Cordoba C5 (Iberia series, cedar) review

Full review

Cordoba specialises in nylon-string guitars, and the C5 from its Iberia series is a first solid-top classical guitar. It is widely stocked in the UK, including by Andertons.

The top is solid Western red cedar. Cedar is quick to respond and sounds warm and rich even when played softly, which suits fingerstyle classical and Latin music. The back and sides are mahogany, the neck is mahogany with a dual-action truss rod, and the fretboard and bridge are rosewood.

Cordoba adds details you do not always get at this price: a bone nut and saddle for better note clarity and sustain, gold tuners with pearl buttons, and Savarez Cristal Corum high-tension strings from the factory. The neck is a traditional 52 mm width with a C-shaped profile.

There is no case or bag, so add a padded gig bag. If you want to plug in, the C5-CE adds a cutaway and pickup. If the 52 mm neck feels too wide, the Cordoba Fusion 5 has a slimmer 48 mm neck. The C5 is made in China to Cordoba's design.