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  #1  
Old 01-26-2018, 05:02 PM
BernebeM50 BernebeM50 is offline
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Default Decent Flamenco Guitar for $2000

I know it is difficult to assess a guitar without trying it out but there are no flamenco guitars to try near me so I have to rely on Internet research and taking a chance. I have been lucky so far with my choices for classical and steel string guitars but now I am thinking of trying a Flamenco guitar. It is too easy to scratch a classical guitar with my clumsy exuberant attempts at playing in this style.

So I started looking at possible guitars online and came across a minty looking Yamaha FC-36 but it seems kind of expensive. I have a cheap Yamaha G-231 II classical guitar that had served me well for many years (now replaced with a Taurus M56 and a Bernabe M50) but I only paid $250 for it. The one I am looking at costs ten times as much for a 1990 model. Are Grand Concert Yamaha flamenco guitars decent or should I be looking for something else? There are many choices for flamenco guitars and some of them cost quite a bit for even damaged ones (cracks, large dings).
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2004 Luis Sevillano Flamenco
1979 Ramirez 1a 10 String
2008 OOO Bertoncini
1992 Paulino Bernabe M-50
2005 Breedlove C-25 Northwest Classic
1968 Taurus model 56
2005 Dan Lankford 8 Course Renaissance Lute
old German Lute Guitar
1982 Yamaha G231 II
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  #2  
Old 01-26-2018, 05:15 PM
dkstott dkstott is offline
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Have you seen the Cordoba GK studio Cypress model??

Sweetwater has them for under a grand. Here's a link to the Cordoba website

https://www.cordobaguitars.com/guitars/gk-studio/
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  #3  
Old 01-26-2018, 05:50 PM
BernebeM50 BernebeM50 is offline
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Those look nice. I don't have access to try them out or compare them. I wonder which would sound better, The new Cordoba or older Yamaha?
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2004 Luis Sevillano Flamenco
1979 Ramirez 1a 10 String
2008 OOO Bertoncini
1992 Paulino Bernabe M-50
2005 Breedlove C-25 Northwest Classic
1968 Taurus model 56
2005 Dan Lankford 8 Course Renaissance Lute
old German Lute Guitar
1982 Yamaha G231 II
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  #4  
Old 01-26-2018, 06:05 PM
Bax Burgess Bax Burgess is offline
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As important as cost, is the op searching for a dry or lush sound? It's not 'cut and dried' when selecting a blanca - some are predominantly lush like negras. I haven't found it an easy search, for a dry blanca, when depending on web descriptions. I have a Cordoba F7 blanca that was an average sounding classical until I 'dumbed it down' by tightening up and clarifying the sonic range with a corian saddle.
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  #5  
Old 01-26-2018, 06:38 PM
Dogsnax Dogsnax is offline
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I made a huge strategic change in my guitar playing recently - I sold all my classical guitars and bought three flamencos....two blancas and one negra.

The negra is my high-end instrument, luthier made by Ethan Deutsch - very "flamenco" characterstics: 52mm nut width, 656 scale length, planetary pegs, and lightning fast, low actions. A key distinction between classical and flamenco guitars is the much lower saddle height (should be under 9mm) and a flatter neck angle. Action at the 12th fret 6th string is 2.7mm. Low, low, low with lots of growl. True flamenco construction.

I also picked up a 2013 Darren Hippner Barbero blanca on Reverb - fantastic guitar all around - french polish, nice low saddle, 40-year old Euro spruce top....wonderful guitar for both fingerstyle pieces as well as flamenco. Paid $1,300

Last, I bought a really nice 2017 Navarro Student Flamenco blanca from Ramon Admira - TREMENDOUS bang for the buck - all solid woods, great construction, true flamenco presence and tone. You can buy one of these new for well under 2K (retail at $1,300). Marlon Francisco builds the student models and his dad Francisco makes the concert and special concert models - truly world-class instruments. Vicente Amigo recorded his most recent cd with a Navarro Special Concert and he is very loyal to his Manuel Reyes that he's been playing for many years. If you're patient, you can probably pick up a Francisco Navarro concert for under $2K..they retail at $2,200.

Although I'm a fan of Cordoba guitars, if you want a true flamenco guitar, I'd pass on the cypress GK pro. Nice guitars, but they're lacking some of the true flamenco tone and growl.

Find yourself a Navarro and you'll never be sorry!
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Old 01-27-2018, 01:12 AM
Guitar Slim II Guitar Slim II is offline
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The local GC has had a couple of Manuel Rodriguez flamenco models at >$1000 that were fantastic for the price. Good tone, great projection and playability.

Beautiful too. Rodriguez is experimenting with cutaways, modified body shapes and sound-hole design. Definitely worth checking out.
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Old 01-27-2018, 10:50 AM
BernebeM50 BernebeM50 is offline
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Another great choice, thanks.
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2004 Luis Sevillano Flamenco
1979 Ramirez 1a 10 String
2008 OOO Bertoncini
1992 Paulino Bernabe M-50
2005 Breedlove C-25 Northwest Classic
1968 Taurus model 56
2005 Dan Lankford 8 Course Renaissance Lute
old German Lute Guitar
1982 Yamaha G231 II
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  #8  
Old 01-28-2018, 01:24 PM
BernebeM50 BernebeM50 is offline
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I just pulled the trigger on a 2004 Luis Sevillano Concert model flamenco guitar for $950 plus shipping. I couldn't try it out (it's in California and I am in Canada) but everything I read was positive. It is a hand made guitar by a luthier in Tijuana, Mexico and looks very nice.

I was a little nervous about getting a guitar made in Mexico as I don't know if he uses aged woods or not but the guitar is almost 15 years old and looks like new in the pictures with no cracks, dings or scratches. I am not sure what the shipping will be as I just bought it on that auction website but there should be no duty as NAFTA is still in effect (sickening Trump).

Here is a link to the ad with pictures. Hurray! Or should I say Olay?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Luis-Sevill.../282718675003?
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2004 Luis Sevillano Flamenco
1979 Ramirez 1a 10 String
2008 OOO Bertoncini
1992 Paulino Bernabe M-50
2005 Breedlove C-25 Northwest Classic
1968 Taurus model 56
2005 Dan Lankford 8 Course Renaissance Lute
old German Lute Guitar
1982 Yamaha G231 II
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  #9  
Old 02-06-2018, 12:35 AM
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StephenHD35 StephenHD35 is offline
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I have a classical guitar made by Luis Sevillano. It has great tone and presence, and it plays comfortably as well. It’s been, I think, a great bang for the buck. If yours is of the same quality, and I presume it is, you should be pretty happy.
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Old 02-11-2018, 12:29 PM
BernebeM50 BernebeM50 is offline
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Thanks. Everything I have read indicated they were nice guitars. It is good to hear from someone with first hand experience.

I was a little worried when the guitar sat in customs for 9 days but now it looks like it has been released to Canada Post. Hopefiiy it will be here next week.
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2004 Luis Sevillano Flamenco
1979 Ramirez 1a 10 String
2008 OOO Bertoncini
1992 Paulino Bernabe M-50
2005 Breedlove C-25 Northwest Classic
1968 Taurus model 56
2005 Dan Lankford 8 Course Renaissance Lute
old German Lute Guitar
1982 Yamaha G231 II
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  #11  
Old 02-11-2018, 02:33 PM
blakey blakey is offline
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I got my fingers burnt on a vintage flamenco guitar recently and only just managed to recover the initial layout. I would avoid vintage flamencos like the plague.
Mine developed a really annoying buzz and disonnance on some frets. If the guitar has no truss rod (and most vintage ones don't) you can end up in a world of hurt with bodged nut and bridge repairs rendering it virtually worthless.
There are some really modern delightful new flamenco guitars out there (with an adjustable truss rod). Camps are a really good example.
This my heartfelt advice.
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  #12  
Old 02-11-2018, 04:06 PM
BernebeM50 BernebeM50 is offline
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I am sorry to hear that. Was there a twist in the neck?

I have bought three used classical guitars recently and have had no problems. The flamenco guitar is a little lighter than classical guitars but it is only 14 years old. There is no truss rod as in most classical and flamenco guitars. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
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2004 Luis Sevillano Flamenco
1979 Ramirez 1a 10 String
2008 OOO Bertoncini
1992 Paulino Bernabe M-50
2005 Breedlove C-25 Northwest Classic
1968 Taurus model 56
2005 Dan Lankford 8 Course Renaissance Lute
old German Lute Guitar
1982 Yamaha G231 II
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  #13  
Old 02-11-2018, 04:49 PM
blakey blakey is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BernebeM50 View Post
I am sorry to hear that. Was there a twist in the neck?

I have bought three used classical guitars recently and have had no problems. The flamenco guitar is a little lighter than classical guitars but it is only 14 years old. There is no truss rod as in most classical and flamenco guitars. I guess I'll just have to wait and see.
Just a change in humidity I think (I'm in UK and it's winter).
I think with a classical guitar the action is much higher by design so fluctuations in neck relief are not so much of an issue. But with a good Flamenco guitar the action is always going to be much lower and you may or may not get issues with buzz. So for me a low action Flamenco with an adjustable truss rod would be an essential.
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  #14  
Old 02-11-2018, 05:01 PM
BernebeM50 BernebeM50 is offline
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I see, that makes sense. It has been in Calfornia for a while which also has low humidity so hopefully it won't be a problem. Humidity is around 50% in the summer here as well. Upper 30's in the winter in the house.. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.
__________________
2004 Luis Sevillano Flamenco
1979 Ramirez 1a 10 String
2008 OOO Bertoncini
1992 Paulino Bernabe M-50
2005 Breedlove C-25 Northwest Classic
1968 Taurus model 56
2005 Dan Lankford 8 Course Renaissance Lute
old German Lute Guitar
1982 Yamaha G231 II
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