Cordoba 05408 Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Cordoba Fusion Sonata is a nylon string classical guitar with a cutaway and onboard electronics, combining traditional classical construction with modern appointments. This model aims to deliver the rich tone of a Spanish-style guitar along with the convenience of stage-ready features.

The Fusion Sonata has a solid Canadian cedar top and mahogany back and sides for a balanced and articulate voice. The fan-bracing helps produce volume and dynamics reminiscent of concert-level instruments. This is an accessible option for players looking to amplify their classical guitar sound.

Overall, the Cordoba Fusion Sonata merges old-world craftsmanship with modern versatility. This review covers the guitar's build quality, sound projection, playability, electronics, pros and cons, ideal player, and alternatives to help you determine if it could be a fit for your needs.

Construction

The Cordoba Fusion Sonata Acoustic-Electric nylon string classical guitar is crafted with a solid Canadian cedar top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides. The all-solid wood construction makes this a resonant and responsive instrument, allowing the natural sound of the tonewoods to project and bloom.

The neck is mahogany with a macassar ebony fingerboard and bridge, adding sustain and clarity to each note. The nut and saddle are made from synthetic bone, which are hard wearing yet have a warmer, more organic tone compared to plastic. The guitar sports a gloss finish, giving it an elegant, refined aesthetic.

Overall, the quality tonewoods and construction of the Fusion Sonata make this an outstanding student-grade nylon string guitar that punches above its weight with a rich, vibrant sound. While not at a full luthier-grade standard, the solid woods still produce impressive dynamics, projection and clarity. The Cordoba Fusion Sonata Acoustic-Electric classical guitar utilizes quality tonewoods and construction to produce a rich, vibrant sound ideal for the advancing classical guitarist. With a solid cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides, the all-solid wood body resonates with the natural warmth and complexity of the woods. The mahogany neck and macassar ebony fingerboard add sustain and articulation. While not quite at luthier-grade, the Fusion Sonata's solid top and back punch above its weight with impressive dynamics and projection expected of intermediate and advancing players.

Another excellent classical guitar choice for advancing students is the Enya NOVA GO BK. This nylon string classical model also utilizes all solid tonewoods - solid European spruce on top and Indian rosewood on back and sides. The combination produces a rich, complex voice with bell-like highs, warm mids and tight bass. The mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard are smooth and comfortable. And the NOVA GO BK sports a glossy finish and mother-of-pearl rosette for visual flair. Enya is known for producing student classical guitars that compete with professional models in quality and sound. So while a bit more expensive than the Cordoba, the Enya NOVA GO BK is an instrument that can carry an advancing player through years of development and practice, sounding better the more its played.

Sound

The Cordoba Fusion Series Sonata acoustic-electric classical guitar produces a warm, balanced tone that is great for classical and fingerstyle playing. The combination of solid European spruce for the top and mahogany for the back and sides provides a rich, vibrant sound across the tonal spectrum.

The spruce top offers brightness and clarity in the treble ranges while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and resonance in the midrange and bass. Together they create an evenly balanced tone profile that is pleasing to the ear. The mahogany neck also brings out additional warmth and sustain.

This is an ideal guitar for playing classical compositions as well as more contemporary fingerstyle music. It has the tonal quality and dynamic range needed for both genres. The sound projects well when playing unamplified but also shines when plugged into an amplifier or PA system.

Overall the Cordoba Fusion Series Sonata has a refined yet robust acoustic voice perfect for nylon string enthusiasts. The pairing of spruce and mahogany provides a sound that is balanced, nuanced, and highly responsive.

The Ibanez AW54OPN is another excellent classical guitar option worth considering. This model features a solid Engelmann spruce top and ovangkol back and sides. The tonewood combination produces a bright, articulate sound with great projection. The ovangkol adds complex overtones for a rich voice.

The AW54OPN has a slightly wider neck than other classical guitars, making it comfortable for electric guitarists transitioning to nylon strings. It has a smooth satin finish that lets the guitar resonate freely. Overall, the Ibanez produces a detailed, nuanced classical guitar tone.

Like the Cordoba, the Ibanez pairs well with both classical and contemporary repertoire. It has the dynamic range and tonal versatility needed for diverse styles. The crisp trebles and tight bass make this a great option for playing both rasgueado rhythms and melodic lines.

Plugged in, the AW54OPN maintains its acoustic character thanks to the onboard AEQ-SP2 preamp. This allows for quality amplified performance in larger venues where projection is needed. The guitar has a balanced acoustic-electric sound.

For guitarists seeking an affordable nylon-string instrument, the Ibanez AW54OPN is an excellent choice. It has a bright, focused sound with great playability. This makes it perfect for classical and fingerstyle players on a budget.

Playability

The Cordoba Fusion Sonata features a nylon string guitar neck that is 50.5mm at the nut. This nut width provides comfort for most players while still allowing intricate fingerstyle techniques. The action height on the Fusion Sonata is set medium-low from the factory, making it very playable right out of the box.

Many classical guitarists prefer a lower action height for faster lead playing and wide vibratos. Luckily, the truss rod in the Fusion Sonata neck can be adjusted to fine tune the action height to each player's preference. The smooth finish on the back of the neck also promotes effortless shifting up and down the fretboard.

Overall, the Cordoba Fusion Sonata provides a very comfortable and playable neck for most fingerstyle techniques thanks to its nylon strings, medium nut width, and adjustable action height. The smooth neck finish is an added bonus for fast lead playing across the fretboard.

Electronics

The Cordoba Fusion Sonata comes equipped with impressive electronics to accommodate both acoustic and plugged-in playing. It has an onboard preamp and tuner, allowing you to plug directly into an amplifier or PA system for live performances or recording.

The preamp is designed by renowned guitar electronics company L.R. Baggs. It provides clear amplification and EQ control so you can shape your amplified tone. There are volume and tone knobs, allowing you to dial in just the right amount of each. The preamp has a tuner display, making it easy to keep the guitar tuned without additional accessories.

The preamp runs on a 9V battery, accessible via the battery compartment on the back of the guitar. A low battery indicator light lets you know when it's time to replace it. The preamp can be powered off when not in use to preserve battery life.

Overall, the electronics give you flexibility and convenience for playing the Fusion Sonata in different scenarios. Whether acoustic or amplified, you'll appreciate the thoughtful design and quality components.

Cons

The Cordoba Fusion Sonata comes with some downsides that are worth considering before purchasing.

One frequent complaint is the high action on the guitar. The strings sit quite far from the fretboard, which can make pressing down the strings difficult and uncomfortable, especially for beginners. This may require a professional setup or truss rod adjustment to lower the action to a more playable height.

There have also been some quality control and finish issues reported. Some users found scratches, chips, or other defects with the finish upon unboxing the guitar. Others had concerns with rough fret ends or subpar fretwork from the factory. While fit and finish problems don't affect playability, they can be disappointing for a guitar in this price range.

Paying close attention when inspecting and testing out the particular guitar is recommended if considering purchasing this model. There seems to be some variance between individual guitars, so it's important to get one that meets your standards. Considering the price tag, the quality control could be more consistent.

Pros

The Cordoba Fusion Sonata offers a well-balanced sound with warm and rich tones from the solid Canadian cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides. The slightly wider classical neck provides comfortable playability while nylon strings create a mellow and articulate tone.

Visually, the Fusion Sonata is an elegant guitar with traditional fan bracing, abalone rosette, and ivory binding. It has a distinctive teardrop shape with a satin finish. For players seeking an affordable nylon-string guitar, the Fusion Sonata provides very good value. The all-solid wood construction and thoughtful appointments like the two-way truss rod and Savarez Cristal Corum high-tension strings elevate it above cheaper beginner classical guitars. Overall, the Cordoba Fusion Sonata hits a sweet spot between quality materials and accessible price point.

Ideal Player

The Cordoba Fusion Sonata acoustic-electric guitar is an ideal fit for intermediate classical guitarists looking to expand into other genres while retaining a classical playing feel.

With its hybrid construction combining a solid Canadian cedar top with mahogany back and sides, this nylon-string guitar offers a balanced tone profile accustomed classical players, while the cutaway body and onboard electronics provide the access and plugged-in sound for exploring electric styles.

The wider classical-width neck may feel familiar to classical guitarists, helping ease the transition to this crossover model. The responsive playability empowers expressive techniques carried over from classical training.

Overall, the Cordoba Fusion Sonata hits a sweet spot for intermediate players with classical foundations who want the versatility to play other music styles, especially with the added perk of amplification. This is a worthy guitar to progress through multiple genres with a comfortable classical vibe.

Alternatives

If you're looking for a classical nylon-string guitar with quality and playability similar to the Cordoba C5, here are some great alternatives to consider:

Yamaha CG172SF

The Yamaha CG172SF is an excellent nylon-string guitar that delivers rich tone and great playability. It has a solid cedar top with rosewood back and sides, providing warmth and resonance. The neck is slim and fast for easy fingering, with a 52mm nut width. The onboard preamp and tuner make this a versatile guitar for practice, gigging, and recording. Overall, the Yamaha CG172SF provides fantastic value in this price range.

Kremona Rosa Morena

From Bulgaria-based Kremona comes the Rosa Morena nylon-string guitar, featuring a hand-carved European spruce top and beautiful rosewood back and sides. It produces full, balanced tone with plenty of volume and sustain. The neck has a comfortable C shape that facilitates intricate fingerstyle playing. Gold Gotoh tuners help this guitar stay in tune. The Rosa Morena punches above its price class in terms of looks, sound, and playability.

Cordoba C7 CD

As a step up in Cordoba's lineup, the C7 CD has a solid Canadian cedar top with Indian rosewood construction. This all-wood body provides rich, complex tones. The neck is slightly wider at 52mm, ideal for classical playing. It comes equipped with a dual-source pickup system for amplified tones similar to its acoustic sound. Serious nylon-string players will appreciate the quality and features found in the Cordoba C7 CD.

Other Cordoba Models

Cordoba offers many classical and flamenco style nylon-string guitars at different price points. Lower-cost models like the C3M provide excellent value with impressive playability. Higher-end options like the C12 deliver pro-level features for demanding players. Trying different Cordoba guitars is a great way to find your ideal fit in terms of aesthetics, sound, and feel.

Summary

The Cordoba Fusion Sonata is an excellent choice for any classical guitarist looking for a high-quality nylon-string acoustic-electric guitar. With its solid European spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, it produces a rich, warm, resonant tone perfect for playing any style of classical music.

The playability is also superb, with a comfortable neck, low action, and narrow nut width that facilitates intricate fingerstyle playing. The onboard electronics allow you to plug into an amplifier or PA system while retaining the guitar's authentic acoustic tone.

Overall, the Cordoba Fusion Sonata combines traditional construction with modern enhancements like the cutaway and pickup system. This is an outstanding instrument for practice, performance, and recording situations where you need the projection of an acoustic guitar along with stage-ready amplifiability. It's hard to find another nylon-string guitar that offers this level of quality and versatility at such an appealing price point.