Alhambra Guitars CS-3 CW E5

Guitar made in Spain, Alhambra factory outskirts of Valencia.
It is solid wood, cedar and rosewood. I ordered without electronics.
The bridge is conventional in much more clumsy.
The neck is mahogany with ebony reinforcement, supposed to stiffen. (See below)
The key has a radius pronounced as a folk or archtop, and suddenly the bridge and nut as well (see below, too).
The frets were composite, a type of white tusk.
Mechanical buttons have faux ebony plastic, and do their job properly.

UTILIZATION

The handle: I did install a trussrod. He went up too, too dug especially in the area where it is thinnest, coincidentally. I do not know if they are all like that, but for me a nylon must have an almost flat handle.

I still doubt the designers at Alhambra: I found it a weakness on nylon strings (lack of power, dynamics, all ...), I put it on the back of the cutaway as it is commonly believed, until I noticing that the strings on the saddle slipped when I attacked right hand even without forcing. Because of the radius.
I made small notches on the nut to secure the strings, and the guitar is transformed!

SOUNDS

For jazz, bossa, support, picking. It responds well, good intonation, comfortable.

This after modifications.

OVERALL OPINION

I had 250 euros extra charge for the trussrod, a lot of frustration as a result of lack of acute finally resolved. But I now have the guitar I wanted, and there is no equivalent model of this quality (all mass) at this price in other manufacturer.

- The guitar was manufactured in Spain. The factory offers a choice between a cedar or spruce, both massive, I decided for the second, giving the cedar - for my taste - a warmer, more suited to classical when I was looking a more versatile. To be honest, also I liked the look given by the lighter wood, in contrast with the ebony fingerboard, and the tower rose black). As for heat, it is already "guaranteed" by which is the Solid Rosewood back and sides. The table is enclosed by a dash of maple, which is also found on the back of the guitar.
The body is slightly smaller than a classical guitar, and is furious at the thought of Taylor Nylon Series (NS-32, for example).
- It has 12 frets non-cash, and the cutaway allows very easy access along the entire length of the key (19 frets to the rose)
- The bridge is classic. This is a piece of ebony.
- In the settings is complete: the preamp is mounted on a beautiful Fishman Prefix Pro Blend. In practice, this means we have at hand a double amplification with a piezo pickup under the bridge, and a condenser microphone in the soundhole. It is mounted on a flexible arm, which adjusts its location based on the desired sound (more bass or not). Namely, the settings low / mid / high only affect the piezo. We can adjust the balance between the two microphones on a mono output, or use a stereo cable, which then allows to record both outputs separately. On top of that, the tuner locks at the touch of a button. Illuminated, it can be easily ream on stage.
- For the handle, use of mahogany. In back, there is a strip of darker wood in the middle. The neck is narrower than that of a classical guitar "normal". The neck is thinner than the standard for classical guitar, strings and action is closer to what we see on a folk.
The key is ebony and has a total of 19 frets. Marks are present positions on the edge of the button, which also brings the addition to the visual appearance of metal string guitars.

UTILIZATION

- One of the reasons for my choice, it is precisely the handle: close to the sensations with folk, there is no need to adapt to the morphology, as a classical guitar tradtionnelle. You can easily spend your thumb over the string action is low, short, moving from folk (or even the power) to nylon strings, and vice versa, has never been so easy. The finish is exemplary of the frets, the neck is fast if you feel like going solo.
- Access to treble is incredible (for a classic), not only the cutaway is deep, but in addition, the heel of the neck was a bit planed.
- Ergonomics is surprising because the body is smaller than a standard classical guitar, and also smaller than a folk-like 'Western'. It's not debilitating at all, on the contrary, the guitar provides an immediately comfortable oversized, we play his first notes without apprehension, as if we already knew a long time.
- In terms of sound, it is perhaps too early to tell, in any case have enough experience. Consequence of a smaller box, I expected a lower sound projection. This is not, especially with the low round well and long, and treble a little bit behind (I do not regret the cedar, which would probably accentuated this feature). The preamp does his office, I am not able to test the stereo at the moment, but the first recordings fill me (the biggest default, for now, that's me)

SOUNDS

- I was looking for a versatile nylon string guitar. After many years dreaming about the series of NS Taylor, I heard about the series of Alhambra Crossover. The brand, I knew for his classical guitar and folk, she had already revealed to me a very good price / quality ratio. With Crossover, they drove the point home: try to find a guitar with such characteristics (types of wood, cutaway, advanced electronics) in the same price range, good luck! For all their high-end (CS3), it is below what Taylor offers as entry-level ...
- I have no amp, I play either acoustic or plugged directly into my sound card. I see also no need for effects, the original sounds fill me as is. In a mix, perhaps a touch of reverb, maybe??
- The sounds are modulated at the preamp, but I will refine my test in the coming weeks. The guitar does not balk at playing with a pick, it excels when playing with fingers, it sounds better than I expected.
- I prefer all, I do not hate anything, you'll understand.

OVERALL OPINION

- Frankly, I've had ... yesterday! So, I did not recoil, just looooongue an evening spent at the play. But I already wanted to publish my opinion, primarily because I think this series is worth a look, while nobody talks about it (it was not even referenced in the list of guitars of the mark on Audiofanzine?? ?), and then because, before you buy, there have been several years of testing to build me advice. However, it is clear that you can count on an update of my opinion in the weeks / months to come.
- I love it already, I did not have a problem.
Have you tried many other models before buying it?
- Yes and no. Yes I tried classical guitars "traditional", no I have not tried a lot of classical guitars in this category (CS2 one of the same brand, one of Taylor NS32)
How would you rate the quality / price?
- It is to die. Obviously, this is a short, but if you have the chance to go to Spain, find, you will have a very good surprise ...
- I lack experience with my Crossover, but it's been a while now I'm waiting. Maybe there are better, but for that price and versatility (and look), a hundred times yes I would do the same choice!

The details have already been given above and well.

My contribution will be made clear that this guitar needed for my taste and my game that I made some adjustments be made by the luthier from whom I bought it.
So the country of manufacture Spain and Marseilles.
I can not tell you enough how much it is a pleasure to go through a luthier to buy his guitar because it really works in collaboration with you, listening to you play and having a real dialogue.
I tried this guitar shop in Paris and I was very impressed by the game immediately felt comfortable.
Yet the sound seemed good but a bump in the midrange bother me much.
When I talked to my luthier to Marseille he told me immediately that this is a defect that could be corrected.
So I went with him to buy the instrument and so I had a right not only acoustic correction (modification of the dam under the table) but also corrections ergonomic height of strings (frets redone and corrected).
I found the strings too close to the origin of the handle thereby reducing the dynamic and smacked the notes too quickly.
I use the little condenser microphone in the fund not finding it beautiful. The piezo is quite satisfactory alone (Marshall amp AS50D).


UTILIZATION

As I said earlier, the playability is very good.
I originally thought a Godin multiac precisely because of the comfort of the handle but the sound does not satisfy me (and yes, the sound of the fund will not replace it).
I met with this crossover game Godin comfort level of the handle.
In addition it is very lightweight and overall ergonomics is nice.
To return the handle, it should be noted that it is slightly convex but not too much like an electric and not flat as a classic, and neither too narrow or too wide (my game of course).
Access to treble is good but not as well on a Godin or electric, the handle is limited to 19 frets.
For the game, we must bear in mind that this is a guitar compromise: not a great power but this was pure acoustic offset and amplified as long as it fits his game (if is familiar with classical or folk) you reach a very wide dynamic.
I said that playing without a pick.


SOUNDS

For sound so it suits me perfectly in the 2 situations and amplified sound, which is rare.
Acoustics as I said above the fish a little power but to quiet music (bossa, arpeggios) the sound is very nice to my ears: balanced, clear and sweet, warm and precise.
I have a cedar top.
Amplified in this simple, I've never tried this type of guitar that gives me much satisfaction.
I can juggle all the styles that I practice without making any changes to the settings.
From fishing to African music and sweetness for Brazilian music. And two for the Jazz.

In short the sound of guitar nylon full body I wanted.

Caution: keep in mind what I wrote above = Corrected guitar by a luthier because otherwise there is a bump in the midrange.

Another time I did not really serve the internal condenser microphone, only the piezo.
This internal microphone is quite a gadget to my taste, it's pretty bad and hang soon, so any pro mic up in front of the guitar will be better and more efficient.



OVERALL OPINION

For how long have you been using it? 3 years
Did you try many other models before getting this one? yes
What is so special that you like best? its versatility and
What is so special that you like least? Internal condenser microphone
What is your opinion about the value for the price? unbeatable for me
Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? yes without hesitation but still passing by my luthier.