Review of Nylon Acoustic Guitars (including Cutaway, Steel Strings and Crossover Guitars)
Nylon Acoustic Guitars, Cutaway, Steel Strings and Crossovers
Nylon Acoustic Guitars, Cutaway, Steel Strings and Crossovers
What are the differences?
An Acoustic guitar is not amplified. It does not have the ability to connect to an external amplifier via a cable of a blue tooth wireless connection. You can connect with a stick-on microphone or an external microphone, although most players prefer to use an onboard device.
Why? In a professional context the external mike will also pick up room noise while the adhesive on the stick can often be unreliable. The other option is to use an under saddle microphone. The advantage of these is they are reasonably cheap (approx. $120) and most important for a player with a nice guitar, these are non-invasive i.e. do not require any physical alterations to the guitar.
The onboard amplification option is convenient and works well in a professional gig setting. The biggest problem is that it can often make a sweet-sounding classical guitar sound like an electric. I have experimented with many options over the years to help players find the best option to enhance their performances.
Generally speaking, most nylon string players prefer the combo of piezo under saddle amplification, internal microphone and a blender to control and combine the output of both. This makes them independent of the mixing desk.
Cut Away
The Cutaway is an enhancement to the classical shape. It features the same flat fretboard and scoops out a portion of the upper bout to make the higher notes of the fretboard more accessible and to merely slide cords and notes up the fretboard.
Most of the time a cutaway will also be amplified. While the standard nylon string set up is 52 mm at the nut and a string height of 4mm at the 12th fret (from top of the fret to bottom of the string), the set up for a cutaway is 50 mm nut and 2.7-3 mm. This makes the action more comfortable over long gigs while the amplification will be enhancing the performance.
Crossovers
An evolution of the Cutaway, the Crossover is a nylon string guitar aimed at the electric and steel string player. It has a 48 mm nut width and features the same radial fretboard that most steel and electric guitars have. This makes barring easier and provides the same familiar playing style to be transferred over. Crossovers often featuring truss rods to customise the player experience.
Steel String Guitars
Set up and playability is the name of the game here, which is why steel strings often feature truss rods. This is whole new world of its own. Generally steel strings have a spruce top as opposed to cedar. Steel strings often have a solid top as opposed to the cheaper models which will be laminate. Featuring X cross bracing as opposed to fan or lattice bracing. Some are designed mainly for strumming accompaniment such as jumbos and western body styles, some like auditorium and parlour body styles aimed more at finger picking.
Over the years I have found a wide range variable quality steel string guitars at different price points, but the hallmarks are generally the same as for classical: Spruce top, sympathetic resonances, harmonic richness and the detail in each note as it is played and then the note separation in the melody line.
Nylon String Guitars with pick-ups
All models listed below are currently in stock and listed in order of $ value/performance. Each guitar has been hand-picked, tested and evaluated – only the best have made it into our 2023 line-up.
For more details on each model, click on the link to go to detailed specifications, description and video demos. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Pierre on 0410 708 338.
Good entry level Spanish Cutaway guitars: RRP up to $1100
It’s construction and lacquered finish are commensurate with those of much more expensive models. Excellent value for money solid Cedar top with CW and pick-up.
Value for money and exotic tone woods used with striking looks.
APC Koa Koa OP CW PK Slim $699
Value for money and exotic tone woods used with striking looks and slim build.
Z Natural Cut Away Fish Amp $109
With a solid cedar top and fishman and fully made in Spain it is great value since it is very open and loud with good note definition.
At just over $1000 the 1FCW offers it all for the aspiring professional flamenco attack, the ease of a CW and amplification to make stage performances a breeze.
Better: RRP up to $2500
Offers superior tone and projection due to a quality solid top and lacquer finish all contributing to a more polished delivery on the performance stage.
APC EA 100 Crossover Pick Up $1799
A nylon string guitar re-invented for the steel string player with cutaway and amplification. Delivers ease of playing and performance in a value for manage package.
Nice woods, solid cedar top, Fishman Amp produces a sound that it is hard to believe comes from a budget-priced electro-acoustic classical guitar
Iberia 50th Ziricote CW Fish E8 $2390
Cedar, Ziricote and design are combined to deliver beauty, singularity and sonic characteristics with the characteristics of a narrower body cutaway guitar.
Best: Up to RRP $5000
Alhambra 5P CW E8 Fish Flex $2900
Can best be described as clear, well-balanced with great dynamics.
Alhambra Crossover III Fishman Flex $4300
This guitar is an excellent solution to those who are willing to express modern music with a classy touch.
Felipe Conde CW Negra Fish Problend $5000
Power, sweetness and balance from the first note. A top-quality instrument and a pleasure to play thanks to the comfort and versatility it offers.
Steel String Guitars with pick-ups
All models listed below are currently in stock and listed in order of $ value/performance. Each guitar has been hand-picked, tested and evaluated – only the best has made it into our 2023 line-up.
For more details on each model, click on the link to go to detailed specifications, description, and video demos. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Pierre on 0410 708 338.
Good Entry Level Steel String Cutaway Guitars: RRP up to $3200
Antonio Pinto Carvalho EA 100 CW $599.00
I visited APC because I was looking for a value for money artisanal alternative to factory made bulk Asian guitars.
100% Built in Portugal from Luthier Family Atonio Pinto Carvalho since 1975. It’s Solid Spruce top and construction and finish are commensurate with those of much more expensive models. Excellent value for money solid Spruce top with CW and pick-up. It is resonant and easy to play
I visited APC because I was looking for a value for money artisanal alternative to factory made bulk Asian guitars.
Grand Auditorium model delivers a steep upgrade to their entry model EA 100. The GA Value for money and exotic tone woods of prime Spruce top and solid Sapele back and sides with striking looks.
Alhambra 00-SSP Steel String $3200
Specialising in Classical and Flamenco nylon string guitars for the past 20 years. I am usually impervious to the charms of steel string guitars, but on my latest visit to the Alhambra workshop, I was totally smitten with this one so I just had to have it! I hope you feel the same when you hear its striking sound and liveliness.
Bright and Powerful Sound
The size of this instrument, with only 636 millimetres size, hides a guitar with volume, projection, and high capacity to define the sound.
The quality of the woods, together with a careful design of the bracing and the low string action, make the sound of this acoustic guitar a delight from the beginning.
A Modern Guitar Designed for Today’s Guitarist
The 00-SSP model of Alhambra Guitars is a guitar that surprises by its clean design and the high-quality materials Alhambra have used for its construction.
A Comfortable Guitar with a Modern Image
This is a very comfortable instrument due to the innovative designs and quality improvements based on Alhambra’s 55-year history. It comes with very low action and a 0.12 – 0.53 calibre strings.
In addition, it comes with truss rod to be able to adjust it. Ebony and Sycamore are used for fingerboards and bindings. For the rosette, natural veneers and abalone shell are used.
Tuners are Schaller. Some guitarists describe it as “a guitar with action, sound and revolutionary concept.” Amplification Fishman E11 with both under saddle piezo and internal microphone as well as slide bender.
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I have personally visited each luthier, evaluated and played their offerings and selected them for both value for money and quality. The aim has been to put together a range acoustics spanning nylon, steel, cut away and crossovers, using the same selection criteria applied to Guitarsonline high-end classical guitar selection; quality in the note, great playability, craftmanship and use of quality tone woods, all deliver a bright and response guitar with rich harmonics at each level of player investment.
How Can I Help?
If You Have Questions?
Please give me a call at any time if you have questions about any of our guitars, or if you would like me to offer you some suggestions.
Pierre Herrero
m: 0410 708 338
e: pierre@guitarsonline.com.au
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