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RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)
quote:
if i want a good guitar, i need to sell two cars, or get a big loan, or even sell my kidney!!!!!!!!
or get a job in a factory for a few months and save like yours truly.
be tankfull you are not a dancer, u know how much those dresses cost ? and they need more than just 2.
same with dance shoes etc, and yet outside spain in schools its always the guitarists , singer etc that get paid first and the most. I know greate dancers who get 40 bucs a gig, and many dont even get paid because of the competition.
once u got the guitar you got everything, all u need is new strings once a month or whatever... so i dont think we should complain just yet but count our lucky stars
Also compared to other instruments the prices are cheap, there is plenty of good resonably priced guitars around, a conde wont guarante you that its good.
ps. u can get a student conde like the one i am playing atm (its crap) for 1500
obviously there is top of the range guitars that are made for top of the game guitarists who can afford top of the range prices because they are pros.
nothing in life that its worth having ever just falls on your lap, most of the time u have to make sacrifices to get it.
and i say this with 40 bucs in my bank account atm
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)
To the hedline,... Im also pissed of these crazy prizes. well.. I think very good flamenco guitars are unique and really a piece of art. But these prices are loco.
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)
I dont agree! Good flamenco guitars are relatively better value than other instruments, try buying a quality concert level violin, then you will be really pissed off. I believe that it is more difficult to locate a quality guitar. I have tried many and quite often you will have to travel great distance to even try one. We all have to make sacrifices to get what we really want, so perhaps one of your cars will have to go and then save or buy one interest free! One final point. think of the materials, time, effort and craftmanship that goes into building a quality guitar. I guess for 2000 USD 1000 GBP or 1500EUR you could obtain a fair level flamenco guitar. Very good value in my opinion but you will have to go and search. It took me nearly a year to find the guitar I reallly love play
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)
Top line Conde guitars are a bit of a myth. They are generally pretty average instruments although from time to time a good one crops up. They are over priced and you should not worry yourself about having to have one.
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Jim Opfer)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Jim Opfer
Top line Conde guitars are a bit of a myth. They are generally pretty average instruments although from time to time a good one crops up. They are over priced and you should not worry yourself about having to have one.
I only tested 3 Conde Media Lunas, but there is one BIG advantage in Condes, besides the VERY good sound, and that is price stability! You could buy a perfect flamenco guitar from a german luthier for 6000 Euros, but u wont be able to sell it for that price. Everything perfect: tone, playing, asthetics, wood, craftmanship... but u wont sell it.
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)
Old gypsy proverb : (well, not really - I just made it up!)
"he who has the most expensive guitar is not guaranteed the most expressive flamenco"
Obviously I can see why you would want one but don't let it get you down. I know some great guitarists with quite average guitars - and have seen some fantastically battered ones passed around parties in Spain. Karenanne
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)
HI MATE DONT GET PUT OFF --TRY YOUR LOCAL MARKET/INTERNET / ITS AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN TURN UP -----GOING TO THE GUITARMAKERS IS TO0 EXPENSIVE FOR MOST FOLK EVEN IN SPAIN IV SEEN KIDS DOING SUPERB STUFF ON MEDIOCRE GUITARS EVEN STEEL STRUNG!!!
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)
HI PER YES A GOOD QUESTION !!! THIS WOULD DEPEND ON MATERIALS YOUR TIME ETC BUT WHERAS BEFORE YOU HAD CERTAIN CEILINGS IN PRICE ON CERTAIN MODELS WITH CERTAIN TOP LUTHIERS NOW EVEN WITH HELP IN CONSTRUCTING THE GUITAR THE WAITING LISTS ARE EXTREME AND PRICES TO MATCH -MANY GUITARS BOUGHT AS INVESTMENTS NEVER FEEL THE TOUCH OF A FINGER OR SWEAT HENCE THE FRUSTRATION OUT IN GUITARLAND THERE ARE HOWEVER CERTAIN LUTHIERS WHO ARE AFFORDABLE DELIBERATLY SO TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE IF ONLY THERE WERE MORE!! COULD YOU BUILD A GOOD FLAMENCO CYPRESS FOR SAY 800 EUROS???
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to duende)
Well Henrik, I still owe you a favour, remember? When you come I can show you my latest Negra. I concider the asked price fairly reasonable.
No, I can't build a guitar for €800, that is only possible for a factory or an artisan not treating every guitar as an individual. As every where else in life you get what you pay for and I hope no one is asking us luthiers to give up a reasonable price level (and I'm not talking about the "collectors price level"). As a serious musician you need a serious luthier and you don't get that without paying him decent payment for his serious work.
The problem with high prices start when the waiting list is growing and people start to invest in your instruments. That's true. But how can you handle that situation as an individual luthier. Give me a hint so I know when my time comes...
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)
I think in the US the entry level price to a good accoustic guitar of any sort is about $2000 and goes up from there. Luthier made, I think the current prices, if somebody built the guitar for you (Per, Anders, Stephen, etc). I think paying $3-5000 US is not out of line.
Imagine if Per makes 20 guitars a year at $3000 each, then he's grossing $60,000. If you subtract his costs, he's not making big bucks by any means. If he's paying for a shop, and a home, and supporting a family I'd be surprised if he can afford a holiday ...
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Crows)
dont go for the big names, especially condes. i tried a few $7000 media lunas and yes they had a nice action but i honestly didnt like them. i have played guitars at half that price that ran rings around them. go for an unknown maker if you want bang for your buck. even snachis lopez are starting to get really expensive because they have a name now.
from all these accolades on anders he sounds like a great option, but his guitars may well go up a fair bit to if demand grows (and rightfully so). the fumero i bought plays like a dream and ABSOLOUTLY sh*ts all over a medio luna (the ones i tried anyway). you can get one of these for around US$3400, and they play more like a guitar you would expect to pay at a very minimum US$5000...easy. If he was well known they would cost a lot more.
RE: i am so pissed off from flamenco... (in reply to Haithamflamenco)
I did alot of research about flamenco guitars since i joined this forum, ask alot of players, even try some of flamenco guitars while i was in uk and switzerland,
i belive the three best choices acoording to quality to price are:
1. Rafael romero 2.Valeriano Bernal 3.Hermanos sanchis lopez
but unfortunatly HermanosSanchis Lopez are keeping the prices higher every time!!!!
i belive the best thing after buying a new guitar is a second hand one,
there are alot of great second hand guitars,
currantly there are a Valeriano Bernal blanca "Pasion" model orignal price is 3800 euros selling price is 1000 euros only,