Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (Full Version)

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Kaloguitarist -> Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (May 23 2020 19:18:36)

Hi Guys,

I had to change my username cause I could no longer use my old information. But, I started to get back to flamenco guitar.

I am in the process of buying a guitar....My price range is about $1200 that I mite be willing to spend.

I am female and my left hand is and I play guitar and I remember when I posted my first video on this forum 6 years ago, I was playing a Francisco Navarro. I sold the guitar because I needed the money, Also owned a Juan Huipe which I also had to sell and regretted it.

I loved the Huipe guitar because it had a 50mm nut and it felt way better in my hand...

So my option for flamenco guitar are: A concert Casa Montalvo Concert Blanca, Cordoba GK and a Francisco Navarro.

I am really on the lookout for a cutaway. The Casa Montalvo isn't a cutaway and it goes for $1100.00. I spoke with Jordan Hudson and he said that Marlon could make me a cutaway with a 48mm nut for $1295.00 or the options would be to go with a Cordoba for $679.00 and save a little money.

I know our GREAT Ramzi El Rumbero plays a GK Negra and well if it is good enough for him, I am hoping I would get the same enjoyment and I can save a little money.

Guitar Center is now open in Arizona, I don't know if I want to go there and manhandle their guitars...I am not even sure they have any Cordoba's in stock.

So, I am just looking to get advise on what you all would do. I know cutaways are not favored on the forum...But, I don't mind them and I had traditional blanca…

Should I just order a Cordoba GK and see if I get a good model or should I go with Parracho Mexican made.

Glad to be back and hopefully will post more in the future.

Kalo



devilhand -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (May 24 2020 11:20:14)

You wrote you owned a Navarro guitar. So you know how it sounds and the nut width is 52mm.
If I understood correctly you want a thinner neck. Since we all know playability is an important factor, Navarro is out of the question.
The custom hand made Casa Montalvo will be all solid wood guitar with cut-away and will probably come with a nice low action. I don't know how good Casa Montalvo guitars are. Never heard of this guitar before. Cordoba GK studio cut away with a pickup is a factory made guitar in China and can be bought for half price. The question is does Cordoba GK have a low action? Another question is what is your plan with a pickup on guitar? I read somewhere on the foro, one should buy the best guitar one can afford. If I follow this advice I'd go for Casa Montalvo assuming this guitar is worth the money. I think resale value is something to think about. If someone here on the foro says Cordoba GK can be re-sold easier than Casa Montalvo then you have a dilemma.



Kaloguitarist -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (May 24 2020 17:26:39)

Hi Devilhand,

Thanks for your reply.

So, I spoke to memorial music in Texas and the retailer assured me that Marlon could make me a cutaway, with even a 48mm nut for $1295.00 That is pricey...With no cutaway it would be $1200.

Berkley Exchange is located in San Francisco and they have tons of flamenco guitars...Higher End and they are reputable. All there guitars are Parracho Hand Made in Mexico. I am not sure if Huipe still makes them...The one I was looking at is NOT a cutaway and is traditional blanca with a 50 mm nute for $1100.00

And finally there is the Cordoba GK either Blanca or Negra (yes factory made in china) for &679.00 and cutaway..

The weird part to all of this is and what make it hard to choose is because even handmade Parracho Mexican guitars are a crap shoot as well.

My student Navarro flamenco was nice but at the time I bought it it was $749.00 out the door and that was a great price.


This is just my opinion, I played Cordoba GK's that played and sounded just as good as the the Navarro Student flamenco.

Factory guitars are a crap shoot and not all sound good either. But so is the hand made Student Navarro flamenco...Not all of them play great either... Yes, quality wise they maybe better, But the GK is not laminated from what I read.

As for the Casa Montalvo, I am not sure how it will sound for $1100.00 I know Berkley Exchange has a great reputation.

I think the dilemma I am having is do I just buy a $679.00 GK Negra or Blanca and save up enough money for Andy Culpeper guitar.

'I guess what I am trying to say is the price of Student Flamenco Mexican guitars have gone up so much that I am wondering if they really worth the bang for the buck.

Resale wise, yes, they are and if I bought I Cordoba GK the retail value would be much lower...But, I am not sure if that matters to me anymore...Because I could progress further and save up...Rather then buy in the 1,000 and grow out of the guitar quickly.

If I didn't have small hands, I would probably take a change and buy second hand student Navarro...But, I don't want to tackle wider nut as I know for me the 48mm to 50mm is perfect.

Again, thanks for your help and I hope to make my decision soon...

Kalo



mark indigo -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (May 24 2020 18:19:08)

devilhand, what guitar do you play?



rombsix -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (May 24 2020 19:24:57)

Kalo, I am waiting to receive a carbon fiber guitar some time in July 2020 (so in the next 8 weeks). If that guitar arrives and is decent, then I'll have three guitars, and I don't need three guitars, so I'd be up to sell you my Cordoba GK Studio Negra. That way, you'd know you're getting a good GK Studio Negra because it's been professionally setup by Andy Culpepper, so it plays like butter and it tunes VERY well. The guitar has been played A LOT for seven years, so it's opened up very nicely. Perhaps keep this as an option in the back of your mind in case you're not in need of a guitar immediately (but rather perhaps in the next 6 to 10 weeks).



devilhand -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (May 24 2020 19:51:44)

@mark indigo
http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=323940&p=1&tmode=1&smode=1

@Kalo
I think your dilemma is solved now. You seem to favour Cordoba GK and rombsix is offering his Cordoba GK negra. You should be patient and buy his Cordoba.



Kaloguitarist -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (May 24 2020 22:03:32)

quote:

Kalo, I am waiting to receive a carbon fiber guitar some time in July 2020 (so in the next 8 weeks). If that guitar arrives and is decent, then I'll have three guitars, and I don't need three guitars, so I'd be up to sell you my Cordoba GK Studio Negra. That way, you'd know you're getting a good GK Studio Negra because it's been professionally setup by Andy Culpepper, so it plays like butter and it tunes VERY well. The guitar has been played A LOT for seven years, so it's opened up very nicely. Perhaps keep this as an option in the back of your mind in case you're not in need of a guitar immediately (but rather perhaps in the next 6 to 10 weeks).


Ramzi,

You are seriously going to sell it???? Okay SOLD...I know I would be getting a GREAT model....

I Just private messaged you...

Thanks,
Kalo



TonyGonzales84 -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (May 25 2020 4:44:45)

Very nice, Ramzi.



rombsix -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (Jun. 7 2020 7:12:32)




Kaloguitarist -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (Jun. 8 2020 0:59:59)

Ramzi,

That was awesome, beautiful playing for sure.

Is your mic new audio gear?



rombsix -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (Jun. 8 2020 5:00:09)

quote:

Is your mic new audio gear?


Actually, Kalo, the point of the video was to give you a sense of what the GK Studio Negra can sound like with a good recording LOL. [:D]

This is a mic I've had since 2017, but I actually FINALLY figured out how to start properly using it a couple of days ago. I was not using the correct bundled software / drivers, so now that I am, the mic is working as it ought to have been LOL. [8D]



Kaloguitarist -> RE: Help/Guitar Purchasing Advise Needed (Jun. 8 2020 23:46:07)

quote:

Actually, Kalo, the point of the video was to give you a sense of what the GK Studio Negra can sound like with a good recording LOL.

This is a mic I've had since 2017, but I actually FINALLY figured out how to start properly using it a couple of days ago. I was not using the correct bundled software / drivers, so now that I am, the mic is working as it ought to have been LOL.


Okay, I see...LOL

The GK sounds awesome miked and recorded, and your playing is AWESOME...

Have you ever tried plugging, and miking the amp simultaneously...Maybe like 25 percent plugging through and 25 percent miking...

Kalo



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