Originally Posted by Todd Tipton
I almost posted a response last night. However, I didn't post because I am not familiar with the Manuel Rodriguez, Caballero 11 Bubinga. So, I am going to write what I was going to and also share my thought process.
The first thing I did was look up the Manuel Rodriguez, Caballero 11 Bubinga and saw the price range. That made it more difficult to give a thoughtful response. Why?
Yamaha makes great student guitars. Period. For the price you pay, you get a lot more guitar. Period. There are many guitars that cost more that do not sound as good as a bottom of the line Yamaha. Is your Manuel Rodriguez, Caballero 11 Bubinga a better guitar? I don't know. I know that there are guitars that cost just as much or perhaps even more that do not sound as good as a bottom of the line Yamaha.
I know there are some very good and consistent factory made classical guitars for the price. Usually, the more expensive they are, the more time has been spend in fine tuning them, shaving a little wood here, sanding a little wood there, etc. I also admit that lutherie is not my area of expertise. No doubt, there are people in this forum far more qualified to get into the specifics of that labor intensive finagling of a factory made guitar to improve the sound.
I also know there are some very poor sounding factory made classical guitars. How much is truth and how much is myth? I don't know, but I will tell you what I have heard. Many of these poor sounding classical guitars are made with equipment and settings better suited for their heavier steel string counterparts. As a result, the wood is too heavy. The guitars do not project no matter WHAT finagling is done. To someone always amplifying, and never had the privilege of playing scores and scores of hand made steel string or classical guitars, it is hard to miss what you don't know exists.
And again, whether the heavier made factory problem is truth or myth, I have no idea. I'm sure there are people here who can set the record straight. So from that point, I will stick with what I know:
Many student classical guitars sound horrible. And they feel way too heavy when I go to pick them up. There are many student guitars that sound good for the price. Every single one of them feels "normal" when I go to pick them up. In a best situation, it is always advisable to play a guitar before purchasing. In a less than ideal situation, it has been my experience that Yamaha is a safe bet when one doesn't get a chance to play one.
If you purchase that Yamaha, I can guarantee you that you will have a great guitar for the price. I can guarantee you that you could easily spend two or three times as much and have an inferior guitar. Yamaha is very consistent with their products. What I still can't tell you is which guitar is better: the Yamaha or your Manuel Rodriguez, Caballero 11 Bubinga.
What I can do though is give some good general advice. I think of buying guitars like I bought speakers. I didn't care about the price. I listened to lots of high end speakers and marveled at the sound. Although I never wanted to invest that kind of money in speakers, the experience of hearing lots of high end speakers made me a far more informed listener and consumer when I settled on my consumer level book shelf JBLs...lol
Play as many high end guitars as you can. If you have the opportunity to go to a major city where lots of high end guitars set in a great mom and pop shop, take it. Are there guitar festivals, workshops or conventions where also lots of luthiers go to sell and demonstrate their guitars. Go. Become familiar with what the best guitars in the world sound like. Start figuring out what you like about some of them and what you don't like. Take your time. Your opinion will evolve.
You may never buy a top of the line guitar. But, like when I bought my affordable JBLs, you will be a happy consumer when you decide to spend more money. It doesn't matter if you decide to spend $300, $1,000, or even beyond $10,000 someday. You will be able to sit in a room full of $500 guitars and find the best guitar for you. And in the meantime, you can play a good student Yamaha.
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