Cordoba C5 Nylon String Classical Guitar

92
GEARANK

92 out of 100. Incorporating 475+ ratings and reviews.

Street Price: 

$349
Cordoba C5

Gearank Recommended

The C5 first appeared on our recommended list for Classical Guitars from December 2017 until June 2019 when it had been out-ranked by other guitars.

In August 2020 it had high enough ratings to return to our recommendations for Classical Guitars Under $500, but it came back off the list in September 2022 when it was out-ranked by the Kremona Soloist S65C.

Although this was previously on our recommended list, there are now guitars with higher ratings in our guide to The Best Nylon String Guitars.

Cons

  • Slightly modified body

Pros

  • Solid Red Cedar Top
  • Good projection and bass/treble definition
  • Bone nut and saddle
  • Quality craftsmanship and hardware

Overview

Cordoba's fast rise in the nylon string guitar market is undeniable. And it's all thanks to their combination of good quality build, modern production, and affordable price tags.

A case in point is the Cordoba C5, an accessibly priced classical guitar with good specs, including a solid red cedar top supported by traditional Spanish fan bracing.

While the price is quite high compared to other entry level models, it is justified by its solid western red cedar top and the use of traditional Spanish fan bracing, which many prefer for its improved resonance and overall tone.

The Cordoba C5 has a slightly modified body. It has a smaller soundhole and a slightly bigger body, both of which help improve the guitar's clarity and projection. These subtle differences also make it viable for other styles of music, like bossa nova and flamenco.

While these small changes may not appeal to those who are into strictly traditional classical guitar design, the C5's tone is still as classical as it gets - with more bass and treble definition. I can hear note separation clearly, which makes this a great instrument to learn on.

For the price, the C5 comes with bone for the nut and saddles, which is another step up compared to its entry-level counterparts. This ups the sustain and resonance of the guitar by a lot. Cordoba is also known for good workmanship and aesthetics, hence the use of eye candies that include Indian rosewood binding, gold tuners with pearl buttons, and detailed wood rosette inlay.

It may not be entry-level cheap, but all these features add up to make the Cordoba C5 a great value nylon string guitar. More importantly, these upgraded specs translate well in real-world playing, with a tone that works well with various Spanish music styles.

While this is not cheap, it is still accessibly priced for students, which makes it a very good nylon string guitar to start with.

This reasonably priced nylon string guitar is a great student-friendly instrument that is more than capable of appeasing even advanced players.

Other features include having a detailed rosette inlay, Indian rosewood binding, pearl buttons and solid mahogany neck.

The Cordoba C5 is a step up from the C3M with most commentary on forums agreeing that the C5 has better sustain despite the specifications for the two instruments looking very similar.

Where they differ is that the C5 has a slightly larger upper bout width, slightly longer overall length, slightly smaller soundhole, higher quality tuning pegs and a gloss finish instead of matte.

Cordoba also say that this is one of their top selling guitars.

This is a good quality nylon string guitar that will help you develop your skill from beginner to intermediate levels of playing.

Specifications

  • Top: Solid Cedar
  • Body: Laminated Mahogany
  • Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
  • Bridge: Rosewood
  • Neck: Mahogany
  • Fingerboard: Rosewood
  • Scale Length: 650mm (25.6")
  • Nut Width: 52mm (2.04")

Demos

About the Author

Jason HortonJason Horton

In addition to being a singer / guitarist I have worked on the business side of music as an artist manager, event manager, producer, and a music publisher talent scout.