Cheap, but great sounding crossover acoustic/electric
 

Hi all,

Suggestions for a cheap-ish nylon acoustic/electtric that sounds great plugged in? I won't use it a lot, but will do some fingerstyle with it at my church plugged in.

I've been considering the Taylor Academy and the Breedlove Pursuit. I like the Breedlove's price point. I want a 1 7/8" radiused fretboard and electronics.

Please define your "cheap-ish" price range. What's cheap for some is an expensive guitar for others.

The Taylor's are built like tanks similar to their steel strings. They're not what I'd personally recommend for playing nylon. They're overbuilt for their intended use.. It's almost like Taylor simply changed the saddle and bridge on standard models to use nylon strings.

Breedlove's have been inconsistent for me. Some sounded good when I tried them and other's dead.

Personally, since you say that you are playing amplified, I'd suggest the Yamaha or Cordoba crossover's.

But, be aware that the Yamaha's sound like their stuffed with a towel when playing acoustically.

Cordoba's sound great acoustically & amplified.

$500...? $700 tops...

If you're really about playing it plugged in, I'd look at a Godin Encore.

Here is a video of my Cordoba Fusion Orchestra Pro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKkpQOWpoeU

The guitar has electronics, but I'm not using them here. I'm using the iRig Acoustic transducer you see clipped to the sound hole. The only post-processing done on the signal was to add reverb, so this will give you a good idea of what the Cordoba crossovers sound like unplugged.

Hope that helps,
Gary

I was going to suggest the Godin's too until I saw the OP's price range. I haven't seen many Godin's for sale in the Op's $500 - 700 tops range on CL or Reverb.

Dave

I acquired a Taylor Academy used and am more than pleased with it’s plugged in performance. Try one plugged in a I think you’ll be surprised. Even my local well regarded Taylor dealer was taken aback at how good they sound plugged in.

Thanks, everyone. I do like the Córdoba sound from the video clip. I have been thinking seriously about Godins. They are a little above my price range, but they would be great to practice fingerstyle in the house quietly and to play at church plugged in. I do like the look of the Taylor Academy. And thank you, I will keep Yamahas off my list because I don’t want something heavy and that doesn’t sound great unplugged.

I picked up a Cordoba fusion maple, used under $400. Sounds great acoustic or amplified. The spruce/maple makes it pretty bright, but I like that. Would recommend you try a couple of the wood combos. String selection is important, I found it really needed carbon.

I've got a Godin Duet that comes in extremely handy for quiet practice early in the morning while my wife is sleeping. It's great plugged in as well.

I've found myself grabbing the Godin to also practice quietly while watching TV. Mostly working on perfecting left hand fingerings or jazz chord changes.

But my primary guitar is my Cordoba.

Dave

As Waterboy mentioned, the Cordobas come in quite a few wood combinations, including Cedar tops, Spruce tops, Maple tops, and even Rosewood tops. Lots of back/side choices too. The model in my video is Spruce over Indian Rosewood or as they call it; SP/IN

Also,
Fusion series have a 48mm nut
GK series have a 50mm nut

Hope that helps,
Gary

I have been a BIG fan of Alvarez YAIRI nylon string models. You can go online and do YouTube search for Yairi guitars and see how they are made, make that HANDMADE in the shops. Nice mellow, full sound in those middle to upper end models for what should run you around $5-700.

Too many guitars...not enough time! Good luck and keep us posted on your search.

Good bang for $ in Yairi models
 

I would take a look at Alvarez YAIRI nylon string models with electronics and cut-away. Should run you $5-750 and DEALS out there in used guitar marketplace.
Check out a YouTube search online for the YAIRI guitars and you can take a look at the shops in Japan where the guitars are HAND made.

Good luck with your search.

Aloha Gary. I'm on the same hunt as OP. I have centered on the Cordoba because of your video. THANKS!

By the way, even though the pickup's contol panel is labelled "Cordoba", I *think* this pickup is actually the Fishman Presys Blend -- with a under-saddle piezo plus a built-in mic, with a control for mic blend. Am I correct?

I spent a few weeks trying out different crossover guitars at your price point. I was more interested in the acoustic sound than the pickup sound. I was surprised to find that the taylor academy was hands down the best sounding of the inexpensive crossovers acoustically. I am NOT a taylor fan at all, but I am very much enjoying this guitar,. I believe the cordoba, with which I was comparing it, had a dual mic/pickup system and more eq etc on the built in preamp, and that taylor has only piezo. So, if I were in your shoes, I would definitely try to find someplace to try them (I went to Gryphon in Palo Alto). But if that is not possible, and you care mostly about the ampllified sound, then the Cordoba may be a better bet. The only concern with the dual mic/piezo set up is feedback sensitivity, as mics are really much more prone to feedback.

I have been reading that more manufacturers/luthiers are making crossovers, I saw a buscarino for like 10 grand. It is the next stage for boomers with aging hands!

enjoy!

Another vote for Cordoba. I was recently in a similar hunt to yours (see my other posts for more detail). The guitar that finally "nailed" it for me was a Cordoba Orchestra CE. It is at the upper end of the "Fusion" line of solid top, laminated B&S models. This model is cedar over rosewood. Really couldn't afford the $800 price tag, but was able to find one in mint condition w/gig bag for just over $500.

The acoustic sound (which was my main decision point) is rich, wonderful, and clear toned with a "bell like" quality. The plugged-in sound is fine for the price point, but does require some quality "conditioning" if used for high quality recording.

Six months + into owning the Orchestra w/zero "buyers remorse." Happy hunting, and let us know where you land and what you think...

I read a review in Classical Guitar Magazine:
http://classicalguitarmagazine.com/g...sical-guitars/
Tried a used CC7HCEAR at a local shop. It was really nicely put together, palyed and sounded quite good. Did not get to try the electronics.
If I was looking for a new inexpensive crossover, this would have been the one, especially at the $449 used price.
It is still there at Music-Go-Round in Albuquerque, NM. Unfortunately shipping would be $60.
Nice one.

Flirted with the idea of getting one of these when I got my Orchestra CE, but I just couldn't find one to try out or get any feedback from folks who had. I'm interested in hearing more about the CC7HCEAR. Don't want to "hijack" this discussion so here's another thread about it...
https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=515099

I like how the spell check treated the CC7HCEAR in your quote! :-)

Although I see many quite nice Crossover nylon string guitars, I am not a fan of the narrower neck profile. I am always disappointed after playing them for any length of time. Specifically the 1st "e". Too close to the edge. Perhaps it is my less than optimal technique!

I just bought a brand new 2019 Cordoba Fusion Orchestra CE with a Cedar top at GC last week.

I paid 679.15 (That was 15% off)

I can't say enough good things about this guitar. It was an incredible bang for the buck.

I have ran into that problem on a couple guitars and in both instances the nut spacing was wrong. Easy fix ;)

Nut replacement huh?

Michael Kelly import version of the Rick Turner Renaissance Nylon.

I am looking for a classical acoustic electric where price in not an issue. In fact, I would like to find a nice high end classical with built in electronics.

Any suggestions? Is there such a thing?

Steve

I've just recently played a Taylor Academy 12-ne (nylon with factory pickup) and I was blown away by this guitar. And I'm so NOT a Taylor guitar guy. I played it again today through my amp (Bose S1) and was even more blown away. $699 retail. I'm looking for a used one or a deal but even at that price it's a steal.