Cordoba is a renowned brand of guitars that has been around for more than 7 decades. Guitars sourced from Cordoba are perfect in the finish, performance, and durability. There are tons of other features as well that add more to the Cordoba guitars.
Cordoba offers a number of models to choose from. On the list of the most sought-after models of Cordoba, Fusion 12 and Orchestra CE stand on the top. Their comparison is often discussed to see which one is better than the other one.
However, this article stresses discovering the features of these two guitar models and comparing them with each other to conclude which one is coherent with your needs and requirements.
Cordoba Fusion 12 vs Orchestra CE Comparison
| Features | The Cordoba Fusion 12 | Orchestra CE |
|---|---|---|
| Fretboard | Ebony, arched | Ebony |
| Top | Solid spruce | Solid Western Red Cedar |
| Pickup Type | Fishman | Undersaddle Piezo, Onboard Tuner |
| Scale | 640 mm | 650 mm |
| Nut width | 48 mm | 48 mm |
| Colour | Natural, high gloss | Natural (NAT) |
Fusion 12
The Cordoba Fusion 12 guitar model is recognizable with its comfortable neck and radiused fingerboard. The use of Canadian cedar for the top has enhanced the charm of this guitar.
As far as the back and sides are concerned, they are made from the European spruce top and mahogany. There are seven fan braces used in Fusion 12. On the top and bottom, there are machine+kerfed linings.
Fusion Series
The Cordoba 12 is a popular part of the Fusion series that is well designed and manufactured. Whenever you play this guitar, you will get the feel of steel-string acoustics. A large population prefers Fusion 12 just because of the playability and feel it offers.
The best thing about Fusion 12 is that it has the same body, warmth, and resonance of a classical nylon string guitar, thus it successfully aped the traditional Spanish construction.
Neck
The carving of an internal soundhole rosette reinforcement is properly done. A traditional neck block is a part of the neck that has the job of making connections with all the parts of the neck, top, sides, and bottom.
The top requires the necessary reinforcement which comes from the visible curved shape. There is a load of the string’s tension that is spread onto the back with the help of an extended foot.
Frets
The number of frets in Fusion 12 is clear in its name. The further back sitting of the bridge on the soundboard is promoted by these frets.
Sounds
The lower positions of the Fusion 12 do give a feel of a little cramping. There is no distance between the top strings either which makes them quite close to the fingerboard edge.
The guitars of the fusion are quite great with a nice balancing touch in them. The sound coming out of these guitars is clear enough to appeal to many. The directness and clarity of the sound save it from the complexity.
Tonewoods
When the requirement for low midrange is balanced and powerful, it gets fulfilled with the mahogany neck, back and sides. The liveliness and brilliant projection of the guitar capture the attention of many people.
Fishman Electronics
The built-in Fishman electronics produce a great tone. It doesn’t matter if you are playing Fusion 12 live or just using it for the record, Fishman 12 ensures that every nuance of the performance is picked up.
Finish
Manufacturers of Fusion 12 have taken every factor into consideration while designing the finish for the guitar.
Insightful finishing touches like ebony top purfling, 3-play maple, high gloss polyurethane finish, and a hand inlaid wooden rosette add more to the beauty and practicality of the Fusion 12 guitar.
Orchestra CE
Orchestra CE is popular as one of the best-selling guitar models of Cordoba. Factors like durability and the right finish are taken care of, thanks to the solid Canadian cedar top and sides made of rosewood.
The number of frets on the body of Orchestra CE guitars is 12 and the fingerboard has a radius of 16″. The vibration and resonance produced across the soundboard are maximized with these features. As a result, you get a sharp and loud tone.
The side cutaway allows you to play for all the dynamic genres at the same time. You are totally comfortable while playing the guitar.
It is guaranteed that you will be playing this guitar in upcoming years and the credit goes to the classic construction methods used by Cordoba.
Fishman Electronics
The great plugged-in tone is a result of an excellent Fishman pickup system. There is also a built-in tuner that helps you produce the best sound.
Premium Tonewoods
Despite having a low cost, Orchestra CE uses quality materials in its making. On the back and sides of the guitar, the Indian Rosewood is used to provide the basis for a powerful tonal foundation.
You also get a perfect balance of brightness and warmth with the solid Canadian cedar top.
The neck is able to transfer the string energy to the cedar top because it is mahogany. That’s not it. There are two more factors that bring out the elegant look of the guitar. They include a Rosewood bridge and ebony fingerboard.
Great Looks And Feels
If you are in search of a guitar that you can flex on in front of your family and friends, Orchestra CE is the one. The reason is that it looks great. Another thing that can add to the charm of the guitar is the gloss finish.
However, one cannot simply buy a musical instrument just because it looks good. There is much more to that. The basic purpose behind the design of Orchestra CE is the maximum playability of the guitar.
Conclusion
Fusion 12 is a great Cordoba guitar for people who are in need of a guitar with a thin neck and rich tone. However, people who like fusion 12 but do not want a full-fledged dreadnought shape on their guitar, should opt for Orchestra CE.
When I looked into it, I was told the CE has solid back and sides, while the Fusion 12 has laminated back and sides. Also, I think the fretboard is a different material, but not sure about that.
I’m trying to figure out why there’s a $250 difference between the Fushion 12 ce and orchestra ce. Are they both laminate back and sides or the the orchestra solid back and sides. I know the tops are both solid. Just trying to understand the $250 price difference.