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i want to buy a flamenco guitar
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Ron.M
Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland
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 RE: i want to buy a flamenco guitar (in reply to karbor)
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Hi Karbor,
For €2000 you should be able to get a pretty nice guitar IMO.
Secondhand is a good way to go as you can pick up something very good, since the owner has moved up and doesn't play it any longer.
On the other hand you can pick up a dud that somebody doesn't like, but cosmetically looks good and wants to get rid of!
Buying through some of the long term members here would be good, since there is nobody here would rip you off...(and still show their face on the Forum..)
Buying new, I'm pretty impressed with the Bernal student model I have which would cost less than €1000 and there are ones above this.
Anders Eliasson is a good and reliable builder who won't let you down, but his first class guitars are €2,800....From time to time he makes some less expensive ones....but there would be a waiting list.
If you need something right now and the money is burning in your fingers, then maybe someone here has something you would be interested in?
If you are buying new, then you will have to consider import duty and taxes if you are buying from another country.
I've been in the same position myself, it's very frustrating I know...
Good luck!
cheers,
Ron
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jul. 23 2009 11:57:11
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hhmusic
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13 2006
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RE: i want to buy a flamenco guitar (in reply to orsonw)
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Orson, I have to say, while Salvador Castillo makes a nice guitar, Glenn Canin's are in another league. The Castillo I owned was nice, and better than most Mexican guitars, but not that much better than a Navarro. The Canin negra I still own, and have no plans to sell, is better than all 4 of the Condes I have owned.
Of course, the Canin is nearly twice the price of the Castillo. But if you're really looking to upgrade, I think you'll need to spend more money. Glenn's blancas are now 4800USD, I believe, with waiting list about 18 months. But, you can hardly do better. Just fantastic guitars.
Another builder you should look at is Tom Blackshear. Personally, I think he builds the best blancas in the US, and on par with the best in the world. I've seen a few of his on ebay recently, also around 4800. (I might have one for sale; email me if interested...)
And, I've heard really good things about Stewart Mewburn's flamenco guitars, an English builder. These are priced quite reasonably for the quality, and you could go to his shop to discuss and be sure he understands the sound you're looking for. Google him and check out his website -- very nice...
Finally, you could visit Granada pretty cheaply from where you are, and try out a bunch of guitars from different makers. Many are over the 4500EU mark now, but many aren't. You also might find a few used guitars there that are cheaper. I would recommend Jose Bellido, the less famous of the older Bellido brothers, but I think his guitars are undervalued.
Good luck!
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Aug. 4 2009 13:13:30
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hhmusic
Posts: 164
Joined: May 13 2006
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RE: i want to buy a flamenco guitar (in reply to orsonw)
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orson, if you want mellow and rich, you probably want to look for a lightly built negra, perhaps with a cedar top, or an older blanca, which has had several decades to develop great overtones, and lose edginess.
i played my glenn canin negra last night, and i can tell you it is fantastic. not lacking in tonality at all. but it's also hugely powerful, incredibly loud, and not what i would call mellow. if you did order one, i think you'd be amazed at what a truly great flamenco guitar can do. (i've owned an andres dominguez in the past, for example, and this is a much better guitar.)
if you can find a late 50s to early 70s era spanish blanca from a good maker, these can be available for less money, and will fit the 'mellow and rich' bill. over the years i've owned several of this type, and currently have a 72 jose bellido that is exactly what you're talking about -- though it also has very good power and projection if driven hard. it's more hit and miss to find a good one of these, but could be a fun chase.
some new blancas have great tone, but i've found that all but the best are a little one-dimensional - they just sound 'new.'
ron mentions a 'mellow and rich' guitar that he had anders build for him. the negra of his i once had would fit that description as well, and he builds very good guitars at reasonable prices. i think this could be a good option for you.
just my two cents.
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Aug. 6 2009 10:47:28
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) and i had to give it all to them 
tax and quarantine...basically they wont release it until you pay it in full 
) 