Review: Cordoba C12 Classical Guitar

I have exactly 1k to spend. It’s my birthday next week. Which classical guitar would you get if you only have 1k? I was looking at the Cordoba C9 CE or maybe a Raimundo Signature Series. Any other better choices at this price range?

I am just starting to learn classical guitar. I have been using my acoustic guitar to learn, but I love your lessons and would like to make a purchase of Cordoba Guitar. I feel I would buy either Cordoba C5 or C12 not in between. But I am torn which I should go for? As I am a beginner, I feel like I should buy C5, but I would want to buy better guitar soon... so I feel like I want to buy C12 to reduce a double spend. Would you recommend C12 for a beginner like me or should I start with C5?

What is the name of the first item you played? The one before Lagrima?

Cordoba esteso or c12?

Hello, how much is it? Could you introduce the site official selling it with price ideal? Thanks

The cordoba was much louder

Truss rods aren't intended to adjust action although it can and does affect it , it is to adjust the straightness of the neck or gain clearance . If the neck is correct then the saddle height is for adjusting action .

c12 is latticed barced too

Thanks for this video! I took delivery of my C12 in April of this year and couldn’t be happier! It is the best “bang for your buck” with enough volume to very nicely fill up the Recital Halls!

Which Cordoba model in your opinion gives that woody round sound with creamy thick trebles? Less plasticky, more woody and thick. I was thinking C9 in Spruce but now I'm thinking C12 as well. Thanks

where can I buy your guitar?

Why is it that some people state FAN bracing is better because of yada yada, then someone else goes and touts LATTICE bracing ??!!

What's the name of the piece that u are playing it sound beautiful

I'm trying to decide between this and the Kremona 90th Anniversary. Have you had a chance to try that guitar and which would you recommend over the other?

How heavy is hardcase of it? I know it is made of wood.

I think this is a case of familiarity breeding contempt. I'm a steel sting player looking to buy my first classical. Your instrument sounds so much better than the Cordoba that I'm stunned to even think you're comparing them.

I agree with a previous commenter…truss rods are for adjusting relief..you want better action you lower the bridge and or nut..

Nothing beats a Kazuo Yairi CYM75 classical guitar that goes for $2000. Cedar top, Indian rosewood back and sides. Yairi classical guitars are sold under the Alvarez name in the US.

I'm sorry for Córdoba fans , there's a lot of great guitar makers, but the best sound , sand guitar from Kirk Sand in California and of course, hermanos conde , in Spain

I purchased the Cordoba C12 recently and noticed that whenever the D string is fretted using a chord shape, A, Am etc. it buzzes.

I took the guitar back to the shop and they confirmed the issue and ordered a replacement. The replacement arrived and it too buzzes on the D string.

Not sure that a brand new, reasonable high end guitar should have a problem like this - anyone else who owns one noticed that?

hi Werner Bradford! thanks for your good videos about guitars do you know the Cordoba Friederich or the Cordoba Esteso SP ? do you know if there is a raised finger board on any of them ?

Thanks for the detailed video! Could you recommend some guitars in the same price range as the C12 that have a better raised fingerboard?

The store that sells this guitar here in Bangkok closed due to Covid, but I picked up a Prudencio Saez that is not nearly as pretty looking but is very loud with good sustain for much cheaper. Hope to get a chance to compare. Maybe I will pick up the C 12 someday or fly up to China to check out the luthiers up there and see what they are up to. There is a street called "guitar street" in Saigon that sells guitars from local luthiers, but now I am ashamed to admit that the best guitars that I bought there are pretty bad relatively speaking. The Cordoba C 12 is massed produced in China. I have an old hand made-in-Spain Madrigal, not as loud, but has some very nice colorful timbre. Not a bad idea to check out old guitars. The old Japanese Shinanos-not Shimano after the bicycle derailers- are very nice, but there are some excellent better old guitars from Japan. The Cordoba C 12 is massed produced in China. I have an old hand made-in-Spain Madrigal that I picked up used in Bangkok, not as loud, but has some very nice colorful timbre. Thanks for the nice reviews I have seen from you...

French Polish is a coating application method rather than a coating. Shellac is what is used in French Polishing and can be mixed or simply bought at a box store like Home Depot.

It is easy to do but is labor intensive because of dry times between coatings as well as having to wipe excess oils away with spirits after each coating.

It has to be applied in many coatings which drives up production time. And this is a big part of why instruments with Shellac cost as much as they do.

i just bought a yamaha gc12S, i also like the mahagony sides for less resonance and note separation it seems. also my 41 year old Yamaha G240 is at the Luthier for fret change, action adjustement etc.

I hate to like this guitar. I don't like the rosette, I don't like the pale color of the spruce, I don't like the tuners, I don't like the binding, I don't like the maple strip in the back, I don't like that its factory made, I don't like that its made in China, I just don't like anything about its style, but gosh darn if it doesn't sound absolutely great for the price. I got one! (Spruce, of course!)

What strings do you prefer? Been using the saverez originally on my SP12. Find the trebles sound "thin". Also did you have set up seems bridge a little high?

The cordoba I like is the Hauser 1937 replica.

Your guitar sounds FAR better. It really projects the sound a lot better and has a sweet midrange bite. What is the brand and model of your guitar?

Even with your microphone you definitely can hear the difference it sounds more crisp your instrument

And I just bought a c o r d o b a c 5ce

Looking at this video now which I first come across circa 2018. You get what you pay for. It is a very decent balanced instrument, but according to my ears the sound is a bit inhibited and lacking a distinct voice. That can actually be a good thing for an intermediate player. Without overpowering basses it is going to be easy to play. I think what you're getting with a C12 is a premium sound that's not too punchy or boomy and the kind of sound you can't really complain about. The Cedar ads to how forgiving this instrument is. Would I recommend it? Yes absolutely if you're an intermediate player and it will be great for studio recordings too, even in professional settings. However if you're looking for a bit more of an expressive instrument (but that will be harder to play), a bit like a more wild stallion, and trust me on this, that's not always desirable, then you might want to start thinking about a luthier solid spruce top.

Yup, there's a difference, your luthier guitar sounds indeed "better". Now, is it 4000$ better? absolutely not.

Yours sounds a bit fuller to me.

12 hole bridge?

your personal sounds waaaaaaaaaaaaay better then the cordoba

Can you help me with my consideration between Cordoba C12 and Cordoba Hauser, currently I owned C10. Thank you,

Excellent review!
Do you think this is a better piece for price than an Alhambra 8P?

Great review, and yes, I could tell tone quality between the guitars. Your was very refined,

Danke! Thank you for the detailed advice that helped me find a guitar that I really like.
“We will never go back.”

Hi. First, many thanks for your efforts with the videos. Best channel! My question is which guitar did you play for comparison? This sound is really sweet and smooth❤ Thanks much for message. 🙏

What guitar would you recumbent between Cordoba C12 and C12 if the money is not an issue?

In one of your reviews, you compared the De Cascia, Sylvia, and C12. I would greatly appreciate it if you could offer a similar comparison between the C12 and C10, particularly in terms of playability, balance, and sustain. I am in search of a guitar for my daughter, and I aim for her to have an instrument that she can grow with as she advances in skill, while also experiencing quality sound from the outset. I have narrowed down my choices to the C12 and C10, but lacking experience, your insights and advice would be greatly appreciated.

The difference in sound between your guitar and the Cordoba is exactly what I don’t like about the Cordoba when I first heard it.

It seems to me that your guitar is slightly lower volume than the Cordoba, because what your guitar does is dampen the sound of each note much quicker between plucking, and that my friend gives your guitar more separation and clarity between each note.

The Cordoba, on the other hand, blends the notes between plucks increasing the volume sustain, but reducing note separation. Nevertheless, this added sustain volume occurs along higher frequencies, which ends up being a little annoying to the ear. It almost feels like the added volume is noise that reduces clarity and sweetness.

I am wondering if the top on the Cordoba is a bit too thin for the lattice bracing design it has. I would sacrifice a little volume to gain the separation that I hear on your guitar.

So you are exactly right on the volume and the added benefit of the larger bridge effect.

I bought one today :)

My cedar C12 arrived today sadly with hairline crack.😢

Torn between getting a used c12 for ~$1700 or a made to order Brazillian guitar for ~$1600 since labor is cheaper there.