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Yamaha CG171 Review
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Kalo
Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011
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 Yamaha CG171 Review
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Hi All,
I hope this is the correct place to post my review of my USED Yamaha CG171
It came in Monday and was delivered at Guitar Center.
Well, I must say I was surprised.
The guitar looks BRAND new like it had never been played on, no scratches or dings on the body! The neck is STRAIGHT!
While I was at GC I played it in the accoustic room and the notes are pretty clear all the way up and down the neck..
The action isn't bad either, I haven't measured the height yet, but, will do so..
As for the tone, well, I recorded the guitar via webcam and compared it to my Fransico Navarro Student I had TWO years ago...
I have to say and maybe this is because I am depserate for a guitar, but, I only noticed slight difference in the tone....The Yamaha isn't that bad...
For the money I paid for this guitar, I am going to keep it and upgrade the bridge from plastic to BONE!!!
Maybe have the guitar action tweaked just a little as well...
The bad side is I will have to spend 55.00 for a set up and 45.00 to up grade...
the bridge..
I know some might say, Kalo, just do it yourself, but, I AM CHICKENED, LOL!!!
Anyhow, I am at least grateful that I at least have a proper guitar to learn..
Believe me this is a big difference between my Takamine!!!!
I will try to post something, soon!!!
Oh, and this will probably keep me happy until, I can hopefully, get a handmade Andy Culpepper guitar 
Kalo
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Date Feb. 13 2013 18:13:25
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Kalo
Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011
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RE: Yamaha CG171 Review (in reply to Kalo)
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quote:
Let a qualified person to do that bone saddle. and get them to set it up for you. My old CG171SF had best feel for my left hand, NOT the neck shape (Which is slightly bigger D shape) but more like how to fretboard is, I can use the minimal pressure to push on the frets and with no buzziness. This is comparing to my Eliasson, Macias and De Jong, which all needed more pressure on the left hand to fret cleanly. Enjoy your guitar.
Hi HolyEvil, What you described regarding the left had as it being the best feel is CORRECT for me as well... Yep, I agree that with regards to the fretboard, I too use minimal pressure to push on the frets and it has no buzz as well..Not even my Navarro felt like this. And yep the contour of the neck is slightly bigger then D shape...At first this worried me, but, I am getting used to playing it and it all feels fine!!!
quote:
I worry the Luthier you go to may not be familiar with Flamenco set up and give you a high saddle. You may want to tell him the exact height you want the saddle at...........There are tons of threads here that go into it, or just make sure he knows what's up with Andalucian acoustic hardcore..........
Yeah, I hear you Lenader!!! Actually scowered the foro and have tons of prints on how low I want it the saddle dropped...But ya know, I am also wondering if he can look at the old Saddle that is in there and go by that as well....If the saddle wasn't plastic I would just leave well enought alone, but, Garry my repair guy said this guitar will sound even better with bone, and I agree!!!
Tonight I will measure the 12th fret Low E and see where it is at...
quote:
Remember that regarding the nut you can test yourself if it needs to go lower (open the slots a bit more). Quick and easy, just place a capo at the 1st fret.. if it makes a huge difference in playability, then you probably have a nut that needs some cutting.
Thanks Rui Martins...Actually the Nut is FINE!!!! I am just going to change out the plastic saddle to bone...
Okay, so, this guitar totally works and I am SHOCKED!!!!! Seriously, I owned a Student Navarro and this sounds pretty darn close to one...Maybe it was just my luck...But, this will be a great practicing guitar!!!
Kalo
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Date Feb. 14 2013 0:13:51
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BarkellWH
Posts: 3458
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
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RE: Yamaha CG171 Review (in reply to Kalo)
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Hi Kalo,
Glad you found your CG171, and that you are pleased with it. This guitar should suffice to provide you with enough to practice until you decide to purchase a more upscale model. I would strongly suggest you eventually order a great hand-made guitar by one of the luthiers on the Foro, like Stephen Faulk, for example. A finely-made guitar will provide the incentive to play up to its level.
Cheers,
Bill
_____________________________
And the end of the fight is a tombstone white,
With the name of the late deceased,
And the epitaph drear, "A fool lies here,
Who tried to hustle the East."
--Rudyard Kipling
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Date Feb. 14 2013 1:16:48
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Kalo
Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011
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RE: Yamaha CG171 Review (in reply to Kalo)
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Hi Prominent Critic!
I totally respect you! You know your stuff...
Can you answer a couple of questions regarding the Navarro Guitars??
I was going to go with another one myself, but, last Summer, I bought another student flamenco guitar...
Fretting on the left hand was horrible! It felt as though the strings were so tight that you could here my hands make the screeching noise! The was after I had it adjusted!
A friend of mine went to Paracho and met Fransico and bought his top of the lineF Franisco Grand Concert Model...
Because he bought directly from Fransico, he bought it for half price....He had a luthier lower the action and guess what??
He experienced the samething I did! TIGHT strings and hard to fret even with the action lowered, couldn't move his hands with out tons of screeching like he was fighting it...
So, he went to Zavaletta's in Tucson who pointed him to a awesome repair guy and he had to re set the neck in order for it play right...
For an expensive guitar, you would think he wouldn't have to do it....
I would be more than happy to give this Yamaha back and grow with a Navarro, but, I am scared!!!!! I do have a 30 day return rate!
Maybe, I should PM you and we could talk in detail
I really respect you and your knowledge is quite helpful!!!
Kalo
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Date Feb. 14 2013 14:45:53
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Ramon Amira
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
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RE: Yamaha CG171 Review (in reply to Kalo)
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Hi Kalo –
Don’t return the Yamaha. As I said, it’s the perfect guitar for you at this point in your development.
I hardly know where to begin with respect to what you said about Navarro guitars – student and SGC. First, a quote from you:
“I was going to go with another one myself, but, last Summer, I bought another student flamenco guitar...
Fretting on the left hand was horrible! It felt as though the strings were so tight that you could hear my hands make the screeching noise! THIS WAS AFTER I HAD IT ADJUSTED!” (my caps).
The question becomes, why – and how – did you have it adjusted? Was the fretting horrible before you had it adjusted? Or after? You can see the point.
I have played any number of Navarro student blancas, and have never seen any of the problems you mention, not have I seen any need for adjustment.
A luthier guitar is constructed with a fine balance of numerous aspects, all made to work with each other. It is not infinitely malleable. You cannot change or modify one aspect without affecting the whole.
” A friend of mine went to Paracho and met Francisco and bought his top of the line Francisco Grand Concert Model...
Because he bought directly from Francisco, he bought it for half price....HE HAD A LUTHIER LOWER THE ACTION (my caps) and guess what??
He experienced the same thing I did! TIGHT strings and hard to fret even with the action lowered, couldn't move his hands with out tons of screeching like he was fighting it...”
It’s the same thing again – in spades. He tinkered with the equation. I have played several of Francisco Navarro’s SGC Reyes models, and I perform on one myself, and I cannot conceive of any reason to lower the action. Mine plays like a dream, and sounds fantastic.
So I’m at a loss. I would only suggest that if and when the time comes for you to get a luthier guitar, that you discuss your needs and preferences beforehand with the luthier, so that he can build it to suit you, to preclude any modification after the fact.
Ramon
_____________________________
Classical and flamenco guitars from Spain Ramon Amira Guitars
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Date Feb. 14 2013 16:19:16
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HolyEvil
Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia
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RE: Yamaha CG171 Review (in reply to Kalo)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Kalo
Just looked at the label and it say made by Hangzhou, Yamaha Corporation. And, this the fretboard is rosewood...
Okay, so I won't change the nut, but, for sure think changing the plastic saddle will improve the sound even more...Oh, and changing the strings can't hurt either
If I didn't think of selling this guitar in the future, I would upgrade the tuners to ebony...But for the money I would sink in, I probably couldn't get it back on a resell...
Kalo
Hey Kalo, don't do anything fancy to it. Just bone saddle and get it setup to your liking, lowering the nut would help immensely too..
So
1 - Bone saddle
2 - lower the nut, the shop can either sand the bottom of the nut or increase the slot depth.
Bone nut would only affect the open strings, so if you play with a capo or fret a note, it's effect is out of the picture. You can do it if you want, but it's not as important as point 1 and 2.
other than this 2 things, upgrading tuners are just being fancy, save that money for your luthier made guitar!
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Date Feb. 15 2013 23:10:45
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Kalo
Posts: 400
Joined: Jan. 25 2011
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RE: Yamaha CG171 Review (in reply to Kalo)
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quote:
Hey Kalo, don't do anything fancy to it. Just bone saddle and get it setup to your liking, lowering the nut would help immensely too..
So
1 - Bone saddle
2 - lower the nut, the shop can either sand the bottom of the nut or increase the slot depth.
Bone nut would only affect the open strings, so if you play with a capo or fret a note, it's effect is out of the picture. You can do it if you want, but it's not as important as point 1 and 2.
other than this 2 things, upgrading tuners are just being fancy, save that money for your luthier made guitar!
Hey HolyEvil!!
Thanks for the advice!!!
Yeah, I probably will just bone the saddle...
I play with and without capo, so, the I will probably NOT bone!!!
Yeah, you're right, not expensive tuners, as I will save even more for my handmade guitar 
Kalo
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Date Feb. 16 2013 0:16:19
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