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Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca
Yamaha 171 vs Cordoba 45fp?
Leaving a a trip to Indo, and don't want to bring my handmade guitar or my Conde - so, having sold all my little travel guitars, I now need one in a hurry! (Naturally)
I love pegs, so I'm curious; Anyone ever play the 45 Cordoba models? I never hear anything about them (and I know where I can kind of steal one for close to a Yamaha $$).
But I know the little Yamaha 171's get consistently high marks, soooooo..
There is a Yamaha somewhat close to me, and on my way to LAX, I could grab a Cordoba 45FP...
Feedback? (Sorry - wasn't sure where to put this post)
Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca
RE: Yamaha 171 vs Cordoba 45fp? (in reply to Ramón)
Saw that, but wasn't much real feedback ABOUT the Cordobas....
I just ran over to a local store and played a Cordoba 33 (Model #?? 33? 35?) It was actually rather nice. Nice woods, simple, but rosewood fretboard. Very playable, good tones up the neck, pretty strong voice...Have a feeling it compares with the Yamaha but about twice...$$. Action could come down a bit, but I could use it for accompaniment... And I can get an FP45 for less than what they wanted for that 33, so.... Hmmm. And a 45 with pegs....?
RE: Yamaha 171 vs Cordoba 45fp? (in reply to Ramón)
I don't own either but I've played them at the stores and to me the Yamaha sounds better than most of the competition, even guitars that cost twice as much.
I think I'll probably buy one eventually for around the fire and traveling.
Posts: 151
Joined: Jun. 30 2007
From: San Francisco Bay Area
RE: Yamaha 171 vs Cordoba 45fp? (in reply to Ramón)
Suggestion (if you have the time to spare):
See if one of the stores has a liberal return policy.
Buy the guitar from that store.
Take the guitar to the OTHER store and do a play-off!
Keep the guitar you want.
In my case, the CG171SF was offered to me brand new at a price that I couldn't pass-up (45% off list versus the typical 30%), and a couple of local teachers recommended it as the best entry-level flamenca. Your needs are probably different and you may have a more attuned ear than I do.
Let us know anyway which one you decide to go for.
Posts: 440
Joined: Feb. 23 2005
From: La Jolla, Ca
RE: Yamaha 171 vs Cordoba 45fp? (in reply to Ramón)
I just grabbed a 171. Was not really as impressed as the rest of the forum seems to be, but for the $300-ish range, there are not a lot of choices.
Workmanship - like most things Japanese, is very good. A VERY heavy guitar! Cannot believe the weight! Did they spray an ebony body to look like cypress!?!??
Sounded rather tinny, too, so today I pulled the stings, made a new bone nut and saddle, flat filed the frets and re-checked, crowned and polished them, and dropped the action to just under 3mm. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
Voice and power picked up, clarity and separation is MUCH better (to my ear), a lot easier to play and barr......and put some much better tuners on - Gotoh Classical Tuners - that I had.
Posts: 151
Joined: Jun. 30 2007
From: San Francisco Bay Area
RE: Yamaha 171 vs Cordoba 45fp? (in reply to Ramón)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Ramón Workmanship - like most things Japanese, is very good. A VERY heavy guitar! Cannot believe the weight! Did they spray an ebony body to look like cypress!?!??
Sounded rather tinny, too, so today I pulled the stings, made a new bone nut and saddle, flat filed the frets and re-checked, crowned and polished them, and dropped the action to just under 3mm. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
Voice and power picked up, clarity and separation is MUCH better (to my ear), a lot easier to play and barr......and put some much better tuners on - Gotoh Classical Tuners - that I had.
¡Viva' la diferencia!
Well, at least it's good to hear that the potential was all in there. I myself am tempted to mod my Yamaha but the most I can do by myself is upgrade the tuners. If anyone knows of a truly good flamenco luthier in the San Francisco Bay Area who can do a professional set-up for me, let me know.
Yes, the CG171SF is 3.5 pounds in weight. Heavy compared to an authentic flamenca, but still a lightweight compared to factory-made classical guitars.
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