Professional Fretless Electric Classical Guitar With Equalizer CP-5

CP-5 fretless classical guitar with Fishman EQ

The Sala CP-5 is an all-solid-wood fretless classical guitar with solid rosewood back and sides, an ebony fingerboard and Fishman onboard EQ. It suits players who want to work with microtonal melodies and the smooth movement between notes that a fretless fingerboard allows.

The 65 cm scale will feel familiar to many classical guitarists. A cutaway makes the upper fingerboard easier to reach, and the armrest gives your picking arm a comfortable place to rest.

Playing the CP-5

On a fretless guitar, small changes in finger position change the pitch. You can slide into a note, adjust an interval by ear or follow the ornaments of a vocal melody. This makes the CP-5 useful for Turkish music, makam-based playing and improvisation.

If you are moving from a fretted guitar, give yourself time to adjust. The scale length may be familiar, but landing a note accurately takes practice. Start with slow melodies before moving on to chords and faster passages.

Listen to the sound demo on this page to hear how the CP-5 responds. Pay attention to the attack of each note and how it sustains; these can tell you more than a description of the tone alone.

Solid wood construction and Fishman EQ

The CP-5 has a solid wood top and solid rosewood back and sides. The neck is mahogany, with an ebony fingerboard and a rosewood bridge.

For amplified playing, the onboard Fishman EQ lets you adjust your sound to suit your setup. The wood construction and electronics are the main differences between this model and the CP-4 and CP-3 options below.

CP-5 specifications

These specifications apply to CP-5.

Comparing CP-5, CP-4 and CP-3

CP-5 pairs solid rosewood back and sides with Fishman EQ. If you prefer mahogany, the CP-4 also has all-solid construction and uses a Justpro DP S2 system.

The CP-3 has a solid top with non-solid rosewood back and sides. It shares the Justpro DP S2 EQ system with CP-4.

Check the selected model before adding it to your cart, as the materials and electronics differ.

Included with CP-5

• Soft case

• Picks

• Strings

Common questions

Can I play regular guitar music on a fretless guitar?

Yes. You can play conventional notes as well as pitches between them. Your fingers determine the intonation, so chords may take more practice than single-note melodies.

Is CP-5 suitable for a first fretless guitar?

Yes, if you are prepared to spend time learning accurate finger placement. Previous guitar experience helps, but fretless playing also asks you to rely closely on your ear.

Can I use CP-5 for microtonal music?

Yes. There are no fixed frets, so you can choose the intervals required by the music you play. This includes the pitch inflections used in makam-based melodies.

What is the main difference between CP-5 and CP-3?

CP-5 has an all-solid body with solid rosewood back and sides and Fishman EQ. CP-3 has a solid top, non-solid rosewood back and sides, and Justpro DP S2 EQ.