Solid cedar top, Indian Rosewood back/sides, cedar neck w/ ebony fingerboard. Made in Spain (I think). Standard tuners. Really, like most classical guitars, very standard.

I had owned a cheap Sigma CS-1 classical ($250 new) for 10 years before I found the money to purchase the Alhambra. I bought it from www.classicalguitarshop.com on the internet without having ever playing it. It was shipped in a padded nylon travel case (fairly sturdy). When I opened it up, I was pretty amazed at the volume and tone. Being a cedar top, it had a very mellow, singing tone with good sustain. I've owned this guitar for over a year now, with many hours of play on it, so I've gotten to know the sound very well. With this guitar, like any I suppose, a lot has to do with the strings you use. I've tried many different sets of strings and found that the guitar lacks volume in the higher register. The tone is great...not bright or brittle. The highs are fairly clear and singing. The lower register is where this guitar shines. Very tight bottom end and loads of volume.

Like I said, I've tried many different types of strings to get the best tone/volume out the guitar. I've found that Augustine Red Imperial basses work very well. For the treble strings, the search has been much harder. I wanted to bring a little more volume out of the top end. I ended up trying some high tension trebles (Hannabach, I believe)with great sonic results. Finally the trebles were as loud, clear and tight as the basses. But there's a drawback...high tension strings are a lot harder to play. Bar chords are a chore. But that's a small price to pay for great sound.

One "flaw" I've found with this guitar is that there seems to be a buzz at the 3rd and 4th fret on the A and D strings. I haven't taken it to a luthier to check it out. The buzz isn't bad, but is noticeable by the player.

The action was set up by classicalguitarshop.com. It has a very good and tight feel. The action is great. The finish was great...mostly. I got this guitar at a discount rate because there were some dings in the top and a scratch on the lower side of the lower bout. No biggie. You can't see the dings unless the light is just right. And it doesn't affect the sound at all!! I got this guitar for half the list price. I figure it was a good trade-off.

Like I said, I've had this guitar a year and I've played it a lot. I don't do concerts, so it doesn't leave the house much. But I've had no problems whatsoever. Seems to be very well constructed.

I contacted the folks at Alhambra to inquire about what year this guitar was manufactured (2001). They were very helpful and even sent me some documentation free of charge. The folks at www.classicalguitarshop.com are okay. I really appreciated them turning me onto this scratch n' dent model. Saved me a few hundred bucks. But I have to say that I've emailed them with some minor questions (like what kind of strings came on the guitar originally) and I never got a response.

I've been playing classical guitar for about 11 years now. I DO NOT recommend buying any musical instrument without having played it first though. I took a chance on this guitar, and I got lucky. I really love the tone and the playability of the instrument. Sure, I wish it didn't have the dents and scratches...but that's life. Overall, this is a very good intermediate to advanced level instrument. I'm not sure it's worth the full asking price of $1,400, but that's a relative argument. If it were stolen, and if I could get the same instrument for the same price, I buy it again. Otherwise, I think I'd spend a little more for a high-end instrument.

1986, Spain.
Serial #: 000026 (I guess it's one of the earliest 9C's issued).

Solid Indian Rosewood back and sides. Cedar top and Ebony fingerboard.
The construction of this guitar is similar to the 8C and 10C, but this model is a bit more dynamical, especially in the upper mid range. The low-end is less prominent and the attack has more presence than the 8C.

In 1995, I went to a small music shop in Girona, Spain, looking for an affordable sub-concert level guitar (If you're interested in a top-notch guitars, try Alhambra's 11C or anything else manufactured by a reknown luthier. If you are, like myself, an advanced player who wants a little more than a mere practice guitar, give the 9C a try). I didn't immediately found what I was looking for, but the owner took me to a vault-like backroom where about eight C (concert) guitars where picking up dust in their cases. He gave me plenty of time to check out anything from 8C to 11C and after some doubt about a 10C, I fell in love with the sound of my 9C. It seemed like the guitar had been waiting nine years for me to come around. I've been playing it ever since and it has never let me down.

P.S. Tip for European buyers: consider buying your guitar in Spain, moneywise, it's well worth the effort.

Playing pianissimo or huge forte's: this baby handles it remarkably well.

Warm brassy bass sound. Nice, firm mid-tones and smooth but clear in high tones. The overall sound is full and well balanced. Due to the Indian rosewood, the guitar has a fair amount of sustain and an extremely powerful projection.

If you're looking for power and balance in a production guitar: this is your pick.

I made some careful adjustments to the saddle, bringing the strings down a fraction of an inch (not really necessary, just a matter of playability preferences).

Warm glossy finish. Flawless.

The tuners broke within two months of buying this guitar, but I think it had more to do with its long wintersleep (nine years without tuning is a long time), than design problems. I changed the tuners with a set I bought for about 150 dollars (don't remember the brand) and experienced no problems ever since.

Apart from a few minor marks and scratches, this seventeen year old guitar is goodlooking and rock solid.

Looking for the history of these guitars, I once sent an e-mail to the company. Within a few days I received a polite, informative answer to all my questions.
Didn't have to do any major changes to the instrument itself, so can't really comment on that, but I have the impression they take good care of their customers.

As I mentioned earlier on, I've been playing it for nine years now and this soulful baby has never let me down. It really fills the room with a powerful, warm sound. And with high-tension strings and proper miking, it's excellent for performing and recording, producing a well balanced, easy to capture, glowing tones.

Open tunings and odd-tunings can cause some minor headaches though, it takes a while for the instrument to adjust (but it largely depends on the kind of strings you use).

It would really break my heart to lose this guitar, but if I should be forced to buy another one, I would go for something fancier. Nothing to do with the quality of the guitar though, just a personal preference to jump to another level of manfacturing.

I can highly recommend this guitar: anything else in this price range sounds remarkably inferior to the 9C. Great value for your money.