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at the end is personal preferance. ofcourse navarro and castillo are quality builders... its like saying which is better quality japanese cars, toyota or honda.
agree with Kudo. And there are a couple more, who also waits to be discovered by the world:
Gerardo Escobedo Hernandez Jose Luis Diaz - I've played a guitar from Him long ago, and that experience actually evoke my interest in guitars made in Paracho
i have a jose ramirez, cordoba, conde and the navarro especial grand concert reyes is my favored one love this guitar it sound like the original reyes see the review from Tom Blackshear on this guitar
Castillo is the most popular here and for good reason. From the accounts of many, it seems he’s pretty consistent too.
I’ve been told by others that the one (2007) I have is every bit as good as a Conde.
My repair guy with 30 years experience and who flat out told me that no one’s guitar impress him, said after hearing mine that I could never replace it for near the money and don’t sell it.
And just recently, my guitar teacher who spent 6 years in Spain and has owned + played many great guitars said – “every now and then a maker builds a guitar that for some reason is just better than anything else. I think you have one of those.”
I had a chance to compare a ’64 Contreras Negra and ’62 Ramirez Blanca guitars to the Castillo and no disrespect to those makers/guitars, but it was not close.
One thing that is unique about mine and that a few people have told me may or may not be contributing to the sound - is that it was made with 4 sides and was extra braced. A short cut for sure, but I was told this is something that Torres did from time to time too. Maybe some luthier here can comment on this and tell me I’m full of crap and extra bracing, etc.. would detract from the tone… it probably should… lol…
With that, I don’t think I’m alone... I just think Castillo is THAT good and the word hasn't spread yet about him...
If there is a Mexican luthier producing a better sounding guitar, I’d be shocked...
Okay, maybe the two guitars I purcahsed were low end models, student models, but, my first Navarro student model was very nice and played great!
I had to sell it and recently purchase another student model, only this time it was a custom one.
That custom student model felt way different! Hard to play as the neck felt stiff and the strings tension were very tight which made it very hard to play! When I brought to my lutheir he could not lower the bone any lower because he didn't have any more room in the bridge slot! I truly believe the neck angle was slight off.
A friend of mine who goes to Paracho often visited Fransico's shop and purchased a Especial Grand Concert reyes!
He brought it back and had to have the neck RE SETTED by a prominent luthier for it play right!!!
The good thing about going to Franisco's shop is that he bough the guitar for less than half of what he would of paid through a distributor!
I know FN makes great guitars, but, I am incline to say that I don't believe he is as consistent as Castillo!
I've heard nothing but GREAT things about Castillio guitars!
Recently, I played another guitar also built in Paracho, and the builder was Aurto Huipe.
It was a very nice sounding guitar and I believe my friend purchased it two years ago from his shops as well.
I became very good friends with Salvador , my 2 guitars are from him, they are my babies forever! I would trust Castillo with all my life, and thats whats most important, consistancy and trust ! no surprise why Castillo is very popular and sells better! besides, i know his guitar building get even BETTER over the years! viva castillo!
its like saying I trust that Honda engines would never let me down, they are absoultely the most reliable and most consistent engines.
Castillo is great. Played several, including negras I did not care for. The blancas are superior instruments, very flamenco. There is a vid of me playing one, I love the feel sound and set up. It compares stylistically to Reyes.
BUt compared to an ACTUAL REYES, um, sorry...NO. ANd Conde's are way different style.
I think those who browse this foro regularly know that I'm a big fan of SC. A lot of people can say They have great guitars from great luthiers, but You'll find very few that says He's perfectly, 200% satisfied with Their guitars in all and every manner. I love my Castillo blanca that way! And as time passes by I love it more and more! ...also Salvador is a great guy, happy I choose Him. You can find Him on Facebook as well.
As for FN I cannot comment as I haven't played any of His guitars, BUT, His student modells are may made not just by Himself, so comparing this way is not that fair.
I think those who browse this foro regularly know that I'm a big fan of SC. A lot of people can say They have great guitars from great luthiers, but You'll find very few that says He's perfectly, 200% satisfied with Their guitars in all and every manner. I love my Castillo blanca that way! And as time passes by I love it more and more! ...also Salvador is a great guy, happy I choose Him.
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