string tension question--and more on beginner guitars...

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vuduchyld

Posts: 170
Joined: Feb. 20 2011

string tension question--and more on...

First-time poster. Let me start by saying thank you for this awesome community. Been stalking it for a couple of weeks and I'm really happy to have found y'all.

I'm a beginner to flamenco, but I've been playing guitar for quite a while...lots of rock and blues for 15-20 years, then in the last 2-3 I've become a big bluegrass flatpicker. My wife is a flamenco dancer and she performs quite a bit, so I'm hoping to get better so I can accompany her eventually. She's got a great player who accompanies her now and he is giving me lessons.

Like many others, I'm searching for a guitar. I've really appreciated all the discussion about axes throughout the forum. Today, I was at a crappy Guitar Center and they had only two flamenco guitars. One was pseudo-flamenco...the Gypsy Kings model. The other was a Cordoba 30F. It was a LOT better than the $100 Eterna classical I've been learning on to date, but I wasn't moved. (The GK model isn't worth talking about. The model might be OK, but that guitar wasn't set up well and the strings were crappy.)

So it looks like I'll probably have to buy on line. Don't really have a strict budget, but I'd like to keep it under $1200. I'm more of a value buyer than a strict price buyer, though, so I could go up if necessary...I just think that is a good price to start with.

Sorry for the ramble, but my question is this. Playing the 30F was a MUCH different experience for me. Obviously, the sound was much more flamenco than what I get out of my guitar. The action was better, but my Eterna is set up with pretty low action. But the one thing that really stood out to me was that the tension on the strings seemed quite a bit tighter. This was GOOD...seemed to give me more response in my right fingertips. I liked it.

Is that typical for flamenco guitars? I've noticed that nylon strings have a tension rating. Do most flamenco guitars come with higher-tension strings? When I've strung mine, I get normal-tension.

Back to buying online...gotta say, I'm REALLY reluctant to buy a guitar I haven't played and heard. Scares me quite a bit, because I know from experience that there is a lot of variability.

Couple of guitars that are appealing to me right now:
1) Francisco Navarro blanco student model....e-bay for $750
2) Classifieds in this forum have a Sigurdson student model....looks gorgeous and I might be interested if a rental property I have under contract to sell actually goes through and sells
3) Considering ordering a Cordoba F7 or a Manuel Rodriguez C3 or a similar mid-range model with laminated sides/back

Would prefer all solid wood, but not hung up on it. I've got a Taylor 210CE that's got a solid top and laminated sapele sides/back and it is a gorgeous guitar.

So...in addition to my string tension question and any random advice about guitars that are available, if anybody has any thoughts on specific online vendors, I'd love to hear who is trustworthy and who sucks. The Francisco Navarro appears to be sold basically by one guy on e-bay, and it looks like he is the main US distributor?

Again, sorry for the filibuster. Appreciate your time!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2011 3:37:19

ralexander

Posts: 797
Joined: Jun. 1 2010
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia

RE: string tension question--and mor... (in reply to vuduchyld)

Welcome to the Foro!

I'm selling the Sigurdson, and just thought I would add a few comments. Like yourself, I prefer a bit higher tension. As players we of course have choices of different tension strings, but the other variable that I find important to overall feel is scale length. The Sigurdson is 655mm, which is 5mm longer than the standard 650mm length. I use Luthier 30 or 35 string (med/hard) and the guitar offers a nice pulsation for the right hand. The Sig is actually the guitar I reach for more often over my much more expensive brazilian rosewood guitar simply because I prefer the setup and feedback from the strings. I like the way it pushes back, if you know what I mean

Sorry to spam my own ad

but if I can offer any more info don't hesitate to contact me. Hard to beat for the price IMO.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2011 3:55:24

vuduchyld

Posts: 170
Joined: Feb. 20 2011

RE: string tension question--and mor... (in reply to ralexander)

Thanks for the welcome!

Hell, that's no spam! I appreciate the comments. Your guitar is really gorgeous and I'm surprised it hasn't sold.

Can you tell me anything more about scale length and the impact of that? I'd think that a longer scale length would give LESS string tension, but I sure don't know.

Tension is a funny thing. I mentioned my Taylor...and it's an awesome guitar, but with a steel string, I might prefer LESS tension than I get with that guitar. It's good to get feedback with flatpicking, too, but sometimes I prefer my super cheapy 80's plywood Alvarez, just for that reason...easier to bend strings, which isn't as much of an issue with flamenco/nylon.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2011 4:10:28

ralexander

Posts: 797
Joined: Jun. 1 2010
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia

RE: string tension question--and mor... (in reply to vuduchyld)

In my experience, a longer scale length will give more tension compared to the same guitar with a shorter scale (using the same strings, of course). The other factor in overall feel and surely the most important is how stiff the builder braces the top.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2011 4:33:58

Sean

Posts: 672
Joined: Jan. 20 2011
From: Canada

RE: string tension question--and mor... (in reply to vuduchyld)

The longer the string the more it needs to be tightened to bring it up to pitch. The right hand feel has everything to do with how stiff the top is and how easy it moves.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 21 2011 4:45:39