Oscar Schmidt OC11 Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Oscar Schmidt OC11 is an entry-level classical guitar, perfect for beginners and students looking to start their classical guitar journey. Part of Oscar Schmidt's long history of quality, affordable instruments, the OC11 combines playability and good sound at a very accessible price point.

This nylon-string guitar has a traditional classical body shape with a spruce top. It produces a mellow, balanced tone expected from a classical guitar in this price range. The playability is decent for a beginner instrument, with its nylon strings and comfortable neck profile. Overall, the OC11 gives beginners a quality instrument to learn the foundations of classical guitar technique and repertoire.

While it lacks some projection and complexity expected from pro-level classical guitars, the OC11 delivers on value. For those wanting an affordable classical without compromising on key elements like tonewoods and build, the OC11 is a great choice. It's a true classical guitar that can carry beginners through the early stages of development.

Construction

The Oscar Schmidt OC11 classical guitar features a dreadnought body shape with a spruce top. Spruce is a popular tonewood choice for classical guitars as it provides brightness and responsiveness.

The back and sides are made from mahogany, which adds warmth, emphasis on the midrange, and some sweetness to the overall tone. Mahogany is known for its balanced sound across the frequency range.

The neck is also constructed from mahogany for stability and rigidity. Overall the combination of spruce and mahogany used in the OC11 produces a nicely balanced and dynamic acoustic guitar tone that is great for classical playing.

The bracing inside is not specified but is most likely a traditional fan bracing pattern to provide strength and structural support for the thin spruce top. There is no cutaway on the body for easy access to upper frets.

The bridge is made from rosewood which matches the fingerboard. The nut width is 52mm which is a comfortable width for most classical players. Overall the OC11 features a traditional and high quality build for its class.

The Luna Guitars WABI E FOLK is another excellent option for players looking for a high quality classical guitar. This model features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, similar to the Oscar Schmidt. However, the WABI E FOLK has a Grand Concert body shape that is slightly smaller and more comfortable for many players. It also includes a cutaway for easier access to the upper frets.

Some unique features of the Luna WABI E FOLK include the laser etched Tree of Life design on the soundhole, giving it an artistic flair. The fretboard and bridge are made from walnut rather than rosewood. The nut width is a narrow 48mm making it a great choice for players with smaller hands. It comes equipped with a dual-action truss rod for improved stability and adjustable action.

Overall the Luna Guitars WABI E FOLK provides an excellent value at its price point. The solid spruce and mahogany construction allows it to produce a balanced and nuanced classical guitar tone. The comfortable body size and narrow nut make it accessible for most players. The stylish appointments like the fretboard inlay and headstock design give this classical guitar some extra visual appeal. Players looking for an affordable but high quality nylon string model would do well to consider the Luna WABI E FOLK. You can learn more about this model here: Luna Guitars WABI E FOLK

Sound

The Oscar Schmidt OC11 classical guitar produces a bright, balanced tone that projects well. The solid spruce top contributes to the guitar's clear treble and strong projection. The mahogany back and sides offer a balanced midrange, providing nice warmth and resonance without muddiness.

The OC11 has decent sustain for an entry-level classical guitar. The solid top allows the notes to ring out longer than laminate tops. However, as expected at this price point, the sustain is not as long as higher-end classical guitars. Still, the sustain is sufficient for practice and beginner to intermediate playing.

Volume-wise, the OC11 projects well for a small-bodied classical guitar. The solid spruce top helps the sound carry. The guitar provides enough volume for solo practice and potentially playing for a small group in a quiet setting. It may struggle to be heard over other louder instruments. But in general, the OC11 delivers ample volume for student practice and progress.

Overall, the Oscar Schmidt OC11 produces a bright, balanced classical guitar tone with good projection and an appealing musical voice. The solid wood top helps the OC11 achieve better resonance, clarity, and volume compared to guitars with laminate tops in this price range. The sound quality makes this an excellent choice as a student's first classical guitar.

The Fender 0378203550 is another great option for beginner classical guitarists looking for quality sound on a budget. This model features a laminated spruce top with mahogany back and sides. While not solid wood, the laminate top still provides good tonal characteristics for the price. The mahogany contributes to a balanced, warm tone.

In terms of projection and volume, the Fender 0378203550 performs admirably for its class. The crisp trebles cut through well, allowing melodies to be heard clearly. The guitar has enough volume for practice and playing for a small audience. The tone is clear and balanced across the frequency spectrum.

Sustain is moderate, typical for an entry-level classical guitar. The notes decay faster than high-end models but ring out long enough for practice and beginning repertoire. Overall, the Fender offers great bang for buck with its resonant, quality sound.

While not as loud and projecting as the Oscar Schmidt OC11, the Fender 0378203550 classical guitar delivers impressive tone and playability for the affordable price. The crisp trebles and warm bass make this a great choice for new classical guitarists looking for a quality starter instrument.

Playability

The OC11 classical guitar has a playability that makes it suitable for beginner to intermediate players. The neck is made from nato wood, which provides stability and allows smooth transitions up and down the neck.

The fingerboard is rosewood, which is a common choice on classical guitars. It provides a smooth surface for fingers to glide along the strings. The width of the fingerboard (52mm) is comfortable for most hand sizes.

The action on the OC11 is set medium-low. This makes pressing the strings down to the fretboard easier on the fingers, especially for beginners building up finger strength and calluses. The action is adjustable at the bridge, allowing players to fine tune the strings height further if needed.

Overall, the construction and set up of the OC11 classical guitar makes it an accessible instrument for newer players while still offering quality sound. The smooth neck, rosewood fingerboard, and medium-low action come together to provide a high degree of playability.

Hardware

The Oscar Schmidt OC11 features quality hardware that contributes to its full sound and easy playability. The guitar has gold open gear tuners with white plastic buttons. The tuners are very precise, keeping the guitar in tune through long practice sessions and live performances. Even during heavy strumming and fast chord changes, the OC11 holds tuning remarkably well.

The OC11 has a rosewood bridge with a compensated synthetic bone saddle. The compensated saddle helps achieve accurate intonation across all strings and fret positions. The rosewood and bone materials give the bridge a pleasant look while transferring string vibrations efficiently from the saddle to the top of the guitar. The bridge materials also match the rosewood fretboard for a cohesive appearance.

Overall, the hardware components on the Oscar Schmidt OC11 are thoughtfully designed and well-made. The tuners and bridge help this guitar produce a balanced tone and stay in tune.

Strings

The Oscar Schmidt OC11 comes strung with D'Addario Pro Arte nylon strings. These strings provide a warm, balanced tone and good sustain.

The Pro Arte strings are a decent factory option, though many players choose to swap them out for more premium options down the line. Popular string upgrades include:

• Savarez Cristal Corum or Alliance strings - These give a brighter, more projecting tone perfect for performance situations. The crisp highs and tight bass nicely accentuate the OC11's sound.

• Hannabach Goldin strings - The Goldin trebles have an unmatched warmth and sweetness. Paired with the 813J silver-plated basses, they create a lush, complex voice.

• D'Addario Composite strings - For players who sweat heavily during performances, composite strings offer more stability than traditional nylon. D'Addario makes quality composite sets that retain the nylon feel.

While the factory strings will serve most beginners well, upgrading can really unlock the OC11's full potential. Pay special attention to the 3rd string when replacing - many players opt for a lower tension string here for maximum comfort and playability.

Electronics

The Oscar Schmidt OC11 comes equipped with Fishman Presys+ electronics featuring an onboard preamp and built-in tuner to provide amplified sound.

The control knobs for volume and tone are located just inside the soundhole for easy access while playing. There's also a 3-band EQ for shaping the amplified tone - bass, mid, and treble controls allow you to dial in your ideal EQ setting.

The undersaddle piezo pickup captures your playing dynamics nicely. It produces a balanced tone across the frequency spectrum that suits both fingerpicking and strumming styles.

The tuner functions accurately to keep the OC11 in tune. It can be easily engaged with the press of a button when needed. The display is bright and clear, making it simple to tune in noisy environments.

Overall, the Fishman Presys+ system gives you quality plugged-in sound and flexible tone shaping. The controls are conveniently positioned and intuitive to use.

Finish

The Oscar Schmidt OC11 classical guitar features a high gloss finish that gives it an attractive and polished look. The gloss finish helps protect the wood against scratches and wear over time.

This guitar comes in a few different color options for the high gloss finish. Some of the most popular colors are natural, black, sunburst, and ruby red. The natural finish gives you a light brown wood look, while the black is a deep, dark black color. The sunburst finish starts as a deep brown in the center and fades into an orange-red color around the edges. Finally, the eye-catching ruby red is a bold, vibrant red color.

The high gloss finish not only looks great, but also enhances the resonance and sound production of the guitar. The smooth finish enables better vibration and reflection of sound waves. Overall, the glossy finish is both beautiful to look at and beneficial for the guitar's voice.

Price

The Oscar Schmidt OC11 Classical Guitar has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $179.99, though it can often be found from various retailers in the $150-170 range. As an entry-level nylon string classical guitar made in China, the OC11 offers good value at this accessible price point. It costs significantly less than most handmade classical guitars from Europe or professional luthiers, which can run $1,000+, yet still provides decent quality and playability for beginner and intermediate players on a budget. While it may lack some of the refined craftsmanship and premium materials of more expensive classicals, the OC11 punches above its weight class in terms of features, sound and playability at this price range. Overall, the OC11 gives classical guitarists an affordable way to start their journey without breaking the bank.

Pros and Cons

The Oscar Schmidt OC11 has a lot to offer beginner and intermediate classical guitarists, with a combination of good sound quality, playability, and attractive cosmetics at an entry-level price point. Here's a rundown of the main pros and cons of this model:

Pros

• Well-constructed with solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides for good resonance and sound projection
• Nylon strings and wider classical neck provide comfortable playability
• Rosewood fretboard and bridge lend to a rich, warm tone
• Pearl dot inlays on fretboard are aesthetically pleasing
• Multiple finish options available, including natural, black, and pink burst
• Tuning machines keep the strings in tune reliably

Cons

• electronics and built-in tuner would be useful but not included at this price point
• Low action and light string tension better suited to beginners vs advanced players
• Laminated sides compromise some resonance and tone of all solid-wood models
• Not as much projection at higher volumes compared to high-end classical guitars
• Quality control issues occasionally reported, like knots in wood grain

Overall, the OC11 hits a sweet spot between price, sound, and playability that makes it a great choice as a starter classical guitar. The all-solid top gives it an edge over other guitars in its price range. The laminated back and sides and lack of electronics keep costs down. An excellent value model for new classical guitarists.