Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Full Version)

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Stoney -> Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 1 2009 4:08:58)

So, here in Northern Mexico the chances of finding a decent flamenco guitar are about the same as seeing snow, nil. Yesterday I tried out a Admira guitar, the only flamenco guitar available in the whole city. Didn't like it.

So now I am looking into going to McAllen Texas to the guitar center. They have the Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar which I have heard good things about.

Has anyone tried them? I trust the Yamaha name in general (particularly for classical guitars) The price of $359 US seems good. I don't have tons of cash for a thousand dollar import but I won't settle either.

I'd appreciate some imput here. Keep in mind again that my choices are NONE and that as a lower intermediate player I'll be happy if it sounds good and has a good flamenco feel to it.

Stoney
BTW Guitar Center also carries Manuel Rodriguez C3 Flamenco Classical Guitars at aprox. $500 also in my price range. Anyone know anything about them? Opinions?



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Escribano -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 1 2009 10:14:48)

Yamaha threads
Manual Rodriguez threads



Arash -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 1 2009 10:28:01)

if you are in mexico, i would try out the beginner guitars of the more famous luthiers there. as far as i know, they make some nice guitars with excellent price performance ratio. for instance francisco navarro student guitars



kovachian -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 1 2009 16:16:17)

I'd take a Francisco Navarro Garcia over that Yamaha any day. Matter of factly, I used to own one before I needed emergency funds to cover college tuition. DAMMIT I miss miss that guitar, I am definitely getting another one when I can afford it. Which hopefully won't be long, because they're not that much more than the Yamaha.



Ramon Amira -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 1 2009 17:41:39)

I have checked out lots of guitars in that price range for my students, including the Yamaha CG171SF. That Yamaha has good sound for the price, partly I think because of sides that are roughly as deep as a typical classical guitar. You've heard of a flamenca negra – call this one a clasico blanco. I found the neck to be thick and square, much like a lot of the guitars from Valencia. If the neck doesn't bother you, it's worth the price, and has golpeadores and all. However, the action also is Clasico. So if you're willing to take fairly high action, I would strongly recommend two possibilities. I have found Cordoba guitars to be the best in that price range. You could get the Cordoba C5 for $300, put on Kling-On golpeadores for five dollars, or permanent ones for maybe $50. That's a classical guitar, but again, the action is no higher than the Yamaha. The best choice by far, in my opinion, is the Cordoba F7, for $500, which is actually a flamenco guitar. Sounds good, plays well, for that price range. I don't think you can do better for $500. All these are available at Guitar Center, or online. However, someone suggested Mexican guitars, since you are there. I've never played any, but have read some good things about some of the Paracho luthiers. But these are generally higher priced guitars – I have no idea how a $500 guitar would compare.



RTC -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 1 2009 19:01:09)

Stoney:
Call Fransisco Navarro or Salvador Castillo and price some student models you won't regreat it. If you happen to go to Monterrey you night find a use one in some of the guitar shops there.
RTC



Andy Culpepper -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 1 2009 19:10:03)

quote:

I'd take a Francisco Navarro Garcia over that Yamaha any day. Matter of factly, I used to own one before I needed emergency funds to cover college tuition. DAMMIT I miss miss that guitar, I am definitely getting another one when I can afford it. Which hopefully won't be long, because they're not that much more than the Yamaha.


Hey man, you can have it back if you want it! It really is a great guitar but I don't really play it much because I have another cedar top that's better. I would probably want 800 for it because I put planetary pegs in...they are a dream.
I would miss the smell though[;)] It smells a lot better than my student's "Concert" Navarro (also cedar top) and sounds almost as good too.



GuitarVlog -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 1 2009 20:24:26)

I have a Yamaha CG171SF and I like it. But the estudio guitars by Francisco Navarro Garcia of Paracho are superior (although they do cost more).

If you're looking at a Manuel Rodriguez C3F as your alternative, then my vote goes to the Yamaha. The FF is a different animal. That one is at least made by Rodriguez's factory and it costs a lot more. I would still get one of Francisco's guitars rather than a Rodriguez.

Cordoba has just introduced the F7 as Prominent Critic has mentioned. It's $500. I haven't played it but I suspect it will perform better than the Yamaha (but I don't think it will outperform Francisco's estudio guitars).



Stoney -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 2 2009 7:28:50)

quote:

If you happen to go to Monterrey you night find a use one in some of the guitar shops there.


I live in Monterrey and there is nothing, believe me. I know all the people who work in the stores and they have their eyes out for me. There is only one Flamenco guitar in town, an Admira and I really didn't get excited about it. Nice enough especially compared to the $80 piece of garbage classical I'm playing now and it had a loud, punchy sound but it felt all wrong.

As for the Mexican models, I can't find anything on the internet (like a web site) for these makers. Besides, I am not too sure if I'd trust ANY mexican product that was more of an investment than a plate of Tacos. I've been here 12 years and I've just been burnt too many times.

I think I'll head to Laredo or McAllen in the next few weeks and get either the Yamaha or the Cordoba for $500. I listened to someone here playing a bulerias recorded on the Yamaha and it sounded pretty good to me. (Amazing alzapua btw, whoever that was)

Thanks for everyone's opinions. I was just glad to hear NO 100% negative reviews of the Yamaha since that's my bottom starting point. I'll post a conclusion once I get the new guitar.

Stoney



Ron.M -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 2 2009 7:41:27)

Hi Stoney,

Mexican builders have been discussed here a few times.

http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=41723&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=paracho&tmode=&smode=&s=#41723

I just keyed "paracho" into the site search.

BTW I really liked the music on your site.

Real authentic Presley/Holly/Gene Vincent/Jerry Lee Lewis/etc kinda Southern Country sound and vocals!

cheers,

Ron



Stoney -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 2 2009 8:08:07)

quote:

BTW I really liked the music on your site.


Thanks for the compliment. (I assume you meant the rock and blues stuff cause the Flamenco stuff I recorded 13 years ago shortly after working my way through the Juan Martin books and it's totally RANK - although thankfully better than some folks posting HOW TO intruction on youtube)

If I weren't playing Flamenco I'd probably be practicing Rockabilly but since there are no musicians here in Monterrey Mexico that have any clue about Rock (everyone here loves the Doors - yuch) So I've decided to get back to my Flamenco roots.

Stoney



Ron.M -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 2 2009 8:53:21)

quote:

Rockabilly


Yeah...although I was just entering my teens at the time the Beatles came on the scene, changing everything for my generation, I had a much older brother, so I grew up listening to all that Rockabilly stuff from a very early age.

There were dozens of British groups and singers around trying to emulate these guys and although they were OK for doing a local dance gig, some even achieving some fame and UK record sales and chart success...when you heard the real thing there was no comparison...
The difference was mainly in the detail rather than the general style.
But it was that detail that really made it work. Nobody here could really get it right...

That "SOUND"!

It's something that I think has given me more of an appreciation of the difficulty of playing Flamenco as a foreigner and always a kinda feeling that there was much more to this than just acquiring a slick guitar technique on it's own.

cheers,

Ron



Ramon Amira -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 3 2009 12:30:25)

If you don't have a problem buying online, then there is a big music chain in New York that I've bought lots of stuff from named Sam Ash. They also have a website - Samash.com. I just called about the Cordoba F7, and there is a special deals number to call where you can get the F7 for $399. Comes with a gig bag too. Might be worth thinking about. I'm sure it's a lot better than the Yamaha, and at that price it's only $40 more.



GuitarVlog -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 3 2009 16:02:54)

$399 is a deal for the F7 and I'm sure that it would outplay the Yamaha. [:)]

Of course, Sam Ash is probably doing deals on the Yamaha as well. It's always one of the door-buster specials at Guitar Center because of it's reputation and value. Chances are that it can be had for $299. I got mine for $270.

If you can swing the $400, the F7 will likely be the better choice.

One of the nice things about being a beginning flamenco player is that we have nice and simple choices in good-value quality instruments. Those on tight budgets can get the Yamaha. Those who can spare more cash now have the Cordoba F7. Spend a little more and you can get Navarro's guitars.
[:D]



Stoney -> RE: Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco Guitar - Opinions wanted (Dec. 15 2009 10:03:57)

Well, I just tried out 3 flamenco guitars here in Monterrey, Mexico, an Admira (hated it) at about $400 US. Another no name with a built in mic which they were flogging as the economy model at about $300 US whcih I liked better than the Admira.

Then they discovered that they had the Yamaha Flamenco model in stock and pulled it out. The action on this particular guitar was super low so I guess it's just a case of getting lucky. I liked it. Super light weight. Not as good as the Vicente Sanchis that I let go years ago (still kicking myself for that one) but a really good guitar. Sounded loud but I didn't have my capo with me to really get an idea of the sound.

Obviously not a Conde or whatever but then again I'm not likely to be playing Bellas Artes in Mexico city any time soon.

Unfortunately, with the taxes they put on import guitars here in Mexico I'll be paying way more for it than I want to so I may just head up to McAllen Texas to see if they have one with the same action at guitar center.

Obviously the pro players can ignore this post but beginners can put a check beside the Yamaha flamenco model. Particularly anyone in a remote area that just can't get anything else.

Stoney



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