Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro

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Steven Campoli

Posts: 25
Joined: Dec. 29 2020
From: Montréal (Québec, Canada)

Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro

Hi, im looking into buying the Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro. Has anyone played this guitar? Are you able to tell me abit about the specs and how thick the neck and body are?

Thank you!

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Steven Campoli

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2023 16:21:08

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

quote:

Hi, im looking into buying the Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro. Has anyone played this guitar? Are you able to tell me abit about the specs and how thick the neck and body are?

Thank you!

Luthier area of the foro is guitar makers. You could ask them about THEIR guitars and commission one from one of them.

Unless someone from Alvarez y Bernal is member here they will not know the answers, and likely won't want to give out info on someone else's guitar.... does Alvarez y Bernal not have a website with their specs etc. on? You could email them to ask...

Asking if anyone has played Alvarez y Bernal guitars is a more general question, not specific to Luthiery, although to be honest I rarely look at what section a post is in when I click "todays posts"....

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2023 17:40:30

Steven Campoli

Posts: 25
Joined: Dec. 29 2020
From: Montréal (Québec, Canada)

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to mark indigo)

Should I re post in general and ask the question, has anyone played this guitar?

Thanks for the reply

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Steven Campoli

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 28 2023 23:57:21

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

quote:

Should I re post in general and ask the question, has anyone played this guitar?

you could do.

have you seen one for sale somewhere? online? what is making you thinking of this guitar in particular? a guitarist you like playing it?

personally I wouldn't buy a guitar without trying it first (and even then I have managed to buy some guitars I later regretted), regardless of who I've seen playing it or recommending it.

maybe you have a budget and could ask for recommendations for what else you could get for that budget?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 29 2023 12:06:08

Morante

Posts: 2182
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to mark indigo)

The price suggests that they are not handmade. This Bernal has little to do with Valeriano.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 29 2023 16:26:41

Steven Campoli

Posts: 25
Joined: Dec. 29 2020
From: Montréal (Québec, Canada)

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Morante)

It is handmade

https://guitarreriaalvarezybernal.com/guitarras-luthier/

I usually play camps, Alhambra etc.. jeronimo de Carmen suggested I try this.

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Steven Campoli

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 29 2023 17:46:35

Chanpanpap

Posts: 46
Joined: Jan. 31 2023
From: Miami

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

quote:

Should I re post in general and ask the question, has anyone played this guitar?

Hi Steve, Alvarez y Bernal guitars are not the best only marketing...

the sound is not that good I had one Flamenca Concierto and their not that good rather you go for a good one and save your money my best advice is to try them, Valeriano Bernal are much better for what it seems,

Depending on what youre looking for, tbh I own a Javier Casta;o and their really good you can find a good deal on the second market for 3k, even Victor Quintanilla

best regards

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 29 2023 17:48:59

Steven Campoli

Posts: 25
Joined: Dec. 29 2020
From: Montréal (Québec, Canada)

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Chanpanpap)

Compared to camps and Alhambra or Raimundo which I’m playing now, is it a step higher

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Steven Campoli

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 29 2023 17:50:28

Chanpanpap

Posts: 46
Joined: Jan. 31 2023
From: Miami

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

how much is your budget? lets say 2-3k?
If 2k please save the construction on the Alvarez is really bad
it had cracked in less than 3 years also you can see the botom

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 29 2023 19:58:58

Morante

Posts: 2182
Joined: Nov. 21 2010

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

Why bother to ask for advice when you already know everything? Comprate una Conde

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 30 2023 0:57:28

Steven Campoli

Posts: 25
Joined: Dec. 29 2020
From: Montréal (Québec, Canada)

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Morante)

I was asking for advice because I don’t know lol! I’m just looking to try something a step higher :)
Thanks guys for all your advice really appreciate it

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Steven Campoli

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 30 2023 3:24:46

silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

You can spend $5000 on a guitar and still dislike it. You need to play it first, if at all possible. Do lots of reading and research.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 30 2023 15:19:20

Chanpanpap

Posts: 46
Joined: Jan. 31 2023
From: Miami

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

But how much is your budget?

My honest advice is dont go for Alvarez y Bernal!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 30 2023 18:19:07

BradH

Posts: 4
Joined: Oct. 15 2005

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

The person I would ask is Luciano Ghosn. He is an
excellent player and he bought one. He bought it
even though he already had a Devoe. He has a channel
on YouTube. I don't know how to contact him, but he is a
very nice guy and might answer you in the comments
section. Check out his review of his guitar on his
channel.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 1 2023 21:40:21

estebanana

Posts: 9355
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to mark indigo)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mark indigo

quote:

Hi, im looking into buying the Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro. Has anyone played this guitar? Are you able to tell me abit about the specs and how thick the neck and body are?

Thank you!

Luthier area of the foro is guitar makers. You could ask them about THEIR guitars and commission one from one of them.

Unless someone from Alvarez y Bernal is member here they will not know the answers, and likely won't want to give out info on someone else's guitar.... does Alvarez y Bernal not have a website with their specs etc. on? You could email them to ask...

Asking if anyone has played Alvarez y Bernal guitars is a more general question, not specific to Luthiery, although to be honest I rarely look at what section a post is in when I click "todays posts"....

Thank you for pointing this out, if I had done it myself I’m sure I would’ve insulted any number of people whilst chastising the OP for not making the connection to this section of the Foro:

Product Review-
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tt.asp?appid=16

High five for Foro veteran teamwork

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 2 2023 1:59:01

estebanana

Posts: 9355
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to BradH)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BradH

The person I would ask is Luciano Ghosn. He is an
excellent player and he bought one. He bought it
even though he already had a Devoe. He has a channel
on YouTube. I don't know how to contact him, but he is a
very nice guy and might answer you in the comments
section. Check out his review of his guitar on his
channel.

If you were actively studying with LG it might be appropriate to ask him about a student guitar or a next step; but I have to ask, why would you approach one of the worlds top level professionals out of the blue and ask them an opinion on a guitar for a relative beginner to study with?

Who emailed Paco de Lucia to ask about which student guitar they should buy?

LG is on social media, now working with a Japanese dealer, as he lives in Japan. Personally I wouldn’t bother him to show him one of my guitars unless it was absolutely my AAA game guitar.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 2 2023 2:05:37

estebanana

Posts: 9355
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

It would be considerate if y’all would start having these product review discussions in the product review section where they really belong. Then a whole data base of guitar product information could be amassed over there.

This section is about guitar making and as guitar makers it’s both awkward and frustrating to be put into the position of being a guitar shop floor manager who has to explain and parse out student guitars for beginner players. If we wanted to work at a guitar shop doing retail sales information we probably would already be doing that. It’s against our self interests to take time to provide details that retailers would be much better at giving.

Here we can trouble shoot many set up problems for players, show our own work and have talks about helping each other build guitars- or share information about guitar making resources.

Thanks for thinking about this topic and everyone is of course welcome to join in on a guitar making related level.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 2 2023 2:15:54

Ricardo

Posts: 14825
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

quote:

Compared to camps and Alhambra or Raimundo which I’m playing now, is it a step higher

“Hand made” in a FACTORY. With MACHINES. They have guys specialize on parts of the guitar. The concept of “hand made” that reflects price refers to a SINGLE luthier building a single instrument at a time. The price necessarily goes up to the 5K range. I am not saying that such a hand made instrument is ‘better” than a factory guitar. I will say the best factory guitar is Conde.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 2 2023 16:17:24

Richard Jernigan

Posts: 3431
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Steven Campoli

It is handmade

https://guitarreriaalvarezybernal.com/guitarras-luthier/

I usually play camps, Alhambra etc.. jeronimo de Carmen suggested I try this.

The web page says their estudio guitars are outsourced to other manufacturers, while their “luthier” guitars are made in house, by their “master luthier and his team.” Of their many models only two have the word “luthier” in their name, at much higher prices than the one you name.

As others have indicated, a guitar being “hand made” is no guarantee that you will like it.

RNJ

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 2 2023 18:26:00

BarkellWH

Posts: 3459
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Richard Jernigan)

quote:

As others have indicated, a guitar being “hand made” is no guarantee that you will like it.

To expand on Richard's observation, many guitars that are identified as "hand made" are not made by some artisan/luthier imagined to be someone akin to a craftsman in a medieval guild building a limited number of guitars from start to finish. Most are anything but. That doesn't mean they are not good. It does mean that the term "hand made" should be viewed with a healthy amount of skepticism.

Bill

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With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 2 2023 20:59:56

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to estebanana)

quote:

Product Review-
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tt.asp?appid=16

of course, that's where it should go, I didn't even think of that section, I don't think it gets used much, but for sure, that's where it should go. That section should be for requesting as well as posting product reviews and info.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 3 2023 18:26:27

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

quote:

It is handmade

https://guitarreriaalvarezybernal.com/guitarras-luthier/

just to echo what others have said above, the web says "Handmade guitars by our master luthier with his team." The guitars are no doubt made in batches by a team overseen by the "master luthier". That's a long way from one luthier in their workshop making guitars individually (or working on a second while the glue dries on the first, or whatever).

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 3 2023 18:32:30

Chanpanpap

Posts: 46
Joined: Jan. 31 2023
From: Miami

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

I will say the best factory guitar is Conde.

Cant argue with that... not the best but I guess their not that bad either, I guess lets say the standar ok-good flamenco guitar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2023 20:43:21

Chanpanpap

Posts: 46
Joined: Jan. 31 2023
From: Miami

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

Then again Steven I ask you, how much is your budget?

Just to make this clear and good for you, Im NOT selling you nothing, I DONT own a shop, and im NOT a luthier-guitar builder,

If you say your budget is 3k we can recommend good guitars... lets say you can find a Javier Castaño in the second market for 3k and let me tell you their amazing...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 9 2023 20:46:21

estebanana

Posts: 9355
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

Could you guys please move these conversations to the Product Review section? Thank you

If you look on the content directory page you’ll find the General section and the Product Review sections- those sections were developed for these kinds of talks.

Asking who plays what guitar or personal evaluations / comparisons between intermediate level instruments are Product Reviews, and have nothing do do with instrument making.

Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px

Attachment (1)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 10 2023 1:27:25

Steven Campoli

Posts: 25
Joined: Dec. 29 2020
From: Montréal (Québec, Canada)

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

Thank you for all the replies, I got mislead with the word “handmade”

Do you have a link to the Javier Castano?

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Steven Campoli

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 11 2023 19:20:36

Chanpanpap

Posts: 46
Joined: Jan. 31 2023
From: Miami

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

quote:

Castaño

Hi Steven

https://reverb.com/item/61546056-javier-castano-2019

have a look at this one, mine is amazing!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 28 2023 3:49:57

Echi

Posts: 1132
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: Alvarez y Bernal flamenco pro (in reply to Steven Campoli)

I am with Estebana,
It’s not a topic for the lutherie section. In this case the guitar is not even luthier made….
I understand things got too far to move it now and yet…

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jul. 28 2023 9:21:11