Vowinkel2af Review (Full Version)

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Vowinkel2af -> Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 24 2011 18:52:32)

This is my first post...I just want to describe my experience with the journey I went through. First I did have a budget. My budget was 1,000$ or less. I purchased the Otto Vowinkel2AF guitar used for 1,000$.

As my first real guitar I had many reservations about spending anything near a grand. The conflict I had was price performance ratio. Buying a student model guitar would likely mean I'd feel the need to upgrade.

You may notice my handle is Vowinkel2af. I do not work for Otto Vowinkel or have any relationship to his distributors. Now lets talk about the guitar.

I read everything I could about Ottovowinkel and his flamenco model. There is very little information on the net. The guitar was once distributed with GSI the most well known internet guitar seller for classical and flamenco guitars.

This guitar is built in the factory of Antonio Picado. I want to really make something clear. This guitar is not a Picado design. The guitar was made to Vowinkel specifications. The bracing is different than the Picado models.

Woods are spruce top, cypress back and sides with a lovely strip down the middle. Binding is wood, no plastic entry level stuff. The fingerboard is very nice ebony, it is nice and thick. I believe the neck to be mahagony or cedar of some sort.

There is an ebony strip to reinforce the back of the neck. A very simple rosette is constructed with simple concentric circles. It is very simple but elegant. I am not a fan of rosettes with floral patterns. The headstock has a very nicely carved pointy shape to it. This headstock design

Finish is lacquer. I am impressed. The finish to all the woods is lightly applied and there is no plastic like adhesion of the lacquer. There are no real oxygen bubbles apparent or flaws in the application of the lacquer. There is just one tiny dimple of lacquer right in between the bottom of the fingerboard...

You've got to look very close to see any flaws. I feel that this guitar is very unique because at it's price point it is considered to be an entry level guitar yet there is nothing cookie cutter about it. There are only very minor cosmetic flaws to the woods. For instance under the headstock I can see some grains in the wood that have some rougher indentations due to the grain pattern. This is merely cosmetic.

Enough about cosmetics let's talk sound. The guitar has old strings on it now. I have yet to change them. I can only speculate that with new strings the guitar tone will improve. I get a very good balance of sounds. The trebles are bit mellow and the bass is very snappy and responsive.

If I play a quick melody on the low e I can make it have a bright midrange using my nails...but if I use all the meat of thumbs I can get a loud bass and feel the guitar resonate in my hands.

Isn't a guitar supposed to resonate in a players hand? Does it really need to several thousand dollars get get something good? I think it might be a bit insulting to refer to certain guitars as entry level. This guitar is very high quality and could compete with guitars costing much more.

If this level of attention to detail is put into a side project at the Picado factory I can only speculate that the Picado branded guitars are equal or better. The bottom line is two thumbs up for Mr. Picado and his great team of workers. Considering that only hundreds of guitars are made in the factory, I'd say this is the best value for somebody seeking old world charm without cookie cutter mass production.

Now if only I could master the damn tremolo.



BarkellWH -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 24 2011 19:15:35)

quote:

sn't a guitar supposed to resonate in a players hand? Does it really need to several thousand dollars get get something good? I think it might be a bit insulting to refer to certain guitars as entry level. This guitar is very high quality and could compete with guitars costing much more.


I take you at your word, Vowinkel2af, that you have no relationship with the makers of your guitar, and I am glad that you are so pleased with your purchase. Your entire essay, however, including most especially the quote above, sounds very much like a late-night television commercial. The only thing missing was: "But wait, if you call within the next ten minutes you will get two for the price of one!" My apologies if I am mistaken, but your post sounds like you are shilling for the luthier.

Cheers,

Bill



GuitarVlog -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 24 2011 20:59:24)

Welcome to the foro. [:)]

There was one advertised locally in the San Francisco Bay Area Craigslist. Did you buy that one?



Guest -> [Deleted] (Apr. 24 2011 21:11:37)

[Deleted by Admins]



VietFlamenco -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 24 2011 21:22:14)

Funny, I was looking at that one on Craigslist as well.



GuitarVlog -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 24 2011 21:33:36)

quote:

ORIGINAL: VietFlamenco
Funny, I was looking at that one on Craigslist as well.

I look but don't buy. There's no room for another guitar in my home office.

Well, there is ... but then my wife would notice. [:D]




I have the Yamaha as a "blanca" and a Saez as a "negra" so I guess I should be satisfied. I've still got a lot to learn.



VietFlamenco -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 24 2011 22:06:42)

I just bought the yamaha cg172sf for my nephew. I pick it up on Monday. I'll let you know how that turns out. I'm still looking for a good negra, but it's hard to find anything decent around her for budget 2k price.

You can never have enough guitars. The wife will understand.



GuitarVlog -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 24 2011 23:22:59)

Vowinkel2af, howzabout posting some pics of your guitar? We need evidence!
[:D][;)]



quote:

ORIGINAL: VietFlamenco
I'm still looking for a good negra, but it's hard to find anything decent around her for budget 2k price.

If you finally make that trip to BME, ask if they have a Daniel Friedrich based flamenca negra. Those have appealed to me lately. There's another design that I liked, I think it was an Ignacio Fleta based flamenca negra.

William knows the guitars best. He can steer you in the right direction if you give him feedback. That place can be very dangerous. If they ever have another 20%-off sale (which I missed) ... I may have a very, very difficult time holding on to my wallet.

You know, even though I usually consider Spanish-made guitars to be overpriced, you can sometimes find a gem over at Randy's shop (Fine Fretted) near where you are. Just check him out. Grisha loved one $2k guitar that Randy sold to a customer. I loved it too!

Hope the CG172SF works out. As good as their quality control is compared to their competitors in the same price range, Yamaha isn't exempt from duds. I've encountered some but fewer than other factory brands. At least the price is right and the odds are in your favor. Just keep your expectations realistic; it is a production guitar.



VietFlamenco -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 25 2011 0:37:15)

I'm quiet familiar with Randy's shop. Used to take guitar lessons from Randy for quiet a while. Great guy and very knowledgeable.

I don't have much expectations for the cg172sf. I'm sure my nephew will grow out of it within a year or two and then i'll have to give him one of my good guitars.

I'm holding off on the negra till summer. I spoke with Brain Burns today. I'm going to schedule 6 weeks of guitar building with him during the summer. Will probably try to build a negra for my first guitar. Hopefully it doesn't turn out sounding like a $50 mariachi guitar. [:D]



Vowinkel2af -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 25 2011 4:38:58)

I am not shilling for the luthier. Please take into account that this guitar was not built by Otto Vowinkel. It is a design that was built to his specifications in Spain. If I was shilling for any luthier it would be for Antonio Picado because I have never seen a guitar made in Amsterdam from Otto Vowinkel.

Yes I bought the guitar from craigslist. I did a lot of homework on selecting a budget guitar. One of the requirements was that there was all solid wood. I am not Sergio...but perhaps Sergio sold to the owner who I bought it from. Why did you decide to sell the guitar? Did the sound quality not meet your demands?

I will post some photos in a few days when I get the time and have access to the camera. Perhaps my praises for this guitar are very specific to the the price point. The guitar lists for 2,000 new.

Once again I have never made any contact personally with Otto Vowinkel, Antonio Picado or Guitar Salon. I bought this guitar on a whim. My review was not intended to endorse anybody. I simply got the guitar because for it's price point there was nothing out there that seemed to match it's quality.

The inside of the guitar appears very nice, there are no sloppy glue marks anywhere. I'll post photos soon. I wanted to buy a guitar without breaking the bank and I honestly think that the price point is reasonable.

My journey for a budget guitar made me consider that from 2,000-5000$ there is a large range of quality and consistency. I paid 50 percent off from full list price and it included a case with humidifier.

If I sound like an informerical it is because I wanted to be as informative as possible to the perspective buyer of a budget guitar. I am firm believer that bargains and value exists when you shop around with a critical eye.

I think the solid woods and lack of ornate rosette allow the builder to produce a guitar of professional or intermediate quality without a high price. If I was shopping at full list price I would still consider the Vowinkel2af. Please spare the tomato tossing...I just wanted to add some constructive comments out this lesser known production model guitar.

I still defend the fact that it is not a cookie cutter product for it's price point.



Guest -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 25 2011 4:53:57)

quote:

The guitar lists for 2,000 new.

speaking in dollar value you have a good point...not to many instruments worth mentioning in that price range or under...the more we know about the better either for ourselves or students...some audio or video would be good. thanks for the review.



GuitarVlog -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (Apr. 25 2011 5:46:08)

Don't fret about BarkellWH's response, Vowinkel2af. It's just that this forum has seen more than a few blatant and subtle marketing attempts from a certain person. Unfortunately, we now all have our guard up.
[:D]

On top of that, most folks who come to the foro will first post an introduction about themselves rather than a review of their guitar. You're probably just excited about your instrument.

Anyway, congratulations on your acquisition and may it bring you years of satisfaction.
[:)]




quote:

ORIGINAL: VietFlamenco
I spoke with Brain Burns today. I'm going to schedule 6 weeks of guitar building with him during the summer. Will probably try to build a negra for my first guitar. Hopefully it doesn't turn out sounding like a $50 mariachi guitar. [:D]

I wish I could take 6 weeks off to learn how to build a guitar! I hear good stuff about Brian Burns.

Turn your experience into a blog ... or get on twitter and give us daily updates with pics.



stpercival -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (May 7 2011 6:29:36)

I have this same Vowinkel flamenco model. Its a fine guitar. My guitar teacher said it sounded a little to bright for his taste but I like it just fine. I will probably keep it even when I buy a more expensive guitar in the future. My only critique is that without high tension strings it plays a bit too loose.



gshaviv -> RE: Vowinkel2af Review (May 8 2011 11:04:12)

I have this guitar too, want to sell it if anyone is interested. It's in good condition. Open to offers.

It's a fine guitar, nice sound, nice playability. I don't play it anymore though since I have better (and way more expensive...) guitars in my arsenal.



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