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Arcangel Fernandez flamenco's
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Richard Jernigan
Posts: 3432
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
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 RE: Arcangel Fernandez flamenco's (in reply to Markus3)
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I have a 1982 Arcangel Fernandez blanca. it is my favorite of all the flamencas I have played over the last 40-odd years, including Condes, Gerundinos, and Manuel Reyes. I played a 1955 Barbero when I was just starting out. I wasn't in a position then to judge whether it was as good as or better than the Arcangel.
The Arcangel was made for a collector. When I had Richard Brune appraise it in 2000, he said that after going over it with a magnifying glass, he could find no sign of it ever having been played, or even handled. He also said he had played it for a few hours and, "I have to say, I really like this guitar."
It was obtained via Brian Cohen, the English luthier and dealer and Rik Jonna, then a dealer.
The only other blanca I have at the moment is a '67 Ramirez 1a cedar/cypress. I like it a lot, and I have a sentimental attachment to it, since my wife gave it to me new, as a present.
The Arcangel is one of the few guitars I would say were head and shoulders above the Ramirez. It is louder, and has a tone that is at the same time more brilliant and deeper. To me, it just sings.
RNJ
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 14 2010 1:32:15
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Markus3
Posts: 34
Joined: Oct. 13 2010
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RE: Arcangel Fernandez flamenco's (in reply to Richard Jernigan)
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i am planning on obtaining one someday, when i get better and get done with school as well so i can have enough money to pay for it. I heard many great things about this luthier, and also Ignacio fleta e hijos for classical. Thanks for your reply RNJ
quote:
ORIGINAL: Richard Jernigan
I have a 1982 Arcangel Fernandez blanca. it is my favorite of all the flamencas I have played over the last 40-odd years, including Condes, Gerundinos, and Manuel Reyes. I played a 1955 Barbero when I was just starting out. I wasn't in a position then to judge whether it was as good as or better than the Arcangel.
The Arcangel was made for a collector. When I had Richard Brune appraise it in 2000, he said that after going over it with a magnifying glass, he could find no sign of it ever having been played, or even handled. He also said he had played it for a few hours and, "I have to say, I really like this guitar."
It was obtained via Brian Cohen, the English luthier and dealer and Rik Jonna, then a dealer.
The only other blanca I have at the moment is a '67 Ramirez 1a cedar/cypress. I like it a lot, and I have a sentimental attachment to it, since my wife gave it to me new, as a present.
The Arcangel is one of the few guitars I would say were head and shoulders above the Ramirez. It is louder, and has a tone that is at the same time more brilliant and deeper. To me, it just sings.
RNJ
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 14 2010 5:01:54
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Richard Jernigan
Posts: 3432
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
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RE: Arcangel Fernandez flamenco's (in reply to jshelton5040)
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I bought my first guitar in Paracho when I was 19. I knew nothing at all about guitars, except that Paracho had a reputation for good economical instruments.
I "played" several at various shops, to the very slight extent I was able to play then. I ended up at the shop of Ramon Zalapa, who also sold paint and office furniture. I picked a guitar out of the ten or so he had available, for 300 pesos, then equal to $24. It was spruce/mahogany with a gigantic scale length. It was decently made, the neck was straight and it was loud.
Being a 19-year old twit, I felt I had to make some comment after paying for the guitar. I told Zalapa what a fine instrument it was. He pushed his straw hat back on his head. A big smile creased his Indian face, showing a gold tooth.
"Pues, todos no salen igual [Well, they don't all turn out the same]," he observed.
When I first spoke to Bruce Banister about the '73 Romanillos I ended up buying, I told him this story. He laughed long and loud.
RNJ
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Date Oct. 14 2010 15:21:29
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Richard Jernigan
Posts: 3432
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
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RE: Arcangel Fernandez flamenco's (in reply to Ricardo)
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quote:
In the end, Conde was always the best and still is as far as flamenco goes.
There are great Condes and not so great Condes. A 1973 Conde media luna that belongs to a friend is probably my number 2 favorite for flamenco, but I like the Arcangel better. You might not. It's probably moot, since Arcangel has just about stopped making guitars, and all that he does make have long been contracted to a Japanese dealer.
I first visited the Conde shop at Gravina 7 sometime in the 1970s. I asked for one of their best instruments. I was handed a terribly botched clunker. The neck was crooked, not just bent, the fingerboard was rough, the frets were uneven, it was dead as a doornail...and the price quoted was astronomical.
I played a couple of soleares falsetas and handed the guitar back to the young man behind the counter without comment.
Faustino was still alive, and was in the front of the shop. He motioned to the young man, who reappeared with a very nice media luna. I played for 20-30 minutes--a few different palos--nothing to write home about, but in the 1970s I thought it was rare to hear a gringo play in compas. Afterward I handed the guitar back, bought some strings and started to leave. Faustino introduced himself and invited me to return. On subsequent visits I was treated with honesty and courtesy.
RNJ
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Date Jan. 27 2011 1:58:01
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