In the recent years, a new type of guitar have come to the market. A nylon stringed guitar with the sound of a classical guitar and the feel and playability of an acoustic steel stringed guitar: The “crossover guitar“, a cross bridge between a classical a flamenco and an acoustic guitar.
Alhambra CS3CW Crossover Classical Guitar
The crossover guitar has a classical guitar body with cutaway and a narrower neck with some radius in the fingerboard. They normally come electrified with piezo electric pickup and Preamp but you can by them without electrification too. The targeted guitarist for the Crossover guitar is the electric guitar player and the acoustic guitar player that finds the neck of the classical or flamenco guitars too wide and too flat for their playing techniques. That was the original idea but now more people are finding these guitars suitable for them (guitarists with smaller hands or simply people that feel those necks more comfortable than the traditional classical guitar neck).
Camps CW1 Crossover Classical Guitar
The reality is that there are a great amount of guitarists that owns and play electric guitars, acoustic guitars and classical guitars and love to switch from one to another whenever they feel like it and the crossover guitar makes the transition between these different type of guitars smoother and less dramatic.
It all started with the first introduction of cutaway and electronics in the classical guitars and flamenco guitars. Once they where stablished as a new kind of guitar for the studio and the stage, the Electro-classical Guitar was born. The next step was the introduction of a narrower neck with some degree of radius. At first, the idea was a bit estrange for some purists but once people try them they where totally convinced.
Ramirez 4NCWE Electro-Classical guitar
Alhambra guitars was probably the firs company introducing the idea and the product with the Alhambra Crossover series. Now other Spanish guitar makers like Camps guitars or Prudencio Saez guitars are following the idea with their one models.
Here are some of the most popular Crossover Guitars on sale at the moment:
The Alhambra Crossover CS1CW is a new concept that combines features from classical guitar and from acoustic guitars in an instrument of great sound and great convenience. All Alhambra Crossover Series guitars incorporate cutaway for easy access to the upper frets of the guitar. The neck of the Crossover is narrower than that of a classical and the fingerboard is curved instead of plane. It is especially recommended for acoustic or electric guitarists accustomed to a narrower neck who want to experience the sound of a great classical guitar. The sound is very much alive and with great sustain. The Alhambra CS1CW features a solid cedar top German sapelli body and fingerboard of Solid Indian Rosewood. Electrification from Fishman can optionally be incorporated.
TOP: Solid German Spruce or Solid Red Cedar
SIDES & BACK: Solid Mahogany
NECK: Mahogany
FINGERBOARD: Indian Rosewood
MACHINE HEADS: Gold Plated
The Alhambra CS3CW E2 Electro-classical Guitar. Alhambra Crossover is a new concept that combines features from classical guitar and from acoustic guitars in an instrument of great sound and great convenience. All Alhambra Crossover Series guitars incorporate cutaway for easy access to the upper frets of the guitar. The neck of the Crossover is narrower than that of a classical and the fingerboard is curved instead of plane. It is especially recommended for acoustic or electric guitarists accustomed to a narrower neck who want to experience the sound of a great classical guitar. The sound is very much alive and with great sustain. The Alhambra CS3CW features a solid cedar top German indian rosewood body and fingerboard of ebony. Electrification from Fishman.
|
TOP |
Solid German Spruce or Solid Red Cedar |
|
SIDES & BACK |
Solid Indian Rosewood |
|
NECK |
Mahogany |
|
FINGERBOARD |
Ebony |
|
MACHINE HEADS |
Luxury Gold Plated |
The guitar Camps CW1 from Camps guitars is a professional yet affordable electro classical guitar and cutaway with a Crossover attitude made in Spain with select woods. Guitar innovatively designed with the aim to facilitate the transition from steel strings guitars to nylon strings guitars. It is by means of adapting the ergonomics to those who are used to electrical or acoustic fingerboards. The neck is narrower and the fingerboard is slightly radius. This contributes to a better easy action. The size of the body is slightly smaller and the scale length is shorter.
This guitar offers high versatility and flexibility. It makes easy to play a width range of styles, but with the added value of nylon string comfort and sound.
Top Solid cedar (C)
Back and Sides Ciricote
Fingerboard Rosewood
Neck Cedar
Bridge Rosewood
Nut 48 mm
Distance between 1st and 6th 55 mm
Scale length 636 mm
Case deep at the heel 85 mm
Case deep at the bottom 90 mm
Bone Saddle No
Bone Nut Yes
Finish Mat
Pick Guard No
Truss Rod Yes
Electronics Fishman Classic III
These guitars are hand made in Spain and like their counterparts, you can choose the soundboard in cedar or spruce. You can even choose a “narrow body” for some of them. If you want to see all the options and the latest prices you can press the links or visit www.guitarfromspain.com
If you want to hear a Crossover in action, watch the following video laid on You Tube by an amateur:
Guitar From Spain 