Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar Full Review

The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar is a variation of the last guitar we reviewed. In case, you missed it, you might want to check out our review on the Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar here.

Now, straight goods only, both guitars, like you can probably already tell from their identical names are very similar. The only difference between both is that one comes with electronics and the other does not.

Of course, naturally, this already makes this guitar particularly suited to a particular type of guitarist. We will discuss this in the next section. So, stay with us.

Who Is The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic-Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar For?

This guitar is perfect for beginners who see playing the guitar as a long-term thing. It’s easy enough for you to learn, but good enough that you’ll be playing it well into your intermediate years. If you’re already an intermediate player, this will also work really well for both your stage performances and practice sessions.

The Cordoba C7-CE CD/In Acoustic Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar is quite different from the Cordoba C7 CD/IN. This one comes with electronics which makes it great for on stage performances.

Of course, naturally, on stage performances require some power if the audience is going to hear whatever it is you’re performing. This guitar is fantastic for that.

Moreover, this is an acoustic electric guitar which means that you can also use it as an acoustic guitar as well. Many times while we practice, we need a little less volume in order not to disturb. In such a case, you can easily switch modes from electronic to acoustic.

In all, with the Cordoba C7-CE, you’ll be able to achieve power and a quiet performance as we have seen. And lastly, they are great guitars for beginners still learning the ropes in guitar playing.

Features Of The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar

This guitar is made with a solid canadian cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides.

The fretboard and bridge are made with rosewood.

It comes with Savarez Cristal Corum strings in 500CJ, high tension.

For its electronics, this guitar is equipped with Fishman presys blend pickup with an onboard digital tuner.

You get a free Cordoba deluxe gig bag when you purchase this guitar from authorized retilaers.

Solid Canadian Cedar Top

A cedar top is one of the several options a guitar manufacturer can choose to go for when making their guitars. However, many times, it’s between spruce and cedar. Due to the focus of our review today though, we will be discussing the cedar top.

Guitars with a cedar top, like our Cordoba C7 CD-CE CD/IN usually tend to have a much warmer and darker sound than spruce top guitars. They also tend to sound fuller as well when compared to spruce top guitars.

Now, one other thing that cedar top does to this guitar is to make it much easier to play. Generally, it’s well known that cedar is a much more forgiving tonewood than spruce. This especially becomes relevant when it’s a beginner playing the guitar.

So, being that this guitar is targeted toward the beginner, it’s really nice to see that it comes with a cedar top. But how exactly is a cedar top more forgiving?

Well, cedar tops have a much fuller sound as we mentioned earlier. This ultimately makes it possible for the guitar to cover up a lot of messy playing and poor tones. Of course, this is great news for the student as they can stay motivated while learning the ropes till they get better.

Hence, even though pros can get amazing sound from both spruce and cedar top guitars, experts still recommend cedar for beginners. And so do we.

In fact, in the end, not many can even tell the difference between a spruce top guitar and a cedar top guitar. Listen blindly to the video below. Can you?

Indian Rosewood Back and Sides

There are two kinds of rosewood – the Brazilian and the Indian. However, with the former having become super rare, the Indian is now more commonly used. And Indian Rosewood is a wonderfully versatile tonewood of choice. It sounds great whether you’re flatpicking or fingerpicking.

Moreover, all the ends always turn out nicely from the mids to the booming bass and the bright highs.

In looks, the Indian Rosewood lends a dark chocolate brown hue to your guitar that’s just yummy! Understandably though, it’s not as good looking as its more elusive Brazilian counterpart. For one, its grains are a bit coarser.

Also, Indian rosewood tends to have a more porous nature than Brazilian which makes it necessary to fill the pores while making the guitar. But then again, this porosity, in addition to its greasiness, makes Indian rosewood give your guitar an altogether warmer tone in general.

Rosewood Bridge And Fingerboard

The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN comes with rosewood fingerboard and bridge which is pretty commonplace in modern guitars. Its popularity is widespread especially because of how it feels under your fingers when you play.

However, besides its smoothness, rosewood is also pretty popular due its durability. You’ll find that rosewood is a lot less susceptible to wear and tear than other types of wood. This is because rosewood is harder in comparison to such woods.

Truth is, you need a hard, smooth feeling wood for your fingerboard because that’s the part of the guitar you’ll be interacting with the most. Therefore, you need something that’s comfortable, but, at the same time, still durable. And you get all that with rosewood.

Again, another good thing rosewood does for your fingerboard and bridge is that it does not require any finish. This is because rosewood is naturally oily. Hence, when you play, you still get that natural, super soft feel under your fingers.

Savarez Cristal Corum Strings in High Tension, 500CJ

The Savarez Cristal Corum Strings in High Tension, 500CJ are an excellent choice for this guitar. They are nylon strings as you should already be able to decipher from the name of the guitar. And they play really easy right from the start.

In fact, the strings you’re getting on this guitar are high end ones, so Cordoba didn’t skimp here. Now, when you eventually need to replace your strings (this guitar does not come with replacement strings), we’d advise you to go for the same strings.

True, they are more expensive, but they are worth the purchase, no doubt. In the first place, even upon fresh installation, they play easily and nicely.

Also, the corum basses are another plus for these strings. They project really nicely and give a beautiful, full sound as well. And it only promises to get better because as these strings break in gradually, the balance in sound and projection becomes more obvious and pleasant to ears.

Finally, these are strings that will last. So, even though upfront these might seem expensive, they actually do pay for themselves in the long run.

Fishman Presys Blend Pickup with Onboard Digital Tuner

The electronics of choice for the Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN is the Fishman Presys Blend Pickup. With this pickup, you’ll be able to hook up an internal microphone with the piezo under your guitar’s saddle.

Now, working with their friends at Fishman, Cordoba offers lots of useful information on how to tune in your Fishman Pickup in a video which you’ll find further down this article.

Furthermore, it’s also lovely to know this guitar comes with a digital tuner. Now, it’s way easier to tune your guitar to perfection without stressing much. As far as we know, this tuner is super easy to use and is also quite accurate as well.

Hand-Inlaid Rosette

The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN also comes with a beautiful hand-inlaid rosette. It adds to the beauty of the guitar, of course.

Fan Bracing Pattern

With its fan bracing pattern, Cordoba was able to give the soundboard of this guitar a much larger surface area. This means that the guitar now has more space to vibrate better. This, in turn, means that you get a much better response from your guitar to the tension of the strings.

Finish

The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar comes in a natural high gloss finish.

Cordoba Deluxe Gig Bag

The gig bag you get with this package comes well-padded which is great for storing and transporting your guitar.

What We Liked About The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar

1. It’s a great acoustic-electric guitar for a beginner.

2. It’s really easy to play too which is great and motivating for students.

3. Whether in acoustic or electric mode, this guitar sounds awesome.

4. The neck of the guitar is quite comfortable.

5. With Indian rosewood back and sides, this guitar is quite lightweight.

6. The cutaway design makes the guitar easier and more comfy to hold while you play.

7. It comes with a digital tuner, gig bag, and electronics for an attractive price.       

What We Didn’t Like About The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic Electric Nylon String

Honestly, there isn’t much to complain about on the Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN. Plus, it also seemed that customers weren’t agreed on the cons of this guitar. However, here are the few we could find.

1. Might be out of reach for budget students.

2. An isolated complaint about the bridge breaking off which is most likely due to humidity problems. Ensure you get a soundboard humidifier to keep your guitar sufficiently hydrated.

3. Another isolated complaint about the action of the guitar.

4. Electronics are just average.

Alternative Products To The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar

More Affordable Alternative: Fender FA-125CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar

You can check out the Fender FA-125CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar. It’s a more affordable option if our featured product is out of reach for you. It’s, in fact, nearly 3 times less expensive than the Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN.

Plus, the guitar has received great praise from thousands of customers who are happy campers using this product. It has this cutaway design just like our featured product which makes the guitar easier to hold. And its electronics are also Fishman just like our featured product.

Furthermore, this attractively priced guitar comes in a bundle containing several important accessories. In there, you’ll find a case, a strap, strings, a tuner, picks, as well as an instructional DVD and access to online lessons.

Higher End Alternative: The Ovation AX Series 2078AX-5 Acoustic-Electric Guitar

For nearly a thousand dollars, you can get a sweet acoustic electric guitar if you want something higher end. The Ovation AX Series 2078AX-5 Acoustic-Electric Guitar looks amazing with loads of bells and whistles to leave you satisfied.

For instance, check out the multi-sound hole design on this guitar. With this technology, Ovation was able to improve string vibration and sustain. This, in turn, improves the efficiency of the soundboard overall. (Hurry up and be one of the first few to own this pioneer tech from Ovation!)

Still on bells and whistles, this guitar uses the OP-Pro preamp – a really easy to use preamp unit with a 3-band EQ. It also comes with a chromatic tuner as well.

Lastly, for more options, this guitar comes in two color choices. There’s the elegant black finish, or you can also go for the Black Cherry Burst.

Guitar Without Electronics: Cordoba C7 CD/IN Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar

If you’d prefer something without electronics, then the Cordoba C7 CD/IN Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar is something you want to check out. It costs a bit less than our featured product and does not come with a pickup.

However, besides that, this guitar is an identical twin to the Cordoba C7 CD/IN.

It’s just a little less than $500 and is another customer favorite that we are very sure you’d enjoy.

Spruce Top Guitar: Cordoba GK Studio Left-Handed Acoustic Electric Nylon String Flamenco Guitar

We checked out for a guitar with a spruce top as we understand that some people might have a preference for that. We came across this Flamenco Guitar and decided it was the one.

The Cordoba GK Studio Left-Handed Acoustic Electric Nylon String Flamenco Guitar totally works. Plus, it goes for the same price as our featured product which is great.

However, one thing we really love about this guitar is that it’s designed for the lefties. More so, every other aspect of the guitar is also tight too which is why you can be sure of an excellent performance all the time.

Quick Comparison Table

	Featured	More Affordable	Higher End	Without Electronics	Spruce Top
Product	Cordoba C7-CE CD Acoustic Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar	Fender FA-125CE Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar	Ovation AX Series 2078AX-5 Acoustic-Electric Guitar	Cordoba C7 CD/IN Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar	Cordoba GK Studio Left-Handed Acoustic Electric Nylon String Flamenco Guitar
Best For	Beginner/Intermediate	Beginner	Intermediate / Pro	Beginner/Intermediate	Lefties
Top	Solid Canadian cedar	Laminate pruce	Spruce	Solid Canadian cedar	Spruce
Back/Sides	Indian Rosewood	Basswood	Not specified	Indian Rosewood	Cypress
Nut Width	52 millimeters	Not specified	50 millimeters	52 millimeters	Not specified
Pickup	Fishman Presys Blend with 4-band EQ	Fishman	Op-Pro	No	Fishman Presys Blend
Strings	Savarez Cristal Corum Strings in High Tension, 500CJ	Fender strings	Not specified	Savarez Cristal Corum Strings in High Tension, 500CJ	Savarez Cristal Corum Strings in High Tension, 500CJ
Dimensions	45.6 x 18 x 7.2 inches	7 x 17 x 40 inches	48 x 19.5 x 9 inches	46 x 8 x 18 inches	46 x 18 x 8 inches
Weight	11.05 pounds	9 pounds	14.25 pounds	10 pounds	8.7 pounds
Finish	Natural high gloss	Natural gloss	Black or Black Cherry Burst	Natural high gloss	High gloss

Check out these other articles

• Ibanez RG8 Vs Schecter Omen 8 – Which is the better option
• Ibanez SR300 Vs SR500 – An extensive comparison
• Cordoba C7 Spruce Vs Cedar – Which should you pick?
• Ibanez SR500 Vs SR600 – An in-depth comparison
• Ibanez SR500 Vs SR700 – Which is the better option for you?
• Ibanez SR250 Vs SR300 – Which should you go for?

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Get Replacement Parts For My Guitar

If your electronics begin to misbehave within your warranty period, then get back to your dealer and have them call Cordoba. Doing this will help Cordoba confirm that you’re still within your warranty and then you’ll definitely get a replacement.

That said, you should know that the older your instrument is, the more difficult it will be to get a replacement. In fact, in some cases, it might not even be available.

Can I Change Out My Nylon Strings For Steel Strings?

Short answer, no. You can wreak irreparable damage to your guitar that way. From the soundboard to the tuning machines, to the bridge, you could damage the whole setup. And best believe it, when you do, you automatically void whatever warranty it comes with.

Why Does The Top Of My Guitar Look Like It’s Rippling?

According to Cordoba, this is telegraphing.  You can get the full explanation of this concept when you click here. But it’s definitely nothing for you to worry yourself about. It’s only cosmetic at best.

How Do I Care For My Guitar?

First of all, you need to understand that your guitar is still very much living and breathing. It expands and contracts according to prevailing climatic conditions. Hence, you don’t want to be exposing it to things it cannot handle. Rule of thumb, if your body can’t take it, your guitar shouldn’t either.

So, in the first place, you need to ensure that you keep your guitar under cool temperatures. It shouldn’t be too hot or too cold.

However, even more important than temperature is humidity. If the humidity level is too high or too low, you can damage your guitar. We found that someone complained about their bridge suddenly popping off. Well, this is something that can happen when your guitar is terribly dehydrated.

So, in that case, it’s not Cordoba’s fault. It’s yours!

To prevent this from happening, you’re going to have to ensure that you keep humidity levels at 45% to 65%.

But then again, as pleasing as it sounds for your guitar to be hydrated, too much hydration also poses a problem. It dulls your sound and also lowers the action of the guitar which leads to buzzing.

That said, every Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN owner must own a soundhole humidifier. This will help you ensure that your guitar is nicely hydrated whenever there are dips in atmospheric humidity.

You should also consider getting the Cordoba HumiCase to store your guitar. It already has all the ideal climatic conditions set. So, you’re always good to go.

My Guitar Is Already Dehydrated, What Do I Do?

It’s simple. You’re going to have to rehydrate your guitar using a soundhole humidifier. You put it into the soundhole and keep your guitar sealed in a gig bag or a plastic bag till the guitar is revived.

So, how do you know that your guitar is well hydrated? You’ll know when you take out the sponge from your humidifier the morning after and it’s still wet. If it’s dry, you’d have to remoisten the sponge and put the humidifier back into the guitar.

I Don’t Know How To Dial In The Electronics Here, What Do I Do?

We understand that this guitar is geared towards beginners and a couple might not exactly understand how the electronics work. Well, thankfully, Cordoba understands that too. So, together with Fishman, they have created this video which helps you through the process.

What Customers Are Saying About The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN Acoustic Electric Nylon String Classical Guitar?

It was a struggle finding one thing that customers could uniformly agree on with being a con on this instrument. If this isn’t a testimony of Cordoba’s ability to deliver, we don’t know what is. Cordoba obviously did well by their customers.

The isolated complaint about a sudden popping off of the bridge we’ve already explained. It was most likely a case of dehydration. And then there was another isolated complaint of an uncomfortable action.

But besides these, every other person was absolutely satisfied with their purchase.

Beginners loved it as it was easy for most of them to play. And then the sound that comes out of this thing is just mind blowing which motivates you to keep going. Now add sound to the comfortable feel and you understand why customers were so blown away.

Besides all of these, looks were another department where customers scored this guitar highly. The shape, style and not to forget the light weight were other things customers were really happy with on this guitar.

Our Verdict

So, what’s our own opinion, right? We definitely love this guitar. And we do think it’s decently priced even though, understandably, it might not be right up everybody’s alley. Nonetheless, the price/quality balance is something we highly commend.

That said, we really like that this guitar only promises what it can deliver, and deliver it does. It sounds great both in acoustic and electronic mode. We’d have to admit though that the electronics here are just basic, as you should expect considering the price.

Generally though, we will recommend this guitar over and again to any student looking for a quality acoustic electric guitar. The Cordoba C7-CE CD/IN is definitely one of the finest in its class.