Ortega Guitars R131SN-L Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Ortega R131SN-L is a nylon-string classical guitar designed for left-handed players. Part of the R131 Series from Ortega, this model offers great sound and playability at an affordable price point.

Ortega is a German brand with over 50 years of experience building classical and acoustic guitars. The R131SN-L has a spruce top with mahogany back and sides, a combo that produces a balanced, rich tone. The nylon strings and wider nut width give it the feel and sound signature of a traditional classical guitar.

While not a professional-grade instrument, the R131SN-L punches above its weight class. The quality construction and trusted Ortega name make this a great choice for beginner and intermediate left-handed players looking for an accessible classical guitar option. Its robust sound, comfortable feel and attractive looks define the R131SN-L as a versatile and reliable classical guitar.

Construction

The Ortega R131SN-L is constructed with a solid Canadian cedar top, coupled with mahogany back and sides. These classic tonewoods deliver a lush, rich sound while maintaining excellent resonance. The R131SN-L features a traditional fan bracing pattern that provides sturdiness and allows the top to vibrate freely.

The use of all solid woods, rather than laminates, ensures that this guitar will open up and improve with age. The satin finish protects the tonewoods while allowing them to vibrate optimally. At this price point, the all-solid wood construction of the R131SN-L is impressive and contributes to the full sound produced by this model.

When shopping for an affordable classical guitar, it's important to look for models with all-solid wood construction like the Ortega R131SN-L. Laminate woods tend to produce a thinner, less complex tone. Solid woods resonate better and improve over time as the wood ages. This allows the guitar to produce a richer, more nuanced sound. Models like the R131SN-L with solid cedar and mahogany represent a great value for those looking for an entry-level classical guitar with pro-level tonewoods.

Another excellent classical guitar choice in this price range is the Yamaha FGX800C. This model also features solid spruce and nato (Eastern mahogany) woods for excellent tone and resonance. The FGX800C has a slightly wider neck than the R131SN-L, making it a good option for those with larger hands or who are transitioning from steel-string acoustic. It produces a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum, with good volume and dynamics. The FGX800C's traditional fan bracing provides a solid foundation for the top to vibrate while maintaining stability. Overall, the Yamaha FGX800C is another great choice for a high-quality beginner classical guitar with all-solid woods.

When evaluating classical guitars, the wood construction is one of the most important factors affecting tone and playability. All-solid wood models like the Ortega R131SN-L and Yamaha FGX800C represent excellent values by providing pro-level tonewoods without the premium price tag. Their solid cedar and mahogany build will deliver a rich, resonant sound that improves over time, making them great investments for new classical guitarists.

Sound

The Ortega R131SN-L classical guitar produces a bright, rich sound with excellent sustain thanks to its solid cedar top. Cedar is a popular tonewood for classical guitars prized for its ability to project sound clearly with sparkling highs.

The solid wood construction allows the top to vibrate and resonate freely, resulting in complex harmonics and notes that ring out. While many affordable classical guitars use laminate tops that deaden vibration, the solid cedar top on the R131SN-L lets the guitar sing.

The cedar top paired with Indian rosewood back and sides provides a balanced acoustic profile that is versatile for various playing styles. The rosewood adds depth and warmth to balance the bright clarity of the cedar. Together they create a pleasing timbre across the frequency range.

Sustain is another strong point on the R131SN-L. The solid woods allow the guitar to resonate for an impressively long time after notes are played. This allows more expression in the music as notes ring out fully until decaying naturally. The construction gives the R131SN-L the ability to carry complex passages with clarity and sustained harmonics.

The Yamaha CG182S is another excellent classical guitar to consider if you're looking for great sound. Yamaha is known for making high quality and consistent guitars across their lineup. The CG182S features a solid Engelmann spruce top paired with rosewood back and sides. This combination produces a balanced tone with crisp highs from the spruce and warm low end from the rosewood. Engelmann spruce in particular is valued for its resonant and complex tone. It allows the CG182S to have excellent projection and dynamic range. The rosewood back and sides have a rich overtone structure that fills out the sound. Together they create an expressive and nuanced acoustic voice. The CG182S also utilizes a traditional fan bracing pattern that allows the top to vibrate freely. This results in excellent resonance and sustain, allowing notes to ring out fully. The construction and woods make the Yamaha CG182S a great choice if you want a classical guitar that excels at tonal quality and acoustic projection. Whether playing solo or in an ensemble, the CG182S will produce a balanced and refined sound.

Playability

The Ortega R131SN-L classical guitar has excellent playability thanks to its comfortable neck profile, quality fretwork, and well-setup action.

The neck has a traditional classical guitar profile that is slightly wider than a steel-string acoustic, with a width of 52mm at the nut. This provides a good balance between comfortable hand position and easy fretting access across the fingerboard. The satin finish on the back of the neck allows for smooth shifting up and down the scales.

The fretboard is made of rosewood and has a 400mm radius, which is the standard for most classical guitars. The frets are medium in height and width. They are smoothly finished with no sharp edges. This makes chord changes and fretting notes very comfortable without buzzing or muting out notes accidentally.

The action on the R131SN-L is set up well out of the box at about 2.5mm on the treble side and 3mm on the bass side. This allows for easy pressing down of notes without excessive finger effort. The action is also suitable for clear tone and volume without fret buzz. Overall the neck design, fretwork, and setup deliver excellent playability for classical guitar technique and repertoire.

Hardware

The Ortega R131SN-L features quality hardware that enhances the overall playability and sound of the guitar.

The tuning machines are chrome sealed die-cast tuners that keep the guitar in tune well and allow for smooth and accurate tuning adjustments. They have an elegant look that matches nicely with the aesthetic of the rest of the guitar.

The nut is made of plastic which helps provide the right amount of string spacing at the nut end of the fretboard and reduces string binding when tuning or bending strings. Plastic is a smooth and durable material for the nut.

The bridge is a rosewood pin bridge which is a traditional and proven design on classical guitars. The rosewood matches the fretboard and provides a solid base for the strings to transfer vibrations into the top of the guitar. The pins allow for precise intonation adjustments if needed.

Overall, the hardware components on the Ortega R131SN-L are thoughtfully chosen to provide ideal functionality for a beginner level classical guitar. The tuners, nut and bridge give the guitar playable feel and reliable tuning stability.

Electronics

The Ortega R131SN-L features electronics designed specifically for classical guitar playing. It has a passive under-saddle piezo pickup that accurately captures the nuances of the guitar's tone and playing dynamics.

The preamp is a simple passive design that provides even signal amplification without coloring the natural acoustic sound. There are no onboard tone controls, which keeps the signal path pure and focused on the guitar's inherent voice.

The only control is a volume knob, allowing the player to adjust the output level. The lack of EQ or effects helps maintain the true classical guitar sound when plugging into an amplifier or PA system.

Some players may desire more adjustability in the electronics, but the streamlined design is ideal for those wanting to amplify their instrument without compromising the authentic nylon-string tone. Overall, the electronics package is tailored towards classical guitarists needing a plug-and-play amplified solution.

Comfort

The Ortega R131SN-L classical guitar is designed for comfort and ease of playability. At just under 5 pounds, it has a lightweight feel that reduces fatigue during long practice sessions or performances.

The guitar's construction and shape provide very good overall balance when holding the instrument. The contours of the back and side of the body fit nicely against your torso and ribcage for support. This allows you to hold the guitar in a natural position without strain.

Ergonomically, the neck has a smooth finish that allows your fretting hand to easily glide up and down. The width of the neck is narrower than some other classical guitars, which may suit players with smaller hands. The action and string height are set low and comfortable right out of the box. Overall, the Ortega R131SN-L offers a high level of comfort and playability for the price point.

Good Value for the Money

The Ortega R131SN-L offers a lot of value for its price point. As an entry-level nylon string guitar, it is very affordable but doesn't compromise much on quality.

You get a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, which are tonewoods found on more expensive classical guitars. The construction and hardware are decent for a beginner instrument. It stays in tune well and projects nicely when played, especially for fingerstyle techniques.

Of course, you make some tradeoffs for the lower price. The action may be a bit high for some players and require a setup. The onboard electronics and preamp are usable but basic. However, these are common limitations on classical guitars at this price.

Overall, the Ortega R131SN-L punches above its class. While not pro-level, it gives an amazing value for a first nylon string or student guitar. The quality materials and workmanship make it a worthwhile investment for new players.

Pros

The Ortega R131SN-L classical guitar offers an excellent sound and playing experience for the price. The top is constructed from solid Canadian cedar, which provides a warm, balanced tone. The back and sides are made of mahogany, adding depth and richness to the sound.

The slim neck and shorter scale length make this an easy guitar to play, even for those with smaller hands. The action is low and comfortable right out of the box. The nylon strings have a smooth feel, and bends are easy to execute.

This is an excellent value classical guitar. While not as fancy looking as more expensive models, it provides professional sound and playability. The tone is full and projects well, ideal for practice and performance. Considering the construction and components, this guitar punches above its price point.

Cons

When it comes to cons, there are a few areas where the Ortega R131SN-L could be improved.

Hardware

While the hardware such as tuners and bridge are functional, they are lower quality and could use an upgrade. The tuners in particular feel a bit imprecise, making it tricky to tune accurately. Upgrading to higher quality tuners could make a big difference in tuning stability and ease of use.

Electronics

Since this is an acoustic classical guitar, it does not come equipped with any electronics such as pickups or a preamp. Adding electronics could broaden its versatility for plugging into an amplifier or PA system. However, doing so would also increase the cost.

Fit and Finish

There are some fit and finish flaws that detract from the overall quality and feel. For example, there are a few rough spots along the edges that could use more sanding and finishing work. The nut slots also feel a little high, causing some buzzing on the first couple frets. Some additional attention to detail from the manufacturer could greatly improve the refinement of this instrument.

Overall, while the Ortega R131SN-L provides good value for the price, upgrading some of the hardware components and dialing in the fit and finish could take this guitar to the next level. However, this would also impact the price point. Depending on your budget and needs, the cons may or may not be significant factors for you.