Cordoba C12 CD Classical Acoustic Nylon Guitar

I’ve had this guitar for 3 days and I’ve already decided to keep it. Zentra LLC was the seller and the guitar arrived in good shape a day early. It looks like a C9 with a raised fingerboard but it does not sound like a C9 or a C10 for that matter. It does not play or sound like any classical guitar I’ve ever played. I think because of the raised fingerboard the action(distance between the strings and fingerboard) is low. I seriously doubt if a truss rod adjustment would alter that much. If you need the action higher you’d have to increase the height of the bridge saddle and who knows what that would do the sound, intonation and playability of the guitar. I think it sounds pretty good right where it is. I have some carpal tunnel syndrome issues so I have to take days off from playing. This guitar sounds good with a light touch so I get some relief with the trouble that flares up in my left wrist(fretting arm). I’ve also noticed that chord fragments often sound better than bar chords and precision controlled playing is also rewarded. In a way this guitar teaches you how to play by what it rewards. If you like loud booming music or have a very aggressive playing style this guitar may not be right for you. There are pricier models that would be able to accommodate that. If you are looking however for a sweet sounding guitar with excellent response and ease of play, a good C12 would be hard to beat.

I’ve read reviews and tested the solid wood Cordoba C12 SP (European Spruce) and C12 CD (Canadian Cedar) models at a local shop. To reduce labor cost and make them affordable to consumers, Cordoba manufactures these guitars in China “using classical methods of 19th-century Spanish luthiers” to assure the highest quality products. Without doubt, the Cordoba Luthier Series Classical Guitars are probably the best anyone can buy in the $2K USD price range. They look, feel and sound great when they’re produced according to the quality standards set by Cordoba. Unfortunately this isn’t the case with defective products being shipped to retailers and sold to consumers. I purchased a new C12 SP Luthier Series guitar over Presidents’ day weekend and it arrived cracked, without a truss rod in the neck and off-centered decals. See photos.

Great guitar for intermediate / serious student.
Nice sound and the action can be adjusted to individual preferences via a truss rod.
Now, a few things that are crucial:

1. Buy from a company that does set it up for you before shipping.
I used Calico Guitars, and asked them to lower the action as much as possible – but not to the point of buzzing. They did exactly that, and when my guitar arrived, I was amazed with how the low action improved more difficult pieces I played.

2. As soon as you get it, google up “humicase how to” and check how to make the built-in humidifier work. It is shipped dry, and guitars need certain humidity to have a good sound, not crack or warp. It is simple, just follow the steps to ensure your guitar has the best environment in the case.

Now, I was considering three different Cordoba models – C9, C10 and C12. I was interested in the cedar top sound, not spruce, but – to help others decide – main differences between those:
-C9 is the least expensive of the bunch, it has a decent sound, not as deep as the others – maybe due to the fact that the sides and back are mahogany and not rosewood. The fingerboard is rosewood not ebony. Still, a very good guitar for the price.
-C10 is the middle price point – has rosewood back and sides, and the fingerboard is ebony. It has a deep, good sound. It does not have a raised fingerboard that is helping when playing in high position (frets 12+)
-C12 is the most expensive, also has rosewood back and sides and a raised ebony fingerboard. Great, deep, loud sound, louder than the other guitars due to the lattice construction. The sound is similar to C10, the main improvement is in volume and sustain. Plus, the raised fingerboard is really helping.

Hope that helps!