Ortega Guitars RCE141NT-L Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Ortega RCE141NT-L is a classic nylon-string acoustic-electric guitar model designed for left-handed players. Part of the Ortega R Series, it combines traditional construction methods with modern appointments to deliver an accessible and playable instrument.

This Ortega classical guitar features a grand concert body shape with a solid Canadian cedar top and mahogany back and sides. The combination of tonewoods produces a warm, balanced sound with good projection and sustain. An easy-playing neck, onboard electronics, and other thoughtful details make the RCE141NT-L a versatile choice for new players and experienced guitarists alike.

Overall, the Ortega RCE141NT-L presents an excellent value as a well-crafted, left-handed nylon-string acoustic-electric guitar for practice, performance, and recording across various musical styles. This review will examine the key specs and features that define the guitar's design, sound, and playability.

Body Style

The Ortega RCE141NT-L has a classical body shape with a rounded shoulder that nestles comfortably against the player's body. This traditional design produces a focused, balanced tone and is ideal for fingerstyle techniques.

The narrower neck and smaller body result in excellent playability and make this guitar a great choice for beginners and small-handed players. Weighing just over 3 pounds, the RCE141NT-L's compact form factor also makes it highly portable.

Overall, the traditional classical proportions deliver comfort, balanced tone, and versatility - everything you'd expect from a nylon-string guitar in this price range.

While the Ortega RCE141NT-L features a traditional classical guitar body style, there are also some modern takes on the classical form factor. For example, the Ibanez AW54OPN has a thinner, deeper single-cutaway body made from ovangkol and spruce. This contemporary design gives players easier access to the higher frets while still retaining a focused, balanced classical guitar tone.

The Ibanez AW54OPN's body is crafted from solid ovangkol back and sides, which offers a robust low end as well as clear and articulate treble notes. The solid spruce top provides volume and dynamics. The combination results in a rich, warm, nuanced classical guitar tone.

This modernized body shape with traditional tonewoods allows the Ibanez AW54OPN to appeal to classical guitarists looking for a more contemporary take on the traditional form. Easy upper fret access paired with a big, balanced sound makes this a versatile classical guitar suitable for various techniques and playing styles.

While the Ortega RCE141NT-L takes a traditional approach, the Ibanez AW54OPN proves there is room for innovation even within classical guitar body designs. The cutaway shape and ovangkol/spruce tonewoods offer an appealing modern option without sacrificing hallmark nylon-string sound. Both guitars demonstrate different paths to achieving comfort, playability and great tone.

Tonewood

The Ortega RCE141NT-L utilizes solid cedar for its top wood. Cedar is a popular choice for classical guitars thanks to its ability to vibrate freely. This translates to excellent resonance, articulation, and a wide dynamic range. The solid cedar top lets the RCE141NT-L sing - each string rings true and notes bloom with complexity.

At the same time, cedar is lightweight yet strong. This keeps the guitar portable while still maintaining structural integrity. The end result is a responsive and balanced tonewood that offers clear and nuanced tone ideally suited for classical and fingerstyle playing. Players who appreciate a guitar that speaks with complexity will enjoy the solid cedar top of the RCE141NT-L.

Cedar has been used in classical guitar construction for centuries. Its lightweight and resonant properties produce a warm, sweet tone that amplifies the nuances and overtones of each note. Many famous classical guitars, including those played by Andres Segovia, utilized cedar tops. The wood helps project the unique voices of each string.

Yet cedar is also durable enough for steel strings. Its strength prevents bellying while allowing the wood to vibrate freely. This combination of resonance and stability has made cedar a favorite for steel-string players too. Models such as the Martin 11GBPC combine a solid cedar top with a mahogany back and sides for balanced and detailed tone across the tonal spectrum.

The Martin 11GBPC produces excellent clarity in the high end with mahogany boosting the midrange and lower mids. Meanwhile, the solid cedar top provides articulation and responsiveness. Together this creates a versatile guitar suitable for various styles. Fingerstyle players can enjoy the Martin 11GBPC's clear definition.

At the same time, the cedar and mahogany balance means strumming full chords rings out with pleasant overtones. Flatpicking also benefits from the projection of cedar aligned with mahogany's punchy low-end. The result is a great all-around acoustic guitar. Cedar's lightweight build keeps the 11GBPC comfortable during extended playing sessions too.

So whether you prefer classical, fingerstyle, flatpicking, or strumming, cedar can deliver an excellent musical experience. The resonant wood produces organic, complex tones across styles. Players looking for an extremely responsive acoustic guitar will appreciate the benefits of cedar tops like those on the Ortega RCE141NT-L and Martin 11GBPC. Let the guitar sing with cedar.

You can read more about the Martin 11GBPC classical acoustic guitar here: Martin 11GBPC

Neck

The Ortega RCE141NT-L features a standard classical guitar neck made of Canadian wild cherry. This solid wood neck provides stability and sustain while remaining lightweight. The neck has 19 frets and a traditional fan bracing that allows comfortable playability across the entire fretboard. The slim neck profile with smooth satin finish creates an excellent feel that facilitates intricate fingerstyle techniques. Overall, the high-quality wild cherry neck offers appealing looks, balanced tone, and excellent playability that any classical guitarist will appreciate.

Fretboard & Bridge

The fretboard and bridge are both made of Indian rosewood, which is known for its warm, balanced tone that pairs nicely with spruce tops. Indian rosewood has a nice midrange punch that brings out the complexity in chord voicings and fingerstyle playing. It also has clear, articulate highs and tight lows. This makes it a versatile material well suited for classical and nylon string guitars.

The rosewood fretboard has a radius of 400mm, which provides a good compromise between playability and a curve that complements nylon strings. The fretwork from the 1st to 12th frets is excellent, with smoothly finished fret ends. Higher up the neck the frets are still very playable but have some sharper edges from the smaller fret wire.

The rosewood bridge has a compensated saddle for proper intonation across the strings. The slots are pre-cut for nylon strings. The bridge itself is a simple slotted style that matches the minimalist esthetic of the RCE141NT-L.

Overall the fretboard and bridge offer a great feel and balanced tone that lets the spruce and cedar woods sing. The rosewood pairing is a smart choice to create a well-rounded classical guitar.

Electronics

The Ortega RCE141NT-L features a B-Band undersaddle pickup and preamp system, which helps accurately capture the nylon-string sound and amplify it cleanly through an amp or PA system. The pickup sits unobtrusively under the saddle, so it doesn't affect the look or acoustic resonance of the guitar.

The preamp offers 3-band EQ and digital tuner, providing quality tone shaping and convenient tuning capability. It runs on a 9V battery and the input jack doubles as the on/off switch, so the preamp activates when you plug in a cable. The preamp also has a phase switch, which comes in handy for managing feedback at higher volumes.

Overall, the electronics package on the RCE141NT-L is designed specifically for nylon-string guitars, unlike piezo pickups made for steel-strings. This helps capture a balanced and natural amplified nylon-string sound. The preamp also provides a robust set of features in a compact and unintrusive format.

Hardware

The Ortega RCE141NT-L acoustic-electric nylon string guitar features quality hardware that contributes to its full and balanced tone. It has gold die-cast tuning machines, allowing for smooth and accurate tuning stability. The nut and saddle are both made from synthetic bone, which provides a nice balance between playability and clarity. The bone nut promotes proper intonation, while the saddle allows the strings to vibrate freely. Overall, the quality tuning machines paired with the synthetic bone nut and saddle allow this nylon string guitar to be easily tuned while providing excellent sustain and resonance.

Sound & Playability

The Ortega RCE141NT-L produces a warm, well balanced tone that is a pleasure to listen to. The spruce top and mahogany back and sides provide a nice blend of brightness and richness. Many reviewers comment on the impressive volume and projection from this model, allowing it to fill a room easily.

The playability of this guitar makes it a great choice for beginners and intermediates alike. The action is comfortable right out of the box, so you don't have to struggle with high string tension. The slim neck profile allows easy fretting, while the rosewood fingerboard provides smooth playability up and down the neck. The wider nut width offers ample room for fingerpicking styles. Overall, the RCE141NT-L offers an enjoyable playing experience that makes you want to keep coming back for more practice sessions.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Warm, balanced tone from solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides
• Quality electronics with tuner allow for plugged-in amplified playing
• Elegant rosette and binding give the RCE141NT-L an attractive appearance

Cons:

• Higher cost than beginner nylon-string models
• The onboard electronics can feedback at very high volume levels

The RCE141NT-L offers excellent tone and playability for the price. The solid wood construction produces a balanced, warm nylon-string sound. While costing more than a beginner model, the electronics, tuner, and attractive appointments make this a great value for gigging guitarists. The only downside is potential feedback at extremely high volumes, but for most playing situations the RCE141NT-L delivers amplified nylon-string tone in an affordable package.

Verdict

The Ortega RCE141NT-L is a quality classical nylon string guitar suitable for beginner to intermediate players. It offers good value at this price point, with its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides providing a balanced and pleasant acoustic tone.

The slim neck and low action make it an accessible instrument for newer players to pick up classical guitar. The built-in electronics also provide the flexibility to plug in for amplified playing. While not as nuanced as more expensive models, it intonates well and stays in tune nicely.

Overall, the Ortega RCE141NT-L is a good choice for those looking for an affordable entry-level classical guitar. While it may leave more advanced players wanting more, it provides an excellent starter instrument to learn and practice on. Its combination of playability, sound quality and onboard electronics make it versatile for a range of needs.