More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK

More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Full Version)

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Jon Boyes -> More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 17 2003 15:08:44)
Today I asked around several guitar shops if they stocked any flamenco guitars I could try out. Here are the reponses: "We sometimes carry the Yamaha but we don't have any in." "No." "When you say 'flamenco guitar', what do you mean?" "So you're after a straight classical guitar, right?" I can see this is going to take some time... Jon

Patrick -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 17 2003 15:22:27)
Jon, You should live in Oregon. Here they call them "Geeetars"

Thomas Whiteley -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 17 2003 23:28:40)
Yes and they have real steel strings that are nice and shinney when new! [:D]

Guest -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 18 2003 10:39:11)
Spanish Guitar Centre in Bristol or London?

Jon Boyes -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 18 2003 11:36:25)
quote: ORIGINAL: Guest Spanish Guitar Centre in Bristol or London? Yeah, I have both of them linked on my website - I bought my Valdez classical guitar from Bristol. Its just a shame that I have to make a two hour journey just to try out a few flamenco guitars. [:(] Jon

Ron.M -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 18 2003 13:20:13)
Yeah Jon, It's pathetic. I bet El Zurdo has more Flamenco Guitars in his shop than there are in the whole of the UK! I had the same problem only worse... Even an Easyjet return to London would be about £100 + taxi to airport £20. Travel Luton/London + B&B in London + grub etc...add another £150. + miss basically 2 days work. All to try a few guitars in London which may be overpriced or not very good. I phoned Ivor Mairant's and they had 4 in stock ranging from a £1K Student model to a £4k Conde. With you living in the South, it may be worthwhile looking into a cheap flight to Jerez (£50 return from Stanstead)? cheers Ron

Escribano -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 18 2003 14:35:09)
yeah.... trouble is, the market in Spain for decent guitars seems to be a bit up and down - when I ask around I get replies like so-and-so might have one in blah-blah etc. My teacher escorted a student to Madrid, Cordoba Granada and Jerez before they found one he rated highly enough to be worth buying. All the Condes they tired were awful, Bernal and Gerundino came out top for consistency. I think they went for a Gerundino.

Miguel de Maria -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 18 2003 17:05:38)
Buy a Vicente Carillo online from El Zurdo. If that doesn't work, then go direct and get one from Vicente. These are awesome guitars, and great bargains. When I was in Sevilla, it was better than all the other students, and even the teachers liked it. Eduardo REbollar played my Carillo for a sec, and then said, "Es porque to corres!" "This is why you run!" Fast guitar.

Jon Boyes -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 9:12:14)
Does El Zurdo live in the States? If so, the guitar will double price before it would get to me. Importing guitars from the US is pretty much a no-goer for us in the Uk due to all the taxes and stuff. Buying direct from Spain certainly sems the better option. After all, dealers in the Uk (if you can find them) will obviously be adding their profit on and its probably more than those cheap flights Ron mentions. Plus, the idea of going to Spain to buy a flamenco guitar is just SO cool!! Any idea how much those Carillos were in Spain, Mike? BTW, there's an article on buying guitars in Spaion/Spanish lutherie in the January edition of Acouistic Guitar magazine. It was written by a luthier that hangs out sometimes on FT and the classical forums. Apparently all the big makers (Contreras, Conde, Ramirez etc) get all their student models built by other makers - thery just stick their label on. If you want the real thing its built to order (and expensive, of course). This would explain the deviation in quality that Simon talks about. The frustrating thing is that with any other type of guitar I'd be trying out loads over a period of time, making comparisons, thinking about it etc. I know that if I went to Spain I'd just have to come back with a guitar... Jon

Escribano -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 11:19:20)
I haven't heard of a bad Bernal yet. Join us for the Jerez festival in March and Melchor might get you a good deal at their workshop factory.

Jon Boyes -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 11:40:42)
quote: ORIGINAL: Simon I haven't heard of a bad Bernal yet. Join us for the Jerez festival in March and Melchor might get you a good deal at their workshop factory. If only! Lovely idea, but very unlikely Simon, I have a baby on the way, I'm just to about to start a new (day) job, and we are building a house extension. ie in maths terms: house + baby + job = very busy + very poor [;)] If I do plan a visit to Spain, it will probably be a long way off. Just out of interest, how much dosh are we talking about here? The only Bernal I found in the UK was a 'Prodigio' at £800: http://www.spanishguitars.co.uk/shopguitars/shopguitars.html Realistically, money wise I am looking at nearer half that! Second hand might be my only hope, but in the UK, 2nd hand flamenco guitars are a bit like lesser spotted dodos. Jon

Guest -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 12:06:40)
Jon. Why not contact Danny of Stockport. He's a member here and Simon may have his e-mail address. He runs a guitar studio and knows his flamenco. He's the one who hosts Juan Martin's workshops in Manchester. Just a thought. Jim.

TANúñez -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 12:07:42)
Hi Jon, yes I'm in the US. What about these guys www.staffordguitar.com

Escribano -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 13:27:29)
Go to http://www.foroflamenco.com/showprofile.asp?memid=48 and email Danny

Melchor -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 13:51:14)
I bought my second hand Valeriano Bernal with a few dents from El Carbonero with a small discount for me of course. I remember going to Mundo Flamenco in London and trying a similar one, I think it was over 1000 pounds, too expensive, I paid 560 pounds. A friend here in England wants to learn flamenco and has asked me to buy a student guitar for him next time I go to Jerez. Don´t really know too much about guitars and prices but I am sure they are much cheaper in Spain, specially if you buy a second hand one from somebody who wants to buy a better one. In the board in the CAF there is always an ad from a famous guitarist from Jerez selling his guitar. Melchor

Jon Boyes -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 13:58:04)
quote: ORIGINAL: Melchor I bought my second hand Valeriano Bernal with a few dents from El Carbonero with a small discount for me of course. I remember going to Mundo Flamenco in London and trying a similar one, I think it was over 1000 pounds, too expensive, I paid 560 pounds. Thats more like it.. Whats the CAF, Melcgor, and what/where is El carbonero? Jim - good idea to contact Danny, I remember him but he seems to have disappeared off the internet flamenco scene. I'll try that email (thanks Simon).

Escribano -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 14:22:38)
Good point, Melchor - I guess there could be a few guitarists at the festival open to trading up their guitars if Jon made them a cash offer (just don't flash the stuff around too much). I may even do so myself, in which case, Jon might want to buy my Bernal - £450 new - but nearer £600 in the UK. The one you have is probably of the Prodigio family, ebony fingerboard, triple piece back. When you look Jon, ignore the tuners, they are cheap and nasty on a lot of guitars, sometimes they also have plastic nuts and saddles. They can all be replaced for better quality items for about £50 and make a huge difference to playability e.g. Schallers with ebony buttons are nice.

Melchor -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 14:38:56)
John CAF stands for Centro Andaluz de Flamenco ant it is located in Jerez. There you can do research on flamenco, watch videos, listen to recordings, photocopy tabs , etc.. with free entrance. El Carbonero is my guitar teacher in Jerez. I created a website for him www.escuelaguitarracarbonero.com He sells guitars as wellto his students. Simon if you went to buy a guitar to somebody from Jerez I would recomend somebody Spanish, preferebly from Jerez bought it for you. They have the feeling that "guiris" come with a lot of money to spend. I can give you a hand on this. Melchor

Escribano -> RE: More fun (not) trying out flamenco guitars in the UK (Dec. 19 2003 15:01:32)
quote: Simon if you went to buy a guitar to somebody from Jerez I would recomend somebody Spanish, preferebly from Jerez bought it for you. That would be you then?[:D] I know I owe you some thoughts on our recent conversations. I have stopped work for the holidays, so keep an eye out for it in the next week or two.

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