styles of music. I also own a Washburn C-64CE electric classical, a Washburn EA-20 Festival acoustic electric, a 1957 re issue Fender Stratocaster, & a 1979 Gibson Les Paul Custom. Each of my guitars serves its own puirpose, including my Almansa. Overall I am very very pleased with the 403, it has provided me with hours of enjoyment. My favorite feature is the overall sound of the guitar, it is that good! I compared & played lots of guitars before buying this one, & I'm tickled with my purchase, I would not hesitate to buy another Almansa guitar, they are very well made for the money!

Made in Spain in 2001. Solid Cedar top, laminated mohogany back and sides. Nickel plated tuners. This is a pretty no frills guitar, but it packs a lot of punch where it counts.

The sound is excellent. Big sound, lows are surprisingly rich and sonourous. Highs are well balanced and have excellent volume. I would compare the sound to a lower end Rodrigues costing about twice the price. An exaggeration you say? Try it and you'll see that I'm right. I'm always right. I have no complaints at all about the sound. Taking into account the price of this instrument, I don't believe that it can be beat.

This is another area that I found very impressive, once again, taking the price into account. The action was set up ideally for classical playing, and the finish was nearly flawless. The guitar looks very impressive. The cedar top is impecably bookmatched, and will only improve with age.

This guitar seems as solid as any high end classical, and I'm sure it will stand up to the rigors of the road. I'm looking forward to performing with it in So-Cal. The finish is a laquer, and seems to be able to withstand a good deal of punishment, so I don't pussyfoot around it.

Almansa offers a one year warranty, although I haven't needed to deal with them.

All in all, I could't be happier with this guitar. Sure, if I was some kind of high rolling rich guy I'd probably own a Ramirez, but if you're looking for the most bang for the buck, this is the way to go. The name Almansa is not nearly as well known as many other makers, but that is a terrible oversight. If this guitar was stolen I would not hesitate to buy another. Fantastic quality.

Made in 2002, in Almansa Spain. Features solid cedar top, laminated mahogany back and sides, nickel plated tuners and laquer finish. No electronics.

Holy cow! I mean...good lord, this thing sounds fantastic for the price paid. Has a very nice rich loud sound. Action is nice and low for a classical guitar. No fret buzz or anything. Very well put together instrument.

It was set up perfectly from the factory, no adjustment was needed. Bracing is nice and minimal, which is a great asset of spanish made lower end guitars. Most manufacturers of cheaper solid top classical guitars (ie. Yamaha and Fender) make them too solid, with too much laquer. They invariably look great, but sound dull and dead, because they are too solidly built to allow adequate sound board vibration. The minimal bracing makes it more light and fragile than other classicals, but you wouldn't take it to a campfire anyway. Just take care of it (humidifier!) and everything will be just fine.

Once again, not built very solidly, but in this case it is a good thing. A VERY good thing. It is durable enough, if you treat it right.

Has a one year factory warranty. Haven't needed customer support.

I can't recommend this guitar enough. Very strong features. If you are an advancing player with a tight budget, you should get this. Sounds like a much more expensive instrument. I tried Yamahas up to the $800.00 range, and they still couldn't compare to the sound of this little miracle.

Made in 2002, features solid cedar top, mohogany back and sides, nickel plated tuners, wood inlay rosette, laquer finish.

I gave it a ten on sound because one must take into account the price that one paid. I bought this beauty at Long and McQuade for $390.00 canadian, and it sounds as good as guitars twice that price. Very good projection and volume, while still maintaining a dark, brooding character. I can't say enough about the sound.

Not a whole lot of attention to detail in the finish. Some "globbing" of laquer in the grooves in the headstock (purely aesthetic). Tuners are a little stiff, but these are things I am more than willing to overlook.

It's about as solid as you'd want a classical guitar to be.

Has a one year warranty. Haven't needed customer support.

All in all, I would highly recommend this guitar for intermediate players who are looking for exceptional value. Sounds like a much more expensive instrument.