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Hello to all. A friend of mine is interested in buying this guitar. Has anyone had any experience with it or knows more than just the description on the Ortega site?
Of course if the great Ben Woods considered it good enough to use his name for this guitar it can't be bad. But can it also play flamenco? Not as a traditional flamenco guitar as I understand but at least good enough to practice?
Posts: 15821
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Flametal 2 Ortega guitar (in reply to AndresK)
When I was at namm hanging with Ben, he was a unique artist that was endorsed by 3 guitar companies, which is funny because normally these merchants want you to use their product exclusively in advertising situations. Cordoba and Godin standard guitars he had used in the past. As far as I know he actually worked with Ortega to get a guitar feel and play exactly as he wanted, so for what it is we can probably say it compares well with those two instrument types. It is really for people that want to plug the acoustic electric in rather than for acoustic properties.
RE: Flametal 2 Ortega guitar (in reply to AndresK)
if I'm not wrong Ben prioritized playability over tone. I reckon these guitars are largely easier to play than traditional flamenco guitars but the tradeoff will be tone. They also have truss rods and cutaway so that's also a plus.
However, Ramzi probably can weigh in this better as he had this model.
RE: Flametal 2 Ortega guitar (in reply to AndresK)
Completely subjective here, but several years ago, I bought an Ortega Jade NY guitar in Indian Rosewood as a crossover guitar for gipsy jazz. First and last guitar I bought made in China. It was certainly glitzy, had nylon strings, a more narrow neck, and had a pickup. It's been sitting on a stand for years now, developed humidity cracks, looks nice otherwise, never play it. There's nothing like a solid Cypress flamenco guitar, made in Spain.
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"The main secret about singing ain't so much to have other folks listen to as it is to pick up your own spirits." -Woody Guthrie [and playing guitar!]
RE: Flametal 2 Ortega guitar (in reply to AndresK)
Well, my friend got the guitar and returned it the next day. The action was sky high and super difficult to do any kind of legato. I saw it though a zoom call and I could see him underneath the strings at the 12th fret.