Cordoba Guitars

[adrian]

From: "Satoru Isaka"
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003

Hi,

There was a posting on the USENET group (rec.music.classical.guitar) about the history and relations of Cordoba, Alhambra, and Almansa. Someone said that Cordoba is a "house brand" of Guitar Salon, and Alhambra and Almansa are Valencian guitar factories, and they seem better in quality than Cordoba, and all of them are machine-based factories unlike other luthier-resident hand-made guitar makers.

Are these true?

Would you tell me what factory makes Cordoba?

Any well-known luthier involved at Cordoba?

How was the thin body, cutaway acoustic/electric Flamenco guitar like Cordoba FCWE originally designed?

Did Gypsy Kings really get involved in the original design? Isn't Cordoba FCWE hand-made?

Thanks for your help.

Satoru Isaka
San Jose, CA
Here is the news group posting:
Does anyone know the history of Cordoba, Alhambra, and Almansa as guitar manufacturers and how they are related?

While I was searching for an acoustic/electric nylon string guitar with thin body cutaway design, I noticed that these three "brands" have the exact same spec Flamenco guitars (FCWE by Cordoba, 7FC by Alhambra, 447 by Almansa).

The specifications are identical at 650mm scale, 65mm deep, and 50mm neck, with solid German spruce top, solid cypress (or ceder or sycamore) back & sides, ebony fingerboard, rosewood binding, Honduras cedar & ebony neck, gold tuners, gloss lacquer finish, and Fishman Prefix ProBlend System.

The only physical difference I can recognize is the rosette and headstock design. Their prices are similar, too.

I know the geography/landmark of these names (Cordoba in Cordoba, Andalucia; Alhambra in Granada, Andalucia; Almansa near Albacete, Castilla La Mancha). But I know nothing about the luthiers or why/how the exact same spec guitars came about.

While it is common for guitar makers to manufacture similar guitars by copying each other, I am curious to learn the story behind these Spanish makers.

I wonder if Cordoba initially designed it with Gypsy Kings and then others followed the same design. Or maybe the other way around ...

Any insight or clue is appreciated.

[adrian]

From: Tim Miklaucic
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003

Subject: Re: question about Cordoba FCWE

Dear Mr. Isaka,

Thank you for your email and your interest in Cordoba guitars. Please feel free to post this in the newsgroup. You have my permission to do so if you like.

Cordoba is not a "house brand" of Guitar Salon, but rather a line of guitars designed by me, Tim Miklaucic, luthiers who work for GSI, and the makers in the workshops we hired to build our instruments.

Cordoba guitars are built by more than one workshop, but we do not discuss who builds these guitars specifically. There are highly skilled luthiers involved in the making of all Cordoba guitars and the concert level instruments are built completely by hand. With respect to the FCWE, although there is machinery involved in the building of these guitars, I would consider them very handmade.

Regarding the quality of our guitars, Cordoba guitars were second only to Ramirez as the best Spanish classical guitar according to Acoustic Guitar's readers in 2002. Also, having personally bought and sold scores of thousands of guitars including thousands of concert and collectable guitars over the last twenty years, I would say that Cordoba guitars are AT LEAST as good or better than the other "factories" you mentioned considering price and quality.

Regarding the FCWE, I personally developed the design of this guitar with Tonino and other members of the Gipsy Kings. The pick-up design was created by Fishman for the Gipsy Kings (although their touring guitars are somewhat different). I have personally traveled with the group and been to numerous shows where they played ALL Cordoba guitars. According to their management, they play and record almost exclusively with our instruments. As a matter of fact, we have recently signed an agreement to extend our relationship with the Gipsy Kings for several more years.

After we developed the FCWE, it is true that nearly every Spanish manufacturer came out with a similar thin-bodied instrument. I guess this should come as no surprise since it sells quite well. It is true that most Spanish guitars have equivalent models and specifications and price points, each of the brands mentioned by the writer you "quote" is slightly different upon examination/inspection. For example, they have different plantillas, bracing, neck feel, weight, etc. They also play and sound differently. You just need to try them side by side to see this. Specifications in this case don't mean much to me.

Hope this helps and all the best to you.

Sincerely,
Tim Miklaucic
President/CEO
Guitar Salon International

[adrian]

From: Satoru Isaka
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 2003

Subject: RE: question about Cordoba FCWE

Wow!!!
Mr. Miklaucic, thank you very very much for your explanation, and for taking your time to write and unveil the truth in such an eloquent manner. I will post this in the newsgroup, as everyone will truly appreciate the real story behind a great guitar and people involved.

Thank you again.

Best,
Satoru

[Scott]

My first classical was a Cordoba 40R - great guitar for the money. I still have it am planning on my daughter in a few years starting on it. I appreciate the history of the line and it gives it even more character.

[et041053]

are the Cordoba 40 handcrafted guitar. does handcrafted also means factory made? I am planing to buy a 2nd guitar after several years of playing my first guitar which was below 100 dollars , my budget is around 700 -800 dollars max 8) , could anyone recommend a great sounding low action guitar ? :lol: Are the japanese made guitar much better than the spanish made on the same price category?

[tmkid]

I think "handcrafted" means NOT factory made. However, I suppose this is all a matter of degree. I have seen the Cordoba 40 being made and I would say it is somewhere in between the two. For example, the binding is still solid wood and bent by hand and tied with a rope. This is a very old technique and not at all "factory" style. Finish is sprayed and not hand applied, but it is hand rubbed after machine buffing.

Some guitars, including some Japanese ones. use molded plastic with fake wood grain for binding. Other parts of the guitar may be more or less handmade, but this is an example of one aspect of the guitar making process which you would probably describe as factory made.

Tim