Help me out

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Help me out

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Siroco03

Posts: 28
Joined: Jan. 6 2010

Help me out

Hi, I am new to this, but I will appreciate if somebody could tell me, if an Alhambra 4F is better than a Manuel Rodriguez C3F or a Jose Ramirez S1 better than all of them, because to tell you the truth I don't know which of this three guitars are the best in quality woods, sound and good flamenco guitars.
Thank you!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 6 2010 16:51:34

CuerdasDulces

Posts: 277
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Toronto

RE: Help me out (in reply to Siroco03)

If you are looking to buy a guitar you might want to take a look at these interesting videos, might help in some way.

part 1
part 2
part 3
part 4

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 6 2010 18:38:55

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Help me out (in reply to Siroco03)

erog,

The videos are really more on promoting Andalucian guitars and not so much on how to choose a good guitar.

If I'm not mistaken the guitars you mentioned are pretty much in the same price range so they are all pretty much the same in terms of craftsmanship and materials. I'm not a fan of those but I like the Alhambra the best.

In that price range, I would recommend you look at a Francisco Navarro Student model.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 5:14:07

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Help me out (in reply to TANúñez)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TANúñez

erog,

The videos are really more on promoting Andalucian guitars and not so much on how to choose a good guitar.

exactly tom, let me be more precise, because you were TOO NICE

i watched these vids from "Prof." diaz few days ago.

ridiculous !!

besides few general info, the rest is more or less bullcrap and more or less hidden advertising of andalusian guitars

but not only that.

what really annoyed me, was his ridiculous tactic of indirect badmouthing everything else except andalusian guitars !

he should call his videos:

"how to promote andalusian guitars, by indirectly badmouthing all other guitars out there - from $100 to $2000 to $10000 guitars, but of course don't mention it always directly, and think that everyone out there watching my videos is stupid"

he picked 3 alleged not so good guitars ($100 - $2000 - $10000) as representatives of all 100 - 2000 - 10000 guitars available in the market, and he is basically saying all of them are junk, because of difference of distance of the strings (come on Prof. diaz !!they are even $100 chinese guitars out there, with perfect and exact distance between strings, etc.) and because of not passing his "quarter coin test" (come on Prof. diaz !! they are even 100 guitars passing this test with good setup), and because of his sound test ! (as if one could judge about that in such a video!)

he is even zooming in the lable of one of the "junk guitars" (the alleged 10.000 one)

---

why on hell not just make a video and tell everyone that andalusian guitars are good guitars and that he can recommand them?

but after these videos, i would not even buy one for 1000.

i hate these subtle unfair tactics!!

funny is: at the beginning of the videos (part 1), he says: "we are not talk about brands or anything, it is not our purpose of this lesson!!!" "it is not about selling anything"

amateurish guerilla marketing at its best !

---

bottom line: his behaviour and respect towards other guitar builders, is as the same level of his respect towards other good guitarists here in the foro, which we were witness of in the past.

i recommand everyone to NOT watch the videos.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 6:55:43

Ramon Amira

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Help me out (in reply to Siroco03)

In that same approximate price range, I think you cannot do better than the Cordoba 45FM. GSI has it for about $780. I have not heard any guitar in that price range that has the kind of genuine flamenco sound that this has. Listen to the video below, that has appeared on other threads on this forum. I have been recommending this guitar to my students, and they have been very happy with them. It also comes with traditional pegs if you prefer that. That model is the 45FP, which he is playing in the video.

_____________________________

Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 7:28:28

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Help me out (in reply to Arash)

Arash,

Thank you. I feel the same way but was "TOO NICE" to say it

IMO, all the guitars, even the Andalucia sounded pretty much the same.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 8:18:02

CuerdasDulces

Posts: 277
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Toronto

RE: Help me out (in reply to TANúñez)

Yeah, it's obvious that he is just trying to promote his guitars, which from my experience are not all that great. But IMO these videos show the importance of trying out and playing a guitar before you buy it, if you are able to. This is what I was hoping erog would get from waching these videos.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 8:18:35

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Help me out (in reply to Ramon Amira)

quote:

In that same approximate price range, I think you cannot do better than the Cordoba 45FM.

I still like the Navarro better. Not that the Cordoba is bad but all the ones I've seen have had to have the action lowered a bit and the nut and saddle replace wtih a better material for it to sound it's best. Once you do this, it sounds pretty good. I think in this price range you have to play as many as you can and just pick the best sounding one.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 8:21:05

avimuno

Posts: 598
Joined: Feb. 9 2007
From: Paris, France

RE: Help me out (in reply to Siroco03)

Living in Canada I've played around 13-14 Andaluzian guitars as they are well represented here... I never found one that came even close to the Hermanos Sanchis Lopez I got from Tom!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 9:06:08

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Help me out (in reply to Siroco03)

who the heck makes these andalusian guitars?

anyways, erog, i have a manuel rodriguez c3f. i like my guitar but you really shouldn't base it off of brand and model. instead, you should really judge each guitar individually. and if you're serious about playing, then consider just saving up a little more for a hand built guitar as tom has suggested.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 9:09:30

CuerdasDulces

Posts: 277
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Toronto

RE: Help me out (in reply to at_leo_87)

On the label it says "Andalusian Guitars" in english, made in "España" in spanish. I've never seen or heard of any well known guitarist that plays these guitars in Spain. About the whole paco thing...well if he did play these guitars then I think everyone else would too. Just like what Tomatito said about Conde guitars, he liked them because they were good guitars(and still are), and also because Paco played them.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 9:57:08

sig

Posts: 296
Joined: Nov. 7 2007
From: Wisconsin

RE: Help me out (in reply to Siroco03)

erog,
I have a Rodriguez C3F which I bought new in 2002 and its an ok guitar. I've played several Yamaha & Cordoba flamenco's in that same $300-$500usd price range and some were better some were worse than mine. Bascially you don't get too much guitar in that price range, its ok if you just starting out learning but you will quickly tire of the high action or the weak tone.

The key i've found is to try and play each instrument if possible. Its very hard to recommend any particular maker or model as each one could vary. As I said before, i've played a Cordoba that to me was very good and then one that wasn't so good. The same for the Yamaha.

Its a tough call when you are first starting out, do I spend big bucks on something that I may or may not stick with or go the cheaper route and save up for a better instrument in the future?? Either way try and play as many as you can and let your ear make the choice, not so much the label...
Sig--

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 11:26:55

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Help me out (in reply to avimuno)

quote:

Living in Canada I've played around 13-14 Andaluzian guitars as they are well represented here... I never found one that came even close to the Hermanos Sanchis Lopez I got from Tom!

Hi Avi,

That's so good to hear. I'm glad you've enjoyed that guitar. Who reps Andalucian guitars in Canada?

By the way, did you ever end up getting a PdM?

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 13:30:45

TANúñez

Posts: 2559
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
From: TEXAS

RE: Help me out (in reply to sig)

The first flamenco I ever got was a Cordoba. It was not very good. Way too many coats of lacquer, laminated b/s and very high action. However, after replacing the nut and saddle with bone and lowering the action, it was much more pleasant to play and made learning easier. You don't want to spend 3K on your first guitar if your just beginning to learn flamenco because you may not end up liking the music.

If you do fall in love with it though and continue your studies, you will quickly outgrow a cheap factory guitar and will end up spending more money in the end to upgrade rather quickly. I would recommend getting something in the $1000 to $1500 range. This won't break the bank but will get you a decent guitar. The only reason I promote the Navarro is because at $1000.00 you get an exception guitar with very good craftsmanship and true authentic sound and playability.

Also look on ebay as from time to time there are some good buys.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 13:35:55

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3023
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Help me out (in reply to Siroco03)

Yeah the latest installments from the professor's "tips and tricks never explained before" or whatever bullcrap was a real doozie. I didn't get past the first video...when he said the thing about "a top MUST be super tight-grained" I stopped it in disgust.
Also he he only played one string on all the guitars and sounded like a tweaker naming all the notes on the G string.

BTW Navarros rock!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 7 2010 14:27:37

keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: Help me out (in reply to Siroco03)

the good "professor" diaz made quite the name for himself at the guitarsalon forum--and not necessarily a good name at that. check out threads there and you will see he did not score big time points with folks. i will leave it up to the reader to draw his/her conclusion. myself, i was not impressed and found him to be overbearing and a pseudo authority. do check out his website--the guy loves to jump into situations to get his photo with a big time musical celeb.

i also find it bizarre that he is promoting his guitar line to the viewer yet he spent most of his time talking to his side-kick off to his right. i am not sure who he why trying to convince.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 9 2010 13:14:43