a_arnold -> RE: More questions on Salvador Castillo (among others)... (Apr. 17 2010 17:39:58)
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Any opinions on his negras though? I own a spruce/Brazilian 660 and have ordered a spruce/palo escrito 650 (being made now). I also own a Castillo blanca. The fact that I own 2 and am buying a 3rd says something, I guess. The negra I have in hand now is a fantastic guitar, but has a somewhat classical sound. It's a cannon, but has very rich tonality, well suited to Sabicas' more lyrical style. Classical guitarists have offered to buy it from me, because they can get a very nice classical sound out of it and yet it has the easy action of a flamenco, which is a hard combination to find. So I can't say anything bad about the negra, but the more classical sound (more sustain, and less dry sounding) may not be a positive for some. ALL Castillo's guitars are incredibly responsive. Which means loud, I guess. I feel like I'm driving a race car when I play them. But I really love the blanca. I've honestly never played a better flamenco guitar, and I've tried Conde, Devoe, Bellido, Reyes, Ramirez, and a host of others side-by-side with the Castillo blanca. I've owned Ramirez and Manuel de la Chica and a few other top-end guitars. But I haven't touched any of them since I got my first Castillo. It is possible I could have just "lucked out" buying this Castillo blanca sight unseen, but I am told that he is a very consistent builder, so I don't think I was lucky. I think he's just a fantastic luthier. Think about it. Unless he's a member of a dynasty like Ramirez or Conde and can benefit from his family's reputation, all great luthiers have to go through a time when they are making great guitars but have not yet been discovered. The clients who can recognize that greatness BEFORE the maker becomes famous . . . those are the ones that get the real bargains AND the great guitars, because the luthier is still trying his best to build his reputation, yet can't command the prices of a Conde. Castillo is one such luthier. His guitars are going up in price though. He is being discovered. About 3 years ago a Castillo blanca could be had for $800. A friend of mine just bought a Spanish cypres/spruce blanca for $2200. Even if you don't have the confidence to buy without relying on the label, you CAN buy based on the accelerating price.
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