Today we test a guitar from Veracruz, a brand I already know from other occasions when I have tried acoustics from a somewhat higher range than the model I have in hand today. This time it is a nylon-string guitar with a thin body, exactly 7.5 cm (about 3 inches) deep. My overall experience with Veracruz instruments over the years has always been good in terms of value for the money.
The Body and Headstock
A nylon-string guitar in a thin body with a cutaway. The materials are a spruce top, maple back and sides, a mahogany neck, and rosewood for the fretboard and the bridge. I don't dislike this transparent gray at all. The rosewood marquetry details and their black-lacquered edges give it a different and interesting look, for an instrument with a classical sound but a more modern appearance, and one that covers our needs as guitarists in acoustic and flamenco settings and many others where nylon strings are extremely rich.
The thin body takes away a little body and volume when unplugged, although considering everything the guitar does, I like it as an instrument for amplified use (through its preamp), and it also lets us carry it on a shoulder and play anywhere we feel like, since its soundbox gives it enough life to play unplugged despite everything.
The headstock has a rather classical shape, finished on the sides with gold hardware and pearl tuning buttons. I especially liked the feel of the tuners, which is sensitive, smooth and comfortable when tuning.
The instrument feels comfortable and friendly to play. I felt "relaxed" playing the Veracruz 707 BK, thanks to its soft but consistent strings and the body and brightness you want from nylon.
The Preamp
Two aspects of the preamp stand out. First, its wood-finish surface (plastic on the edges and the battery cover). That wood look gives the preamp an acoustic, handcrafted, natural vibe... even if it's purely a matter of visual impact, I like it.
The next point, and a more important one, is the preamp's functionality and versatility. It has controls for bass, mid, treble, presence, volume and mid frequency. On the control panel we also get a battery LED and a push button that acts as a battery "check," to verify its charge.
In my view, the mids are the most problematic area on a nylon-string guitar. What I mean is that when you amplify it, you have to work the mids with special care to get a natural sound. In that sense, the mid-frequency control the Veracruz offers is welcome, for getting a truly realistic tone in the end.
The plugged-in sound of the guitar is easily shaped and, when well EQ'd, produces quite natural, malleable tones. In fact, I like the instrument quite a bit more plugged in than acoustically, because with a few tweaks on the preamp and a touch of reverb it sounds really, truly good.
Conclusions
315.23 €. Notably cheaper than other options in the same family (I mean nylon-string, cutaway and with preamp), the guitar achieves the goals it was designed for. It has a soft feel, precise and smooth tuners, more than acceptable construction materials, careful finishes and a natural amplified sound. I like the instrument. The unplugged sound is what you'd expect from a thin soundbox, but for a 300 € guitar, honestly, I think it gives more than enough, and its balance with the performance through the preamp makes it a good buy. Besides, you'll most likely look for its best qualities live, locally or in the studio, and on all of those occasions the guitar will probably be plugged in, which is when it sounds best.
