Cordoba Guitars has long been celebrated for crafting exceptional nylon-string classical and flamenco guitars, often available at prices accessible to a wide range of musicians. Their latest innovation, the Stage model, continues this tradition by offering remarkable build quality and forward-thinking design in an instrument poised to become a valuable asset for any guitarist seeking versatility. The Cordoba Stage Guitar immediately impresses with its ease of playability, striking visual aesthetics, and a cutting-edge Fishman electronics system that faithfully captures a rich, authentic nylon-string acoustic voice, even at amplified volumes.
Design and Features of the Cordoba Stage Guitar
Visually Striking Design: First Impressions
Upon removing the Cordoba Stage guitar from its eco-conscious recycled nylon gig bag, the guitar’s visual allure is instantly captivating. The flamed maple veneer top showcases a lively and dynamic grain pattern, beautifully framed by a darker wood binding that harmonizes perfectly with the pau ferro fretboard. Adding a touch of distinctive style, three trapezoidal soundholes, a subtle homage to Cordoba’s graphic logo inspired by the arches of the historic Córdoba Cathedral in Spain, are positioned at the upper bout. These are aesthetically balanced by a trio of walnut control knobs located at the lower bout, creating a visually pleasing symmetry. This design motif is further echoed in the elegant pearl inlays adorning the headstock, a detail that speaks to the guitar’s overall refined aesthetic. The Cordoba Stage masterfully blends classic and modern design elements, resulting in an instrument that is truly a feast for the eyes.
Innovative Construction and Craftsmanship
The Cordoba Stage guitar features a sleek, thinline chambered mahogany body, measuring a mere 1-1/2 inches in depth. Beneath the visually appealing flamed maple veneer lies a solid spruce top, contributing to the guitar’s acoustic resonance. A deep Venetian cutaway provides unrestricted access to the higher registers of the fretboard, extending to the 19th fret on the 6th string and gracefully scooping to the 22nd fret on the top two strings. This design element enhances playability for lead work and complex chord voicings.
Turning the guitar over reveals a conveniently located nine-volt battery compartment and a control cavity cover, providing easy access to the electronics when needed. The neck heel is seamlessly joined to the body, and a thoughtful detail, the back edge of the upper waist, is rounded to maximize playing comfort, especially during extended sessions. The overall construction of the Cordoba Stage guitar is exceptionally clean, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail throughout the entire build process.
Cordoba Stage nylon-string guitar edgeburst finish, front view
Cordoba Stage nylon-string guitar edgeburst finish, side view
Cordoba Stage nylon-string guitar with edgeburst finish, closeup
Cordoba stage nylon-string guitar back view
Córdoba Stage Gig Bag back
It is worth noting that, as with any new guitar, a professional setup by a qualified technician familiar with your playing preferences is always recommended to achieve optimal performance. While the fretwork on this review model was well-executed, minor adjustments to intonation and action, along with addressing a slight buzz on the lower strings, could further enhance the playing experience. These are typical minor adjustments easily addressed in a standard guitar setup.
Playability and Comfort: The Stage Experience
Effortless Playability for Steel-String Players
The Cordoba Stage guitar excels in playability, offering exceptional comfort whether you are playing seated or standing. When seated, the guitar rests perfectly balanced with the lower waist comfortably positioned on your leg. A thoughtful addition, the inclusion of gold strap buttons, a feature not commonly found on nylon-string guitars, adds to the instrument’s practicality for stage use. When using a strap, the guitar conforms comfortably to the body, enhancing the overall playing experience.
A Neck Designed for Comfort and Speed
The neck profile of the Cordoba Stage, featuring a C-shape mahogany neck and a radiused fretboard, feels more akin to a semi-hollow electric guitar than a traditional classical or flamenco instrument. This design choice makes the Cordoba Stage particularly appealing to steel-string guitarists venturing into nylon-string sounds, as it minimizes the need to adapt their playing technique. For steel-string players accustomed to narrower necks, the typical wide nut of a classical guitar can sometimes feel cumbersome. However, the Cordoba Stage addresses this with a bone nut measuring a comfortable 1-7/8 inches, and the string spacing is designed to facilitate comfortable execution of various chord types and single-note melodies. The neck profile even accommodates more complex chord shapes, such as Django Reinhardt-style chords, which require finger dexterity to cover multiple strings with a single fingertip.
Sound Quality: Acoustic and Amplified Performance
Unplugged Tone: Balanced and Articulate
The Cordoba Stage guitar is clearly engineered with amplified performance in mind. When played acoustically, the guitar’s volume is noticeably quieter than a typical acoustic steel-string guitar, registering at approximately one-third of the volume. However, the unplugged tone remains pleasing and well-balanced. The bass response from the lower strings provides sufficient low-end presence, harmonizing effectively with the midrange and higher frequencies. As expected from a thinline design, the unplugged sound leans more towards string resonance than body resonance, a characteristic that becomes slightly more pronounced when playing single-note lines above the fifth fret on the higher strings.
Amplified Excellence: Fishman Stage Electronics
To truly evaluate the sonic capabilities of the Cordoba Stage, amplification is key. Playing through an amplifier reveals the guitar’s intended voice. Starting with fingerstyle nylon-string repertoire, such as the standard “Malagueña,” the Cordoba Stage delivered a full and articulate bass response, while the treble frequencies maintained a bright and clear presence. Moving to strummed passages, an Andalusian cadence in A minor, played fingerstyle, showcased the guitar’s ability to produce robust and balanced chords even at a faster tempo and with a more aggressive attack, without any undesirable distortion.
Exploring further, improvising on the Beatles’ “Blackbird,” utilizing chord shapes across the fretboard and incorporating both fretted and open strings, revealed a beautiful resonance and interplay between notes. The Cordoba Stage truly shone when comping an original bossa nova piece. The composition’s chord progression explored a wide range of the fretboard, and the guitar maintained excellent balance and note separation in every position.
Switching to a plectrum and experimenting with a chord-melody arrangement of Django Reinhardt’s “Nuages,” the single notes projected clearly above the chordal accompaniment. However, the lower tension of nylon strings compared to steel strings required a slightly lighter touch to avoid unintentional string bending. Concluding the session with an improvisation on the classic “Blue Skies,” inspired by Willie Nelson’s rendition, the guitar demonstrated immediate responsiveness to dynamic nuances and articulations.
The standout feature of the Cordoba Stage guitar is undoubtedly its integrated Fishman Stage electronics system. Developed in collaboration with Fishman, this sophisticated two-way system combines an undersaddle pickup with an internal body microphone. The control interface is intentionally minimalist, featuring only volume, blend, and tone knobs, prioritizing ease of use and intuitive adjustments.
Plugging the Cordoba Stage into a Henriksen Blu Six amplifier brought the guitar to life. The blend knob offered seamless navigation between the undersaddle pickup and the internal microphone, allowing for precise adjustments to achieve the most natural amplified sound. The single tone knob proved to be more versatile and user-friendly than a multi-band EQ, enabling quick and effective tonal shaping in real-time. Crucially, these three controls provide ample flexibility to dial in a full and authentic acoustic nylon-string sound across diverse performance environments.
Is the Cordoba Stage Guitar Right for You?
The Cordoba Stage guitar presents a compelling option for guitarists seeking a comfortable, highly playable instrument capable of delivering authentic nylon-string tones in various performance settings. It is particularly well-suited for steel-string players eager to explore the world of nylon-string guitars without encountering a steep learning curve in terms of technique adaptation. While the Cordoba Stage is, as its name suggests, designed for the demands of live performance, it also serves admirably as a practice instrument for quieter sessions or even as a reliable travel companion. All of this is offered at a price point that remains comfortably under a grand, making the Cordoba Stage an exceptional value.
Cordoba Stage Guitar Specs – A Detailed Look
BODY: Chambered mahogany body with cutaway; 38mm (1-1/2″) depth; solid spruce top with flamed maple veneer; three-piece fan bracing; pau ferro bridge with compensated bone saddle; gloss polyurethane finish
NECK: C-shaped mahogany neck (three-piece); dual-action truss rod; pau ferro fretboard; 16″ radius; 22 frets; 650mm (25.6″) scale length; 48mm (1-7/8″) bone nut; Córdoba 14:1 tuners
OTHER: Fishman Stage electronics; Savarez 510AJ Alliance/Cantiga HT strings; deluxe gig bag
MADE IN: China
PRICE: $699 street
This article originally appeared in the September/October 2023 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine.
