Gearank

Originally emanating from Bulgaria and now with operations also located in the USA, this guitar manufacturer has a history that dates back to 1924 - they even survived the post war era when they were nationalized by the then communist government in their home country.

The Verea Cutaway is a hybrid instrument with a small 48 mm nut width that even electric guitarists find easy to transition to.

Like the Cordoba GK Studio Negra, it uses Fishman Presys Blend electronics which includes a built-in condenser microphone in addition to a more traditional under-saddle piezo pickup. A 3-band equalizer and tuner rounds out the electronics.

The combination of Red Cedar and Rosewood makes for a warmer and less aggressive sound which is perfect for amplification.

Specifications

• Top: Solid Red Cedar
• Body: Indian Rosewood back & sides
• Finish: Polyurethane
• Bridge: Indian Rosewood
• Neck: Honduras Cedar
• Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius: 16"
• Scale Length: 650 mm (25 9/16")
• Nut Width: 48 mm (1.88")
• Electronics: Fishman Presys Blend with dual source pickup system, built-in condenser mic with blend control, Fishman Sonicore pickup, 3-band EQ controls, phase switch and built-in tuner with LED display

Pros

With its narrower string spacing and 16" fingerboard radius, the Kremona Verea Cutaway appeals to guitarists who are used to steel-string guitars. And this is reflected in reviews that rate this guitar highly for its comfort and reliability. The tone is also well received, even from those who aren't too happy with its non-traditional neck profile. The sentiment surrounding this guitar, and the Kremona brand in general, is very positive in English language expert reviews and forum discussions. There were also a number of sources of apparently positive feedback in other languages but we didn't take those into account when processing its Gearank rating.

Cons

Some criticism came from traditionalists who prefer playing on classical specifications like a flat fingerboard and wider 52mm nut width. Other than that, there were no consistently reported complaints about this guitar - there was one reviewer who joked that although his Verea inspired him to play more it hadn't instantly made him a better guitarist.

Overall

The Verea Cutaway is a great pick for those who want a classical guitar that already plays similarly to other guitars in their collection. These modern specifications combined with the pickup system, make it most at home with performers who need to switch between different types of guitars on stage.

Although this was previously on our recommended list, there are now more highly rated options available which you can see in our guide to The Best Classical & Nylon String Guitars.