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Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland
My new Navarro
My new guitar arrived couple of days ago. Its a Francisco Navarro "reyes" model. There was many exelent reviews about it and I couldnt resist so I had to order it. I was searching the best place / price to buy it and eventually I order it from Ron Hudson. He was really helpful and the business went really well. Ive played the student model coulple of years and l like the feel and sound of it, thats why I had the courage to buy it without trying. Its a definitely an upgrade from the studen model, the difference is clear. Even though Ive just played it a little, I can tell that it has more power and presence, better separation, its easier to play, its more harmonic, and l can do nice ligados with it even with my limited technique. Its a different guitar and it has different sound. I think the sound is more "friendly" and "modern", not so oldschool rajo than the student model but still it has the flamenco bite in it. Im quite pleased with its qualities and Im all the time learning more about it. I dont sound like tomatito or vicente amigo when I play it but I think I sound better than before. Heres few pictures taken with my mobile phone. ps.sorry for the mess and what are the tuners, anybody recognize them?
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thanks tanunez,leo, ded and sean65 tanunez: you mean these? they look the same, only the button is different, mine is more round and theres a little screw in the end, so I im not sure.
I also like the woodmosaic on the center brace piece, its a beautiful detail. I havent seen like that before. ded:No its not rude, you can always ask Rons price was 2500 dollars and I got some discount from it. I planned that my friend would have brought me the guitar so I would have saved the custom and taxes, but he was coming at summer so it would have been too long wait so I got it by post. I recommend this guitar. I feel its a good value for the money. Sean65: I contacted La Sonanta but they wouldnt negotiate the price at all. Their price was too much for me. If they would have been little flexible, I would have bought it from them. Good luck with shopping.
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Tom Bleackshear praised these once, which made me listen to a clip which again impressed me a lot in terms of bang for the buck.
Might well be that she´ll improve considerbaly still within the next days. That´s at least what I have seen a couple of times with guitars that went from one place to another / taking some time of acclimatisation.
Congratulations on your purchase. I am an owner of a FN student model blanca. I love my Navarro and can only imagine how much better yours is compared to mine. I love the headstock on his Reyes model.
A few questions for aleksi:
1)I find the bridge on my student model guitar to be a bit low. Is this similar to his Reyes model?
2) My guitar came with the action set way high and had to go get it readjusted for an extra $150. How is the setup on the Reyes model?
3) Is the Reyes significantly better in sound quality compared to the student model to warrant and extra $1500?
I'm asking because i've been thinking of upgrading for a while. It is either the Navarro Reyes or Salvador Castillo negra.
Congratulations on your new Navarro! A very good choice!
The tuning machines are by Der Jung which is a Taiwanese company. They are okay. The gear ratio is just 1:14. I get them for $15 to $18 from seller taisamlu in Taiwan.
Don't get hung up on the tuning machines. They do their job. What matters is the tone of the guitar. If you feel the need to upgrade the machines, you can get Schallers or Gotoh's for $58-$100. Since you're in Europe, Rubner machines may be even cheaper for you than they are for us. Those are excellent and they have versions with teflon coated gears.
The tuning machines are by Der Jung which is a Taiwanese company. They are okay. The gear ratio is just 1:14. I get them for $15 to $18 from seller taisamlu in Taiwan.
congrats man! This really looks like a fine guitar. if that's possible I'd likely to see a closer/better photo of the back! I wonder that V-shapes could be seen from close as well, or it's just a reflection?
Thanks guys, mrMagenta, that would be fun. I would so much like to try also your Anders Ruphus, I wouldnt mind if it still gets better. I was (or still am) a bit paranoid about the humidity change. I ordered it in the worst time because the winter humidity in Finland is very low. I have moisturiser in side the guitar, but still Im worried. Thanks orsonw and guitarvlog for the detective work. I didnt check the links yet, but I will. Vietflamenco, Its a similar lowprofile bridge. The setup together with the bridge is imho perfect. Even though the student model is easy to play and sounds good, this guitar takes them both to another level. It plays easier in every part of the neck, and the pulsation is even better. The sound qualities are better. Its more powerful and delicate in the same time. The nuances are coming out and when you want an accent, just push it a bit more. Its just easier to play. And comparing to this, the student model sounds a bit thin. I was also wondering how the more expensive guitars could be better, but at least this is in many ways so imho the +1500 dollars are well invested. beno, I can try to take picture with natural light but I have no other camera so I cannot do much better. It looks like that theres colour pattern in the wood. Also the sides seem to have it. Its quite subtle, I didnt even notice it before.
The tuning machines are by Der Jung which is a Taiwanese company. They are okay. The gear ratio is just 1:14. I get them for $15 to $18 from seller taisamlu in Taiwan.
First I thought the buttons were ebony, but they are just cleverly made look like that. The tuners work well, no problem, but when I need some new motivation, I can upgrade the tuners. Some with ebony buttons, beautiful carvings and no plastic parts, if that kinds exists.
Ruphus, I wouldnt mind if it still gets better. I was (or still am) a bit paranoid about the humidity change. I ordered it in the worst time because the winter humidity in Finland is very low. I have moisturiser in side the guitar, but still Im worried.
I think your concerns to be justified. ( Where I am it is very dry too, mostly around 30% RH.) Some leave newly arrived guitars ( from origin with differing climate ) in their case for days at first. Which appears like a good way to go. Expecting a new guitar around early March, I plan to unpack / inspect / first play it only in a special room with higher humdity and other than that leave it in its case in that room for some days, before taking it into the rest of the house for short periods that will be gradually prolonged. -
When guitars have been either built in very humid places or been kept there for long, acclimatisation will be difficult though. I have two guitars with which there is a fret- bars-sticking-out / neck-recovering-again game going on all the time.
Ramirez, Im not sure if its the same sound, maybe not. I think it has its own sound and because its good, I dont really care if its Reyes. But its hard for me to really tell because even if I know that Vicente playes Reyes and Tomatito sometimes (I would like to know what albums) I havent had the pleasure to play any Reyes guitars my self. I will make video sooner or later, but first I want to try different stringsets and get comfortable with it. Then you can be the judge Ruphus, your welcoming rite sounds very careful and thought. Thats the way to go. I didnt have anything prepared and thats why Im paranoid. I keep it in case with the humidifier but I think Ill add one for the neck also. Sorry to hear about the neck/fret problems with your guitars. I gues thats the risk not buying local, I hope Ill have a better luck. Thanks kozz. Ill post some sound samples but slowly slowly. I want to first enjoy it alone. The reason I chose mechanics is partly funny. I saw a gig where a guitarists was playing and in the middle of the piece his two strings went out of tune. Strange situation, but he cleverly tuned back without stopping and I thought that would be impossible with pegs. Well, I like my pegs but I must say that its really nice to turn the maschine heads after a long time. I might even do some hi-fi and upgrade them later (1:18).
ORIGINAL: aleksi First I thought the buttons were ebony, but they are just cleverly made look like that.
If you want real ebony tuning buttons, just find seller "taisamlu" on eBay. He sells rectangular, oval and kidney-shaped ebony buttons that will fit these tuning machines.
These are mine on my Prudencio Saez Negra No.24:
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I still think however that you might be happier in the future with a mid-range set of Rubner tuners. These have higher gear ratios and the metal is thicker.
Don't rush into it. Take your time shopping around. The Der Jung tuning machines on your Navarro are just fine.
If you prefer lyra-style tuners, the Gotoh's are great for under $60. I installed these on my Yamaha CG171SF. The pearloid buttons are high-quality seamless plastic (but they are still plastic). Ebony buttons would have cost me more (than I was willing to pay) from the Gotoh dealer.
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If you want real ebony tuning buttons, just find seller "taisamlu" on eBay. He sells rectangular, oval and kidney-shaped ebony buttons that will fit these tuning machines.
Did Navarro just try to emulate some kind of construction technique when he made the Reyes model or was he trying to get close to the sound and feel as well?
I know that he used The Reyes plan, but atleast he still uses hes own lowprofile bridge. From the inside I dont know how it is. I havent hold a reyes in my hand so I cannot tell if they feel the same. This guitar feels exelent. Something like my student model, but much better.
about the tuners... I just tried tuners that were called Ping and they are also Taiwanese. As cheap as Der Jung but better, roll like butter. Have anybody else tried them?
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