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RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to Stu)
Stu,
How about a screen shot of the table of contents and one glamor shot page. Less pirate and more of somthing to make one take the effort to find a copy.
Is it still in print?
Oh ya, English or Spanish text?
HR
_____________________________
I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy, doesn't have to be fast, should have some meat on the bones, can be raw or well done, as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.
Posts: 78
Joined: Apr. 23 2020
From: San Diego, CA
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to stevnp)
HR,
It's in both English and Spanish, and Foro member John Ray was editor (I believe that would be a correct-ish term). This is an outstanding and charming book, wonderfully written with attending photographs -- real eye candy, with much historical value.
I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy, doesn't have to be fast, should have some meat on the bones, can be raw or well done, as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.
Posts: 2879
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to ernandez R)
Ernandez and others. here you go
Like has been said. It's a really wonderful book. Great photos (but could've had more for my liking) It isn't really a book with any practical building advice/tips. (although I'm sure there is gems hidden in the text) It's more about the history and what have you. There are some soundboard plans in there from various old timey makers which is decent. And each maker has there own page with info, background and strutting systems etc.
Def worth having. But £2500???
Has both Spanish and English text btw
PS. Simon, please let me know if posting these pics is not allowed. wouldn't want to upset anyone/break any laws.
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to stevnp)
Thanks all for the info.
I’ve done some research myself and it appears the book it out of print. I thought maybe there would still be a few copies floating about. John Ray says on his website that he’s trying to raise funds for a reprint or a second edition.
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to stevnp)
quote:
John Ray says on his website that he’s trying to raise funds for a reprint or a second edition.
I don’t think John has ever posted anything about funding on here, I wonder if the power of the Foro could be used to help in any way. I have a copy and it is definitely a worthwhile project. Great book.
Posts: 3487
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to RobF)
Amazon often posts used books from independent sellers at what seem preposterous prices. I thought of making an offer, to see what the reaction would be. Then I saw "shipped from Japan." I don't know about books, but there are Japanese sites that sell used cameras and electronics on the internet, at very high prices.
A few years ago we walked into a used Nikon shop on the Ginza. They had a very extensive stock. I've been a Nikon fan since 1964, and I could not come up with a model of camera or lens they didn't have on the shelves. All were in pristine condition. The prices seemed high, so I made an offer on a perfectly mint Photomic FTn with a contemporary 50mm f/1.4 lens--not a low offer.
The person behind the counter acted as though he had been insulted, and ignored us from then on.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to ernandez R)
Those are scams guys. I once saw my CD for $400 on Amazon. They don’t have my CD nor that book. The dumb rich customer pay for it, then they say sorry out of stock, and run you around Emails till you give up.
Posts: 3487
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to Ricardo)
I may nearly have been suckered as you describe. I looked around for the Ramon Montoya 2-CD set you mentioned. Could only find it used, or in Europe with ridiculous shipping charges.
Sold by some outfit in California, used, via Amazon $48. Ordered it. Immediately got an email saying it was shipped. Checked the tracking number a couple of days later. Said a label had been prepared, but item not received yet for shipment. Same thing went on for two weeks.
Came across the set on Flamenco-Connecton.com, new, for $29. Complained to Amazon, got a refund, received set from Flamenco Connection in maybe 3 days.
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to stevnp)
Sorry for being a little an as****e here, but are you sure the book is worth it? I bough it and found it quite disappointing. I’m a big fan of the Granada school and maybe I had too many expectations. Great respect for John Ray, who arguably did the best possible to balance strong conflicting opinions, but the moral of the story is that the book ended up being not that informative. I suggest you to read The Orfeo magazine regarding Granada. Just my 2 cents.
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to Echi)
quote:
I suggest you to read The Orfeo magazine regarding Granada. Just my 2 cents.
Why not do both?
I found the first section of the book to be a little off-putting, but the essay on the guitar makers of Granada and following catalogue of makers was worthwhile, in my opinion. I realize noses have gotten out of joint over some aspects of the book (some of the dissension was posted right here on the Foro), but my impression was that this was more due to perceived sins of omission, rather than active misinformation or errors. All things considered, I think the book has merit, regardless of any potential shortcomings.
I’d buy it again without hesitation, if I lost my copy and one could be found at a price as reasonable as the original cost.
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to Stu)
Stu, Thanx for taking the time to post the photos.
In this day of instant table top books it seems it would be rather simple and not too spendy for someone to do a a small run reprint for under $50. I'll do some homework and report back.
I had been wanting to put a table top book together, mostly photos, of my first year of lutherie to share with friends and family and perhaps down the road as a way to market my guitars if I ever get to that point.
As far as members of the Foro critiqueing the book I wouldn't expect less, healthy respectful dissension helps us learn new points of view. It is one of the reasons I like hanging out on the Foro.
HR
_____________________________
I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy, doesn't have to be fast, should have some meat on the bones, can be raw or well done, as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to ernandez R)
So, I just picked on photo book website and had a short chat with the salesperson, it crashed my old school iPad i didn't get to ask a lot of questions:
Nationsphotolab.com
Printing a 300 plus page book this way would be prohibitive :(
Basic price was $44-75 for the first ten pages then 45-75¢ a page.
Guessing there could be a discount with the number of pages and a quentity purchase. I didn't get that far...
I'm laying in bed hooked up to my beer cooler powered ice machine and I forgot to ask the boss to leave a guitar on my bed, WTF was I thinking... Two hours to go :/
HR
_____________________________
I prefer my flamenco guitar spicy, doesn't have to be fast, should have some meat on the bones, can be raw or well done, as long as it doesn't sound like it's turning green on an elevator floor.
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to stevnp)
Maybe it’s just me. Someone else will find this book to be a good catalog and a pleasant reading. Still a good idea to take a look at Orfeo magazine about Granada.
Posts: 2879
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to Echi)
quote:
Maybe it’s just me.
no its not just you
quote:
I had been wanting to put a table top book together, mostly photos, of my first year of lutherie to share with friends and family and perhaps down the road as a way to market my guitars if I ever get to that point.
This is a great idea! A good friend of mine's son recently left home for college. He got a book of cooking recipes printed up for him as a leaving present. Professionally printed on some website. All recipes from valued family members with colour pictures and personal method and messages. A really great idea. some real value in a good quality table top book that we forget in these mad, modern times.
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to Echi)
quote:
I’m a big fan of the Granada school and maybe I had too many expectations. Great respect for John Ray, who arguably did the best possible to balance strong conflicting opinions,
I definitely don’t think you were being an a**. You’re the go-to guy on the Foro when it comes to having a near encyclopedic knowledge about guitar makers, so your opinion holds great weight when it comes to matters like this. I’m just cautioning against throwing the baby away with the bath water.
Also, when the cost, in both time and money, of publishing a hardcover such as this is considered, along with its original price, it seems the book had to have been a labour of love. I doubt anybody made any money from the project, certainly not enough to compensate for the effort.
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to RobF)
quote:
Why not do both?
I would endorse that. I think that the Granada School book and the Orfeo magazine Autumn 2016 edition (free online) complement each other. The book has a lot of facts and historical details while Orfeo reveals some interesting stuff about a more limited number of luthiers.
Take for example the stuff on Manuel Bellido in the Granada School book. Luthiers seem to have been invited to submit plantillas to the book and I had always thought that the one attributed to Manuel Bellido was a joke – or even a protest about being asked to reveal his secrets. However in the Orfeo magazine there is Manuel talking about experimenting with all kinds of patterns – 9, 8, 7, 5 fan struts with or without bridge patches. He also talks with great enthusiasm about his latest experiment of nine diagonal, parallel struts (as pictured in the book).
In Orfeo Manuel also confesses that he can’t really see the point of messing with Rosewood.
“I don’t feel the need to go making ‘negra’ guitars. Why would I when the ‘blanca’ guitars sound so great?”
RE: Book "The Granada School of... (in reply to stevnp)
Thanks for the interesting replies.
Update: I managed to track down a new copy of the book in the UK so I’m now happily reading my way through it!
I’m not knowledgeable enough to criticise its accuracy; all I can say it’s clearly had a great deal of work put into to it and I’m finding it a fascinating insight into the history of the Granada makers and a good overview of the current ones.
Although not a builder, in a nerdy way I’d have liked more detailed info, plans and drawings of the current makers’ instruments, and a recording accompanying the book of each guitar would have been a bonus, but I can understand that this might have been difficult; some makers perhaps not wanting these details published and the costs involved would have been even greater.
Having said that, a lovely book, I’m happy I tracked it down. A pity it’s out of print.
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