Cordoba 06012 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Cordoba 06012 is a semi-hollow body electric guitar with a thin-line design, aimed at players looking for a comfortable, lightweight guitar capable of producing warm, rounded tones.

As part of Cordoba's Luthier Select series, the 06012 is manufactured in Canada and built to high standards, with carefully chosen tonewoods and quality hardware and electronics. With its arched maple top and back paired with mahogany sides, this guitar balances resonance and feedback control.

Overall, the 06012 offers an excellent combination of playability, unique aesthetics, and balanced electric tone at a reasonable price point. Its semi-hollow body provides a nice alternative to traditional solidbody and full hollowbody electric guitars.

Body Style and Design

The Cordoba 06012 features a thinline semi-hollow body design that provides the warmth and resonance of a hollowbody guitar with the punch and sustain of a solidbody. It has a maple top, back, and sides with a beautiful natural finish that lets the wood grain show through.

The semi-hollow construction makes this guitar lightweight and comfortable to play while still providing enough heft for good sustain and feedback resistance. The carved maple top contributes to its acoustic-like tone, emphasizing the midrange frequencies.

There are two f-holes on either side of the lower bout that allow the guitar's sound to project outward. The f-holes also reduce weight and add to the visual appeal. Overall, the thinline semi-hollow body gives the 06012 a balanced, nuanced tone that works well for various music genres.

In addition to its semi-hollow body, the Cordoba 06012 has other features that contribute to its sound and playability. It has a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard, providing warmth and definition. The 25.3" scale length encourages comfortable playing while still allowing for full and rich tones.

The guitar comes equipped with two hand-wound Kent Armstrong humbucking pickups that are voiced for clarity and articulation. There is also a 3-way pickup selector switch for choosing between the bridge, neck, or both pickups. This allows for versatility in tone shaping.

Other appointments include a rosewood bridge, synthetic bone nut, and die-cast tuners with pearl buttons. The guitar comes strung with D'Addario strings installed at the factory. Overall, the materials and components are chosen to maximize the 06012's potential as a high-quality semi-hollowbody electric guitar.

Cordoba has crafted the 06012 to be an inspiring instrument equally at home on stage and in the studio. The thinline semi-hollow construction provides the warmth and nuance desired in many music styles, from jazz to blues to classic rock. The Kent Armstrong pickups and 3-way switching give it tonal flexibility as well.

Guitarists looking for an affordable semi-hollowbody model with professional features will find a lot to like in the Cordoba 06012. It occupies a nice spot between budget instruments and premium models from famous brands. While not as expensive as a Gibson ES-335, the 06012 provides excellent value and quality.

For guitarists wanting to explore the semi-hollowbody sound without spending several thousand dollars, the Cordoba 06012 is definitely worth a close look. Its combination of playability, flexible electronics, and resonant tone make it a versatile guitar at a reasonable price point.

Semi-hollowbody guitars like the Cordoba 06012 strike a great balance between the worlds of acoustic and electric guitars. They provide the warmth and nuance of a hollowbody with the power and sustain of a solidbody. The 06012 does this remarkably well while staying accessible to most guitarists.

Players looking for a quality thinline semi-hollowbody will find it an excellent choice. From jazz to country to classic rock and more, the 06012 can handle it all with class. Its comfortable thinline design is ideal for prolonged playing during gigs or studio work. Overall, it's a thoughtfully-designed semi-hollowbody electric.

For guitarists wanting to add that semi-hollow warmth to their sound without breaking the bank, be sure to check out the Yamaha JR1 FG Junior. This compact, 3/4-size acoustic is very easy to play and has Yamaha’s renowned build quality. Its smaller body size reduces fatigue and is ideal for younger players and small-stature guitarists. The JR1 FG Junior delivers Yamaha’s acclaimed acoustic tone in an accessible and affordable instrument.

Pickups

The Cordoba 06012 features two single-coil pickups which provide a bright, articulate tone often associated with classic rock and blues styles. The pickups are controlled by a three-way toggle switch, allowing you to select between the bridge pickup, both pickups, or the neck pickup.

This versatile pickup configuration gives you a range of tones to experiment with, from punchy and percussive to smooth and round. The pickups are designed to be noiseless, reducing unwanted hum and allowing your guitar tone to come through pure and uncolored.

While not as hot as humbuckers, the single-coils give you chimey cleans and glassy lead tones. They are responsive to dynamics and allow the natural resonance of the semi-hollow body to come through. The pickups and electronics setup make this a solid choice for versatile guitarists looking for a variety of tones.

If you're looking for an acoustic-electric guitar with impressive looks and great sound, check out the Taylor 412ce-R V-Class. This Grand Auditorium guitar produces a balanced, articulate tone thanks to its solid Spruce top and layered Rosewood back and sides. The V-Class bracing allows the top to vibrate freely, increasing volume, sustain and harmonic content. The Expression System 2 electronics accurately capture the guitar's natural acoustic tone. With its comfortable body size, smooth neck and gorgeous appointments, the 412ce-R V-Class is a versatile acoustic-electric that looks, sounds, and plays fantastically.

The Cordoba 06012's single-coil pickups provide a range of bright, crisp tones perfect for a variety of musical styles. The toggle switch allows quick switching between bridge, both pickups, or neck position. Designed to be low-noise, the pickups accurately convey your playing dynamics and the guitar's resonant tone. While not as high-output as humbuckers, the single-coils offer glassy cleans and singing leads. This versatile pickup configuration makes the 06012 a great choice for guitarists who need tonal variety.

Checking out the Taylor 412ce-R V-Class reveals an exquisite acoustic-electric with looks and tone to inspire. Its solid Spruce top and Rosewood back/sides produce balanced articulation and richness. The V-Class bracing enables outstanding volume, sustain and harmonics by allowing the top to vibrate freely. The ES2 electronics accurately convey the 412ce-R's natural acoustic tone. With its comfortable Grand Auditorium body, slick neck and elegant appointments, the 412ce-R V-Class is a phenomenal playing and sounding acoustic-electric.

Neck and Fretboard

The Cordoba 06012 features a mahogany neck with a 25.3" scale length. Mahogany is a popular choice for guitar necks thanks to its stability and slightly brighter tone. The 25.3" scale length provides comfortable playability for most hand sizes while still retaining solid tension on the strings.

The fretboard on the 06012 is made of Indian laurel, also known as Indian rosewood. This is a dense, hardwood fretboard material that many guitar manufacturers have switched to in place of ebony or rosewood. Indian laurel has a smooth feel and helps produce clear, singing tones. The fretwork on the 06012 is nicely done with no sharp fret ends.

Overall the neck and fretboard on the 06012 provide a comfortable playing experience with good access to higher frets. The materials chosen help contribute to the guitar's balanced tone. While not as premium feeling as an ebony fretboard, the Indian laurel performs well for this price point.

Hardware

The Cordoba 06012 electric guitar features quality hardware that enables smooth, reliable performance.

Bridge

It has a classic vintage-style tremolo bridge that provides great stability and sustain. The bridge transfers the energy from the strings to the body smoothly for consistent tone. It's adjustable for fine tuning the intonation.

Tuners

The guitar comes equipped with die-cast locking tuners that hold the strings in tune very reliably, even with heavy use. The tuners are mounted on a solid steel plate for added mass and sustain. This allows for quick and accurate tuning adjustments.

Electronics

The volume and tone knobs have a smooth, quality feel that enables precise level and timbre adjustment. There is also a 3-way pickup selector switch for toggling between the two humbuckers and combining them. The input jack is sturdy and noise-free.

Other Hardware

The nut and saddle are made from TUSQ, an engineered alternative to bone that transfers vibrations efficiently for better sustain. There are strap buttons allowing comfortable playing with a strap. The chrome hardware provides an elegant look.

Sound and Tone

The Cordoba 06012 has a warm, balanced tone thanks to its hollow semi-hollow body and Pro-Bucker humbucker pickups. The mahogany body helps produce a rich, resonant acoustic-like tone when unplugged. When plugged in, the dual Pro-Bucker humbuckers deliver a smooth, singing lead tone as well as a thick, warm rhythm sound.

The neck pickup provides a smooth, mellow tone that's great for jazz and blues. The bridge pickup packs a little more punch and bite for harder rock sounds. With both pickups selected, you get a balanced tone that's versatile for various genres. The 5-way pickup selector switch allows you to blend the pickups for even more tonal options.

Overall, the Cordoba 06012 is capable of vintage-inspired tones, from warm jazz to singing blues leads to chunky classic rock rhythms. The semi-hollow body gives it a lively acoustic resonance, while the humbuckers provide everything from glassy cleans to raunchy overdrive when amplified. It's a guitar that covers a wide range of tones for players with diverse musical tastes.

Playability

The Cordoba 06012 electric guitar offers comfortable and smooth playability, making it a joy to play. The thin satin neck has a fast feel that allows for quick runs up and down the fretboard. The neck is crafted from mahogany which provides stability and sustains notes nicely.

The rosewood fretboard is sleek and puts very little friction on the hands when sliding. The frets are medium-high which gives a nice tactile feedback without being too tall to bend strings over cleanly. The fretwork from the factory is done nicely with no sharp fret ends to contend with.

The semi-hollow body provides a nice balanced weight at just under 8 lbs, avoiding neck dive issues. The smooth contours of the body nestle nicely against the player's body. The upper bout cutaway provides unfettered access to the higher frets.

Overall, the Cordoba 06012 offers excellent playability right out of the box. From fast lead runs to long practice sessions, this guitar feels great in the hands. The comfortable neck, smooth fretboard, and thoughtful ergonomic design come together to offer an instrument that plays as good as it looks.

Pros

• The Cordoba pickup system produces a very warm, balanced tone that works well for jazz and other mellow styles of playing. The dual humbucker pickups provide nice clarity and definition.

• The semi-hollow body construction reduces feedback at higher volumes yet still allows the natural resonance of the wood to come through. This gives it a bold, projecting voice that's great for live performance situations.

• The mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard feel very smooth and comfortable. The action is set up nicely right out of the box.

• The gold hardware, including tuning machines, knobs, and pickup covers, provides an elegant cosmetic touch.

• Lightweight and comfortable to play thanks to the thinline body design. Much more manageable than a full hollow body electric.

• An affordable price point for a hollow body electric with quality appointments like a mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard. A great value for the money.

Cons

The Cordoba 06012 electric guitar does have some drawbacks to consider:

• The semi-hollow design can feed back at higher volumes. The F holes make it prone to feedback issues when playing with a lot of gain or distortion. This may limit its use in some louder rock or metal settings.

• The pickups are decent, but not the highest quality. They get the job done, but some players may want to upgrade eventually for a hotter output and better tone shaping ability.

• The tuners can have some issues holding tune properly. Many users report needing to frequently tune or replace the stock tuners.

• The fretwork may be sharp or uneven on some models. Expect to need a professional set up and fret dressing out of the box.

• Controls are sparse with just one volume and tone knob. Those wanting more versatility may need additional pedals or mods.

• No case or gig bag included. You'll need to budget for a hardshell case for protection.

• Though a good value, it may not withstand abuse as well as a more costly guitar. The hardware and electronics are decent, but not high end.

Overall the negatives are minor and the guitar still represents a great entry point for semi-hollow body electric styles. Most issues can be remedied through proper set up, upgrades, and care. For the price, the playability and tone are difficult to beat.

Summary

The Cordoba 06012 is an attractive and well-crafted semi-hollow body electric guitar that offers a lot of versatility at an affordable price point. Its thinline body provides comfortable playing while still producing full, resonant tones.

With two humbuckers, this guitar can deliver everything from crisp cleans to saturated distortion, covering a wide range of musical genres. The mahogany body and maple top contribute to its balanced and nuanced voice. While not as premium as more expensive instruments, the hardware performs reliably.

For intermediate players looking to upgrade or those seeking an inspiring second electric guitar, the Cordoba 06012 is a compelling option. It feels great to play, sounds fantastic, and looks beautiful. There are few downsides at this price point.

Those wanting top-tier build quality may have to spend more, but the materials and craftsmanship here exceed expectations. Overall, the 06012 punches above its weight, providing pro-level tone and playability without breaking the bank. It's an easy recommendation for the versatile guitarist.