Foro Flamenco


Posts Since Last Visit | Advanced Search | Home | Register | Login

Today's Posts | Inbox | Profile | Our Rules | Contact Admin | Log Out



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.





solera flamenca in barcelona   You are logged in as Guest
Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
All Forums >>Discussions >>General >> Page: [1]
Login
Message<< Newer Topic  Older Topic >>
 
rafapak

 

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015
 

solera flamenca in barcelona 

hi
i received message from solera flamenca in barcelona. i can visit them and check guitars. i know they have high prices but should i expect similiar prices somewhere else ?

even if i dont buy guitar due to prices, i think flying to barcelona could be great experience . what do you think guys ?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 2 2023 21:29:53
 
silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

I love Barcelona. And you won't need to worry about your Spanish language abilities.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 2 2023 22:23:45
 
AndresK

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

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

A friend of mine was thinking to go there because they have many options. He told me that one has to pay 50 euros to visit them and try the guitars, just like a museum

After giving it some thought I concluded that it is ok as they provide that one is alone with no other people and noises while playing the guitars. Plus one has the opportunity to play some amazing instruments.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 3 2023 10:47:04
 
xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1893
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

They have higher than average prices, but you will surely get a good guitar for your money and the experience of playing many top instruments is great. If money's not a problem, then definitely go for it.
If however you're not well off and are a beginner, I wouldn't go for a top instrument just yet. It's worth spending months (even years) just learning the craft and as your ear improves and your taste in sound forms, you will find yourself leaning towards a certain kind of tone and you'll be able to make a more informed decision then.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 3 2023 12:35:27
 
Morante

 

Posts: 2184
Joined: Nov. 21 2010
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to silddx

quote:

And you won't need to worry about your Spanish language abilities.


Only if you speak Catalan
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 3 2023 16:32:19
 
Ricardo

Posts: 14833
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to Morante

quote:

ORIGINAL: Morante

quote:

And you won't need to worry about your Spanish language abilities.


Only if you speak Catalan

Isn’t that the same as Irish??? Or is that Scottish?? What is with the bagpipes over on the other coast?

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 3 2023 16:36:50
 
rafapak

 

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to xirdneH_imiJ

quote:

They have higher than average prices, but you will surely get a good guitar for your money and the experience of playing many top instruments is great. If money's not a problem, then definitely go for it.
If however you're not well off and are a beginner, I wouldn't go for a top instrument just yet. It's worth spending months (even years) just learning the craft and as your ear improves and your taste in sound forms, you will find yourself leaning towards a certain kind of tone and you'll be able to make a more informed decision then.


you are right . I should learn basic techniques first etc. My problem is that I am not young anymore. I am 52. I don't know how long I will live and would love to play flamenco guitar before I leave this planet. Old people don't have time to wait. All you said makes sense -more experience is needed when buying expensive instrument. I was thinking about basic flamenco guitar-but flamenco guitar. For me time is running fast. If I wait I might never get a chance to own flamenco guitar because before I develop skills I might just die. Yes, maybe this is funny for some people but for me it is sad reality.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 3 2023 21:54:19
 
Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

Just get on with it! Jesus 😄

If times ticking (and I know what youre saying) then get your arse to Spain. Take some of the many many advices and act upon them. Who cares if you can't speak Spanish. Youll be fine.

Pick a maker and buy a guitar. You won't know what youre buying but if you pick an established maker it'll be authentic and a decent instrument. And that's what you want right..to own a flamenco guitar.even though you can't even play.

Go for it. And enjoy Spain. And eat some tapas.

You're 52 years old and you never heard of tapas??? 😂 jeez. Youre from Ireland right? Not Mars. How is this possible?

Sheesh
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 3 2023 22:55:34
 
Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

quote:

If I wait I might never get a chance to own flamenco guitar


You said on another thread..you used to own a flamenco guitar.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 3 2023 23:01:25
 
rafapak

 

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to Stu

i probably should have written 'i might never get a chance to own flamenco guitar again'. yes i owned flamenco guitar before. by the way i was given 4 recommendations today in relation to malaga places where i can find flamenco guitars. i am flying there soon i think
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 3 2023 23:12:56
 
rafapak

 

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to Stu

quote:

Pick a maker and buy a guitar. You won't know what youre buying but if you pick an established maker it'll be authentic and a decent instrument. And that's what you want right..to own a flamenco guitar.even though you can't even play.


to me playing simple chords on flamenco guitar is still great experience
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 3 2023 23:16:04
 
RobF

Posts: 1611
Joined: Aug. 24 2017
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

quote:

… My problem is that I am not young anymore. I am 52. I don't know how long I will live and would love to play flamenco guitar before I leave this planet. Old people don't have time to wait. All you said makes sense -more experience is needed when buying expensive instrument. I was thinking about basic flamenco guitar-but flamenco guitar. For me time is running fast. If I wait I might never get a chance to own flamenco guitar because before I develop skills I might just die. Yes, maybe this is funny for some people but for me it is sad reality.


I think you should re-evaluate the requirement to buy the guitar in Spain and the insistence that it be made there, too. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with having your biases, except for the biases themselves (which frankly are kind of nonsensical), but you don’t know enough about the flamenco guitar or even your own needs to be placing the kinds of restrictions on your search that you’ve been doing.

Even experienced guitarists will make bad purchases on occasion. Price doesn’t matter. The bottom line is many/most/all guitarists will make purchase decisions based on factors that don’t always line up with buying the best available instrument. Your stated criteria proves this. But, don’t worry, you’re not alone, everybody does stuff like this, including me. People buy based on colour, label, country of origin, historical significance, what somebody famous plays, etc, none of which has a gnat’s measure of poo-poo to do with the quality of the instrument they end up with.

Very, very few people possess the skills to make an unbiased evaluation when purchasing an instrument for personal use. It’s really not in our nature to be that dispassionate and it’s almost pointless to worry about it. The problem arises when we try to use a physical object to satisfy an emotional urge or fill a metaphysical void that extends far beyond the object itself. It’s chasing a platonic ideal and it simply can’t be done. We need to remind ourselves of that aspect of our nature, we can’t be satisfied when we follow that path. Better to remember what the guitar is actually for and get over ourselves.

As I mentioned in an earlier response to another of your posts, going to Spain to buy a guitar can be a lot of fun. You’ll go to interesting places, you’ll meet a lot of great people and, if you’re willing to listen, you’ll learn about guitars. That’s all good. You’ll also end up in places that’ll be happy to relieve you of your money. Just be aware that after you buy the guitar you’ll take it home and play it for a while and I pretty well guarantee you that you’ll realize it’s not the last word. They never are. Doesn’t matter what you spend, where it was made, or where you buy it. It’s just how it is. Try to keep it in perspective.

My concern with this whole Spain fantasy is you’re going to get ripped off and all this Foro talk will have been meaningless. People selling guitars to tourists in Spain have been doing so for a long time and they’re going to see you coming from a mile away. You’d be better served to loosen up on the restrictions and try to buy locally from someone you can trust or, at the very least, from someone with whom you can communicate. I don’t believe for one minute that there aren’t viable instruments available in Ireland or the UK. Go to Spain for the food, the music, the wonderful weather, and also for your love of flamenco and the flamenco guitar. Go to celebrate life. If you happen to find a guitar you like during your travels, great, get it, but don’t make that the focus of the trip. And, for goodness sake, stop overthinking it. If your time on earth is truly limited then buy something nice now and stop worrying about whether your skills line up. When they finally do, if you decide what you’ve got isn’t for you, it’s no big deal, just sell it and get another. Or not. In the grand scheme of things does any of this really matter? Just get a guitar and start playing it. It’s supposed to be about the music.

I sincerely hope your health improves. It sucks to be as young as you are and have to think about your time left on the planet as being limited. It can really mess you up. I wish you the best. I really do.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 4 2023 1:23:10
 
AndresK

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

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to RobF

I am with RobF on this all the way. Go to Spain for tapas not to buy a guitar. Buy locally from a trusted seller or order a guitar from mundo flamenco in Germany. Ask the foro here about the options you are given so all can help you to buy a guitar that will also have good reselling value, because in 2 years you might have to sell it for something that will meet your needs as a more experienced individual on flamenco then.

Do not put so much pressure on yourself for no reason. I was at the Gravina 7 place in Madrid many years ago and played at least 5 guitars (maybe more I do not remember) all were almost crap. I was a foreigner playing ****ty flamenco and they gave me only crappy instruments to test.

Even well known professionals buy from the solera in Barcelona, or mundo flamenco in Germany or other trusted sellers and there are lot of reasons for it. Main reason you do not actually know the builders and the instruments themselves. So you could be given a factory guitar with a fake label inside telling you it is a Gerundino and you go home happy with a fake instrument. And yes this is something that happens in Spain more often than you think.

If you want to buy straight from a builder and be sure you get the best for your money with no add ons from intermediates, go for a builder from the foro or someone you really trust. Again the foro can help on this with invaluable advise.

As about how much time you have on this place it is as simple as this. Go to bed each day as it was the last day you lived with gratitude for every breath you were given, and every heart beat that was a gift to you from... wherever you believe in. As simply as that, even children are not 100% sure they will have much time on their hands. Today I will go to work, how am I 100% sure I will not die in car crash? We do not have to panic for the very limited time we have here. Breathe, relax, and go on. Be fully aware of all the gifts you are given each day in your "ordinary" life which in reality is a miracle.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 4 2023 8:21:57
 
rafapak

 

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

thanks guys for replies
They have years of experience in selling guitars to tourists so they are probably good at tricking tourists to buy low quality instruments. I was thinking that spain is the most reliable place to go to buy a guitar but now as I have more information from your comments I see what you mean guys. My thinking was that spain must be place where only decent quality instruments are sold to foreigners. Now I know it doesn't work like that. Thanks guys again for very valuable information.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 4 2023 9:56:59
 
Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

I thought you had a plane ticket to London to visit guitar shop?
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 4 2023 11:29:53
 
rafapak

 

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to Stu

quote:

I thought you had a plane ticket to London to visit guitar shop?

i was in london last wednesday
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 4 2023 12:36:12
 
rafapak

 

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to RobF

quote:

I think you should re-evaluate the requirement to buy the guitar in Spain and the insistence that it be made there, too. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with having your biases, except for the biases themselves (which frankly are kind of nonsensical), but you don’t know enough about the flamenco guitar or even your own needs to be placing the kinds of restrictions on your search that you’ve been doing.

Even experienced guitarists will make bad purchases on occasion. Price doesn’t matter. The bottom line is many/most/all guitarists will make purchase decisions based on factors that don’t always line up with buying the best available instrument. Your stated criteria proves this. But, don’t worry, you’re not alone, everybody does stuff like this, including me. People buy based on colour, label, country of origin, historical significance, what somebody famous plays, etc, none of which has a gnat’s measure of poo-poo to do with the quality of the instrument they end up with.

Very, very few people possess the skills to make an unbiased evaluation when purchasing an instrument for personal use. It’s really not in our nature to be that dispassionate and it’s almost pointless to worry about it. The problem arises when we try to use a physical object to satisfy an emotional urge or fill a metaphysical void that extends far beyond the object itself. It’s chasing a platonic ideal and it simply can’t be done. We need to remind ourselves of that aspect of our nature, we can’t be satisfied when we follow that path. Better to remember what the guitar is actually for and get over ourselves.

As I mentioned in an earlier response to another of your posts, going to Spain to buy a guitar can be a lot of fun. You’ll go to interesting places, you’ll meet a lot of great people and, if you’re willing to listen, you’ll learn about guitars. That’s all good. You’ll also end up in places that’ll be happy to relieve you of your money. Just be aware that after you buy the guitar you’ll take it home and play it for a while and I pretty well guarantee you that you’ll realize it’s not the last word. They never are. Doesn’t matter what you spend, where it was made, or where you buy it. It’s just how it is. Try to keep it in perspective.

My concern with this whole Spain fantasy is you’re going to get ripped off and all this Foro talk will have been meaningless. People selling guitars to tourists in Spain have been doing so for a long time and they’re going to see you coming from a mile away. You’d be better served to loosen up on the restrictions and try to buy locally from someone you can trust or, at the very least, from someone with whom you can communicate. I don’t believe for one minute that there aren’t viable instruments available in Ireland or the UK. Go to Spain for the food, the music, the wonderful weather, and also for your love of flamenco and the flamenco guitar. Go to celebrate life. If you happen to find a guitar you like during your travels, great, get it, but don’t make that the focus of the trip. And, for goodness sake, stop overthinking it. If your time on earth is truly limited then buy something nice now and stop worrying about whether your skills line up. When they finally do, if you decide what you’ve got isn’t for you, it’s no big deal, just sell it and get another. Or not. In the grand scheme of things does any of this really matter? Just get a guitar and start playing it. It’s supposed to be about the music.

I sincerely hope your health improves. It sucks to be as young as you are and have to think about your time left on the planet as being limited. It can really mess you up. I wish you the best. I really do.
 


very good advice, thanks !
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 4 2023 20:47:07
 
rafapak

 

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

quote:

I don’t believe for one minute that there aren’t viable instruments available in Ireland or the UK.


If I knew where those instruments are in UK or Ireland I would be there already. I contacted one person who is flamenco player located in ireland (it isn't john walsh) and he told me that flamenco guitars in ireland are unavailable. So I am screwed. As far as uk I tried london but didn't find anything interesting there. I think over time I will find more places in uk where flamenco guitars are. I've been doing research for relatively short period of time. I need more time to do research. It is just too early now.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 4 2023 20:58:49
 
silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to Morante

quote:

Only if you speak Catalan


I typed and deleted my thoughts on that, I thought it would confuse matters even more ;) Menus in three languages ...
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 4 2023 21:43:56
 
silddx

Posts: 570
Joined: May 8 2012
From: London

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to rafapak

quote:

I am 52. I don't know how long I will live and would love to play flamenco guitar before I leave this planet. Old people don't have time to wait.


Seriously, 52?! You're a relative baby. 52 is nothing. Unless you have an illness or something, in which case I am sorry. I'm 59 and a half, and I only started a couple of years ago. I'm loving the journey.

You need to chill out and enjoy learning. It's not a race. Unless you think you need to become the next Paco or some nonsense like that.

Please. Allow Flamenco to put a smile on your mush.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 4 2023 21:49:11
 
rafapak

 

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015
 

RE: solera flamenca in barcelona (in reply to silddx

quote:

Please. Allow Flamenco to put a smile on your mush.


i definitely will
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Sep. 6 2023 21:01:12
Page:   [1]
All Forums >>Discussions >>General >> Page: [1]
Jump to:

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
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts


Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET

0.078125 secs.