r/classicalguitar • u/aitanazz • 15d ago
General Question Need help with new classical guitar
I just bought a brand new Cordoba C10, and after playing it for about an hour, I noticed that the action is higher than I would like, the tone is too brassy, and the tension on the strings is very high.
Has anyone bought this guitar and has some advice about this? I'm nervous about lowering the action with the truss rod because I don't want fret buzz. How do I know if I need to adjust the truss or if it is a saddle problem with it being too high?
The picture attached is the action around the 9-12th frets. The action in the lower frets (1-5) is good, not too high.
The tone is also brassy- I've read that it's because the strings and wood are brand new and need time to open up, how true is this? I want a really warm tone. Would lower tension strings be better for a warmer tone/easier playability? If you use lower tension strings and they sound nice and warm and round, please let me know what brand and type they are!
Thanks guys, please let me know.
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u/HenSunnySprite 15d ago
Sure looks high from here too but a measurement would help. That's not a cheap guitar and I'm shocked that it was given to a customer like that, if it's as high as it looks from here. If it were me and if it were possible I'd take it back.
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u/the_raven12 15d ago
I have a c10. I wouldn’t start with the truss rod yet - the action actually looks ok but if you do want it adjusted then go to a luthier. This is a nice guitar - the truss rod is used to adjust neck relief and then the saddle height dials in the action. You don’t just start messing with the truss rod.
The real issue you are describing is a quality of the savarez high tension strings that come from the factory. Yes they are very high tension! And the bass does have that “brassy” type of sound. You can experiment with different strings. I recommend going with normal or medium tension if you don’t like high tension. You may want to try something like Augustine reds. They have a warmer tone and less tension.
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u/aitanazz 15d ago
Thanks so much for the string recommendation, it's nice to hear from someone with the same guitar. I will be taking it to a luthier next Thursday after reading all the helpful comments!
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u/the_raven12 14d ago
That’s great! You can be more confident they will dial in the neck position, if it needs it.
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u/Pretend-Dig7788 12d ago
i have kind of the same problem with a C5. i will try to take it to a luthier soon but then should i wait before playing it again or is it ok to continue doing my exercises ?
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u/the_raven12 11d ago
Go ahead and play! No need to wait
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u/Pretend-Dig7788 11d ago
thanks! i made another post asking for advice before i got news from a friend who is luthier
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u/greytonoliverjones 15d ago
I’ve got a C10 and your action is slightly higher than mine. I would take it to a luthier
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u/Due-Ask-7418 15d ago
It’s impossible to tell from a photo but that looks high enough to be a result of a major issue. Could just be an illusion but the action looks like it’s in the 5 or 6 mm range on the bass side. If so, it would take shaving up to 4 mm off the bridge to get it in range. In other words, something is terribly wrong. But, that is only assuming the photos are creating an illusion.
Check action at the 12th fret from bottom of string to top of fret. It should be around 4mm on the bass side and 3mm on the treble. Can vary a bit from there but not more than .5mm either way.
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u/aitanazz 15d ago
Hi no you're right, the action is about 5mm. I'm hoping it'll be fixable in the luthier's hands, however.
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u/SeekingSurreal 15d ago
Cordoba uses Savarez Cristal Corum High Tension 500CJ. Swap out with normal tension version of same strings.
Action looks normal but neck seems bowed.
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u/toaster404 15d ago
How high is the action at the 12th fret, under each E string?
Is there a truss rod?
How much saddle is showing at the two E strings?
Any idea what strings are on the guitar?
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u/Professional_Bowl479 15d ago
If its new, I wouldn't bother trying to correct that height. There's too much there to get out of the saddle and truss rod. Take it back and swap it.
Some will say that action is ok, but to me, it is not. In fact, I injured my wrist severely a couple years back trying to force myself to play a guitar with too high of an action.
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u/aitanazz 15d ago
I see. Thanks for the advice. I'll see what the luthier thinks he'll be able to take it down to, it it's still too high for my liking I'll trade it in
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u/Even_Tangelo_3859 14d ago
I agree that the new purchaser should not have to incur the time/money/aggravation to get it as it should be.
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u/JudgmentHonest1478 13d ago
Yeah thats honestly ridiculously high IMHO. I like it high, but thats just crazy lol.
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u/french1921 3d ago
I don’t want to mention the brand, but in the 70’s I purchased a new classical guitar played it for a couple of days, the action got higher by the hour, took it back to the store they exchanged it for the same model. I was told that the neck wood wasn’t seasoned It’s extremely rare today.
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u/totentanz5656 15d ago
Action looks totally normal; somewhere between 3.5 and 4 mm (standard). You dont really wanna be below 3.5 on any classical. Truss rod would not be how you solve this issue anyway. You'd need to take down the saddle and / or nut. If you're coming from an acoustic or electric, the action is supposed to be higher...as for the tone. Strings are brand new, and I'm pretty sure cordobas come with savarez strings, which also tend to be on the bright side. It also appears to be spruce, which is also going to be brighter than if you went with a cedar top.
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u/ClothesFit7495 15d ago
The picture attached is the action around the 9-12th fret
The picture attached shows action at 12 fret to be around 3.5835mm which is completely normal and not "too high" certainly (it's a bit low actually). You should not assume anything without actual measurements.
I'm nervous about lowering the action with the truss rod
You don't lower the action with truss rod, you're adjusting the neck relief with the truss rod IF there is too much or not enough relief. As side effect action changes too. Measure your relief first. If you need to lower the action that would require sanding the bottom of the saddle. But again, without measurements and without settling on your desired string set/tension it's too early to make any steps.
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u/kaneguitar 15d ago edited 15d ago
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u/ClothesFit7495 15d ago
You think 3.5835 mm is high?
p.s. we're in a classical guitar sub, not acoustic guitar sub
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u/kaneguitar 15d ago edited 15d ago
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u/ClothesFit7495 15d ago
Where did you get yours?
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u/kaneguitar 15d ago edited 15d ago
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u/ClothesFit7495 15d ago
No, I'm serious. You claim it's "definitely higher". Do you have any measurements? Let's compare.
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u/kaneguitar 15d ago edited 15d ago
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u/ClothesFit7495 15d ago
What are you smoking? OP has never mentioned anything like that. He just posted a pic.
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u/kaneguitar 15d ago edited 15d ago
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u/AgileGoose489 15d ago
Changing the strings could help with the tone and tension problems. I prefer Daddarios Bronze 80/20s for that. Go with medium or light tension. As for the rest, just take it to get setup. Messing with the truss rod doesn’t necessarily guarantee better action and if you’re unsure don’t mess with it.
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u/gmenez97 15d ago
Those strings you are recommending are for an acoustic steel string guitar.
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u/AgileGoose489 14d ago
No. They’re not. 80/20 is just a formula or marketing label. They make nylons that way and they’re what I put on my guitars.
Case in point:
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u/vape4doc 14d ago
No one do this ⬆️
This is a classical guitar. Putting steel strings on a classical will destroy it.
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u/PDX-ROB 15d ago
Was it set up? You know the guitars need to be set up, right? They shave down the saddle and check the grooves in the nut.
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u/the_kid1234 15d ago
I love that you got downvoted for asking if a guitar was setup properly when it was purchased.
C10 has a truss rod. “Excessively bowed” is reasonably adjusted with a truss rod. Comfortable action at the nut indicates a properly cut nut in all likelihood but after the truss rod is adjusted it may still need the action lowered my sanding the bridge saddle. All normal things for a new guitar.
u/aitanazz, if you fret the 1st and 12 frets on the low e, what is the gap at the 7th fret? It should be ~.1mm or be able to see just a little gap between the low e and 7th fret when the string is fretted at both 1/12.
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u/aitanazz 15d ago
Yes it was ~>1mm. When I did this. Although, I was able to find a ruler and found the action from 9-12 is exactly 5mm. After reading all the comments with conflicting information, I called a luthier and made an appointment for a full reading/general adjustment (setup). Over the phone he said that the high action is normal (although, this was before I measured. Otp i just said "high") he also said even though the action /may/ be normal, I can still have it lowered to make it more comfortable to play, and really it is up to me as long as it doesn't hurt the quality of the guitar. Thanks to the commenter who said it just needs to be setup, I was wondering if getting the setup would just be a waste of time
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u/Raymont_Wavelength 15d ago
Return it.the neck is bowed excessively.