Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Full Version)

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James Ashley Mayer -> Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 22 2010 23:50:06)

I've been out of playing flamenco for quite a few years due to physical burnout in the form of tendinitis. I've been playing other, easier (physically) instruments, for the last 5 years, namely, lap and pedal steel guitar.

Well, the flamenco bug has bitten again and I'm working on easing up on my instrument, releasing tension and breathing. I'd also like to get back into playing for dance classes which brings me to the point of this post. I want a guitar that can be amplified well without feedback so I can't turn up the amp instead of turn up my hands. Point a mic at a guitar in a mirrored room with a rumbling floor did not work out well. I had a cheap flamenco with a K&K pickup that worked well, but didn't sound great for golpes and it sounded like a piezo pickup sounds, kinda crappy.

both of the guitars that I'm looking at have a pickup/mic blending system and I'd hope that would make a more natural sound with truer golpes.

I've tried budget Yamaha flamenco guitars and have been impressed at how good they sound for the money. I've also tried the Cordoba unamplified and it sounds good, as well.

The Yamaha is difficult to find, locally (I think it might be discontinued?) where the Cordoba is in a few local shops as I'm writing this.

The Cordoba's mic is permanently mounted in one spot where the Yamaha has a goose-neck that can be positioned wherever. Do any of you have an opinion on how much that may or may not matter?

I wish they didn't have a cutaways but I guess I can live with the look. I was tempted to get the lower priced Yamaha non-cutaway for $350 and have a blending system installed.........until I learned that those systems cost between $300 and $500, uninstalled. I have a nicer Postigo blanca but there's no way I'm having holes drilled in it.

Any thoughts, opinions or advice will be appreciated.

The guitars:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-CGX171SFC-Flamenco-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar?sku=512446

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Cordoba-GK-Studio-Nylon-String-AcousticElectric-Guitar?sku=583151



Ramon Amira -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 23 2010 3:52:33)

Both of them are low-end, so it probably won't make much difference. The straight Yamaha CG171SF has been discontinued, so maybe the electric counterpart has been also. Anyway I think you would be better off with the Cordoba. The problem is that any low end guitar with a pickup blending system simply is not going to sound very good no matter what, so I think you would be better off spending even less. Take a look at the Cordoba C5CE. It's a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than both of the other two, and for all practical purposes I think it would suit your needs just as well. Get Oasis stick-on Golpeadores for six dollars, and you're all set. The C5CE also has a thinner neck which might be a little easier on your hands. Comes in black too – maybe you could put on sunglasses and wear a Cordobes hat, and people will think you're Esteban.[:D]

Ramon



James Ashley Mayer -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 23 2010 16:24:14)

Critic, thanks for your response. What about the internal microphone that is absent from the C5CE model that you recommended? Are you saying it really adds no benefit? Not worth considering?

I've also been of the mindset that electronics tend to even the playing field.....meaning that all guitars lose character when using a pickup. So, a low-end guitar with a good pickup will sound just as good as a high-end guitar with the same pickup. That's been apparent in my limited experience with piezo's. Do you disagree?

Of course using a mic gets truer results and, of course, more opportunities for feedback. I'm just looking for a way to sound mic'd at high volumes without having to deal with feedback. I was never really happy with my guitar/pickup that I used to own and it had a very high quality pickup in it.



Reinhart -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 23 2010 16:56:29)

quote:

CGX171SFC
I have a yamah CGX171SFC and it has a very good sound when plugged into a decent amp. Nice bass and got a nice deep sound. Only problem i have with it, its a little bit small. Espicially when going past the 12th fret it gets abit cramped.



James Ashley Mayer -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 23 2010 17:16:03)

So you mean it has a short scale length? Good to know.



GuitarVlog -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 23 2010 17:40:33)

quote:

ORIGINAL: James Ashley Mayer
So you mean it has a short scale length? Good to know.

No it has the typical scale of 650mm.

I think both the CGX171SCF and the Cordoba GK Studio have 48mm nuts though.

I like the Yamaha for its inclusion of an internal gooseneck mic as well as the typical pick-up. I think this is a better set-up if you're going to plug it into an amplifier.

The GK Studios that I've played were more responsive acoustically.



Reinhart -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 23 2010 18:53:05)

Ye everything is the same but the overall guitar is smaller than your normal shape classic or flamenco guitars. I know because i have one :P But for its price I couldn't be happier and im still using it for my live gigs.
The girls always think its a cute guitar ^^ (thats kinda lame for me though)



GuitarVlog -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 23 2010 19:34:34)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Reinhart
Ye everything is the same but the overall guitar is smaller than your normal shape classic or flamenco guitars.

I don't own a CGX171SCF but, as I recall, it's plantilla was no smaller than any other classical or flamenco guitar that I have played. It's certainly smaller than a Miguel Rodriguez - but the Rodriguez is rather large for a classical.

Perhaps you mean that it has a shallower body? In which case, it is actually closer to the size of a typical flamenco guitar.

The CG171SF (without electronics or a cutaway) is as deep as most classical guitars. I recall it was Prominent Critic who dubbed it a classico blanco (as opposed to a flamenca negra).[:D]

Then again, reading Reinhart's first post, he seems to have difficulties beyond the 12th fret. Perhaps he prefers 14-fret nylon-string hybrids with cutaways? He could instead get the Yamaha NTX guitars.



Reinhart -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 24 2010 9:25:37)

Well to be honest yes I wont mind having one of those NTX guitars but I compared my guitar to alot of others and its difinatly smaller in overall. The neck width, the body, the frets and the action. Maybe I got a limited small edition :P At the time when i bought it I was so over whelmed by its great sound that I didnt notice the body so much. But maybe its only mine...



James Ashley Mayer -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 24 2010 21:49:50)

Eh, this is hard. I'm now considering just getting one of these external mount Miniflex feedback resistant mics and putting it on my Postigo.

http://www.miniflexmic.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=65_67&products_id=182

I can't find many opinions on how well the "resistance" actually works.



GuitarVlog -> RE: Yamaha CGX171SFC vs Cordoba GK Studio (Aug. 24 2010 22:46:57)

quote:

ORIGINAL: James Ashley Mayer
I'm now considering just getting one of these external mount Miniflex feedback resistant mics and putting it on my Postigo.

Interestingly, acoustic guitarist Vicki Genfan used to endorse those on her website. She does a lot of percussion on her instruments so I would assume such devices would be good for flamenco.

All traces of them seem to now be gone from her site. Perhaps she was disappointed with their performance after a while. I'll inquire with her if I get to see her again.



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