Inspired by a 1920s Domingo Esteso, the Cordoba Luthier C12-SP features several modern design elements such as lattice bracing and a raised fingerboard, which are normally only found on much higher priced instruments. We're impressed with the caliber of construction and the quality of materials used in the guitar. Like any new guitar, it needs some time to open up, but playing it right out of the case suggests this instrument has some real potential. It has a very lively top and produces deep sonorous basses and very sweet trebles with lots of sustain, a nice balanced mid-range too.
Constructed of a solid European spruce top and solid Indian rosewood back and sides, this guitar includes several nice touches including a vintage styled hand-inlaid mother-of-pearl and ebony rosette, a beautiful flamed maple wedge on its solid Indian rosewood back complemented by elegant maple bindings, and a very attractive set of tuning machines with ebony handles. The neck is carved in traditional classical profile and has an ebony fingerboard. The adjustable truss rod allows you to really dial-in the action. Very cleanly built both inside and out, this instrument dons an impeccable high gloss PU finish laid on at just the right thickness to protect the instrument but not mask its natural beauty. Comes with a Cordoba HumiCase Protégé humidified hardshell archtop case. Also available with a solid Canadian cedar top.
All guitars purchased on the All Strings Nylon website undergo a thorough setup performed by a professional luthier, Chuck Marfione, at no extra cost to our customers. The setup includes the following steps:
- Inspect the instrument to ensure its cosmetic and structural integrity
- Level and polish the frets, adjust the nut and saddle and, where present, the truss rod to achieve optimal action and eliminate string buzz
- Adjust intonation if deemed necessary
- Condition the fingerboard to protect it from dirt, perspiration, and drying out
- Inspect the tuning machines to ensure they turn smoothly
- Pre-stretch the strings to minimize string break-in
- Test the electronics if present
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mixed review of c12 Review by mjt
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I bought a Cordoba C12 from All Strings Nylon about 6 months ago. It's a decent guitar. The best part about it was the intonation, action, and playability -- I was amazed by the near-perfect intonation that tech achieved with his ~*FREE AS A PART OF THE PURCHASE*~ setup. I noticed the difference when I put on my own brand of strings (Augustine high tension), whereas my C12 had been set up by All Strings Nylon with Savarez (a somewhat uncommonly found brand, I think) normal tension strings.
The guitar itself is iffy though -- I used to have a Cordoba C10, and that was much lighter and more resonant. This C12 seems muddy and like it's bathed in lacquer. It suffers from low volume and indistinct tone. But this is not All Strings Nylon's fault -- this is the Cordoba factory in China's fault ;)
But...it's still a pretty good guitar. For $1700, though, I expect a little more, especially considering that the C10 I bought as a floor model in some rock 'n' roll shop was so much more resonant. I hate to write a bad or even mediocre review of a product since I am happy with the service at All Strings Nylon, but this is how it is.
(Posted on 12/29/2015)
