Ortega Guitars RCE145LBK Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Ortega RCE145LBK is an affordable nylon-string classical guitar made by Ortega Guitars. This beginner model features a traditional fan-braced spruce top with mahogany back and sides, producing a balanced tone suited for various styles of music. With its nylon strings and wider neck, the RCE145LBK offers a smooth playing feel that is easy on the fingers. The guitar comes equipped with Savarez Cristal Corum high-tension strings, an adjustable truss rod, and chrome tuning machines. Overall, the Ortega RCE145LBK is a quality entry-level classical guitar that provides great value for the price. Its warm, rich sound and comfortable playability make it a smart choice for new players looking to learn on a classical nylon-string guitar.

Construction

The Ortega RCE145LBK classical guitar features a high-quality solid Canadian cedar top and mahogany back and sides construction. This combination of tonewoods produces a warm, balanced sound with good projection and responsiveness.

The cedar top is lightweight and resonant, adding richness and depth to the overall tone. Cedar is a popular choice for classical guitars as it allows the top to vibrate freely. Mahogany backs and sides offer a clear, focused midrange and add brightness and sustain.

The neck is also made from mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. Rosewood is a dense, oily wood that helps produce clear notes with long sustain. The chrome die-cast tuning machines keep the guitar in tune nicely.

Overall, the all-wood construction of the RCE145LBK classical guitar contributes to its full-bodied and nuanced acoustic tone. The choice of cedar and mahogany tonewoods delivers a versatile sound at an accessible price point.

The construction and materials used in the Ortega RCE145LBK are common for classical guitars in this price range. Many other models from reputable brands like Epiphone utilize similar combinations of cedar, mahogany, and rosewood. The Epiphone ENJRVSCH1, for example, has a select spruce top with mahogany back, sides, and neck. It also features a rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

While the wood choices are comparable, there can be subtle differences in sound and playability between models depending on factors like wood grain patterns and build quality. The Ortega may offer a slightly warmer, more resonant tone thanks to its solid cedar top versus the Epiphone's laminated spruce. However, the Epiphone may have better intonation and playability due to its adjustable bridge versus the Ortega's fixed bridge.

In the end, the most important thing is finding a classical guitar that feels comfortable to play and has a sound you enjoy. The Ortega RCE145LBK and Epiphone ENJRVSCH1 both offer quality construction and components at an accessible price. Trying them out in person can help determine which is the right fit for your playing style and musical needs.

Sound Quality

The Ortega RCE145LBK produces a marvelously rich and full sound, thanks to its solid mahogany construction. This wood contributes a warmth and resonance unmatched by many guitars in this price range. The top, back, and sides of the guitar all utilize mahogany, creating a beautifully balanced and cohesive tone.

In terms of projection and power, the Ortega RCE145LBK can fill a room with ease when strummed vigorously. The sound is nicely balanced across the frequencies, never becoming overly bright or boomy. Single notes and chords both ring out with clarity.

Sustain is another strength of this guitar. The notes decay slowly and pleasingly. You can expect a note to continue ringing for a considerable length of time after plucking a string. This allows you to enjoy the full resonance of chords as they gradually fade out.

Overall, the Ortega RCE145LBK succeeds wildly in the crucial sound quality metrics - richness, projection, and sustain. Players looking for a classical guitar capable of both subtlety and power will find this model hits the mark.

When comparing the Ortega RCE145LBK to other classical guitars in its price range, the Donner DST-152R EC1417 is a top competitor. The Donner features a Canadian cedar top with mahogany back and sides, resulting in a slightly brighter and more articulate tone than the all-mahogany Ortega. The Donner's slimmer neck profile may also appeal to players with smaller hands. However, the Ortega counters with its excellent sustain and projection, which the Donner can't quite match. The Ortega's tone has more complexity and nuance due to the all-mahogany construction. Ultimately, the choice comes down to preference - the Donner for crispness and playability, or the Ortega for warmth and resonance. When hearing both guitars side-by-side, the Ortega's richer voice wins out for many players.

Playability

The Ortega RCE145LBK classical guitar features a comfortable C-shaped neck profile that is easy to grasp and not too thick. The neck width at the nut is 2 inches, which is a comfortable width for most players to fret notes and chords cleanly.

The action on this guitar is set medium-low from the factory, making it very playable right out of the box. The strings sit close enough to the fretboard to not require excessive pressure to fret notes, while still having enough clearance for strong articulation and vibration. This makes the RCE145LBK a good choice for beginner and intermediate players who want an easy playing classical guitar.

More advanced players may want to take this guitar to a luthier for a professional set up to fine tune the string height and neck relief to their exact preferences. But overall the playability of the Ortega RCE145LBK classical guitar makes it a great choice for most needs. The comfortable neck and well-set up action gives beginners an instrument that is enjoyable to learn on while not holding more advanced players back.

Hardware

The Ortega RCE145LBK comes equipped with quality hardware that enhances its sound, tuning stability, and playability.

Tuning Machines

The guitar has sealed chrome die-cast tuning machines. These are precision machines that keep the guitar in tune well and allow for smooth and accurate tuning adjustments. The sealed design prevents contamination from dust and debris.

Nut

It has a synthetic nut which provides precise string spacing and slots for accurate intonation. The synthetic material has high density and hardness to prevent string binding and buzzing. It also promotes accurate transfer of string vibrations.

Saddle

The saddle is made from bone which has a smooth surface to prevent premature string wear. It also transfers string vibrations efficiently for optimal resonance and sustain. The compensated design sets each string at its ideal length to ensure accurate intonation up the neck.

Aesthetics

The RCE145LBK has an attractive aesthetic thanks to its high gloss finish and quality materials. The mahogany back and sides have a rich, dark finish that gives the guitar an elegant look.

The binding on the RCE145LBK is made of real wood and matches the mahogany back and sides nicely. It provides a clean edge between the top and back of the guitar. There is single ply binding on the top and back which contributes to the guitar's refined appearance.

The inlay work on the RCE145LBK is simple yet elegant. There are pearl dot inlays along the fingerboard and around the soundhole. While not overly fancy, they add a subtle decoration that enhances the guitar's visual appeal. The rosette around the soundhole has an understated design as well.

Overall, the high gloss finish, real wood binding, and pearl inlays come together to give the RCE145LBK a very aesthetically pleasing look suitable for performances or practice. It has a refined yet comfortable ambiance.

Accessories

The RCE145LBK comes with a few useful accessories to help you get started playing right away.

Gig Bag

It includes a lightweight nylon gig bag with shoulder straps, making it easy to transport the guitar to lessons or performances. The bag has extra padding to protect the guitar from bumps or scrapes. It's not a high-end gig bag, but it's perfectly functional for a beginner guitar in this price range.

Strings

The guitar comes strung with Ortega's own nylon classical strings. As with any new guitar, you'll want to keep an eye on string wear and regularly change them to keep the guitar sounding its best. Many players prefer using high-end strings like Hannabach or D'Addario Pro-Arte strings, but the Ortega strings are certainly decent starter strings.

Picks

Classical guitar is usually played with the fingers and fingernails rather than using a pick. However, the RCE145LBK does include a simple celluloid guitar pick in case you want to experiment with using a pick for certain techniques or sounds. The included pick is thin and flexible enough to produce an acceptable tone on a nylon string classical guitar.

Value for Money

The Ortega RCE145LBK classical guitar offers excellent value for your money. While not the cheapest student model guitar on the market, it is very competitively priced for a handmade, all-solid wood instrument.

Considering the quality tonewoods used in its construction and the attention to detail in the craftsmanship, this guitar punches well above its weight class in terms of sound, playability and aesthetics. The price tag makes it accessible not just to beginners but also to intermediate players looking for an affordable upgrade from a laminate guitar.

For those shopping on a budget, the Ortega RCE145LBK gives you the most guitar for your dollar. It's a reliable, consistent instrument with a rich, nuanced sound - at a fraction of the cost of high-end luthier classical guitars. Overall, it's an excellent value purchase for any classical guitarist.

Alternatives

When looking for a nylon string classical guitar, the Ortega RCE145LBK is a great option but there are some other quality guitars in this price range worth considering as well:

• Cordoba C5 - Made in Spain, the Cordoba C5 features a solid Canadian cedar top with mahogany back and sides. It has a rich and balanced tone with good projection and is known for its comfortable playability. The onboard electronics allow for amplification.

• Yamaha C40 - A very popular beginner classical guitar, the Yamaha C40 has a spruce top with meranti back and sides. It delivers an even response across the tonal spectrum. The smaller body size makes it comfortable for younger players.

• Kremona Sofia - Handmade in Bulgaria, the Sofia has a solid cedar top with ebony back and sides. It produces a complex sound with good separation and sustain. The high quality craftsmanship makes this a great choice.

• La Patrie Etude - This all-solid wood guitar comes with a cedar top and mahogany back and sides. It is lightweight and comfortable while producing a balanced and nuanced acoustic tone.

All of these models offer quality construction, sound, and playability. Considering your budget and needs will determine which one is the right fit. The Ortega RCE145LBK competes well with others in its class and price point.

Summary

Overall, the Ortega RCE145LBK classical guitar provides an excellent value for beginner and intermediate players. Its construction from solid spruce and mahogany lends itself to a balanced, nuanced tone. While not as loud or projecting as more expensive models, the guitar offers good dynamic range and an impressive sustain.

The guitar's narrow neck and low action facilitate smooth, comfortable playability. The onboard preamp boosts volume effectively, making this a nice option for practice and performance. While the hardware and aesthetic details are fairly basic, they are perfectly serviceable.

Pros of the Ortega RCE145LBK include its rich, resonant sound, easy playability right out of the box, and quality construction at an affordable price point. The main drawbacks are the lack of cutaway for upper fret access and limited tonal projection.

Overall, the Ortega RCE145LBK is an excellent entry-level classical guitar that punches above its weight in terms of features and sound quality. It's a great choice for new players and those on a budget looking for a well-constructed, great sounding nylon string classical guitar.