The nylon-string guitar is a classic design. But that doesn’t mean it can’t also be a modern masterpiece. Especially if that guitar is the new Cordoba Stage, which recently won Best in Show at the 2022 NAMM show.
Cordoba’s first-ever nylon-string electric, the Stage is “made for playing onstage and addresses feedback issues while nailing Cordoba’s authentic acoustic nylon-string tones,” explains Guitar World Tech Editor Paul Riario.
The model boasts impressive construction, with a single-cutaway chambered solid mahogany body, paired with a solid spruce top that boasts a figured flamed maple veneer finished in Edge Burst, which the company says aids projection. Additionally, you get three sound holes incorporated into the upper curve.
“But let’s talk about comfort,” Paul says, pointing out the Stage’s easy-to-play contours. “The guitar’s ‘stage’-friendly body shape features a 1 1/2-inch body thickness and a beautifully-carved design that provides ergonomic comfort to players of any style,” he says. “You’ll also notice the deep cutaway gives unfettered access if you wish to reach notes past the 10th fret.”
Other features include Cordoba’s unique Fusion neck, a C-shape mahogany build that offers a sleeker feel. This is paired with a pau ferro fingerboard with a 1.8-inch nut width and a 16-inch fretboard radius. “All of this adds to a playing experience that is very close to that of a steel-string guitar,” Paul says.
And then there’s the Stage’s “sonic engine,” its proprietary pickup system, which Cordoba worked with Fishman to develop and that offers a combination of under-saddle piezo and body sensor pickups to project those aforementioned authentic acoustic nylon-string tones. The system features Volume, EQ and “Body Blend” controls, the last of which allows for adjusting the balance between the piezo and body sensors.
Essentially, Paul says, “The Cordoba Stage delivers on its promise of gorgeous nylon-string tone. With easy playability reminiscent of a steel-string guitar and with killer looks, the Stage is ideal for players who want to transition toward an electric nylon-string guitar that offers that distinctive nylon-string feel and classic sound.”
To check out the Stage for yourself, head to Cordoba Guitars.
