Choosing my first flamenco guitar

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Grindhouse

Posts: 3
Joined: Aug. 20 2023

Choosing my first flamenco guitar

Hi guys,
I just joined the forum and Im looking for your advice on choosing my first flamenco guitar.
I am a gigging bass player, but in the last year I rediscovered my love for the nylon string guitar. I only have an old and extremely cheap classical guitar which does the job, but I think getting an upgrade would motivate me even more.

I enjoy playing latin music, gypsy jazz (i play it on the nylon without a pick :D) and started to learn flamenco. I will never be a professional flamenco player, I just want the guitar for fun. So I dont need anything traditional, since I will be playing non flamenco styles as well.

Unfortunately, I live in the Czech republic and we dont have any flamenco guitars here, so i dont have the option to try any.
https://www.thomann.de/cz/cat_GK_gikofl.html?shp=eyJjb3VudHJ5IjoiY3oiLCJjdXJyZW5jeSI6MTEsImxhbmd1YWdlIjoxM30%3D&reload=1
Basically, these are the only flamenco guitars available here. My budget is around 1000 EUR and I really want a cutaway. So there are only 2 options for me.
The Cordoba GK Pro Negra or Alhambra 7FC
Im leaning more to Alhambra, since they are made in Spain and not China. But its a blanca guitar, and from what I understand the negra guitars sound more darker and have more bass? Which are both qualities I like :D

The other option would to travel somewhere and try out some guitars, but that might be a too much of a hassel for me since I dont have many free days :(

What would you recommend?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 20 2023 23:46:00

AndresK

Posts: 313
Joined: Jan. 4 2019
From: Patras, Greece

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

Hello. The negras have a generally more pronounced bass and are closer to your typical classical guitar sound, especially in this price range. The blancas have a dryer, less "reverbed" sound, and are a bit clearer in rasqueados. All this is very general of course and instruments tend to vary very much.

I like very much the Alhambra in the low price range. Even the 2f is a very nice guitar for the money, unfortunately for you I think it is not cutaway, but you don't have to necessarily go for a cutaway, but maybe for the best instrument for the money.

Another suggestion, since you are in Europe, is to contact the mundo flamenco in Germany and tell him your budget and what you are looking for so he can suggest to you a solution tailored to your needs. Just tell him exactly what you told us. You can get something that he personally tried, as he is a very experienced seller.

Others of course might have a far better advice but that is what comes to mind seeing this in 3 am after several days of too little sleep as my son was a bit sick throwing up the last 6 days.

Wish you the best!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 21 2023 0:49:59

rombsix

Posts: 7816
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

quote:

The other option would to travel somewhere and try out some guitars, but that might be a too much of a hassel for me since I dont have many free days :(

This.

_____________________________

Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 22 2023 5:07:46

Grindhouse

Posts: 3
Joined: Aug. 20 2023

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

Thanks for the tips.
I did some more searching online and I found this on reverb: https://reverb.com/en-cz/item/67486386-juan-montes-rodriguez-flamenco-guitar-cutaway-2023-cocobolo
What do you guys think? Its a negra and a cutaway so exactly what I was looking for. The video performance sounds also good. Is this a good guitar?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2023 2:30:27

silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

I had a JMR 1a until recently http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=347163&p=1&tmode=1&smode=1

Great guitar, especially at that price. Their action height is usually set up to about 3mm but I got mine down to 2.7mm buzz free by sanding the bottom of the saddle. It was 7mm high at the bridge. I would recommend this maker, mine was really nicely made and finished, sounded excellent too. It had so much more 'personality' than the Camps, and various other standard stuff at that price range, even up to £2k, that I tried. My tutor was impressed with it and said it was very flamenco. You may even find it increases in value. I sold mine for more than I bought it for. I would have kept it but I never played it after getting my Ariza. I say go for it!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2023 7:01:59

Schieper

Posts: 208
Joined: Mar. 29 2017
From: The Netherlands

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

when I stepped into flamenco I also bought a negra. I liked it most in the shop. Probably because it reminded me of something I was familiar with. But verry soon I realised this was not the instrument for me. Also when testing negra’s in the shop, they generally have a harshness in the trebles for me which I do not warm up to. Hence, I always would go for a Blanca. Also if you already have a classical, why not take something completely different.

I also bought a while ago an old Yamaha solid wood that I bought for a whimp second hand. I changed the sadles to bone, lowered the strings. Put tapa thing on and new tuners and it also plays Flamenco. I just bought a 150 euro guitalele and well, guess what… you can also play flamenco on that on 😊

If you want a flamenco guitar, have a look at camps. I tested a few in the store and they always surprised me as being good value for money.

Ps. In Czech Republic you have Cremona. They also build a nice guitar. I tested on once and not to shabby for the price.

So much to chose from.. just go out and play and until you haven’t found what you warm up to, spend money on sheet music

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2023 7:45:46

Grindhouse

Posts: 3
Joined: Aug. 20 2023

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

Sliddx, thanks for sharing your experience. I think Ill go for this guitar, since i cant stop thinking about it. :D

quote:

Also if you already have a classical, why not take something completely different.

I wouldnt really call it a classical, its my first guitar that costed like 70 eur and is very "punk" :D But I managed to set it up to playable level and I kinda love, it has a really raw character to it. Honestly, I could get by just playing on this guitar, I dont really need a new guitar. Its just that Ill be 30 soon, and I would like to treat myself with something nice for my birthday :D

quote:

I also bought a while ago an old Yamaha solid wood that I bought for a whimp second hand. I changed the sadles to bone, lowered the strings. Put tapa thing on and new tuners and it also plays Flamenco. I just bought a 150 euro guitalele and well, guess what… you can also play flamenco on that on

Yeah, I totally agree, if you know what you want a how to get the sound you want, you can make any instrument work. I myself play all my gigs on a old Jolana bass (old communist brand from Czech republic) that i bought for 100 eur. Most people here think that Jolana instruments are the worst. Many people compliment my sound, and when i tell the its a jolana they dont believe me :D

I didnt even know cremona made flamenco guitars. I know they are manufactured in Czech republic, but you would be surprised of the lack of cremona guitars in local shops.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2023 12:49:18

silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

quote:

Sliddx, thanks for sharing your experience. I think Ill go for this guitar, since i cant stop thinking about it. :D

That's exactly why I bought mine :) You can see Michel playing yours in the video so you can see and hear it. I had the same with mine.

EDIT: I just watched the video, it sounds lovely!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 24 2023 13:28:50

rombsix

Posts: 7816
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

quote:

I think Ill go for this guitar, since i cant stop thinking about it. :D

You'll find your experience with Michel will go flawlessly just like mine went. My JMR is great. I'm selling it here because I just have too many guitars at this point, and I barely find time to play, so I hope someone else will enjoy it.

https://reverb.com/item/66408500-unique-juan-montes-rodriguez-guitar-blanca-flamenca-cutaway-2020-with-lars-cm-g-and-hyvibe-electronics

_____________________________

Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 25 2023 5:58:52

orsonw

Posts: 1941
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to rombsix)

quote:

My JMR is great. I'm selling it here because I just have too many guitars at this point, and I barely find time to play, so I hope someone else will enjoy it.

Hi Ramzi hope you have been finding some time to play. I enjoy this quote on your Reverb ad:

"I decided I'm not going to hold onto guitars for more than a few years at a time anymore so I can keep exploring the world of guitars out there and allow folks to keep exploring the world of guitars by gaining access to my instruments. :)"

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 26 2023 9:58:54

silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

Ooh, did you buy the JMR?!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 26 2023 14:26:30

rombsix

Posts: 7816
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to orsonw)

quote:

Hi Ramzi hope you have been finding some time to play. I enjoy this quote on your Reverb ad:

"I decided I'm not going to hold onto guitars for more than a few years at a time anymore so I can keep exploring the world of guitars out there and allow folks to keep exploring the world of guitars by gaining access to my instruments. :)"

Thanks, Orson.

I'm trying to play as much as I can.

_____________________________

Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 26 2023 23:25:38

RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to Grindhouse)

Sorry for the late reply, I knew this Czech company made very nice steel stringed guitars but haven’t had a chance to examine one of their nylon stringed models until today. I had been concerned the action might lean more towards classical, so I didn’t want to make a blind recommendation, but the one I measured today was right in flamenco territory. Slap a golpeador on one and you’d be good to go. It may not be a traditional flamenco, but these guys make really good guitars for the price and as a multipurpose nylon string it just might fit the bill.

https://furchguitars.com/en/instruments/grand-nylon/

The one I saw was the base level walnut model. It looked and sounded great, which didn’t surprise me as that’s been my experience with their steel stringed models, which tend to be quite nice.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 30 2023 22:58:36

Ricardo

Posts: 14839
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Choosing my first flamenco guitar (in reply to rombsix)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rombsix

quote:

Hi Ramzi hope you have been finding some time to play. I enjoy this quote on your Reverb ad:

"I decided I'm not going to hold onto guitars for more than a few years at a time anymore so I can keep exploring the world of guitars out there and allow folks to keep exploring the world of guitars by gaining access to my instruments. :)"

Thanks, Orson. I'm trying to play as much as I can.