Alhambra 1 OP CW — A Spanish-Made Cutaway Classical Guitar with Pickup
The Alhambra 1 OP CW is a Spanish-built cutaway classical guitar with a solid cedar top, mahogany back and sides, an open-pore finish, and a built-in Fishman pickup system. It sits at the entry point of Alhambra's lineup, but it is made in the same Muro de Alcoy workshop as the rest of the range, and it offers the three things most players shopping at this level actually want: a solid top, a cutaway for upper-fret access, and electronics that let the guitar plug straight into an amplifier or PA.
Open-Pore Finish for a Lighter, Livelier Guitar
The "OP" in the model name stands for open pore. Rather than filling the wood grain and building up a thick gloss lacquer, Alhambra applies a very thin finish that leaves the pores of the wood visible and open. Less finish means less mass and less dampening on the soundboard, so the guitar vibrates more freely and responds more readily to a light touch. It also makes the instrument noticeably lighter in the hands than a gloss-finished equivalent. The result is a guitar that sounds balanced across its range and more open than its price would suggest.
Solid Cedar Top
The 1 OP CW uses a solid cedar soundboard rather than the laminated top found on many guitars in this price range. Cedar produces a warm, full fundamental with quick response, and because the top is solid wood, its sound continues to develop over time — a solid-top guitar that is played regularly opens up and gains richness over the years, where a laminated top stays essentially the same. Acoustically, the guitar is warm, rich, and surprisingly loud for its size and weight, with mahogany back and sides contributing a clear, focused midrange.
Cutaway and Fishman Electronics
The single cutaway gives clear access to the upper frets, which matters for players who work in the high register or come to nylon strings from steel-string or electric guitar. The onboard Fishman system pairs an undersaddle pickup with a preamp offering 2-band EQ, a phase switch for feedback control, and a built-in chromatic tuner. Played through a good-quality acoustic amplifier, the 1 OP CW delivers a clear, natural amplified tone that is well beyond what most people expect from a budget-priced electro-acoustic classical. For gigging players, worship musicians, and anyone who needs a nylon-string guitar that can be heard in a room, this is the practical feature set.
Who the 1 OP CW is for
This guitar is a strong fit for students and beginners who want a Spanish-made instrument with a solid top from the start, for steel-string and electric players adding a nylon-string voice to their setup, and for performing musicians who need a reliable, affordable stage guitar with electronics built in. The mahogany U-shaped neck and 52mm nut width keep the feel traditional, and the included gig bag makes it easy to carry to lessons, rehearsals, and gigs.
Specifications
| Body type |
Classical, single cutaway |
| Top |
Solid cedar |
| Back and sides |
Mahogany |
| Bracing |
Fan |
| Body finish |
Open pore |
| Neck |
Mahogany, U profile, open-pore natural finish |
| Fingerboard |
Rosewood |
| Scale length |
650mm |
| Nut width |
52mm |
| Frets |
18 |
| Pickup / preamp |
Fishman undersaddle pickup, 2-band EQ, phase switch, built-in tuner |
| Headstock overlay |
Mahogany |
| Tuning machines |
Chrome |
| Bridge |
Rosewood |
| Strings |
D'Addario EXP |
| Country of origin |
Spain |
| Case |
Gig bag included |
Professional Setup and Inspection by XGuitars
Every guitar sold through XGuitars receives a hands-on professional setup and thorough 19-point inspection. Owner Geoff Ferdón personally inspects and sets up each instrument, adjusting action height at the nut and saddle, checking intonation, neck relief, fret ends, tuning machines, electronics, and overall finish quality. All instruments are stored in a climate-controlled environment at proper humidity and temperature to protect against hidden damage.
XGuitars is an authorized Alhambra dealer and offers a zero-cost warranty — we cover all shipping costs for warranty claims within the continental U.S. If you have questions about the Alhambra 1 OP CW or need help choosing the right classical guitar, call us at 828-417-9515 or email
sales@xguitars.com.
