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I'm going to Spain in April and would like to buy a flamenco guitar. Where could I buy one? I don't want a main stream brand, I want something unique and custom. I'm going to be around Barcelona, Madrid and Cordoba.
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
What I want is a 100% made in Spain Flamenco guitar. I want something hand made. I just don't know where to go get one once I'm there. I only know of Cordoba and Ramirez guitars.
I'm going to start studying flamenco guitar (I'm an electric player of 16 years) so I want a nice Spanish guitar.
I think of it this way. I can buy an MP3 or I can buy an iPod.
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
There are many guitar makers across the world that easily rival any guitar that is made in spain. Your best option is to take a serious look at your budget. Then Search for a few guitar makers (perhaps more local to you, you may be able to go and see your guitar being built) in your budget and go from there. You'll find that you get much better value for money that way. If your are looking at the factory made hand assembled guitars, the chances are they wont be any cheaper in spain.
I know of a huge list of guitar makers across the world that is published on a classical guitar forum that may be of use to you. http://www.delcamp.net/liens/luthiers.htm
I hope that is of some use to you and good luck with your search
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
quote:
I want something unique and custom. I'm going to be around Barcelona, Madrid and Cordoba.
you may go in Beas (Huelva) and try an Anders guitar,(www.eliassonguitars.com); He made a wonderful blanca for me and the next coming month I will ask him to build even a negra!, He is a great Luthier and a gentleman.
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
quote:
I'm going to start studying flamenco guitar (I'm an electric player of 16 years) so I want a nice Spanish guitar.
this is a non sense imo.
You should buy a cheap guitar and with the money you saved, took some lessons with a professor. In 2 years you if you still play flamenco...then buy a handmade. You'll appreciate more your instrument.
_____________________________
"The most important part of Flamenco is not in knowing how to interpret it. The higher art is in knowing how to listen." (Luis Agujetas)
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to mezzo)
quote:
You should buy a cheap guitar and with the money you saved, took some lessons with a professor. In 2 years you if you still play flamenco...then buy a handmade. You'll appreciate more your instrument.
Well...I don't know about a "cheap" guitar....I'd say go for a decently built, proper Flamenco guitar with a decent set-up, but just not in the top-end class.
The problem is IMO, that a cheap instrument of ANY kind will generally be difficult to play and make you sound bad too, so could put you off learning.
Anyway we don't know how much ZetaNegra is willing to spend.
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
If you're a beginner in flamenco guitar, it's probably not a good idea to start off with a luthier guitar. You should start with a decent factory flamenco guitar that fits your budget – which by the way you might specify – it would help our members to better advise you.
Then after maybe a year or so, if you're still sticking with it, and making good progress in learning, then you could think about a luthier guitar. If you tell us your budget, many here could recommend some factory flamenco guitars that would be perfectly suitable for starting and learning.
Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
theres no harm in playing a good luthier built guitar. It can only make the learning process more comfortable, because the desired sound is easier to produce and the set up will be like it should. Imho, if its not about the money, then its a very good idea to get a proper tool straight from the beginning. Yamahas and such feel horrible compared to proper flamenco guitars. I would never go for the cheep ones if I had the money.
Posts: 3467
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
Do not spend your time in Spain looking for a guitar when you don't have very good fix on what it is you're looking for. Enjoy your time visiting Antoni Gaudi's architecture in Barcelona, the confluence of cultures in Granada, the Prado in Madrid, and drinking tinto everywhere.
You can obtain a very decently-made guitar, made in Spain, by ordering from Zavaleta's la Casa de Guitarras on the internet. I have personally visited Zavaleta's, located in Tucson, Arizona. The owner, James Greenberg, maintains an inventory of medium to high-end guitars. If your budget can accommodate it, I highly recommend one of his Manuel Adalid Viviana flamenco guitars. Manuel Adalid is the chief luthier for Esteve in Valencia, and he makes the Viviana as his own model It runs US$2,500 plus shipping at Zavaleta's. I bought one, and I can attest to the great sound and playability of the Viviana, as well as to integrity of Mr. Greenberg.
Cheers,
Bill
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And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to aleksi)
quote:
Imho, if its not about the money, then its a very good idea to get a proper tool straight from the beginning.
I totally agree, In the first period I was learnig flamenco on my Ramirez FL2 wich, yes, is a very good student model (almost 2000 euro); well let me say it all : continuing on a good Luthier guitar is ANOTHER STORY,the guitar seems to force your learning process to better in better! This is my experience.
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
quote:
What is a costum guitar to you? Normally it means that you ask the builder to do something to your specifications. Like scale length, wood choice, etc.
Have to agree with Anders on this one. If its just about the label "Custom"....go for any custom guitar... If it is for a guitar you like and would like to play for a few years, just use your ears and fingers, and don't listen to the salesman....
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to kozz)
Thank you for the replies. My budget is between $500-$1000 USD. I know I am just starting out in Flamenco, but I want to have the right guitar that would let me hear the right sounds and give me the right feel. I know I probably can get a very good guitar from Arizona, but I would really like to have a Guitarra from the motherland.
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
quote:
I know I probably can get a very good guitar from Arizona, but I would really like to have a Guitarra from the motherland.
Set aside the phsycological part of it....there are many great guitar builders who do not live in spain. (Ida y Vuelta) But I had the same feeling once...
Posts: 3467
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
Hello, ZetaNegra,
I just want to be clear that Zavaleta's in Tucson, Arizona imports the guitars from Spain. The Manuel Adalid Viviana flamenco guitar I recommended was made in Valencia, Spain by Manuel Adalid at the House of Esteve. So it truly was made in Spain (the "Motherland," as you called it), not Arizona.
Don't want to belabor the point, but don't want to leave any confusion as to the guitars' provenance either.
Cheers,
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
quote:
Thank you for the replies. My budget is between $500-$1000 USD.
That's why some of us asked about your budget. There is no way you can buy any decent luthier guitar – new or even used – for $500 to $1000.
I'll give you a few recommendations, and now that your price range is clear, I'm sure other members will suggest some other makes/models.
Cordoba 45FM – About $899, including a hard shell case.
Alhambra 3F – About $ 766, not including a case.
Alhambra 4F – About $810, no case. The 4F is easily worth the difference in price from the 3F.
Alhambra 5F – About $1064.
Cordoba F7 – About $499, no case.
Finally, if you want to stretch a little –
Cordoba Solista Flamenca – About $1549, includes a hard shell case.
Loriente Carmen – Blanca or Negra – About $1999.
Any of these would be suitable to start learning on. My best recommendation within your budget would be the Cordoba 45FM, which would be plenty good for you to get started with.
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to Ramon Amira)
quote:
quote:
Thank you for the replies. My budget is between $500-$1000 USD.
That's why some of us asked about your budget. There is no way you can buy any decent luthier guitar – new or even used – for $500 to $1000.
You might look into a Paracho-made guitar. You would get the most bang-for-buck there. But even there, a good one will start close to $2k. I have to agree with Prominent Critic: You simply aren't going to find a good luthier-made guitar on your budget even in Paracho, let alone in Spain. It will be factory made, either in Valencia or China (or Paracho) if you buy in that range in Spain. And it will be a studio model if you buy in that range in Paracho. I would describe those as "adequate".
I don't want to offend, but honestly, it sounds to me like you have a lot to learn before you will be ready to buy a good guitar.
My suggestion: forget about sound. Buy a cheapo that plays easy with low action, and install a pickup. With your budget, I would rely on electronics rather than craftsmanship to create the sound. Then, maybe by the time you discover whether flamenco is within your reach, you will have a better understanding of what you need, and you won't have wasted money on a second-rate guitar -- which (sorry) is what you will get for $500-$1000. Eventually, the amplified cheapo will become your gig guitar after you buy your dream guitar.
Just a thought. Good luck!
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"Flamenco is so emotionally direct that a trained classical musician would require many years of highly disciplined formal study to fail to understand it."
Posts: 667
Joined: Aug. 20 2008
From: DFW Area, Texas
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to ZetaNegra)
Zeta...
You need to check out a Francisco Navarro Student Model, that fits your budget, go to Spain enjoy your trip and listen to a lot of Flamenco. That would be the way to go IMO
RE: Buy a Custom Flamenco Guitar in ... (in reply to TANúñez)
Thank you all for the advice! After analyzing my options I decided to get a temporary guitar before I make a big purchase. I went down to my local guitar center and bought a Cordoba C5.