Is it time you were more familiar with Cordoba guitars? The Cordoba story is a tale of passion, dedication and attention to detail. Cordoba is about the love of the nylon string sound and the entire world that goes along with it.
For over 20 years, Cordoba’s master builders have been designing a collection of instruments that both provide a direct link to the past and a glimpse of a bright, nylon-strung future. Theirs is a work that encompasses the strides made by legendary nylon string guitar makers like Torres and Esteso, whilst also bringing modern ideas into play.
This means there is a Cordoba guitar available for the professional player who appreciates tradition, and it also means there is a guitar available for the modern musician who wants elements from other disciplines built into his guitar.
Let’s take a closer look...
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Respect for Tradition
The builders behind Cordoba guitars, such as Master Luthier Edmund Blöchinger, understand that some of the finest classical instruments were built over a hundred years ago buy masters like Torres and Domingo Esteso. Close study and replication of antique heirloom classical guitars has resulted in Cordoba gleaning a greater understanding of the importance of shape, wood thickness and construction techniques. They have gone back to the source, beyond mere blueprints, to study these guitars themselves. What they’ve learned has been used in their hand-made, top end Luthier Series guitars, yes, but that knowledge has permeated Cordoba guitars in general, resulting in some very well-informed decisions being made across the board.
The Luthier Series guitars are magnificent, hand-made masterpieces of the art of classical guitar making. Special care has been given to the thickness of each guitar’s back, in order to achieve that perfect blend of lightness and resonance.
‘Lightness’ is a key theme for Cordoba’s designers and Master Builders. They rightly see the nylon guitar is entirely distinct from steel string acoustics, and understand that the lightweight and correspondingly light touch and tone is part of a great classical of flamenco instrument. “Build like a kite that’s meant to fly” is a beautiful phrase from one of Cordoba’s head Luthiers and we know exactly what he means! This attitude means you’ll be in great hands when you select a Cordoba guitar: the dedication, passion and understanding is built in.
Modernity
In tandem with these trips to the master sources, Cordoba make sure that modern musicians, who may perhaps have more ‘hybrid-like’ requirements from their nylon string guitars. This could mean a thinner body depth, or a cutaway, or a slimmer neck with a slight radius to the fingerboard. Cordoba offers many models like this, often with quality pickup systems from companies like market leaders Fishman.
A great example of this would be the Cordoba Fusion 12. This cutaway model is made with a solid Spruce top and Flame Maple back and sides. The slimmer neck has a 1 7/8” nut with to make it more comfortable for players unused to wide classical necks. A Fishman Presys 12 pickup system ensures that the instrument is not only performance ready, but will sound exceptional when plugged in.
Stage Series Guitars
Whilst a great many of Cordoba’s guitar designs are perfect for live performance, the Cordoba Stage series have been actively developed to offer a comfortable, hassle-free performance for all gigging musicians. These are for today’s players who want a thinline acoustic guitar with versatility and as little onstage feedback as possible.
Cordoba Stage guitars are solid body guitars (chambered mahogany, in fact) and feature solid tops of cedar or maple (with flamed veneers) with have sculpted neck heels for easy access. Their specially developed Stage Pickup Systems have been designed alongside Fishman, whom I’m sure you’ll know as industry leaders in innovative pickups systems. This special pickup does away with the notorious ‘quack’ you often endure with piezo pickups, instead delivering an accurate and realistic nylon string tone.
Cordoba Fusion Series
Cordoba Fusion guitars are wonderful examples of the brand’s ‘Old Spain’ know-how mixed with the requirements of contemporary players. Exotic woods, thinner bodies, refined neck profiles and top-grade electronics provide an ideal instrument for those who want a recognisable ‘classical’ guitar, but one that’s in a whole new universe.
Abasi Stage 7
Now, how about this for cutting edge? An offset, solidbody acoustic 7 string guitar with fanned frets! This isn’t something you see every day, but then, once you see the name Abasi on the headstock, it all begins to make sense.
This guitar is of course a collaborative effort with guitar designer and Animals As Leaders head honcho Tosin Abasi. Designed for highly technical playing, each Cordoba Abasi Stage 7 features specially developed internal bracing to deliver a tone that has attack, balance and beauty. A small soundhole on the side delivers instant tone for the player, and a Fishman/Cordoba Stage Pickup system brings the sound alive to audiences.
If you are after something that is genuinely different, that still delivers a professional quality playing experience, then the Abasi Stage 7 may just fit the bill for you!
Final Thoughts
These few guitars that we have examined today are but a touch of the wide variety available from Cordoba. Their high-end instruments are extremely impressive and suitable for professional applications. They fuse the best of Old Spain with the benefits of modern guitar building. The result is a treat for us players. Cordoba guitars are instruments to cherish for a lifetime of playing.
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