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I have narrowed my flamenco guitar buying deciision to one of the following two guitars, the Loriente Carmen blanca and the Cordoba 45FM. I realize that the Carmen is about twice the price of the 45FM, but that's not important to me. Which of the two is best in your opinion?
RE: Which one to buy - Loriente Carm... (in reply to gounaro)
Thanks,
I have seen that Youtube video, and the FM sounds great. I just don't know whether the Carmen might sound better. The Carmen is twice the price of the FM. Have you had a chance to compare the two?
RE: Which one to buy - Loriente Carm... (in reply to LBrandt)
Moving up the guitar ladder, I once ordered a Carmen blanca. It was pretty but totally disappointing in sound; sent it back. I might add, that often the difference between a $1000 guitar and a $2000 guitar is.....a thousand dollars.
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Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Which one to buy - Loriente Carm... (in reply to LBrandt)
beyond the axiom that no two guitars are alike and that one should play the guitars one is considering, one must acknowledge that with factory built guitars there will be a lot of variation. that said, the cordoba fm has laminated sycamore for sides and back and, most likely, a top that is not of top notch quality--at least in comparison to the carmen. that said, if those are the two guitars you will choose between, and if you have not played either, i would choose the carmen with the rationale being that the carmen should, in theory, be the better guitar.
to be honest i would not select either guitar but that is me. for the cost of a carmen there may be better guitars out there.
RE: Which one to buy - Loriente Carm... (in reply to keith)
Hi, I have had both so I thought that I'd offer my opinions. For a starter flamenco, I suppose the 45fm is a good buy. However for me, it soon became evident that the sound I was getting out of it was sub-par - technique aside. I would not go with the 45fm. Last Spring, I had an '11 Loriente Carmen blanca (blue label, the newest revision) sent out to me for my review. I think that I got a bad representation of the model, as it was very messy with glue marks inside, even by the label! The tuners were also installed in a sloppy manner (not straight) The soundboard seemed thicker than what a good flamenco should have as well. That aside, it's a beautiful looking blanca, and to combat what I just said about it, my friend just picked up a new Carmen and his is flawless inside and out and sounds really good compared to the one I was sent and eventually returned a year ago. His Carmen has also got me thinking that I should buy another one up and give it a fair run, and I just may very soonl. It's really a striking looking flamenco and the way his sounds almost seals the deal. Hope this helps you out.
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