Cordoba C5-CE Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar - Cedar/Mahogany

The Cordoba C5-CE is the plug-in version of Cordoba's best-selling C5, one of the most recommended first nylon-string guitars around. It keeps the C5's solid cedar top and mahogany body, then adds a soft cutaway and a Fishman Presys II preamp with a built-in tuner, so it's ready for lessons, school concerts and the first gig.

Solid cedar top

A solid top is the biggest single upgrade on a classical guitar, and the C5-CE has one where many guitars at this price use laminate. Cedar responds quickly and sounds warm and full straight away, and mahogany back and sides keep the sound balanced and sweet. It's light, too, which younger players will appreciate.

Fishman Presys II

The undersaddle pickup and Presys II preamp give you volume, bass and treble controls and a phase switch for taming feedback, plus a built-in tuner on the upper bout. The 9V battery sits in a box combined with the output jack, so changing it is quick.

Nicely finished

A carved headstock, hand-inlaid wooden rosette with matching binding, gold tuners with pearl buttons and a gloss finish make the C5-CE look far more expensive than an entry-level guitar. It's strung with Savarez Cristal Corum high-tension strings and has a two-way truss rod in the neck.

Who it suits

It's a great first classical for students who will soon be performing, a sensible second guitar for steel-string players who need nylon for a gig, and an easy, comfortable couch guitar for anyone. Standard 650 mm scale and 50 mm nut mean it's set up just like the guitars teachers expect. A gig bag is not included. Set up in-store by Guitar World Australia's techs before it ships to you, so it plays perfectly the moment it arrives.