Hola from Minnesnowta

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hvymetal1234

Posts: 20
Joined: Apr. 11 2013

Hola from Minnesnowta

Hi everyone, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Ross and I am from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am a beginning flamenco student and have found a lot of very useful information here. I'd like to ask for some opinions on a first flamenco guitar. Let me know if you might be interested in helping. Thanks and I look forward to getting to know everyone.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2013 21:36:14

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

Hola from a fellow metal head \m/!!

I would go with a Yamaha CG171SF, it's cheap, it plays well, sounds great for the price and it's an actual flamenco instead of a classical with a golpeador on it. Then if you stick to it and decide flamenco is your bag you drop a few grand on a luthier made instrument. Don't spend big money now because this may sound weird but you don't know what you want out of a flamenco guitar yet.

Enjoy the journey and the search box will unlock all.

_____________________________

\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2013 21:42:38

hvymetal1234

Posts: 20
Joined: Apr. 11 2013

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to Leñador)

Yes! First reply is from a metalhead. What a great way to start. I bought a CG172SF at guitar center and it plays nice. I have 30 days to decide if I want to keep it. I just kinda wish the tone was better. I'm sure some of that is how I play, but I also played a Hermanos Sanchis Lopez Solea and got spoiled I think. But maybe I should just keep practicing and wait. And yeah there is a lot info in searches here. Thanks for the warm welcome!

-Ross

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2013 21:58:07

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

quote:

I also played a Hermanos Sanchis Lopez Solea and got spoiled I think

Nail on the head, the Yamaha doesn't sound great, it just sounds great for the price.

_____________________________

\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2013 22:24:11

Erik van Goch

Posts: 1787
Joined: Jul. 17 2012
From: Netherlands

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

Welcome to the foro and greetings from holland. I started my career with a triplex, fabric made Ibanez (ibanez andora) from the early 70ties, handpicked by an expert. Still play it regularly. Sound wise it's no match for the really expensive top line flamenco guitars, but manual wise it is and i favor it over many 2-3 k flamenco guitars i tried over the years. They changed there models for the worse shortly after, but if the label says "IBANEZ....mark of quality instrument.....produced in japan under strict quality control" you have a good chance you found yourself an extremely player friendly guitar for an incredible price.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2013 22:29:46

hvymetal1234

Posts: 20
Joined: Apr. 11 2013

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

So what do you think about the solea? I really liked it, but I don't have too much to compare it too. Its the nicest flamenco I have played so far out of about 25.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2013 22:30:40

Erik van Goch

Posts: 1787
Joined: Jul. 17 2012
From: Netherlands

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

quote:

ORIGINAL: hvymetal1234

So what do you think about the solea? I really liked it, but I don't have too much to compare it too. Its the nicest flamenco I have played so far out of about 25.

Not sure i ever tried one. I'm not good in remembering names. Just tried every affordable guitar in stock when i had to select a guitar for a student (without checking the labels) selecting/recommending the one(s) with the least problem(s) Most of them were hard to judge dude to high bridge bones (ibanez from that series generally came with perfect settings). All i know is that i like the top models of Ramirez, Conde, Gerundino and (manual wise) Ibanez from that specific series. You can compare them yourself when you ever have a chance to play one, although they are seldom offered.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2013 22:40:08

hvymetal1234

Posts: 20
Joined: Apr. 11 2013

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

Thanks Erik and nice to meet you. Thats good advice.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2013 22:43:53

mark74

Posts: 690
Joined: Jan. 26 2011

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to Leñador)

I agree with everything about the 172sf and that is the guitar I play myself, but I'm not so sure its not a classical with a golpedor stuck on it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 21 2013 6:03:57

mark74

Posts: 690
Joined: Jan. 26 2011

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

Put some good flamenco strings on it and make sure the action is low. I lowered the bridge about 3/4 of a mm and I put on la bella 820 red nylons which have a really great flamenco tone in themselves

At the end of the day the 172 is the Yamaha 182 classical guitar except with laminated cypress instead of laminated rosewood

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 21 2013 6:07:34

hvymetal1234

Posts: 20
Joined: Apr. 11 2013

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

Cool. Thanks for the advice. I'm trying some Savarez Alliance trebles and those seem pretty good. I have D'addarios on the bass strings. What do you think is the best tension? Thanks and nice to meet you.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 22 2013 2:49:06

Bulerias2005

Posts: 632
Joined: Jul. 10 2010
From: Minneapolis, MN

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

Hey, fellow Minnesnowtan. :) I also have one of the Yamahas and the tone improves markedly over time. Maybe it's the strings, too -- I recommend the LaBella 2001 Classical Medium Tension set.

_____________________________

Daniel Volovets
Jazz, Classical, Flamenco, & Latin-American Guitar
http://www.danielvolovets.com/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 22 2013 3:09:00

mark74

Posts: 690
Joined: Jan. 26 2011

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

There is a video where Bulerias 2005 plays a Nino Ricardo piece on the 172 and it sounds fantastic...better than on a much more expensive classical..I think its in the video uploads section and you can see the potential in the guitar.

If you have a lot of money at your disposal then upgrading would be great, but if not I'd wait..I'd certainly not put yourself in financial stress for a quality Spanish guitar if you have a long learning curve in front of you

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 22 2013 4:03:08

hvymetal1234

Posts: 20
Joined: Apr. 11 2013

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

Thanks Mark and Daniel. Wow, Daniel, you really play that guitar well. I think I'm gonna keep the Yamaha for a while and spend my money on lessons. I found a really good teacher thats affordable. I have faith that I can get some good sounds out of this guitar. Thank you to everyone else for the advice too, and looking forward to a interesting journey with you all.

-Ross

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 23 2013 4:11:14

mjhoerr

Posts: 25
Joined: Jan. 12 2013

RE: Hola from Minnesnowta (in reply to hvymetal1234)

Hey Ross, I suspect we have met before. Are you doing the Sunday group class with Mateo?

With the Yamaha, I found that the Alliance composites really brighten up that guitar.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 27 2013 0:55:18