Yamaha Flamenco 171SF

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Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

Yamaha Flamenco 171SF

Hi All,

I am still in search for flamenco guitar...I found a used and good condition Yamaha Flamenco (Older) model Yamaha flamenco 171sf.

When asked what the set up measured at the 12th fret Low E...I was told 4.06mm...Seems awfully high to me....I asked if there was room to come down and this was the reply I got:

Hi, Our tech has the action set to a really nice height. There is a little room at the bridge to bring the saddle down. However, this guitar plays perfect as it is now.
Thank you,

What would you all do? Should I take the chance and purchase it and if it can't come down any lower...Sell it???? 4.06mm seems awfully high..

The reason why I won't go into the $1,000s to spend on a flamenco is because I want to make sure I will stick with it....

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2020 16:27:12

Ricardo

Posts: 14797
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

I have two guitars that measure 4 at the 12 fret for the low E. Both are fun to play.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2020 17:27:46

Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

Hi Ricardo,

I seriously would love to take lessons with you....

So, you don't think 4.6 mm is too high...It's a yami but at least it is an old model...If I don't like it I can resell no problem...The older models keep their value...

The other option is a very good deal on a Student Navarro Negra and the shop that I would purchase at has a return rate and will adjust the guitar for me. He assures me he can get it down to 3.0mm and or 2.7...

Thanks,
Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2020 17:43:41

Ricardo

Posts: 14797
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

So, you don't think 4.6 mm is too high

I’m sure the bridge can go WAY the hell down. I’ve never in my entire life seen a Yamaha with a conde type neck angle 😂

Navarro= more money and probably better quality. Aim higher. But don’t get caught up so much with measurements.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2020 20:15:19

Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

I’m sure the bridge can go WAY the hell down. I’ve never in my entire life seen a Yamaha with a conde type neck angle 😂

Not understanding? So you do think the action could come down or is this jokingly saying that no Yamaha ever had a neck conde to get action a comfortable level? If that what you mean, I agree....

quote:

Navarro= more money and probably better quality. Aim higher. But don’t get caught up so much with measurements.

The Navarro would probably be better quality for sure even for a student flamenco..

There is also another deal at Berkley Music Exchange for a Blanca which is under $1000.00 I am also considering. I do like there guitars as i believe Huipe makes all of theirs and the nut which is 50mm is perfect for my hands...

What sucks about all this...Is its not like I can go down and play any of these flamenco guitars...Electric guitar sure that is not a problem....You wanna see and feel the difference between Les Paul or a Strat or any other guitar you can go down to GC...

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 7 2020 20:30:02

Ricardo

Posts: 14797
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

Hi, Our tech has the action set to a really nice height. There is a little room at the bridge to bring the saddle down. However, this guitar plays perfect as it is now.
Thank you,

What this says to me, is they don’t know what’s going on lol, I’m sure the bridge is a mile high and can be filed down to the point the strings flap against the strings, based on every Yamaha I have ever seen. Also I suspect the action actually Is not 4.x if it “plays perfect”, unless the tech is yamandu himself. I’m sure they don’t understand how to take the measure correctly.

Most often guitars will be sold with a slightly high or stiff action or hard tension strings in order to give an impression of powerful bass tone, which gives the impression of higher volume relatively speaking.

It turns out to be pretty tricky to construct a guitar deliberately such that the bridge is so low that the bone can’t or shouldn’t go lower, plus the action is high enough to have no unwanted buzz (3.0 or higher at 12), because this design is set in place by the neck angle. Vast majority of guitars will have straight necks requiring the bone to go way up in order to clear the frets and make a clean sound.

A lot of new guitar shoppers don’t realize how easy it is to lower raise or change a bone saddle and shy away from purchasing a guitar unless it is set up perfectly, and end up passing on otherwise excellent instruments for the price.

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2020 1:57:16

JasonM

Posts: 2052
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

I have a 171SF. Funny, I never realized the fan struts were left uncarved. It’s like a ‘roll your own’ flamenco! They are still square strips of wood.

I’m cleaning it up to give to a friend right now and took the strings off. But I did put a straight edge to simulate strings and measured the action of low E to be about 2.8mm. I made a new bone saddle for it a long time ago. The saddle that came on the guitar was plastic piece of garbage that was super high. So yes, it can be lowered. And you will want to have it slope down so that the saddle is lower on the high e side as well.

One caveat, even the lowered saddle measured about 11mm high. Ideally it would be 9mm maximum. There is room to lower it further but you might start getting buzzing. If you really wanted to go crazy you could pull out the frets and plane the fingerboard to allow the saddle to come down further.

One other thing, 50mm nut width is pretty narrow, even for my small hands.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2020 2:27:22

Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

Hi Jason,

That sounds like a lot of work you did. I am not savvy technical and I would have a luthier to the job, but, many don't know how flamenco guitar should be adjusted.

Anyhow, I decided against it. Actually 50mm is perfect for me because of my small hands and skinny fingers...LOL I am female and believe, i have tried to play on 52mm and I could do it, but 50mm was just perfect for me..Especially when it came to bar chords and playing jazzy style chords..

Thanks for the awesome advise...

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2020 15:31:13

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

Anyhow, I decided against it.

I think you made the right decision.

It would be nice to get the guitar from a shop that won’t leave you feeling abandoned if it came down to needing some support or warranty work done. A shop that tells you 4.06mm (or 4.6mm) action is acceptable, just because, doesn’t inspire confidence. It almost sounded like they sent a stock answer (tech says it’s OK, plenty of room for adjustment... yeah, right).

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2020 15:43:07

Kaloguitarist

Posts: 126
Joined: May 12 2020

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

I think you made the right decision.

It would be nice to get the guitar from a shop that won’t leave you feeling abandoned if it came down to needing some support or warranty work done. A shop that tells you 4.06mm (or 4.6mm) action is acceptable, just because, doesn’t inspire confidence. It almost sounded like they sent a stock answer (tech says it’s OK, plenty of room for adjustment... yeah, right).

Exactly what I was thinking and he didn't say there was plenty of room for adjustment...He said: THERE WAS LITTLE ROOM for still left for adjustment

Thanks for your reply

Kalo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2020 15:50:57

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

My favourite stock insert was in an advert for a new high end guitar on a boutique dealer’s site. They went on to describe the guitar in glowing terms, “profound basses, full mids, and lyrical yet solid trebles, blah,blah, blah”. Then at the bottom of the ad it said, “picture not of actual guitar, instrument available fall of...”. I think they wanted in the area of $15,000 for this guitar that they’d yet to see or hear.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 8 2020 16:28:40

devilhand

Posts: 1598
Joined: Oct. 15 2019

RE: Yamaha Flamenco 171SF (in reply to Kaloguitarist)

quote:

When asked what the set up measured at the 12th fret Low E...I was told 4.06mm

LoL at 4.06mm. I mean 0.06mm. They must have a super precise tool for that. In your case I would not buy it. Not because of the action. You know the playability is important.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 11 2020 13:16:25