CC7CE Cadiz Series Classical Guitar

In developing this line of classical guitars, which includes this CC7CE acoustic-electric, Alvarez started in Andalucía, a beautiful southern province of Spain, and the home of the classical guitar. Alvarez's aim was to learn more about the history, the music and construction of these amazing instruments before embarking on R&D. Alvarez luthiers started in the small hilltop town of Vejer de la Frontera, just south of the city of Cádiz. Alvarez luthiers met and worked with the local luthiers and players in the Cádiz area. Over the next several months, they studied four different construction styles and bracing systems and went to work building samples based on designs and guitars made in Spain.

The result is something very special: the Cádiz Series.

Cádiz offers responsive and engaging nylon-string guitars of a quality and playability. Everything about them is considered and chosen. They are a new shape, different from classical guitars Alvarez has made in the past. From a visual standpoint, they are slightly taller and slightly narrower. From a more subjective standpoint, and one that is agreed upon by the builders, the sellers and the customers alike, quite a bit more elegant. The soundbox is more lightly built, the tops are graduated, and each brace is custom cut and sanded with four varying widths.

The bracing design gives a slight nod to the Jose Ramirez III’s asymmetric architecture in that they both have a treble bar. This is to stiffen up the treble side of the top a little more, which creates round, bell-like trebles on the first three strings. The bass side of the top is kept light by using slightly thinner braces, which promotes an open, clear and strong bass response. In order to make the guitars as responsive as as possible, and to stay true to traditional design, the standard models have no truss rods. The necks are three-piece with a solid ebony center rod. This lends the strength and lightness the Alvarez designers needed. Ramirez and other great luthiers also influenced the designs when it came to choosing scale length. The Cádiz scale length is longer than the standard 650 mm (25.6”) you will find on many classical guitars. At 660 mm (26.”), this scale length raises the tension just a little and helps deliver more energy into the soundbox.

Other fine appointments include a dark walnut back and sides and acacia binding. AA Sitka tops are featured on all Cádiz models. The saddle and nut are real bone, rosettes are wood mosaic and bridges and fingerboards are pau ferro. Players of all styles and musical tastes in need of a great sounding and playable guitar, look no further. The sound is clear and balanced, with an articulate voicing and a very musical tone.

The CC7CE features a great electronic system, an LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element pickup.