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I have had a chance to go over the Cyberstore
Thomann 10-string guitar "Orfea Tenayo CG471/10", obtained
about three weeks ago. Issues I noted were:
1) the bridge is mahogany not bone; similarly the nut,
though this is less important;
2) the size of the four bass holes in the bridge is a little
too small, they can take Yepes re-entrant tuning, and JUST about
medium tension romantic basses;
3) inter-string spacing could usefully be a mm wider, but
is playable;
4) probably, some would like the action raised a shade,
perhaps a mm at the saddle.
Generally, finish is very good, though the uniformity of staining
on the upper fret board could be better. The woods are solid
as advertised, the top, spruce, probably from northern China
or Russia, the B & S's are rosewood, probably from India
or Tibet, the neck, mahogany with a reinforcing strip, the finger
board is probably mahogany. My suggestions for wood origins are
based on information given in the alto forum, certainly, the
spruce is not European or North American, and rosewood is not
Brazilian. |
The machine heads are reasonable, not top quality. Sound is very
good, "they ring well" in both Yepes and romantic tuning.
Setting origin aside, with saddle, hole and spacing problems
addressed, price in the UK from a specialist salon would likely
be about £2500, i.e., ~$5000. Any skilled luthier could
deal with the main issues. Even with they stated issues, they
are playable as is.
Shipping from Germany to the UK was commendably quick, about
three days, the packaging very good. They do not come with a
case, and it seems they arrive with the three lowest basses in
standard Yepes tuning, but the 7th string is a repeat of string
(3)!!!
Overall, for someone who wants to try a 10-sstring for only a
modest outlay, it does seem to be a remarkable value.
James R. Smith
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