My Alhambra 3C Classical Guitars Have Arrived!

Over the weekend I took delivery of three sets of Alhambra 3C classical guitars. I work with guitarists of all shape and sizes and I’ve been looking to stock studio guitars in smaller sizes, so I ordered the 3C in Requinto (1/2 sized), Cadete (3/4 sized) and Senorita (7/8 sized) from Synwin Music.

The trap has been set. Time to wait for Goldilocks.
The trap has been set. Time to wait for Goldilocks.

Synwin may be better known for bowed instruments like violins, but when it comes to Alhambra guitars, they are my retailer of choice in Singapore. They are competitively-priced, reliable and their customer service is superb. I have always found the staff to be helpful and friendly, and based on my experiences with them, if I ever have to return an instrument, I am confident that the good folks at Synwin will do right by me.

I can’t say the same for other Alhambra retailers in Singapore.

Also, my order from Synwin was fulfilled very quickly. The three guitars were delivered to me one month after I ordered them. Synwin does not stock these sizes, so they had to import these guitars from Spain.

My experience with Synwin was much better than the time I tried to order from Maestro Guitars. Maestro Guitars has absolutely terrible customer service.

Hozen from Maestro Guitars confidently told me he could get me a custom sized Alhambra 2C. Taking him at his word, I placed a 50% deposit with Maestro Guitars and was told the instrument would arrive in two months. Two months in, I did not hear from them, so I followed-up and discovered that they totally forgot to place the order.

That same week, Hozen told me they do not make custom-sized Alhambra 2C guitars. I was angry that he had confidently sold me a product that did not exist, and wasted two months of my time, so I demanded a refund.

The kicker is that Hozen said it is against their policy to refund deposits – something that was never communicated to me by Maestro Guitars. So I topped up the extra money for an Alhambra 3c and was told that it would arrive in another two months.

Once again two months passes, and there is no word from Maestro, so I am forced to follow-up again. It appears that they forgot to place my order again. They blame it on a long Spanish holiday.

If Spain had a four-month long  holiday, I think their economy would collapse.

They claim to place the order  and promise delivery in two months. I think we can guess what happens next.

Another two months later, and they still don’t have the guitar I ordered. A good six months have passed and I demand a refund on my 50% deposit, which is reluctantly returned.

The best part is that Maestro Guitars is more expensive than Synwin. I got a much better deal from Synwin with a much better experience to boot. Kudos to Synwin, a local company I am very proud of, and happy to support.

alhambra-3c-label

I must say that the Alhambra 3C guitars are really nice. They are available in spruce and cedar. Personally I prefer how they sound in cedar, so that’s what I ordered. Alhambra has changed some of the aesthetics on their guitars. The headstock is noticeably different. I’m not a fan of the “A” inlay, but I prefer the new carving on the headstock.

alhambra-3c-headstock

alhambra-3c-tuners

The label is also redesigned, with a cleaner, more modern look. The rosette and the custom made tuners are also gorgeous. I’m glad to see that Alhambra has really stepped-up its game in the face of stiff competition from Asian manufacturers. At $665 a piece, I have found the Alhambra 3C guitars to be extremely competitively priced. They offer great playability and sound for the money.

Author: Dedrick Koh

Dedrick Koh is an acclaimed , fully-booked classical guitar teacher who teaches from his home studio at Sengkang. He has been teaching the classical guitar since 2006 and has successfully prepared students for ABRSM and Trinity exams and he holds a flawless 100% pass rate, and a 90% merit/distinction rate for his students. He was previously an instructor cum assistant conductor at Ngee Ann Polytechnic Strings under Alex Abisheganaden . Dedrick Koh is also a former public relations and communications specialist, having carved out a notable 10-year career in both the public and private sector. He has work for/on brands like Nanyang Polytechnic, Coca Cola, DHL, Nokia, Nestle, the Health Promotion Board, the Economic Development Board of Singapore and the President Challenge. He also also been featured in the Straits Time, the New Paper, and CNN.

6 Replies to “My Alhambra 3C Classical Guitars Have Arrived!”

  1. Hi Dedrick,

    I am thinking of getting an Alhambra guitar that is around $1k. Would you recommend their low P models, e.g. 5p and 6p? Is there a great quality difference between 5p and 6p? And do you know if there is any huge difference between the C series and P series?

    Thanks for your help and reply, really appreciate it 🙂

    1. Hi John,

      It depends on your other options. For $1K (in either USD or SGD), Alhambra is pretty competitive, but I’ve also had good experiences with the Mineyard Martinez Guitars, which Kenny Hill has a hand in.

      But for my money, and based on my past experiences, I’d prefer an Alhambra for that price range.

      Theoretically, there is supposed to be a “quality difference” between the 5P and 6P, hence the difference in price, but does the difference justify the cost? That is more difficult to answer. Play both guitars and buy the one you like best.

      I’ve played cheaper guitars that sound better than their more expensive counterparts, so don’t rule out cheaper models.

  2. After almost a year, what are your thoughts about your Alhambra 3C? I’m contemplating getting a classical guitar about the price range of $600-$700. Thank you for your time.

    1. Hi Alvin,

      At the moment, nothing in the market has changed, so I’d personally go with an Alhambra 3C. Perhaps if prices changed or if a better guitar in the same price bracket was launched, I’d be more inclined to reassess the situation, but as it stands, the Alhambra 3C still gets my money.

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