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Hello All, Is anyone familiar with Paulino Bernabe's Flamenco Guitars, I know his classicals are great, but I am considering trying out a 2007 Bernabe Flamenca Blanca and wondered if anyone ahs any experience with Bernabe's Flamenco Guitars. See link below
RE: Bernabe Flamenca Blanca (in reply to Reginald)
Hello Reginald,
I have been eyeing that blanca for a while!! heh. I own an Bernabe Imperial Classical and from playing it, I get the feeling their flamenco guitars will have quite a bite to them and will probaly have a loud and bright bright bright sound. I dont know about dry though. The only concern I had is its probably larger and heavier than what I prefer... And I also get the feeling their top two flamenco guitars there are probably the plazuelo and the marvi negra for the price just because they are the first to be recommended usually. If you try it out I would sure love to hear your opinion of it! One thing is for sure, the finish on it will probably be top notch
RE: Bernabe Flamenca Blanca (in reply to Reginald)
My friend owns one, from 2004. I was its custodian for over a month last year.
As Moe says, it is huge and heavy. Playing it did not feel like a flamenco to me, and it doesn't sound very flamenco either. I believe the resonance was "E", and it had a huge deep "cathedral" quality to it.
That being said, it was a impeccably made guitar with incredible materials. The sound and feel were very nice, though in no way flamenco. If I was blindfolded, I'd swear on my life it was another big Madrid classical guitar.
RE: Bernabe Flamenca Blanca (in reply to DTFrontera)
I've played 3 Bernabe guitars. The first was in for repair of a crack in the top, it had a light, metallic and thin voice. I didn't like it. The second was good but not great and the third was a monster. It's owned by Carlos Rubio in Philadelphia. It's one of the best flamenco guitars I've played bar none. One of those guitars that is so fast and loud that it seems the note explodes out of it a split second before your finger picks the string (I don't know who it was that first said that but it's perfectly descriptive of this guitar).
Bernabe was known as an experimenter. He tried many different bracing systems using as few as one brace running down the center of the top. His death is a loss as he was one of the greats. His guitars already have great value and will undoubtedly continue to increase in price as they are prized by collectors.
RE: Bernabe Flamenca Blanca (in reply to Reginald)
A question for Mr. Shelton... was the guitar overly large and heavy by any chance? I know Madrid guitars are larger by design but wondering about its weight and its easy of playing...
A question for Mr. Shelton... was the guitar overly large and heavy by any chance? I know Madrid guitars are larger by design but wondering about its weight and its easy of playing...
To be honest with you I was playing all of Carlos' guitars that evening and he was playing the one I had brought with me. I didn't notice the Bernabe being any larger or deeper than the Arcangel Fernandez, Pedro de Miguel or others. It had excellent action and didn't seem heavy to me at all but we were drinking and watching videos of his recent trip to Spain so I didn't really examine the guitar as I would have if it had been in my shop. It may have had a slightly deeper body but who cares? This was over 10 years ago and I still remember that guitar's voice. What a wonderful instrument!
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