recommendation "beater" classical

[kenstogie]

looking for a "beater" classical.....that is cheap but not crappy..... it WILL be dragged around everywhere but played

any recommendations? staying in tune is a plus but i don't mind doing a little work to get it tuned in....


lately i find myself playing the Yamaha guitalele as it's always out and never in it's case and have been digging the flamenco scales, finger picking and utilizing the right hand for percussive technigues etc....

thanks

[Red_Label]

Look at the lower-end Yamaha and Cordoba classicals/flamencos. It would be very hard to do better than those for the money. You can also look at the nylons of the big electric makers like Ibanez, Fender, etc. But they won't compare to the Yamahas and Cordobas in the tone department.

[Ned Milburn]

A used Yamaha or Takamine would be good because they are robustly built.

[naccoachbob]

I have an '81 Yamaha G-255SII which is solid cedar top, but laminate back and sides of rosewood. It's cheap enough, and it sounds better than the new ones I tried at a Guitar Center when I bought this one.
I love playing it, and the investment is not much.
Not sure how hard they are to find.
Good luck,
Bob

[Norman2]

Hi, I would stick with a Cordoba C5. Solid Cedar Top, laminated mahogany
for back and sides. Nice quality and a truss rod. only 299.95 new and you
can probably get some used ones at Guitar Center. Cordoba has better sound
and quality than Yamaha or Takamine. Regards
Norman2

[Bobby1note]

I picked up a used Yamaha C-70 in a local pawn-shop, for $99. It was perfect beater for playing at the local bar, where drunks would often grab a guitar, and try to do their Elvis or Johnny Cash impressions. All too often, one of those guys would end up stumbling, and falling over a table onto the floor, amid broken beer bottles and glasses. Needless to say, my good guitars stayed home.

[zhunter]

Originally Posted by Norman2

Hi, I would stick with a Cordoba C5. Solid Cedar Top, laminated mahogany
for back and sides. Nice quality and a truss rod. only 299.95 new and you
can probably get some used ones at Guitar Center. Cordoba has better sound
and quality than Yamaha or Takamine. Regards
Norman2

At about the same price point I have preferred the sound of Yamaha CG172 SFs to the C5s. That is of course a matter of personal taste. They typically are set up and play better. Again taste...maybe. Build quality? I find Yamaha to be on a higher level. I own 2 Cordoba's BTW. Just offering a counterpoint from my experience. At that price point, either option gets a pretty decent guitar.

hunter

[Red_Label]

I agree with the Yamaha crowd. Personally, I'm a huge Cordoba fanboy, but at the $300 and lower (really $500 and lower) price point... Yamaha owns that as far as I'm concerned, and always has.

[kenstogie]

certainly seems narrowed down to cordoba or Yamaha....

[harpon]

My votes a Cordoba too- especially used. Make sure it's an Iberia model from the last decade or so- then it has a truss rod and won't be bowing itself out of existence so fast.

[kkimura]

Don't rule out the higher end Lag and Washburn classicals. Good guitars that have very low resale value so bargains can be found on the used market.

My "beater" is a $100 Washburn C80s. (Solid ceder top, laminate rosewood sides and back.)

[jbell]

I have a LaPatire Etude I'm wanting to sell. If you're in the central Texas area and interested, pm me. Shipping would push the price above the value of the guitar. It's an older one and sounds good. The Etudes always get a good review for starter/beater classical for cheap.

[Ned Milburn]

Originally Posted by jbell

I have a LaPatire Etude I'm wanting to sell. If you're in the central Texas area and interested, pm me. Shipping would push the price above the value of the guitar. It's an older one and sounds good. The Etudes always get a good review for starter/beater classical for cheap.

Yes, good suggestion, whether yours or another new/used LaPatrie. They are decently built with decent sound. I often recommend them for the under $500 price point. Don't know why I didn't think of it earlier. *bonks to self*

[redir]

The term 'beater' must mean different things to different people. My beater camp fire classical guitar is an all plywood Yamaha. Heck I can even paddle the canoe with it and not worry about it

[jbell]

Originally Posted by redir

The term 'beater' must mean different things to different people. My beater camp fire classical guitar is an all plywood Yamaha. Heck I can even paddle the canoe with it and not worry about it

In "Deliverance", they used banjos. Maybe they got it wrong???