Conde Negra vs Castillo Blanca

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VietFlamenco

Posts: 140
Joined: Aug. 1 2010

Conde Negra vs Castillo Blanca

Hi All, i’m in the market for a new guitar. Years ago I had a 2011 Salvador Castillo blanca that I felt was terrific. Of course I didnt have much to compare it against. I thought it sounded pretty good when compared to Grisha’s blue Lester Devoe during one of our lessons. I stupidly sold the Castillo to help fund tuition fees.

Now I’m ready for a new guitar. I always loved the Conde sound from youtube, but have not been able to find or try any where I’m located. I can potentially buy a 2001 Conde Hermanos Media Luna from Gravina 7 or order a brand new blanca from Salvador. Prices for Salvador’s blanca has gone up to $4k. Both guitars are about the same price, so is it worth it to still consider Salvador?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 20 2023 16:18:28

orsonw

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

RE: Conde Negra vs Castillo Blanca (in reply to VietFlamenco)

quote:

2001 Conde Hermanos Media Luna from Gravina 7 or order a brand new blanca from Salvador. Prices for Salvador’s blanca has gone up to $4k. Both guitars are about the same price, so is it worth it to still consider Salvador?

IMO: Avoid a 2001 Gravina 7. Even if you can try it out and you like it, for a post 1990 Gravina 7 don't pay more than 2-3K. I would go with with Castillo - and I am a Conde fan.

PS Mark has a Conde Hermanos 2010 AF25 Felipe V for about $4K in the classifieds, but it seems he is selling cash and buyer collection, maybe ask him?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 20 2023 20:46:09

xirdneH_imiJ

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

RE: Conde Negra vs Castillo Blanca (in reply to VietFlamenco)

Condes have a reputation of being a hit and miss, there's been a lot of conversation here. Of course top artists mostly play them, but we're talking about a few tens of people and thousands of Condes were made in the past several decades so there's bound to be many good ones, but the mediocre ones are fetching a good price as well because of the label. I've listened to many of them recently and few of them impress me.
On the other hand a friend (fellow foro member) owns a Castillo which is one of the best guitars I've ever played. It's not exceptional when it comes to tone, but its playability is superb and it's very light too. I'd definitely go for that one if I were you - even a used one.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 21 2023 2:05:19

Ricardo

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

RE: Conde Negra vs Castillo Blanca (in reply to VietFlamenco)

quote:

Now I’m ready for a new guitar. I always loved the Conde sound from youtube, but have not been able to find or try any where I’m located. I can potentially buy a 2001 Conde Hermanos Media Luna from Gravina 7 or order a brand new blanca from Salvador. Prices for Salvador’s blanca has gone up to $4k. Both guitars are about the same price, so is it worth it to still consider Salvador?

Conde from Felipe V address in those years is a safer bet in that price range. If you liked the Castillo already, then that is the safe direction to go. They were always worth 4k they were a huge undercut in the market when they first started appearing years ago. I am sure struggling Luthiers were disgusted when those things that were similar to Reyes guitars appeared in students hands, shipped from Mexico in a cardboard box, for $1800!!!

By the way, the one of the most underrated instruments out there is from the 90’s into 2000s was the Felipe V A27 (Blanca) or A24 (negra) model Condes which where essentially identical in quality of sound and playability to the A25 and A26, however they used the old Manuel Ramirez headstock instead of media Luna and therefore priced down a couple thousand dollars. I have known pros that used them and my student had one cuz it was in his budget and it was equal to any top conde. But the poor guy got caught up in the looks issue and traded it in for Reyes jr. I would hazard a guess that out there these models are lying in wait to be a popular item in the future of “vintage guitars”. Much like R. Sanchis and Castillo broke into concert guitar prices (4k plus).

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 21 2023 15:31:09

etta

Posts: 342
Joined: Jan. 20 2010

RE: Conde Negra vs Castillo Blanca (in reply to VietFlamenco)

I bought a Conde (Felipe V), blanca from the l990's; it was about the most lifeless guitar I ever tried and luckily I had a return option. It had enough wood in it to build two guitars, heavy and lifeless. I have played other used Condes in a local shop, same conclusion.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 30 2023 16:35:17

Ricardo

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

RE: Conde Negra vs Castillo Blanca (in reply to etta)

quote:

ORIGINAL: etta

I bought a Conde (Felipe V), blanca from the l990's; it was about the most lifeless guitar I ever tried and luckily I had a return option. It had enough wood in it to build two guitars, heavy and lifeless. I have played other used Condes in a local shop, same conclusion.

Poor Condes could never compare to say, the light weight and lively nomex double tops of glenn Cannon.

Honestly, I have never played a bad conde…played more than a few. A lot more. There were 3 mediocre ones I can remember, all constructed between 2003 and 2010, but even those were not “bad” guitars at all, just not in league with the average.

_____________________________

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

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2023 12:41:26

xirdneH_imiJ

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

RE: Conde Negra vs Castillo Blanca (in reply to Ricardo)

I've listened to nearly every Conde that was available for purchase in the past two years on different websites and don't think I liked more than two or three. Goes to show it's so much a matter of taste. I'm yet to actually play one, I hope somebody puts one in my hands soon :)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 31 2023 21:03:08