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a_arnold -> RE: Flamenco guitar recommendations under $2k US? (Mar. 10 2009 6:43:48)
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Welcome to the foro.
You're asking people for opinions on a very subjective issue. Before spending any money, the wise person will evaluate the source of advice before accepting it unquestioningly.
Having said that, I agree with Tom on the Francisco Navarro option. Another equally good (if not better) Paracho option is Salvador Castillo. Both have won the Mexican national luthiery competition, Castillo more recently. PDL (who owns a house in Mexico) went to the competition a few years ago and singled out Castillo as the best maker in Mexico. I own two Castillos, two by Manuel de la Chica (old-school Granada - he made Segovia's first guitar; see Brune's article "Guitars with Guts" in last Nov. issue of "Vintage Guitar") and have owned a top-of-the-line Ramirez and several others, including factory models that were the equivalent of Burguet, Rodriguez, etc. . I have played Condes and compared them directly (side-by-side) with Castillo's blanca and, although Condes are excellent guitars, I agree with Ricardo -- you are unlikely to find a bargain in a Conde. I think anyone will agree that, to some degree, you pay extra for the label when you buy a Conde. Personally, I heard no quality difference (loudness/projection and clarity) between Conde and Castillo; the "sweetness" or lyrical quality of sound is too subjective for me to offer a meaningful opinion. I think the Conde is an excellent but overpriced guitar. But that is an opinion, so you'll want to evaluate its source.
I worked in the musical instrument restoration lab at the Smithsonian for 4 years and have played flamenco for almost 50 years, but I'm not a luthier (although I have built a harpsichord and restored a few guitars). I lived and studied (flamenco, not luthiery) with Rafael Morales in Granada for a while -- directly across the street from Bellido's shop on Cuesta Gomerez. Take that resume for what it's worth in assessing the value of my opinion. Here it is:
The top 5 makers in Paracho are now the equal of most top makers in Spain, but the Paracho makers are vastly undervalued because Paracho was for many many years known for producing no more than "good" quality studio guitars, and they still suffer from that past reputation (and from their own depressed economy). THe city of Paracho also produces some abysmal guitars -- you have to be selective when you choose a Paracho luthier. When I was working at the Smithsonian (35 years ago), my boss had the job of traveling the world evaluating luthiers during the summer. His opinion of the best Paracho makers was "they are a real bargain, but not yet the equal of the best in Spain". That has changed now, which presents present-day buyers with an opportunity. BUT that means you have to trust your own judgment and your own ear more than the label in the guitar. Many people don't have the confidence to do that in a world gone "Conde Crazy". But there are some great unrecognized and undervalued luthiers out there in Paracho and elsewhere. Some right here on the foro.
There was a time in the 60's and 70's when the Ramirez dynasty was in the same position that Conde now enjoys. The Ramirez' descent to student quality began when they decided to capitalize on the family name. Is a parallel decline happening with Conde now? Many already say the most prized Condes are made by luthiers of the last generation. Is that an early symptom of decay? Maybe.
But I won't make such a claim based on anything other than the evidence of my own ears. And my ears, like everyone else's, are subjective.
Bottom line: if you want to rely on the label, you'll pay a price. If you want a bargain, you HAVE to learn to trust your ear. Try a lot of guitars and learn to hear the difference. It's hard (for me) to compare guitars unless I have them side by side. The setting, the state of the strings, the humidity, and the tiredness of your hands are contributing factors. Keep in mind that new strings can do a lot to make a second-tier guitar sound good, but a great guitar will sound great even with old strings -- so don't be misled there. Also keep in mind that as your hands get stronger, you will find you are able to handle higher action. Sabicas' legendary clean, loud sound came partly from a surprisingly high action. Which means that the ideal guitar for you today may not be the ideal one in ten years.
Probably not the advice you wanted to hear, but there it is. Sorry to be so long- winded. I've had a lot of caffeine this morning.
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