negra with cedar top- question

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>Lutherie >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

mbira1

Posts: 8
Joined: Nov. 25 2014

negra with cedar top- question

hello, i am not a luthier at all..i'd love to but..
but maybe it is a correct place to ask: What are the differences betwen classical guitar and flamenca negra with cedar top? (beside strings action and golpeadors..)
For example my idol Manolo Franco (and many others: Manolo Sanlucar, Serranito i think..) play a lot guitar like this
http://youtu.be/nzwUZ7OoRrI
and the sound.. it is not just classical guitar with flamenco technique..i think:)
so what is the secret?
(pardon my englishhhh)
Thanks:)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 1 2015 15:08:07

mbira1

Posts: 8
Joined: Nov. 25 2014

RE: negra with cedar top- question (in reply to mbira1)

oh, i'v just seen EL Guitarrero.. i undrestand more now;)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 1 2015 16:21:34

Ricardo

Posts: 14806
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: negra with cedar top- question (in reply to mbira1)

Amigo I have the same maker (1971) of guitar as Manolo is using. Mine is spruce top and INdian back and sides, but I admit it has the exact same tone as Manolo's guitar in your video. THe guitar is big like his, but surprisingly light weight compared to most classical guitars I have played. Also the patterns he (Jeronimo Peña Fernandez) uses are strange that I have seen in books, but my guitar actually uses the typicaly 7 fan brace style of most old flamenco guitars. The bridge is black ebony which I can imagine gets that super bright treble sound like he gets here.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 1 2015 20:05:17

Echi

Posts: 1132
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: negra with cedar top- question (in reply to mbira1)

I have 2 Gerundino guitars, one made with spruce and cypress and the other one cedar and brazilian. All the measures are practically the same as it's the strutting.
I agree with Ricardo, at the first impact the tone of the 2 is very similar, particularly for the listener. The cedar topped sounds a little fuller, with more overtones, keeping the separation and tone of my old spruce one. For the player the feeling is different: the feeling is like to play the same guitar but more powerful and full and that's why I immediately fell in love with it..
Anyway, to make the story short, after some months playing it I got more and more disappointed and ended coming back to the spruce and cypress one. I realised that the projection was way poorer (that guitar was never able to get out when played in ensemble) : my opinion is that the body of the note is fuller but the transient or "attack" is likely too soft..
Just my 2 cents.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 9 2015 21:35:16