La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium

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Donald

Posts: 101
Joined: Jun. 28 2004

La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium

This online shopping site is interesting both because of the layout and the offering of free online basic video lessons. Its a pity they could n't go in for video production on their own account as the dance lessons though at absolute beginner level are of a better quality than dvds offered by Adrian Galia and Manuel Salado. Have a look see what you think of the guitar and cajon ones.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 3 2012 20:38:45

TANúñez

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

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to Donald)

The owner, Geert Douman is a good guy. We've done some buisness in the past. I highly recommend his shop. I often pass clients from Europe to his shop as shipping is sometimes less than it is from the US.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 3 2012 21:02:59

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3430
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to Donald)

https://www.lasonanta.eu/en/news/Free-Flamenco-Guitar-Lessons-Tabs

....with two n's.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2012 5:09:33

Munin

Posts: 595
Joined: Sep. 30 2008
From: Hong Kong

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to Donald)

Have heard bad things about them not accepting returns of guitars, but dunno. They seem OK otherwise, even though generally more expensive than other place for things like books/DVDs.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2012 12:05:59

orsonw

Posts: 1934
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to Munin)

I've always had very good experience with Geert and La Sonanta. I have returned a guitar that didn't suit me and received a full refund.

They have produced some guitar instructional dvds e.g. Paco Fernandez

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 4 2012 15:01:16

estebanana

Posts: 9353
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to Donald)

La Sonanta is doing the guitar world a lot of good. The reason is that they support individual living guitar makers by commissioning instruments for their shop. They believe in helping the art and craft of making guitars by hand continue. Many shops bank on dead old master guitars and that is fine, but it does not help as much with keeping the art alive. La Sonanta is one of the shops that really does that.

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https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 6 2012 4:12:25

kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to TANúñez)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TANúñez

The owner, Geert Douman is a good guy. We've done some buisness in the past. I highly recommend his shop. I often pass clients from Europe to his shop as shipping is sometimes less than it is from the US.

Thats what you did for me when I was looking for a FN.
Geert is a great guy and their support is awesome!
And from what I understand they are travelling alot to find some find luthiers around the globe.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 6 2012 19:35:25

rogeliocan

Posts: 811
Joined: Nov. 23 2009
From: Canada

RE: La Sonanta, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to Donald)

I have also had a very good experience with this shop.
Let alone the selection of guitars they have, which is to me, a place called heaven, there is nothing like this here in Canada.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 6 2012 20:01:05

TANúñez

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

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to kozz)

quote:

Thats what you did for me when I was looking for a FN.
Geert is a great guy and their support is awesome!
And from what I understand they are travelling alot to find some find luthiers around the globe.

I hope they were able to find you something special.

_____________________________

Tom Núñez
www.instagram.com/tanunezguitars

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 6 2012 21:25:00

kozz

Posts: 1766
Joined: Feb. 26 2009
From: Eindhoven NL

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to TANúñez)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TANúñez

quote:

Thats what you did for me when I was looking for a FN.
Geert is a great guy and their support is awesome!
And from what I understand they are travelling alot to find some find luthiers around the globe.

I hope they were able to find you something special.

He had a nice collection available, but eventually went for the FN Concert...money was a limitation.
But I was able to sent friends of mine to his shop for cajons...
If you are a percussionist you'll spent 800 euros for a cajon it seems....but honestly, you'll definately hear the difference.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 9 2012 20:44:53

Guest

[Deleted] (in reply to Donald)

[Deleted by Admins]

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 10 2012 19:12:30

johnnefastis

Posts: 631
Joined: Jan. 10 2012

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to Donald)

Gert was even helpful to me when I asked for advice about a guitar I had bought direct from one of his luthiers.

Nice guy.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 10 2012 19:52:18

pjn

Posts: 113
Joined: Mar. 23 2009
From: New York

RE: La Sonata, flamenco shop, Belgium (in reply to estebanana)

I have not dealt personally with La Sonanta but they're obviously getting good reviews on the forum, so that's good enough for me.

But they're in Belgium -- a lot of us are here in the USA, where the California dealers, such as the ones in Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, do a lot of commissioning, as in " . . . the fabulous new guitar [insert luthier] just made for me/us" -- it's fine to promote the work of deserving young makers, but these dealers are interested in raising the asking prices exponentially from month to month, which puts the product out of reach except for dilettantes, speculators, collectors, and other vermin (just kidding).

Doesn't this actually do a great disservice to the serious amateur and journeyman professional alike?

Of course guitar makers should be compensated well for their work-- but isn't it better to establish connections with the players who will play, and show, their instruments wherever they go, asking a fair price which reflects the judgement of the players themselves? Otherwise the luthier is demoted to an employee of the dealer, who pays the maker a "wholesale" price, appoints himself judge of quality and appearance, seems almost to take credit for creating the instrument, inflates the market for his own profit, and most likely will drop a maker like a hot rock if the over-hyped product doesn't sell.

I guess if i were a luthier I'd understand . . .

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 29 2013 2:44:27