vuduchyld -> RE: Is there a new Yamaha flamenco model out? (Mar. 8 2011 21:48:54)
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quote:
You don't have any perfect choices out there among tight-budget guitars but these are what you can consider: * The old Yamaha CGX171SFC (as mentioned by Ramzi) which has both an internal goose-neck mic and undersaddle pickup (LR Baggs, I think). I haven't played one but my gigging friends like its amplified tone. Its drawback is that the nut width is narrower and I've been told that its un-amped tone is not as good as the CG171SF. It has a cutaway. * The Cordoba GK Studio uses a Fishman Presys blend pickup (Presys is Fishman's budget line. I think they bought-out a small company that made these.). I've played a couple and the un-amped tone is good. The amped tone through a budget acoustic amp was okay but a better amp might improve it. Nut width is also narrower and it has a cutaway. Back and sides are laminated cypress. * The upcoming Yamaha NCX700 (mentioned in that photo above and available at some retailers already). This is technically a classical guitar so the tone should be evaluated carefully (I haven't played it). It uses Yamaha's new A.R.T. pickup system and I've read good reviews about it. The nut width is wide like a typical flamenco guitar and it has a cutaway. It has no golpeador installed. Back and sides are laminated mahogany. Maybe you can just buy a Navarro and have a pickup installed. I think that'd be better than spending slightly less money on a still-less-than-suitable solution. Great stuff, GV. Really appreciate the info. I like the idea of having a pickup installed on the Navarro, too, now that you mention it. I don't love the thought of narrower at the nut. Also, I far prefer a blanca to a mahogany classical. I have played two of the GK models...both, sadly, at Guitar Center. In Overland Park, KS, the thing was such a complete piece of junk that one of the employees literally apologized and said they could order a new one if I was interested in playing one...the one I played had action at probably 6mm at the 12th fret. The strings were corroded. Any time one tapped the soundboard, it buzzed and rattled because a brace was loose. Terrible setup and maintenance. In Tulsa, OK, the one I played was actually very nice, but I had such a bad taste in my mouth, I wasn't tempted. I didn't realize that the CG171SFC was so different...thought it was just an added pickup and maybe an optional cutaway. Bah humbug. I called my local Yamaha dealer and asked them to call their Yamaha rep. If I can get something that isn't narrower at the nut that does have a pickup and I can do it for $300-350, I probably will. Otherwise...probably the Navarro or something else. As for Ramzi, yeah, he seems to be making progress! Not that I would try to make excuses at all and I think the player is 100x more important than the guitar, but the one I have is really mushy...sounds awful and I really worry that I'm picking up bad habits that won't serve me well later. And...my wife (the dancer!) is demanding that I get a new guitar! How often does that happen?!? I need to do it...for HER!!!!
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