Manuel Rodriguez ACUT-U Review – Spanish-Made for Premium Acoustic Perfection

Body And Neck:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

• Check Price on Amazon
• Check Price on Guitar Center
• Check Price on Musician's Friend

When searching for a nylon-stringed guitar up to $1,500 in value, chances are you want something hand-crafted in Spain, the true home of the classical guitar. With the Manuel Rodriguez ACUT-U – a modern performer oozing traditional class – you might just have found it. The family-owned brand has been building classical guitars since the early 1900s. So, what does more than 100 years of experience get you? Let’s find out.

Body & Neck

Make no mistakes, the ACUT-U is a seriously good-looking instrument, with a traditional classical body style and a scale length of 25.6”. However, this model is tailored to the modern player, who still wants classic craftsmanship and tone, but with some contemporary performance-enhancing features. Such as the soft cutaway in the body for easier access to the upper frets. The mahogany neck, too, is incredibly sleek, with a glossy finish, an Indian rosewood fretboard (a nut width of 2.04”), and 19 silver-plated frets.

The body itself is made using a delightful honey-colored, hand-selected solid Canadian cedar for the top – featuring an intricate multi-colored wood rosette – and a laminated Indian rosewood on the back and sides. The highlight, though, is the craftsmanship. The ACUT-U is built in Spain and is almost entirely handmade by experienced luthiers. And it shows. It’s flawless, and fully justifies the high-end price tag.

Hardware

When it comes to electronics, the L. R. Baggs system is a perfect match for the ACUT-U. It features an undersaddle piezo pickup and a simple control panel, offering volume, 2-band EQ controls, and a built-in digital tuner. It’s not the most versatile system around, especially at this price, but it is still handy for stage performances.

The ACUT-U also comes fitted with a set of deluxe gold-plated open-geared tuning machines, which are a quality addition and hold tuning very well. There’s also a rosewood bridge, a bone nut and saddle, and a set of D’Addario J46 EXP strings, ready to go out of the box. The only gripe is that it doesn’t come with a case, which is a bit of a shame considering the price you pay.

Sound

As you may expect from such a well-made guitar in this price range, the ACUT-U has an exquisite voice. The combination of quality woods and superior build ensures the acoustic projection is big and bold, while the cedar and rosewood offer a warm, mellow tone that is perfect for classical music and fingerstyle. Through the L. R. Baggs pickup and preamp, the sound is very suitable for amplified performances, with the onboard EQ controls allowing for a little variation in tone.

Conclusion

We have no reservations in recommending the ACUT-U to any regular performing classical guitarist who wants performance-worthy electronics and an enchanting sound. It’s a beautiful guitar with a tone to match, and a build-quality that will ensure it will last you a lifetime. It’s not cheap, but nothing of this quality ever is.

For more info about the Manuel Rodriguez ACUT-U, click here.
For more Acoustic Guitars Under $1,500 you might like, click here.