Foro Flamenco


Posts Since Last Visit | Advanced Search | Home | Register | Login

Today's Posts | Inbox | Profile | Our Rules | Contact Admin | Log Out



Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.





Alhambra Professional guitars?   You are logged in as Guest
Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
All Forums >>Discussions >>Product Reviews >> Page: [1]
Login
Message<< Newer Topic  Older Topic >>
 
callistoluna

Posts: 29
Joined: Aug. 20 2012
 

Alhambra Professional guitars? 

Has anyone had any experience with Alhambra's more professional models? Like their Luthier Flamenca model?

http://www.alhambrasl.com/index.php?option=com_productbook&func=detail&Itemid=35&id=59

I can't see many threads hear about these guitars.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 9 2012 23:17:06
 
Ramon Amira

 

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to callistoluna

quote:

Has anyone had any experience with Alhambra's more professional models? Like their Luthier Flamenca model?

http://www.alhambrasl.com/index.php?option=com_productbook&func=detail&Itemid=35&id=59

I can't see many threads hear about these guitars.


I’m an authorized Alhambra dealer, and I have played a few of the Alhambra professional flamenco models. They are constructed entirely by two fine luthiers - Javier Mengual & Jose Margarit.

They look fine and have a great flamenco sound. They are also priced somewhat below what a fine luthier blanca might cost. The only thing I personally don’t like about them – though others might not mind, or even might want – is the extended fingerboard. I have never liked it, because to me it destroys the beautiful symmetry of a guitar.

But apart from that, they are excellent flamenco guitars.

Ramon

_____________________________

Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 10 2012 0:29:33
 
callistoluna

Posts: 29
Joined: Aug. 20 2012
 

RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to callistoluna

How much longer is the fret board compared to their lower models? I was looking on the website but I thought the length was the same.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 10 2012 1:40:28
 
Ramon Amira

 

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to callistoluna

You can’t see it on their website, but unless they changed recently, the Luthier Flamenca has the extended fingerboard. What it is is an extension only on the treble side, and only for the first and second strings.

Instead of the nineteenth fret being broken by the curve of the sound hole, it is solid across, and then there is small extension on the treble side adding a twentieth fret for the E and B strings.

It hardly seems worth the effort, and as I said it ruins the integrity of the sound hole as well as the overall symmetry. It looks horrible and makes me wince when I see it.

Here you can see it on the 11P classical. Click on the rosette photo and you'll get a close-up.

http://www.alhambrasl.com/index.php?option=com_productbook&func=detail&Itemid=35&id=33

Ramon

_____________________________

Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 10 2012 3:48:54
 
Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006
 

RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to callistoluna

Who needs 20 frets for playing flamenco?

quote:

They are also priced somewhat below what a fine luthier blanca might cost.

Well, this is on your account. I sometimes make a 2A model, which is French polished that is cheaper. And others do so as well.

What you should take into consideration is if you get the personalized experience that you get with a name luthier. This means talking about what you need, and a product made directly for you.
Also, I can imagine, (But I might be wrong) that the Alhambra pro is been lacquered by the same people that lacquer the "normal" models. This means a sturdy but thick layer of plastic all over the guitar.

_____________________________

Blog: http://news-from-the-workshop.blogspot.com/
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 10 2012 8:04:55
 
Ramon Amira

 

Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City

RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to Anders Eliasson

quote:

Who needs 20 frets for playing flamenco?

quote:

They are also priced somewhat below what a fine luthier blanca might cost.
Well, this is on your account. I sometimes make a 2A model, which is French polished that is cheaper. And others do so as well.

What you should take into consideration is if you get the personalized experience that you get with a name luthier. This means talking about what you need, and a product made directly for you.
Also, I can imagine, (But I might be wrong) that the Alhambra pro is been lacquered by the same people that lacquer the "normal" models. This means a sturdy but thick layer of plastic all over the guitar.



Hi Anders –

If you read my post you will see that I did not recommend the Alhambra Luthier Flamenca over any other luthier’s guitars. I merely tried to give the OP some information that he requested that he was having trouble finding.

I sell the Alhambra Luthier Flamenca for a little over $3000, and I was comparing that price to the price of a typical 1A by a name luthier like yourself and others. I believe that price is “somewhat below what a fine luthier blanca might cost,” which is what I said.

I fully agree with you about getting a personalized guitar to fit one’s needs and desires, and more than once I have dissuaded a buyer from buying a Luthier Flamenca if I felt it wouldn’t fit his needs, and I instead gave him a list of luthiers to consider, including you, without recommending any one over the other.

P.S. “Who needs 20 frets for playing flamenco?”

Beats the hell out of me. I sure don’t.

Ramon

_____________________________

Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 10 2012 19:23:10
 
callistoluna

Posts: 29
Joined: Aug. 20 2012
 

RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to callistoluna

Agreed Ramon - that is a very weird look. I am so put off by that chunk over the soundhole! And when will you use those notes? Not very often I guess because most other guitars never have that there.

Thank you for the feed back. It's nice to get advice that is neutral. I think I will end up going with something that is a bit more traditional and hand made.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Dec. 11 2012 3:50:34
Page:   [1]
All Forums >>Discussions >>Product Reviews >> Page: [1]
Jump to:

New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts


Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET

6.201172E-02 secs.