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Posts: 161
Joined: Feb. 16 2011
From: Danville, CA
navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel
I'm looking to move up from my CG171SF and think I've narrowed down my options to the following:
Francisco Navarro Student Flamenco (cheaper than the others) Loriente Carmen (lacquer) Otto Vowinkel 2AF
The Carmen and 2AF are both used (nearly the same price), while the Navarro is new. I'd like to find a used Navarro Concert model, but no such luck yet.
So, here's my questions: 1) are these three instruments enough of an improvement over the 171SF to warrant the cost/effort? 2) how do the three compare? 3) is the Navarro concert model more what i should be considering?
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to paul.troutfisher)
To be honest, I really don't think any of those guitars are worth the upgrade from the CG1671SF. They're only slightly better, not exponentially better. I was in your shoes not too long ago and ended up with a Francisco Navarro student model. I feel i've grown out of it already, although it's still a decent guitar for a 1st year or 2nd year flamenco student.
The FN student model are not made by Francisco but rather other people in his shop. You're taking a chance if you go with this model. I suggest you save your money and wait until you have 2k to buy the top end Navarro or buy a good used guitar.
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to paul.troutfisher)
The CG171SF is decent if you are not going with a higher budget. I agree with VietFlamenco. I'd prefer to safe the money for something that worth.. If you are not in a hurry, i mean if you can wait for a while, i advice you to place an order to a respectable luthier like Andres Eliasson for Example and get a special piece of wood, and if you wanna a guitar now and this is the budget you are in, then i advice you to try these guitars and listen to its sound buy yourself then decide which one you like best. If you can't try it physically cuz of the unavailability, try to search for some videos with these guitars and listen how it sounds. IMO, if i were in your shoes and i have no chance of all the choices that i mentioned, i'd then go straight ahead for a FN Student Model.
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Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to cRobson12)
quote:
Shhh
ok i changed it.
anyways. im really happy with my concert model navarro. it's a huge step up from my old c3f and my old c3f was better than any other factory guitar center flamenco guitar i've played.
ive compared my guitar to some pretty high end stuff, even to some guitars by legendary makers and i pretty much always like mine more.
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to at_leo_87)
GOOD.
Hey Anthony I have always wondered, is your Navarro orange or yellow? It seems to change colour like a chameleon everytime you upload a new video
I have often times wanted to give up on trying all the guitars I can get my hands on and just buy the Navarro, but currently I may be having a really sweet deal with a guitar by an awesome dude here at the forum. So we will see if I join the Navarro club later
Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to paul.troutfisher)
oh yeah.. i tried a loriente in singapore and it sounded really really good.. I have to say that it's comparable to what the feel of my old anders would be like.. I tried another loriente in sydney a few weeks back and that one sounded like sheeeet... i wouldn't trade my yamaha for it..
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to HolyEvil)
I think your best bet in not to get a navarro, lorient or vowinkel, but to order of those guitars guitars made under the Andalusian sun. The Andalusian guitars from Professor Diaz are endorsed by Paco. They are the best guitars at any price range. You can't go wrong!
Posts: 528
Joined: Nov. 10 2008
From: Helsinki, Finland
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to paul.troutfisher)
I can recommend the Navarro student model. I tried CG171SF in my local music store and for me its heavy as hell and it costs 450€ so I dont consider to be a very good guitar for the money. For americans I gues its different if you can get one cheaply. My Navarro student just feels and sounds much better. If they are made by apprentices I gues the quality varies but still everybody who have bought them seem to be very satisfyed with their guitars. You can find sound samples of them here at foro if you do a search.
Posts: 161
Joined: Feb. 16 2011
From: Danville, CA
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to paul.troutfisher)
Guys, thanks for the candid responses. Kind of what I expected/feared :)
Think I'll wait a bit longer. I'm building my first guitar, following the Roy Courtnall's book. Well, at least I have the Solera done. But I worry that with three kids, wife, dog, two horses, and various other wife scheduled furniture projects that I'll never get it done. I actually bet my 16 year old daughter that I'd finish before she graduated (she's a junior). I'm now thinking that I must have meant graduated from college!
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to paul.troutfisher)
Hi.. I am a new member I wish to accept me as a friend I am communication engineer from Iraq. I play flamenco about 4 years and become really good player but without a real guitar! since I am in Iraq I can't get any flamenco guitar even the Yamaha because it is not available in Iraq! I made about 2,000$ (200 less or more) and I want to purchase a real Negra flamenco guitar I am searching the internet every day, I found these models and I don’t really know if they are worth the 2K or I can get better one for this money!
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: navarro vs. lorient vs. vowinkel (in reply to paul.troutfisher)
I think the answer depends on your playing level. If you have reached the intermediate stage but not yet advanced, then I think you need something better than the 171, or else you will retard your progress, but a luthier guitar at this point would not be justified.
On the other hand, if you are advanced, then I would agree with some others here that you would be better off saving up for a luthier guitar.
If the former, then to answer your question, the Loriente Carmen is a big step up from the 171, and especially if you can get a really good used one for a good price, I think you would do well going that way. It's far better than the Navarro student guitars, which are decent, but not in the same category as the Loriente Carmen.
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