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.
I thought it might be useful to have a current list of places in the US where prospective buyers can play flamenco guitars (i.e. guitar shops, private but accessible collections, etc.). If you know of a good one, please list it below.
(Lists for places in other countries and continents would also be great. Organizationally, though, keeping the lists distinct will make all of them more user-friendly).
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Good Places in the US for Playin... (in reply to machopicasso)
Zavaleta's La Casa de Guitarras, located in Oro Valley, just north of and adjacent to Tucson, Arizona, is a marvelous guitar emporium for both flamenco and classical guitars. The owner, James Greenberg, runs it out of his home in Oro Valley, and one must make an appointment to meet him and see his guitars. He imports medium to high end flamencos, largely from Spain, and he also sells guitars on consignment.
Several years ago I made arrangements to meet James to view and play his guitars. I ended up buying a Manuel Adalid flamenca blanca (Viviana) that had a fine set-up and beautiful sound. James also collects vintage guitars, and he let me play a 1935 Santos Hernandez, which was a real treat. Although I did not do it justice, it was fun just to be able to hold and play an original Santos Hernandez.
James is an interesting person. He, his wife (who is from Oaxaca, Mexico), and I went out to a Mexican restaurant for dinner. He is a professor of applied anthropology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, specializing in various aspects of the borderlands. To sum up, Zavaleta's has a fine selection of flamenco guitars, and James is a very accommodating and interesting person. You can access Zavaleta's website at:
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
I'm sure folk will work it out but you have a fullstop in the url there Bill that is giving an error.
I corresponded with James recently, he's certainly on the ball (quick to respond) and gave me a very good price for a guitar I was interested in (whilst I am in the UK, he would arrange to have the guitar shipped direct from the maker in Spain.)
Very tempting but for my next big purchase I really want to play before buying.
Posts: 3497
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Good Places in the US for Playin... (in reply to Blondie#2)
quote:
I'm sure folk will work it out but you have a fullstop in the url there Bill that is giving an error.
I corresponded with James recently, he's certainly on the ball (quick to respond) and gave me a very good price for a guitar I was interested in (whilst I am in the UK, he would arrange to have the guitar shipped direct from the maker in Spain.) Very tempting but for my next big purchase I really want to play before buying.
Thanks for noting the error with the full stop in the url, Blondie#2. I have corrected it in my post above.
James is definitely on the ball and very accommodating. Zavaleta's is a premier emporium for medium to high end guitars, primarily from Spain. His prices are good and he is willing to go the extra mile for you. And he knows the best Mexican restaurants around Tucson and Oro Valley! A good outfit to do business with if you are in the market for a fine guitar.
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white, With the name of the late deceased, And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here, Who tried to hustle the East."
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Good Places in the US for Playin... (in reply to machopicasso)
Classic Guitar International, Santa Barbara; The Guitar Salon, NYC (there is usually one or two killer guitars there); GSI in Santa Monica and Aaron Green's shop in Groton MA. Aaron has a few guitars made by several masters for sale. I have been to R.E. Brune's place and if Heaven is a flamenco shop, Brune's place is a sneak preview of Heaven.
Printable Version
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