why/how Alhambra, Almansa, Cordoba make the same spec guitar

[softbrain_2001]

Does anyone know the history of Cordoba, Alhambra, and Almansa as
guitar manufacturers and how they are related?

While I was searching for an acoustic/electric nylon string guitar
with thin body cutaway design, I noticed that these three "brands"
have the exact same spec Flamenco guitars (FCWE by Cordoba, 7FC by
Alhambra, 447 by Almansa).

The specifications are identical at 650mm scale, 65mm deep, and 50mm
neck, with solid German spruce top, solid cypress (or ceder or
sycamore) back & sides, ebony fingerboard, rosewood binding, Honduras
cedar & ebony neck, gold tuners, gloss lacquer finish, and Fishman
Prefix ProBlend System.

The only physical difference I can recognize is the rosette and
headstock design.
Their prices are similar, too.

I know the geography/landmark of these names (Cordoba in Cordoba,
Andalucia; Alhambra in Granada, Andalucia; Almansa near Albacete,
Castilla La Mancha).
But I know nothing about the luthiers or why/how the exact same spec
guitars came about.

While it is common for guitar makers to manufacture similar guitars by
copying each other, I am curious to learn the story behind these
Spanish makers.

I wonder if Cordoba initially designed it with Gypsy Kings and then
others followed the same design. Or maybe the other way around ...

Any insight or clue is appreciated.

S.I.

[David Kilpatrick]

Post by softbrain_2001
Does anyone know the history of Cordoba, Alhambra, and Almansa as
guitar manufacturers and how they are related?

I don't know how they are related but they are not luthier's individual
work, any more than Musikalia (Italy) or Hora (Romania) - they are built
in factory workshops using the normal combination of machines and
handwork. I think you may find the names are brands of an identical
instrument, just as Ozark, Vintage, Vantage etc are brands of identical
Korean instruments.

David

[Evan Pyle]

Cordoba is, AFIK, the house brand of Guitar Salon which they then distribute
to dealers throughout the US. I don't know what factory makes them. The
Alhambra and Almansa factories are both Valencian factories and produce what
seem pretty nice guitars. IMO, the Cordobas don't measure up to the other 2.

Post by David Kilpatrick

Post by softbrain_2001
Does anyone know the history of Cordoba, Alhambra, and Almansa as
guitar manufacturers and how they are related?

I don't know how they are related but they are not luthier's individual
work, any more than Musikalia (Italy) or Hora (Romania) - they are built
in factory workshops using the normal combination of machines and
handwork. I think you may find the names are brands of an identical
instrument, just as Ozark, Vintage, Vantage etc are brands of identical
Korean instruments.
David

[Jeff Carter]

They are most certainly *not* brand names of identical instruments. While both
are factory made instruments (in Valencia as Evan pointed out), the Alhambra
factory is much larger than Almansa, and in fact produces the higher-end line
of Ramirez student guitars ("R" series). Alhambra also produces a luthier
model, i.e., handmade by a single builder. I have only played a few Cordoba's,
but based on that limited exposure, would tend to agree with Evan's comments.

--Jeff

[Satoru Isaka]

Here is the truth from the source.

Mr. Tim Miklaucic, the President/CEO of GSI, has kindly given me his
permission to post his exanation about Cordoba and its FCWE model.

Here it is ...

Thank you for your email and your interest in Cordoba guitars. Please
feel
free to post this in the newsgroup. You have my permission to do so if
you
like.

Cordoba is not a "house brand" of Guitar Salon, but rather a line of
guitars
designed by me, Tim Miklaucic, luthiers who work for GSI, the the
makers in
the workshops we hired to build our instruments. Cordoba guitars are
built
by more than one workshop, but we do not discuss who builds these
guitars
specifically. There are highly skilled luthiers involved in the
making of
all Cordoba guitars and the concert level instruments are built
completely
by hand. With respect to the FCWE, although there is machinery
involved in
the building of these guitars, I would consider them very handmade.

Regarding the quality of our guitars, Cordoba guitars were second only
to
Ramirez as the best Spanish classical guitar according to Acoustic
Guitar's
readers in 2002. Also, having personally bought and sold scores of
thousands of guitars including thousands of concert and collectable
guitars
over the last twenty years, I would say that Cordoba guitars are AT
LEAST as
good or better than the other "factories" you mentioned considering
price
and quality.

Regarding the FCWE, I personally developed the design of this guitar
with
Tonino and other members of the Gipsy Kings. The pick-up design was
created
by Fishman for the Gipsy Kings (although their touring guitars are
somewhat
different). I have personally traveled with the group and been to
numerous
shows where they played ALL Cordoba guitars. According to their
management,
they play and record almost exclusively with our instruments. As a
matter
of fact, we have recently signed an agreement to extend our
relationship
with the Gipsy Kings for several more years.

After we developed the FCWE, it is true that nearly every Spanish
manufacturer came out with a similar thin-bodied instrument. I guess
this
should come as no surprise since it sells quite well. It is true that
most
Spanish guitars have equivalent models and specifications and price
points,
each of the brands mentioned by the writer you "quote" is slightly
different
upon examination/inspection. For example, they have different
plantillas,
bracing, neck feel, weight, etc. They also play and sound
differently. You
just need to try them side by side to see this. Specifications in
this case
don't mean much to me.

Hope this helps and all the best to you.

Sincerely,

Tim

===========================

Tim Miklaucic
President/CEO
Guitar Salon International