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I would like to ask for some help in choosing guitars:
Vicente Sanchis 33 solid spruce top and a 3 piece cypress back
Ramirez FL1A Solid spruce top, solid cypress sides and back
Katoh KSF Exclusive hand built section of the Katoh factory. With solid Spruce top,solid Cypress back and sides.
I am a beginner, so to me all sound quite good compared to my Ibanez classical guitar. The Ramirez is twice the price of the other two, which have the same price tag.
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston
RE: Guitar: Sanchis, Katoh, Ramirez (in reply to Taras)
Taras--if you live in Australia then the Katoh would be a good guitar to get--I googled them and saw they sell in Australia and the prices are quite reasonable. The Ramirez and Sanchis are factory guitars and with factory guitars there is a lot of variability. The Kathoh model you mentioned was listed as being hand built--which could mean factory built. The thing going against Ramirez and Sanchis might be the Euro exchange rate as well as the shipping costs, etc. Ramirez factory guitars are pretty pricey for what you get. The Katoh looks interesting.
RE: Guitar: Sanchis, Katoh, Ramirez (in reply to Taras)
At that price point I'd suggest a serious look at a Francisco Navarro Concert Flamenco Blanca. They are hand made by Navarro himself in Mexico. Very nice guitars for the price. Here's a pic of mine:
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Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia
RE: Guitar: Sanchis, Katoh, Ramirez (in reply to Taras)
quote:
ORIGINAL: Taras
Hi Everyone,
I would like to ask for some help in choosing guitars:
Vicente Sanchis 33 solid spruce top and a 3 piece cypress back
Ramirez FL1A Solid spruce top, solid cypress sides and back
Katoh KSF Exclusive hand built section of the Katoh factory. With solid Spruce top,solid Cypress back and sides.
I've tried the Sanchis 33 and the lower grade Katoh flamenco guitar with laminated sides - RRP AU$500 I have to say the Sanchis was listed for 5 times the price of the Katoh but wasn't 5 times better than the lower grade Katoh. It was def better than the Katoh tho.
RE: Guitar: Sanchis, Katoh, Ramirez (in reply to Taras)
The problem of all Vicente Sanchís guitars is in fact the high action at bridge. I´ve played them all from model no. 33 up to 41 or 42. The action at bridge on a flamenco guitar should not be more than 9.5 mm. For someone like me having small fingers and a short nail plate will have serious problems playing an i golpe above the E6 string. My personal limit is at 8.5 mm. I reject every guitar above this measure. 9.5 mm means you need to have a very long nail plate on your index finger (or middle finger if you play the m golpe instead). So I recommnd you to forget about the Vicente Sanchís Badía guitars. On the other guitars you´ve mentioned I have no experience and never heard of them.
RE: Guitar: Sanchis, Katoh, Ramirez (in reply to Taras)
Hi Everyone,
Thank you for suggestions and information. After comparing prices here in Melbourne to other guitar shops in USA and Belgium I am considering getting an instrument from overseas. It seems to be a much better deal. At the moment Francisco Navarro looks very interesting. My understanding is that there is Student model and Concert model. I've read on the forum that the Student model does not have the French polish compared to the Concert model. I will keep posting once I make some enquiries and progress towards purchasing.
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