So I bought the wrong type of guitar

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Bibab

Posts: 9
Joined: Nov. 23 2019

So I bought the wrong type of guitar

At some point a few weeks ago, I decided to learn how to play the flamenco guitar. So without doing much research at all, I decided to go ahead and by myself a guitar. Unfortunately, I had no idea that there were these differences between a flamenco guitar and a classical guitar.

So now I have a second hand classical guitar (an early 2000s Admira Teresa), with a relatively high action, soft cedar top and boomy as you may imagine. But I want to learn flamenco.

What do I do? I am know some people lower the bridge and put a golpeador on their classical guitar and use it as a flamenco, but I loath to mess around with the Teresa. From What I can tell it is a fairly decent classical guitar, and I imagine I would have to pay significantly more than I paid for it (or get luck) to get something noticeably better on the classical side. At the same time, I imagine it would not be particularly good flamenco guitar even if modified.

Is there a short term solution that you guys would recommend to allow me to start learning? Should I get a cheaper classical and modify it or are there decently priced flamencos available (the beginner Yamahas don't seem to be available any longer and go for more than I paid for the Admira Teresa second hand)? The low end flamenco market seems to be sparse.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 23 2019 22:50:03

tri7/5

Posts: 570
Joined: May 5 2012

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to Bibab)

Try and sell it and pick up something like a Cordoba, Yamaha, Montalvo etc. if you are looking for beginner beginner and super cheap. If looking for a good student type guitar look at the Marlon Navarros student model.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 23 2019 23:38:34

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to Bibab)

Short term solution is to maybe just start learning on that one? Just don't overdo the golpes (light golpe with flesh only, just to get the basic movement down). Maybe it's not optimal but that's how I started out. Actually it was a dirt cheap classical and I didn't bother with a golpeador nor with restraining myself on golpes, so I had cracked it in all sorts of places after a while

Do that for a while, while being very light on the golpes (or you could add a golpeador. I think they make some that are meant to be easy to remove), and then you can decide if you really want to continue with flamenco or not, and think about what to do then.

Dunno if it's good advice, but that's probably what I would do.

edit: tri7/5's advice is probably better

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 23 2019 23:40:28

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to Bibab)

Bibab depends a bit on where you are and how much budget you have. Here near Cadiz the market is awash with secondhand flamencas at all levels of budget. Appreciate that if you live on the other side of the planet transportation could cost more than the guitar so that may not be useful info.

My wife has an unused classical guitar she was given many years ago, I tried it a while back as I don't like to think of musical instruments hidden away while some youngster cannot afford something that might fire a whole career. Who knows how many Paco de Lucias we have lost? So if we found someone with an interest we would give it away.

But it was the most uncomfortable thing I could imagine. I had to go and cuddle one of my flamencas and appreciate the low action for an hour or two to recover

But hopefully you can find a solution. It will be worth the effort. Suerte

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2019 6:34:37

gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to Bibab)

Put a kling-on golpeador on it and start practicing.

Sell the guitar later and buy a flamenco guitar
Here is the kling on colpeador. They stick terriffic and no harm for the guitar.

https://www.stringsbymail.com/kling-on-clear-non-permanent-removable-top-protector-ultra-ut-3p-c-2579.html

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2019 9:08:41

mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to gerundino63)

Agreed in the kling on. Also making your own lowered saddle isn't hard. Just need to buy one and do some sanding, leaving the original intact.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2019 9:12:31

Bibab

Posts: 9
Joined: Nov. 23 2019

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to mrstwinkle)

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I think I am going to out a golpeador on the Teresa and play it until I find a reasonably priced second hand flamenco.

I live in London and don't think the Kling-on is available here. I have done some googling at the static based ones get mixed reviews. Is there any particular one you would recommend?

Regarding flamencos, there doesn't seem to be much of a market in the UK. Do you have any recommendation where I can find a good second hand guitar? Any of the places in Spain have websites? Or do you suggest a trip to Spain for the purchase?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2019 17:45:48

El Burdo

Posts: 632
Joined: Sep. 8 2011

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Post has been moved to the Recycle Bin at Dec. 22 2022 15:41:22

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2019 18:06:30

rombsix

Posts: 7807
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to mrstwinkle)

quote:

Also making your own lowered saddle isn't hard. Just need to buy one and do some sanding, leaving the original intact.

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http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2019 18:28:00

flyeogh

Posts: 729
Joined: Oct. 13 2004

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to Bibab)

quote:

Or do you suggest a trip to Spain for the purchase?

Festival Flamenco de Jerez de la Frontera – February 23-Mar 1, 2020

Bibab return flight Gatwick - sevilla less than 300 in late Feb (Sadly direct London - Jerez doesn't start till March). Stay for 3 or 4 days and you'd have a great time and go home with a secondhand guitar (I can line some up for you if you like). Plenty of cheap places to stay.

The train from Sevilla to Jerez is dirt cheap (1 hour, 27 Euros return). You'd need to arrange the guitar as luggage for the return flight - which depends on the airline.

And I can organise an hour or so with a real gitano prof in Jerez. He needs to learn English so almost no cost there. And lots of free (cost of a beer) flamenco as well as the paid for events of the festival. I know it is an expense but it would launch your flamenco guitar adventure in big style.

And several of the folks on here can be found around Jerez then. And being a local I'll buy you a Copa de Jerez. Sounds generous but in El Puerto 1 Euro can buy you a copa of Jerez including a tapa

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nigel (el raton de Watford - now Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 24 2019 18:41:36

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to Bibab)

quote:

I live in London

El Mundo Flamenco / London Guitar Studio is on Duke Street, just off Oxford Street, near Bond Street tube station.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 25 2019 14:44:10

Bibab

Posts: 9
Joined: Nov. 23 2019

RE: So I bought the wrong type of guitar (in reply to mark indigo)

I went to El Mundo Flamenco on Sunday. Nice store and very nice people. Unfortunately their bottom of the range flamenco guitar costs more than the Teresa. I may end up going down that route anyway, but like to explore some other options first...

Thank you for suggestion about the Flamenco Festival and everything else. That sounds awfully tempting. It may not make financial sense unless I get pricier guitar than I was initially intending, but at least I will also get a nice holiday out of it and, as you say, would certainly be as good a launch as I am going to get. I'll need to see if I can get time off work at that time though. I suspect it will be a little tricky. But if I do manage, I will get in touch.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 26 2019 0:27:01