Samick CT5-CE Barcelona

I wrote the original review for this product, simply updating it from the original.

After having this guitar for over a year and breaking it in further I am still pleased with it, but am prepared for a more concert quality instrument. This guitar is great mind you, for the price and all. But between the laminate back and sides, cutaway and thin body (to prevent feedback) it's not entirely effective for truly dedicated classical playing. When I play live I'm generally pleased with the sound, it's not quite Takamine quality but definately above average, I plan on purchasing an Aphex Acoustic X-Citer which should improve the piezo sound which is a little quacky, but still better than average. I spent some time with headphones plugged into my keyboard amp to learn the ins and outs of the preamp which I've finally mastered (I think).

Finish is probably a little too thick, I've managed to scratch off some under the sound hole from playing hard, but believe me it didn't come off easy. I do believe the thickness of the finish though is intended to deter feedback though, maybe.

Yeah, it's pretty tough, I'm still pleased with it overall, it's reliable for playing live and hasn't let me down yet. It's withstood everything from Bach to Bob Dylan has the marks to show for it. and I would like to purchase an Alvarez MC-90 to have a pure classical, but I still love this one, I just figured I could update my original review. Good guitar, if you're looking for an acoustic electric classical, buy a Takamine, but for everyone else this is a pretty good buy.

See original review

I reached a point where I would like to purchase an Alvarez MC-90 to have a pure classical, but I still love this one, I just figured I could update my original review. Good guitar, if you're looking for an acoustic electric classical and can afford it, buy a Takamine, but for everyone else this is a pretty good buy. I recommend it.

solid Cedar top classical, with laminated back and sides, and an undersaddle pickup with passive tone and volume.

Unpluged it sounds great, it is quite quiet though compared to more exspensive classicals. pluged in it could be better, it would have beniffited to have had an integrated preamp.

In the store it was set up perfictly for me, I don't know if it came from the factory that way or if the adjusted it when it got to them. It is a cheam guitar so it's build quality isn't perfect, there are bit's of glue visable on the inside and the frets wern't perfect but it was as good as some guitars that cost alot more.

It seem to be more durrable than any other classical guitar I have ever seen. I think it has a poly finish which might explain the quieter volume but makes for a more durrable guitar. It has stood up well to being droped and generaly treated badly with only a few minor scatches

This is the best value I have ever seen in a classical guitar, when I bought this guitar I played every classical guitar for sale for less than $600 in the city. This included yamahas, fenders, A&R's and it sounded way better than any of them. If you are limited in money you should buy this guitar. but If you can afford it something like a $1000 solid wood classical with a more traditional finish would sound much better.

2003-04 model, made in Korea, 19-20 frets I think, Solid cedar top, 3 band EG with Brilliance slide, Fishman Pickip, Rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, Natural finish, cutaway, I guess grover classical tuners, wide-classical neck, came with a cable, allen wrench and string info.

This is one of Samick's Barcelona classical models, it is the top of the line of that series. I ordered through the dealer in my area and I was more than satisfied with it. I play fingerstyle almost exclusively and I play the majority of my stuff on Nylon. Previous to this I bought a crappy Ibanez Ga6ce or something, it really sucked, I sold it and bought this one. When I got it it was very attractive and sounded great. It was very loud with a powerful low end that didn't drown out the high's. I highly recommend this guitar, especially for the price. The pick up works very well, I've played it through a PA and my Rogue 50 watt keyboard amp. Sounds clear and bright and I often forget that I'm playing it through an amp. I never used to have a pickup preference but now I almost always want Fishman.

The bridge was set up too high and had some buzz and the lead-in rattled a bit. The dealer adjusted this with no problem. These probably should have been fixed in the factory, but they were easily fixed and covered by my warranty.

Very reliable, I'm sure it'll stand up well on stage. I probably would gig without a backup if I didn't occassionally want a steel string for certain songs.

Lifetime limited warranty, anything wrong with it was immedietly adjusted.

I LOVE this guitar, it is the best classical I have owned and as it get's older it will only get better. I can't see myself getting rid of it and if some bastard stole it I would surely hunt him down and tear out his spine. Or I'd buy a new one just like it. I played some Taylor and Takamine classicals that I swear sounded no better. I saw a Rodriquez that was made out of the same materials for twice as much, I totally recommend Samick's Barcelona series. As a matter of Fact I totally recommend Samick.