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Ordering a Francisco Navarro Guitar - is this a good deal?
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apak
Posts: 57
Joined: May 23 2010
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 RE: Ordering a Francisco Navarro Gui... (in reply to apak)
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I am pretty sure I will go ahead and order the Concert model.
I also asked about the return policy, and he said there is a 3-day grace period for a full refund, as well as a lifetime warranty on the guitar itself. Shipping is included in the price but within the states only. So I have to order to a Washington address, and drive down from Vancouver to pick it up.
But before placing the order, I asked him to measure the string height/action for me at the 12th fret as well as right at the bridge.
If the order goes through, I will write back here with my experience.
As for the pricing, I have a feeling the distributor is making a profit on these no matter what. The guitars are made by FN in Mexico, where I am sure the labor and materials are relatively cheaper than in the states or in Spain. He is importing them from Mexico to Texas, and it all seems like a one man operation. Last time I checked, Texas is not really the flamenco central of the USA, so he probably has a few of his flamenco guitars sitting in the shop without much demand, so he is offering them at a discount to unload them and make new orders of other models. But all that is just my theory.
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Date Jul. 14 2010 3:18:36
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Ramon Amira
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
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RE: Ordering a Francisco Navarro Gui... (in reply to apak)
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I'm sure Ron Hudson is legit, I certainly didn't say he wasn't - someone suggested that he was the official USA distributor for Francisco Navarro Guitars, and I said IF he is, then he should not be selling to the general public. Of course if he is not the official USA distributor, but merely a dealer himself, then he has a perfect right to sell the guitars at whatever price he chooses, and the public is the winner. Possibly FN has no USA distributor, if as Guitar Vlog and Arash suggest, dealers in the U.S. are buying directly from FN, though most manufacturers sell through distributors. The websites that I could find that sell FN Concert Model are listing it for $1700, though they may sell it for less, but any which way $1000 is a great price, and Ron has to be selling it at a very low markup at that price.
I would guess that Arash is right – he is not the USA distributor, but rather he is a dealer, and he probably placed a decent order and got a discounted price, so he can sell them for less. It's good business, but of course any dealer runs the risk – especially in this economy – of getting stuck with inventory that he can't move fast enough. But at those prices they'll move plenty fast.
Ramon
_____________________________
Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars
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Date Jul. 14 2010 21:27:15
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ngiorgio
Posts: 168
Joined: Nov. 1 2005
From: Florida, USA
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RE: Ordering a Francisco Navarro Gui... (in reply to at_leo_87)
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Interesting thread. I suppose that much like the luthiers from Spain, there is a lot of misconceptions when it comes to who makes what and distributors and actual costs etc. on guitars coming from Mexico.
I have had some experience with this as a high end guitar dealer, years ago, in NYC. Even with the so called "Distributors" in the US, you could still buy direct from most of the makers in Spain. Re-sell them at whatever price you were comfortable with. Was and still is a lot of "smoke and mirrors" when it comes to Spanish makers.
As for Francisco Navarro, his Estudio model is currently being offered at G.S.I. http://www.guitarsalon.com/product.php?productid=3492 In the past couple of years, there have been a few people selling FN guitars on Ebay. I purchased two from one of those sellers back in 2008. He gave me two really good deals at the time as well as a lot of info on FN. whether or not the info was accurate is another thing entirely.
Both guitars came with warrantees but any warrantee claims were to be made through Ron Hudson. This guy was getting the guitars from Ron. I was told that FN had a rather high production rate. Ten to twelve per month as I remember. Was also told that FN worked with his son and brother and maybe another helper. As I have mentioned previously here, I acquired a Grand Concert and a Concert blanca. The prices were under $1200. for the GC and under $1000. on the Concert. Another Concert flamenca sold new, from the same seller, on Ebay after I purchased mine for $850. As has been mentioned in this thread, an Estudio can be had currently for $650. Occasionally, RH will list a FN on Ebay. The last one I remember a few months back was a "Reyes" model and it went around $1500. or so. If you do your homework and search them out there can be some excellent buys out there on FN flamencos, both new and used. I sold a couple of my cejillas to a guy who bought a FN concert Flamenca, Spruce/Cypress, for $600. used. He sent me photos of it and it was mint. As far as I can tell there is consistency in the work coming from the FN shop. Like any other maker, there will be some better than others, but I don't think there will be any bad ones with the FN label.
For those interested in purchasing an instruments by FN, do your homework and find the model that suits you. There are always going to be some good deals out there. You just have to seek them out.
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Date Jul. 15 2010 4:42:05
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