Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Full Version)

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chokolada -> Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Feb. 8 2009 9:33:54)

Hello guys
I´m looking for an entry level flamenco guitar, and I have the impression that the Yamaha model is very popular. But I´m not sure if it is still a good bargain when it costs 379 euros, as it does here in northern europe? For the same price I can get an alhambra 3F or for 100 more euros an Antonio Aparicio AA40. What would be the better choice, you think?

J.L.



Ailsa -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Feb. 8 2009 14:03:36)

Hi chokolada, I'm not an expert but I had an Aparicio for my first guitar, and it was - well, still is, my husband plays it now - a nice sounding, easy to play guitar.

My only criticism is that I found it a little bass-heavy, not much volume at the top end, but maybe that was just that particular model. Or maybe it was just the strings I was using then (D'Addario medium tension), or maybe the way I play it!

I think that's the problem with advising you - your hands might suit a different guitar to mine, so the only way to really know is for you to go play them, which I know isn't a practical option for everyone.

I'll let some more knowledgeable guys chip in now. Good luck![:)][:)]



ChiyoDad -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Feb. 9 2009 8:12:02)

In the US, Yamahas are inexpensive and can be had for as little as US$270. That skews the value-for-money towards Yamaha so it's a very popular student flamenco guitar. Its value-for-money is less in Europe where Spanish-made guitars can be purchased for less.

The best solution would be to play all three if you can.

I'm more inclined to trust the quality-control of Alhambra, Ramirez and Aparicio (for factory-made guitars) rather than some of the other factories like Raimundo. I was chatting once with one of the owners of the 12th Fret in Ontario and he stopped carrying Raimundo years ago because of quality control issues (2-3 of every 5 guitars had to be returned). [:@] [:'(]



Arash -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Feb. 9 2009 8:29:34)

Buy the Yamaha .....or .....try to find a used Hnos. Sanchiz Lopez for 500 - 600 Euros.



superboo -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Feb. 10 2009 12:50:36)

i have a yamaha and love it. but i have nothing else to compare it to, plus i live in the US where it's cheaper. good luck in your search.



chokolada -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Feb. 10 2009 14:02:07)

Thanks everybody for your replies. I´m still thinking and changing my mind every second[:D] I have tried the Antonio Aparicio AA40 and liked it but it´s very annoying that I don´t have the opportunity to try the Yamaha as well before I order it:-( The thing is that I really like the sound of the Yamaha when I listen to the audio clips some of you have posted (maybe because you guys play so damn well!!!)

By the way, Ailsa, nice to see I´m not the only female on this forum! Was it the AA40 you had or another model?

Do anyone else know the AA40?

J.L



bursche -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Feb. 12 2009 12:01:09)

I played the AA40 for 2 years.

It was my very first guitar.
I don't think the differences between the student guitars are significant.
But the Instrument was satisfying for the start.
I thought I noticed a remarkable development of it's sound after about one year when I compared very early recordings to new ones, but that could have been my playing.
After 2 years I really needed something new to play on...



cathulu -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Feb. 12 2009 20:42:25)

My 2 cents

This will be your first Flamenco, like you said entry level. So, spend as little as you can to get a flamenco guitar that has proper set-up which will be important for playbility. Yamaha's seem to be well received around here.

After a few of years if you like it you will want to get a much nicer guitar, or commission a luthier to build you one. By then you will have hopefully tried a few different guitars and decide on something you really like suited to your ergonomics.

Good luck and let us know what you have finally decided...



chokolada -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Mar. 2 2009 12:02:32)

Hi again
I finally made my mind up and ordered the Yamaha from Euroguitar (France) . It came 3 days later and I´m very pleased with it. I ordered it without having the chance to try it out first, but you guys are right, it´s not bad at all! I think it´s better than the other entry level flamenco guitars I have tried (Alhambra, Almanza and Antonio Aparicio), the sound is more flamenco, at least in my ears. And another thing, I started out practising for 2 months on a regular classical, it was a huge joy to get the yamaha after that. Actually I did´nt suck nearly as much as I thought[:D]

Janne



at_leo_87 -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Mar. 2 2009 12:26:23)

i think chiyodad said somewhere that his yamaha sounded much better after changing strings. so you have that to look forward to too!



PhilW -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Mar. 7 2009 16:19:22)

I have a Yamaha CGX-171SFC - flamenco electric cutaway. It is a very nice guitar but not really a flamenco. It is a classical with a laminated cypress back and sides. It has a heavy neck and truss rod and the action from the sound board is not in spec with "true" flamenco guitars. That being said is it a good beginning guitar - yes. I have a $200.00 - unrefined Luthier guitar from Spain and I prefer it since it has more of a flamenco tone - perhaps because it weighs much less.

I had a Alhambra 10F - very nice guitar - not great but worth the $700.00 I paid for it. After having one I would not pay the new price for it.

I am currently having a flamenco guitar build by Canadian luthier Jeff Sigurdson - he does amazing work for amazing prices and is a nice guy too.



ChiyoDad -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Mar. 8 2009 8:33:06)

Strings to try:

  • Savarez 540R (Medium Tension)
  • Savarez 540ARJ (Medium Tension trebles, Hard Tension basses) - Currently on my Yamaha and I like them.
  • Augustine Imperial Gold (Medium Tension trebles, Hard Tension basses) - These are interesting strings. I won't prejudice your opinion with my own. Try them out when you can since they're not that expensive. Let me know what you think.
  • LaBella Elite Flamenco 820R or 820B - Foro favorites.



ChiyoDad -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Mar. 8 2009 8:42:29)

If you try the Augustines, remember that the black end of the trebles gets tied to the bridge.

One foro member swapped out the hard-plastic saddle and nut with ones made of bone. He said it made a big improvement.

I haven't tried that yet since I'm happy with the tone of my Yamaha. Why mess with a good thing?. A custom-made bone saddle can be acquired here in the US cheaply for about $35 (expedited postage included) from http://www.guitarsaddles.com/.



chokolada -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Mar. 9 2009 4:52:22)

Thanks a lot ChiyoDad for the recommendations - I´ll try them out when the factory strings need to be replaced - right now I´m still just pleased with my new guitar so the strings will do for now and then I can look forward to an even better sound when I replace them. I´m thinking this way: the more I practise the more I´ll deserve (and need) a better sound[:D]

Janne



HolyEvil -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Mar. 9 2009 15:45:26)

I thought none of those guitars mentioned has a truss rod??

Does the yamaha cutaway actually have a truss rod??

Cheers



ChiyoDad -> RE: Yamaha, Alhambra or Antonio Aparicio? (Mar. 9 2009 16:33:01)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HolyEvil
I thought none of those guitars mentioned has a truss rod??


I know that the Yamaha doesn't.


quote:

ORIGINAL: HolyEvil
Does the yamaha cutaway actually have a truss rod??


Don't know. Never bothered to play one. I'll check it out the next time that I visit a Guitar Center. Our regional one almost always has two CG171SF and one cutaway-electronic in stock.



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