I\u2019m not necessarily a flamenco guitarist, but when I play some basic rasgueados and golpes on C\u00f3rdoba\u2019s F7 Paco, the sound is unmistakably Iberian. What\u2019s more, the guitar\u2019s cedar soundboard and rosewood back and sides\u2014as opposed to the more common choices of cedar and cypress or sycamore\u2014seem to give it a warm, rounded sound that lends itself to the classical repertoire. And its modest street price, at just over $500, further sweetens the deal.<\/p>\n
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Light & Well-Built<\/h2>\n
The F7 Paco is not a signature model, but a tribute to Paco de Luc\u00eda. It\u2019s apparently patterned after several of the instruments that the flamenco great played before his death, in February 2014, at the age of 66.<\/p>\n
As on most flamenco guitars, the top is more lightly built than on a classical instrument. It\u2019s reinforced with fan bracing, allowing it to vibrate more freely than a lattice-braced soundboard for responsiveness and tonal balance. The body is a little thinner, too, with a lower bout of 89 millimeters (3.5 inches), compared to 97 (3.7 inches) on a typical classical model. These attributes help make the F7 Paco featherweight\u2014our review model weighed only three pounds, five ounces on a digital postal scale.<\/p>\n
The guitar\u2019s mahogany neck has a two-way adjustable truss rod, allowing for easy adjustment. Traditionalists might scoff at this component, but others, especially those having to deal with the radical changes in climate that can make necks move and render them difficult to play, will appreciate the feature.<\/p>\n
An attractive selection of tonewoods was used on our review model. The grains on the solid Canadian spruce top are tight and clear, free from obvious defects, and the laminated quarter-sawn Indian rosewood on the back and sides ranges from a warm brown to a deep purple.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a handsome and tastefully appointed guitar, with maple binding on the body and a maple end and back strips as well. The rosette, a mosaic of multicolored natural woods, is elegant. And especially nice details are found on the tuning machines, C\u00f3rdoba\u2019s own design. The tuners are mounted to plates embellished with black-and-gold floral motifs, and the black plastic buttons have a grainy appearance that mimics ebony.<\/p>\n
The F7 Paco might not be a fine concert instrument, but it\u2019s nicely built. Its 19 frets are cleanly seated and polished; its bone nut slotted with precision. The glossy polyurethane finish doesn\u2019t feel overly thick and is very cleanly buffed. Inside the box, there are minimal artifacts from the manufacturing process, like the occasional trace of glue, but they don\u2019t detract much from the instrument.<\/p>\n
Great Playability & Sonic Range<\/h2>\n
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\nWeighing almost nothing, the F7 Paco sits nicely on the lap. It\u2019s a pleasure to play with its traditional C-shaped neck and 52-millimeter (2.04-inch) nut. The instrument\u2019s flat neck angle and sleek low action make it possible to do speedy single-note lines and barre chords alike without any fret-hand strain.<\/p>\n
The F7 Paco has a fast and lively response in all registers, with good note separation, and this is what makes it work well as a student flamenco guitar. It\u2019s satisfying to use the guitar in trying seven basic techniques\u2014the five-stroke tremolo, picado, arpeggio, golpe, alzap\u00faa, legato, and rasgueado\u2014as the guitarist Ben Woods demonstrates on Cordoba\u2019s YouTube page<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n It feels similarly good to read through some pieces intended for the classical guitar: an arrangement of Maurice Ravel\u2019s Pavane pour une infante d\u00e9funte<\/em> and Toru Takemitsu\u2019s All in Twilight<\/em>, the latter piece benefitting from the instrument\u2019s vibrant harmonics. In an entirely different direction, I tried some chord-melody-style jazz in the manner of Gene Bertoncini, as well as some bossa nova comping. The F7 Paco fares well in these contexts\u2014the individual members of complex chords can be heard clearly, perhaps owing to the rosewood back and sides.<\/p>\n Whether or not Paco de Luc\u00eda would have approved of the new instrument bearing his name will never be known, but what\u2019s clear is that the C\u00f3rdoba\u2019s F7 Paco is a smart choice for the guitarist looking to delve into flamenco without investing in an expensive instrument. As a bonus, it\u2019s a versatile guitar that works quite well in other contexts. But perhaps most important, it\u2019s great fun to play.<\/p>\n BODY<\/strong>At a Glance C\u00f3rdoba F7 Paco<\/h2>\n
\nSolid Canadian cedar top with Spanish fan bracing; Clear Spanish golpeadores; Indian rosewood\u00a0 back and sides;\u00a0 High-gloss\u00a0 polyurethane finish<\/p>\n