Advice please on classical purchase

bfloyd6969 · #1 01-05-2012, 11:39 PM

Hello everyone. I'm looking at either the La Patrie Etude, or the Cordoba C5 to buy and would like to hear your all opinions on them. I don't have access to play them locally so it would need to be a mail order purchase. I'm not concerned about traditional build or not as I know these two are quite different in those regards. Can anyone say yah or nah on either of the two in terms of quality? Thanks.

jeastman · #2 01-06-2012, 08:20 AM

I've not played a C5, but I recently purchased a Cordoba 75r (older model) and it is a wonderful sounding and playing guitar. I'm very happy with my Cordoba.

DrJ · #3 01-06-2012, 06:48 PM

I got a Cordoba C5 a few months ago, and took it to my local luthiers for a set up just to bring the action down a bit. They were all astonished, they said, when I picked it up. The essential comment was "It sounds better than a lot of thousand dollar classicals we see in here day after day!" I agree. I might eventually look for something higher end someday when I get better than I currently am, but this is a great guitar, and a spectacular guitar for the money. (I haven't played your other choice, though...) Good luck!

bfloyd6969 · #4 01-06-2012, 07:26 PM

Thanks for the replies, all. Well, as it turned out I went with neither of the mentioned. Instead, I just pulled the trigger and ordered this Breedlove Passport N200:

I know it is quite different from the others, but I really wanted more of a crossover anyways. This model has been discontinued by Breedlove and I have been curious about it for a long time. When I found one NOS online for a killer price I didn't hesitate. My plans for this guitar aquisition is to play the extensive library of flatpicked celtic, medival, and renaissance music that I have. So, this guitar will be a nylon stringed, flatpicker

Dru Edwards · #5 01-07-2012, 10:11 AM

Congrats Bryan! Great pics too. I'm glad to hear that you found a guitar that suits your need.

fitness1 · #6 01-07-2012, 09:23 PM

looks like I'm too late.....this doesn't have a 1 7/8 nut or radiused fingerboard, but WHAT a deal!!

http://www.guitarsalon.com/p15-anton...300e-cdin.html

If I didn't already have my AA100, I'd be calling these folks!

bfloyd6969 · #7 01-14-2012, 09:03 PM

Woo hoo!! The guitar arrived today! It's very hard to leave it in the box for a day... Can't wait till tomorrow so that I can take it out. I'll be sure to post a small review of it.

bfloyd6969 · #8 01-15-2012, 07:07 PM

Finally got to open up the Breedlove N200, and I am pleased with the guitar. First and foremost it should be noted that the specs on the Breedlove site, as well as the sales sites about the 1 3/4" nut width is incorrect. The one I have has the more common crossover nut width of 1 7/8". The guitar is not very loud, but seems to be well balanced. It is surely loud enough for folk singer stuff, which is one of the things I will be doing with this, as well as solo celtic and renaissance flatpicking. I was also going to be using this to back up my daughter and her boehm flute to play some duet celtic pieces, but I don't know yet if it will keep up - we'll see about that. The treble strings sound a bit tubby, but the bass strings show a bit of tarnish so they could be a bit old. The fingerboard is indeed radiused, but exactly how much I couldn't say. The construction appears to very well done for a budget friendly guitar, and the satin finish feels real nice. I am going to look for some brighter sounding treble strings as well as perhaps some bronze wound basses. All in all it is a nice crossover for a good price. I did notice that Breedlove discontinued these, which is a shame for those looking for a low priced crossover...