If you’ve been searching for an affordable new classical, you’re probably no stranger to Cordoba.
Maybe you’re a beginner looking for your first guitar, or maybe you’re a more advanced student looking for an upgrade.
Either way, the Cordoba C7 just might be the model for you.
Let’s find out!
At a Glance…
- Traditional fan bracing
- Rosewood back and sides
- Full size
✔️ What we like: Brilliant rich, warm, and well-balanced tone at an unbeatable price-point
❌ What we don’t like: Some of the hardware looks a little bit cheap (we’re nitpicking)
Standout Features
- Solid top (choice of spruce or cedar)
- Traditional Spanish bracing
- Great craftsmanship despite the price point
Our Verdict: Considering this guitar is under $600, I think it’s awesome. It has great playability (similar to the C9 and 10) and a gorgeous, well-rounded tone. It’s not quite as mellow or as smooth as the Cordoba C10 but it definitely put up a good fight. I’d say the C7 is a concert-ready model that would make either a fantastic practice guitar or the perfect first upgrade.
Who is the Cordoba C7 CD Classical Guitar Best Suited To?
We all know I’m a huge fan of Cordoba’s Luthier series and the C7 is one of my favorites. It’s definitely a student guitar, though.
If you’ve been practicing on a cheap first model, then this could be the perfect first upgrade. Equally, I think the C7 is a great budget option for intermediate students.
Having said that, not everyone has around $2000 to spend on a classical guitar (even if you are a pro) and I think the C7 could easily fulfill the needs of even advanced players. It could serve as the perfect practice model for a pro or even a concert companion for a less experienced student! In terms of style, I’d say this model is pretty adaptable as well.
It probably hasn’t quite got the dynamic range for jazz players but it would suit classical, flamenco, or folk students perfectly!
Features & Benefits
Body & Neck
The Cordoba C7 is one of the most affordable models in their Luthier series. It’s not quite as aesthetically striking as the C9 or C10 but it’s still a good-looking guitar. Although its sides are laminate rosewood, they’ve made quite a feature of its top.
You can see the gorgeous tight grain of the wood through its glossy finish and its rosette is pretty unique. You can also choose between spruce or cedar for the top, depending on your preference. When it comes to more affordable guitars, I always recommend choosing cedar, especially if you’re a beginner.
Cedar has a bit more response because its a softer wood and it’s usually better quality (if the options are the same price) because aged spruce is pretty expensive! The C7 has a mahogany neck as well so it’s a very durable model. A+ from me!
Hardware
Cordoba hasn’t changed too much with this model in terms of hardware. The C7 has a bone nut and saddle which I’m very happy about. The lower we get down the price scale, the more likely we are to find a plastic nut and saddle but these parts of a guitar are incredibly important.
The sound vibrations have to travel through the nut and saddle first, before vibrating across the fingerboard and top of the guitar. Bone produces a much warmer, fuller tone and helps to balance out the register. So, as you can imagine, quality hardware is key!
There’s a little guitar science lesson for ya. I will talk about the tuners in the “limitations” section (they’re not that bad but you know what I’m like for nit-picking).
Sound
Okay, here’s the difference between an ebony fretboard (like the one you will find on the Yamaha CG192S) and a rosewood one. I know rosewood puts a lot of people off buying guitars because it’s not thought to be as durable as ebony but I think it has some great tonal qualities.
Rosewood gives your guitar a bit of a warmer, richer tone. If you’re looking for a guitar at this price point ($500-600), a guitar with a rosewood fingerboard might be your best option. I always say it’s better to use good quality rosewood than cheap ebony!
Anyway, the C7 has a beautifully rich lower register moving to a warm but quite sweet higher register. It has great clarity and quite a unique overall sound!
Spec Summary
- Body Material: Choice of solid cedar or spruce top, laminate rosewood back and sides
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
- Pickups: None
- Bridge: Rosewood, hardtail
Great clarity with a unique overall sound
Limitations
I found it pretty difficult to pick out the C7s limitations. It’s a gorgeous guitar and I’m sure any student would enjoy it. One thing I did pick up on, however, was the tuners. They’re Cordoba’s GK tuning machines and, don’t get me wrong, they’re not the worst tuners out there but they aren’t of great quality.
They’re just a cheaper version of Cordoba’s premium gold-plated tuners and that’s kind of how they look – cheap. Don’t get me wrong, they actually do their job pretty well; that is, hold your strings in tune for hours on end. However, we all know I like things to look expensive even if they aren’t and these guys just look a little cheap.
So, considering my only issue is cheap-looking tuners, I’d say the C7 is a pretty good guitar!
Popular Questions about the Cordoba C7
No. The Cordoba C9 and C10 models come in a “crossover” option. The crossover model is 48mm at the nut rather than 52 and is meant to make the transition between a steel-string acoustic guitar and a classical guitar easier. It doesn’t make much of a difference in terms of sound but it would feel a lot different to play a crossover if you’re used to playing standard classical guitar.
The Cordoba C7 comes with gold tuners with black gearheads. It’s a bit confusing because they seem to change depending on the website but if you order directly from the Cordoba Guitars store on Amazon, the C7 will definitely come with black gearheads.
The Cordoba C7 CD is the C7 model with a solid cedar top whereas the SP is the same but with a solid spruce top. Flamenco players tend to prefer spruce top guitars but cedar is more popular amongst classical guitarists.
So, I did some research and if you order directly from the Cordoba Guitars store on Amazon, they will install strap buttons for you. Just drop them an email!
Yes, the Cordoba C7 is made in China but it is part of their Luthier series so it is completely handmade!
One of the Most Beautiful Classical Guitars Under $600
I know so many of you are going to love the Cordoba C7. It’s so beautifully made and it sounds a hundred times better than most classical guitars under $1000. Whether you’re looking for your very first guitar or a great upgrade, the Cordoba C7 would make a brilliant companion.
Although it’s cheaper than the other guitars in Cordoba’s Luthier series, I think it embodies the same craftsmanship and overall tone as the other guitars.
I’m absolutely in love with the C7 and I hope you’ve found your new classical guitar!
Further Reading:
- Cordoba C5 Classical Guitar Review
- Antonio Giuliani CL-5 Classical Guitar Review
- Godin Etude Classical Guitar Review
- Takamine GC5-NAT Classical Guitar Review
- 8 Best Classical Guitars Under $1000 In 2022
Fiona is a musician and writer. When she’s not working, she’s either playing the ukulele or finding another instrument to add to her collection.