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I can't see many threads hear about these guitars.
I’m an authorized Alhambra dealer, and I have played a few of the Alhambra professional flamenco models. They are constructed entirely by two fine luthiers - Javier Mengual & Jose Margarit.
They look fine and have a great flamenco sound. They are also priced somewhat below what a fine luthier blanca might cost. The only thing I personally don’t like about them – though others might not mind, or even might want – is the extended fingerboard. I have never liked it, because to me it destroys the beautiful symmetry of a guitar.
But apart from that, they are excellent flamenco guitars.
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to callistoluna)
You can’t see it on their website, but unless they changed recently, the Luthier Flamenca has the extended fingerboard. What it is is an extension only on the treble side, and only for the first and second strings.
Instead of the nineteenth fret being broken by the curve of the sound hole, it is solid across, and then there is small extension on the treble side adding a twentieth fret for the E and B strings.
It hardly seems worth the effort, and as I said it ruins the integrity of the sound hole as well as the overall symmetry. It looks horrible and makes me wince when I see it.
Here you can see it on the 11P classical. Click on the rosette photo and you'll get a close-up.
RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to callistoluna)
Who needs 20 frets for playing flamenco?
quote:
They are also priced somewhat below what a fine luthier blanca might cost.
Well, this is on your account. I sometimes make a 2A model, which is French polished that is cheaper. And others do so as well.
What you should take into consideration is if you get the personalized experience that you get with a name luthier. This means talking about what you need, and a product made directly for you. Also, I can imagine, (But I might be wrong) that the Alhambra pro is been lacquered by the same people that lacquer the "normal" models. This means a sturdy but thick layer of plastic all over the guitar.
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
quote:
Who needs 20 frets for playing flamenco?
quote:
They are also priced somewhat below what a fine luthier blanca might cost. Well, this is on your account. I sometimes make a 2A model, which is French polished that is cheaper. And others do so as well.
What you should take into consideration is if you get the personalized experience that you get with a name luthier. This means talking about what you need, and a product made directly for you. Also, I can imagine, (But I might be wrong) that the Alhambra pro is been lacquered by the same people that lacquer the "normal" models. This means a sturdy but thick layer of plastic all over the guitar.
Hi Anders –
If you read my post you will see that I did not recommend the Alhambra Luthier Flamenca over any other luthier’s guitars. I merely tried to give the OP some information that he requested that he was having trouble finding.
I sell the Alhambra Luthier Flamenca for a little over $3000, and I was comparing that price to the price of a typical 1A by a name luthier like yourself and others. I believe that price is “somewhat below what a fine luthier blanca might cost,” which is what I said.
I fully agree with you about getting a personalized guitar to fit one’s needs and desires, and more than once I have dissuaded a buyer from buying a Luthier Flamenca if I felt it wouldn’t fit his needs, and I instead gave him a list of luthiers to consider, including you, without recommending any one over the other.
RE: Alhambra Professional guitars? (in reply to callistoluna)
Agreed Ramon - that is a very weird look. I am so put off by that chunk over the soundhole! And when will you use those notes? Not very often I guess because most other guitars never have that there.
Thank you for the feed back. It's nice to get advice that is neutral. I think I will end up going with something that is a bit more traditional and hand made.
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