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I just joined this forum, so please forgive me if I'm posting this question in the wrong place, or if this subject has been discussed before.
I currently have two classical guitars, and I'd like to begin working on flamenco. I don't want to spend a lot on my first flamenco, and I've heard good things about the Yamaha CG171SF flamenco.
Can anyone comment about whether this would be a good beginning flamenco guitar?
I also understand that the CG171SF may have been replaced by a newer model, the CG172SF. If this is so, and if I cannot find a CG171SF, does anyone have any comments about the CG172SF?
I understand that the 171SF/172SF has cyprus back and sides, and I understand that cyprus makes the guitar a "blanca", which I understand to mean that the guitar has very low sustain. I undertand that low sustain is desirable in a flamenco guitar.
One problem that I have is that the only guitar shop in my city would have to order this guitar for me, I will probably have to pay in advance without first trying it out, and I understand that Yamaha has qood quality control and that one 171SF would sound like another. I haven't heard this about other manufacturers.
Please give me any advice on the 171SF/172SF that you can.
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: Question about Yamaha CG171SF or... (in reply to LBrandt)
First – it's not true that "one 171SF would sound like another." Every instrument is individual. I have played a number of 171s, and only one sounded really very good, and the others just good, and one terrible.
I recently played the new 172, and I found it better than the 171. The body is a little less deep, the basses sounded great (for the category) and the trebles were improved over the 171. It has a more flamenco sound than the 171. I personally don't like the matte finish, but that's not a big deal.
All in all, I think you would do well with the 172.
RE: Question about Yamaha CG171SF or... (in reply to Ramon Amira)
Ramon,
Thanks for your reply. If the 172 is better than the 171, that would be good for me, since I can't find a 171 anywhere, but I can order a 172.
Let me ask you this. Is the matte finish a nice finish, or is it unattractive?
I thought that I read that the 172 does not have as wide a nut as the 171. Is the nut on the 172 the same size as that of the 171, or is it narrower?
And finally, does the 172 have less sustain than the 171? I understand that less sustain is desirable in a flamenco guitar. You said that the 172 has more of a flamenco sound, so is that because it has less sustain?
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: Question about Yamaha CG171SF or... (in reply to LBrandt)
Both have a 52 nut. The more flamenco sound comes from the shallower body, plus possibly things like lighter or different interior bracing, etc. I also thought the 172 had better playability.
Don't worry too much about more or less sustain. The 171 or 172 would be about the same, but in any case it won't make much difference.
The matte finish is very attractive - for a matte finish. If matte is okay with you, you will like it. I only mentioned it in case you were seriously against a matte finish I thought you should know about it.
I think if you buy the 172 you will be happy with it - it's a perfect beginner's flamenco guitar, and at a low price.
RE: Question about Yamaha CG171SF or... (in reply to Ramon Amira)
Ramon,
Thanks again for the quick reply. I appreciate it. I think that I may have found a store that still has a 171, and if they also have the newer 172, I may drive there and compare the two of them. I don't know whether I'll like the matte finish, but if the 172 sounds better, I'll go with that.
Your evaluation of the two of them helps me a lot.
As far as my earlier statement that all 171 guitars would sound the same, I know that you're right and that each guitar is different. The only reason that I said that is that I'd heard that Yamaha has a pretty good reputation for making all of their guitars fairly consistent, and I'd heard that some manufacturers don't have as much consistency in their process.
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