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I've one blanca 2007, sound very percussive, dry and with quick response, flat neck. If you like Granada school guitars it's a good option I've tried 2 blancas in he's shop and 1 negra of is father Manuel. I choose my blanca ! I fall in love with the sound and the vibration of the guitar, I'm very happy with it now after 3 years, but I remember that I was disapointed with this flat neck the first time.
Thanks to both of you for your comments - I got some more info on that particular guitar today, turns out it has a 50mm nut which seems narrow compared to most other flamenco guitars I have seen. Unfortunately, there are no flamenco guitars locally, and I will be purchasing online so no trying before buying. I would only really have the option of paying to ship a guitar back if I didn't like it, or reselling of course.
I found this forum whilst doing a search for Jesus Bellido. I have a parlour guitar of his - after a guitar by D. Antonio Torres. I think Jesus Bellido only made two of these, certainly the one I have says 2 of 2. It's a great guitar, wonderfully light but with an amazing sound. I'm not a flamenco player though. My other two guitars are made by George Lowden and the Jesus Bellido easily out plays them - and they're pretty good!
i've been to jesus's place a couple of times. you can tell the man is passionate and obsessed about his work. even on vacation, he doesn't stop working. i've been to a few shops and i would rank him among the top 3.
but if you can, try out a manuel bellido. holy sh******t!!!
Jesús Bellido makes superb guitars that are very light and - as Jorge Gómez said of mine last week - "muy, muy flamenco". Also very good quality/price ratio.
That's a Jose Lopez Bellido (younger brother of Manuel, uncle of Jesus and Miguel Angel). He doesn't really build any more, because of back problems. I saw him recently and he said he's practically retired.
oh NO !! that means the prices will go through roof !
i guess i had a few lessons with some local dudes (in Granada) they said the guitars they had were like 3000EURO and the modelo they had like 25 years old , i just love the sounds they make up !
In an interesting turn of events, I ended up purchasing the Bellido I linked in my original post. I'm expecting it to arrive tomorrow - thanks to everyone for the info!
Jesus sent me an email confirming that he used a 25yr old German spruce top on this one.
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as Jorge Gómez said of mine last week - "muy, muy flamenco". Also very good quality/price ratio.
well, not to take credit away from jesus, but you also played very well.
quote:
what about the difference between Manuel and Jesus guitars ?
jesus seems like an experimenter, i would say his guitars sound more modern. the action was a bit higher than im used to but that can be adjusted.
estevan has a jesus with red cypress. it's stunning.
the manuel i tried was very traditional looking and sounding, the action was super low, probably so close to the soundboard that a cigarette wouldnt be able to pass through. super easy to play. first time i've seen anything like that.
I received the Jesus Bellido blanca last week - I'm very new to flamenco (not to guitar, been playing 16yrs), but I can say it's a featherweight and incredibly responsive. A very traditional sound to my ears - short sustain but powerful bass tones. I have a long way to go, but I'm starting to figure out how it wants to be played.
minordjango - I paid 2600US plus import taxes and duties.
but if amir haddad plays one thats it !!! - hes sound is huge , anyone know more about joses guitars prices , availability ?
Jose is well known and respected but has recently retired from building so you'll need to find a second hand one. I've seen blancas advertised for £2000- £3000.
Don't forget that Amir Haddad himself is responsible for most of the sound, you can hear him play several very different guitars and he always still sounds like himself.
very good point Orsonw , amirs playihng is sublime at that .
i emailed the shops in England with the 1500 pound guitars, priced well i think , yet didnt here a reply ,
what is the consistency of Jose bellidos work ? be a shame to order one and not be able to play it !!!, any notable features people can tell me about , as i play classical a lot , id been interested on the classical bellido and just put tap plates on it .
yeah i agree, hence why trying to get as much info about the Jesus bellido traditional modelo first , unfortunately not in the situation to try before i buy , and its hard without a functional lguitar.
not sure if i can wait another 3 months.
arash why didnt you seem interested in the bellidos ? and what was the prices in Bellidos shop ? for his basic models if he has any ?
any other experiences would be nice to hear, with Jesus Bellido guitars
i have a jesus bellido and it's his taller model which is shop model, supposedly a guitar that his assistants had a greater hand in making, which is why it is unsigned. He no longer offers the taller.
paid $2100 for it three years ago and i am very lucky in that this guitar is exactly what i wanted. i love shopping around and trying out guitars and the only one i've played that was a serious contender as a replacement was a jose lopez bellido.
jesus is an experimenter but the guitars still remain traditional. pedro cortes played my jesus earlier this year and loved it. he said he couldn't play a lot of guitars because of how hard he plays.
i've heard it said that you must really dig in to bring out the sound from a guitar from granada. with mine at least, it's very true.
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