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Hi All, I have what I guess is a very subjective question. I have been pondering the idea of commissioning a hand built Flamenco for several months now and am wondering what some of your thoughts were on the subject. I guess what i'm asking is this, I would love to have an instrument from a well known luthier but as a hobbist on a budget I can't really afford the $5k or more it would take to get an instrument from that source. So do you think I'd be better off purchashing a model from one of the following builders like Hnos Sanchis Lopez or Francisco Navarro that offer good quality and more moderatly priced instruments or should I explore getting a hand built model from an unknown builder who may offer more competitive pricing? Also, would you consider a Flamenco from a builder who also makes other stringed instruments?? I tend to think that someone who only builds Classicals/Flamenco's might be a better source for an instrument. Thanks and I really appreciate any thoughts on this matter. Sig--
What is important IMHO is that the builder is really interested in flamenco and even better if he/she plays. Its important to have an understanding of the music in order to build an instrument that really is a flamenco guitar. There are many very wellknown classical builders that ocasionally build a flamenco guitar (its exotic to them and cypres smels good), but since they dont know about the music, never listens to it and dont play it, they dont have the "feel" for the instrment. In this case I think you´d be better of with one of the small factory guitars you talk about because they are well proven instruments. That a builders makes other instruments is not a bad thing but it doesn´t nescessarily help him/her in building a flamenco guitar.
I agree with Anders, the builder should understand flamenco in order to build a proper guitar. Two of the builders in the US that I listed above I believe play flamenco in California:
Thanks to all for your replies, it is greatly appreciated! I also agree with Ander's that a builder that either plays or at least understands Flamenco has a feel for the instrument. Vasileo & Taranto, thanks to both of you for the links. Sig--
We specialize in flamenco and classical guitars made in Spain, and have relations with more than 40 makers. There are some up and coming luthiers, as well as establish luthiers who are not well known in the US, but are making excellent and more affordable instruments. I would be happy to help you in your quest.
James, Thanks for your reply and offer of assistance in finding a quality instrument. I've found that with so many options you need to be able to trust someone who understands what your looking for and has expertise in picking a quality instrument. Sig--
Just to throw in another luthier, from Canada, who made me a very happy man (and I'm pretty sure my teacher would buy it off me if I ever gave up, the way he keeps complimenting it and eyeing it, makes me feel like a jealous BF): http://www.sigurdsonguitars.com/
www.flamenco.ca also has some links to other Canadian luthiers for those in need of a Canadian source.
Hi Sig, I bought a guitar from a builder called Narciso Fumero (hes in florida) for around US$2700, i cant remember exactly. Anyway all i can say is it is an amazing instrument, i have played other guitars from more famous makers which retailed for twice as much or more that didnt sound or play as good. I bought it online through a guy called Omar, who is really trustworthy and a nice guy who loves flamenco. http://www.directguitar.com/ Heres few reviews on Fumeros guitars. http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/brand/Fumero btw his negra,which i have, is a true flamenco guitar. Not a classical with a tap plate...bridge, tone and set up is true flamenco.
Just spent an interesting weekend in Algodonales with Jerónimo Pérez, a young professional carpenter from a family of top class carpenters, who has begun to make guitars.
Some time ago, he brought one of his first guitars to me for advice. It sounded good but was almost unplayable. I pointed out that he did not appreciate what I consider to be the 3 most important, independent but related issues of distance between the string and 12th fret, distance of the string from the tapa harmonica and the break angle at the bridge.
When he brought his next example, I was amazed to find that he had corrected all the problems and had a near perfect setup.
I have just visited his taller, which he has mounted in his house, to see his setup and his store of wood. I was impressed. He works in the evenings and weekends, when he is not in the family workshop.
He has sold a number of guitars, all by word of mouth and mostly in Jerez. A name to look out for: I would buy one over Sanchis or Conde.
Guitar makers are not artists, they are craftmen. For a top class woodworker, a guitar is merely a special order. There is a lot of information, plans etc available and any guitar well built to the Torre style with a standard tapa, will sound good. To progress to build a great guitar certainly needs experience and sensitivity.
Jero's first guitar was like this, but badly setup. I spent a whole afternoon with him, his father, who has worked briefly with Bernal and his brother, who sings and plays flamenco. I explained how a flamenco guitar needs to be set up, he listened, then went away and made one. The next 3 guitars he showed me were perfect. They sound as good as any Valencia example and I am confident that he will improve rapidly.
The biggest handicap for an aficionado who want to make guitars is a lack of woodworking skills and a lack of a good workshop.
If you're talking about "guitar makers" as in the trained monkeys who work in factories, you may be correct. If you're talking about luthiers, I have to disagree. I know many woodworkers with different specialisations and jumping from one refined woodworking speciality to luthiery is not as easy as many people would think.
Artisan or master level wood workers would agree, I'm sure. Just because you can follow the plan and you have the requisite skills to do what needs to be done to the material doesn't mean that your finished work will sound like anything half decent. That's why luthiers of renown have exorbitant rates and waiting lists; they have reached a level of skill with a quality of product that goes beyond mere craftsmanship. That's why we have the term 'artisan' because artisans work at a level of craftsmanship which has become artistry. We don't just make up words because we like the way they vibrate in our heads.
Stradivarius was a luthier and his violins fetch millions on the auction block by people who have no intention of ever playing them, because they're also art.
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