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Hello everyone, just wanted to know about these two production guitar makers. I am beginning classical and flamenco guitar lessons and do not know what brand name guitars to get. I have tried higher end Cordobas Espana series and look and sound very nice but however Jose Ramirez also has real nice instruments and i believe they have been making guitars since 1882. So i just wanted to know which one of these guitar brands is best for the money when it comes to beginning Flamenco and Classical. I am looking to spend somewhere between 1000-1600 for each instrument. Thank you all
You can’t just compare “Cordoba” to “Ramirez.” Both companies make many different models, so you have to compare a specific model of one to a specific model of the other.
In the price range you cite, for classical the Cordoba Solista would be your best bet. All solid wood, cedar or spruce top. A comparable Ramirez model would be the 2NE for cedar, or the 3N AE for spruce, both the same price.
These are fine guitars, and you could keep them for a very long time.
One other option to consider since you will be studying both classical and flamenco, is to not get two different guitars, but rather get a negra flamenco guitar. This is a traditional flamenco guitar, but with rosewood back and sides instead of cypress.
A negra is perfectly suitable for learning and playing classical as well as flamenco. If you go that way I would highly recommend the Cordoba Carmen Negra. It’s just slightly over your price range, but that won’t matter if you’re getting only one guitar instead of two.
Posts: 3466
Joined: Jul. 12 2009
From: Washington, DC
RE: Cordoba or Jose Ramirez (in reply to Ramon Amira)
Ramon, although I have no personal stake in this discussion, a question occurs to me regarding getting just one guitar, a flamenca negra, to use for both flamenco and classical. Assuming it would be set-up with low-action for flamenco, wouldn't that present a problem in playing classical later when he decides he has learned enough to get a classical guitar with its higher action, after having learned everything on a low action flamenco?
Cheers,
Bill
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I own and play on a flamenco with really low action and when I do play people's classicals it is a definite difference but I think one could adjust to it after a week or so.
Another guitar to consider in that price range is a Francisco Navarro Concert Flamenco. For under $1000 his son makes a student version that gets great reviews, too.
Doesn't have to be a Negra, Cypress makes for a nice Classical. Why shoot for two disappointing guitars? You can just get a Navarro "Reyes" and play both styles on it easily enough; then when you get bored of Classical, you won't have two guitars to get rid of.
RE: Cordoba or Jose Ramirez (in reply to Ramon Amira)
I was thinking the same, instead of two guitars get one which is a Negra. I will look up the Cordoba Carmen Negra and see where i can try it out. Thanks a alot, good advice!
RE: Cordoba or Jose Ramirez (in reply to FlamencoD)
I have heard of him, he is a luthier form mexico right? most of his guitars i believe where made out of Palo escrito or paracho wood. I have heard how some of his guitars sound and they are very nice. Thanks
I checked out the Carmen negra on the cordoba website and i must say it sounds awesome. I never heard of this cordoba before, i was a very close to getting a cordoba solista with the cypress back and sides but i will reconsider with this one instead. check out the vid, oh and my the way strange quincidence my guitar teacher is in this vid-on the far left with the GK Pro Joe Lopicollo from Mt san antonio college California. Thanks you guys for all the good advice if you guys have any more guitars in mind please let me know as i am planning a trip to GSI guitars in Santa Monica very soon so keep me updated. Thanks
Posts: 1025
Joined: Oct. 14 2009
From: New York City
RE: Cordoba or Jose Ramirez (in reply to BarkellWH)
quote:
wouldn't that present a problem in playing classical later when he decides he has learned enough to get a classical guitar with its higher action, after having learned everything on a low action flamenco?
What would be a good top on a guitar for Classical and flamenco? Spruce or Cedar? is there a difference in sound because from what i heard the top of a guitar contributes to a large part of the instrument's sound, is this true?
What would be a good top on a guitar for Classical and flamenco? Spruce or Cedar? is there a difference in sound because from what i heard the top of a guitar contributes to a large part of the instrument's sound, is this true?
Markus3--for the price range you mention and for learning classical AND flamenco i think the Cordoba Solista might be your best bet. The Ramirez FL-1 and FL-2 go for well over $2K whereas the Solista can be found for around $1.5K and often for less. The FL-2 probably would not do that well with classical pieces. Getting a Ramirez classical will likely result in a good classical guitar but will not be so good at flamenco--it is the "Ramirez" sound which might conflict with flamenco. The Cordobas are passable for flamenco but are not known as one of the better student flamencos. The Solista might work in your favor if you are learning flamenco and classical and have only one guitar--it may do both things well enough to be the best option.
If you decide to go with two guitars then going with a Navarro student flamenco and Cordoba 55 or 75 classical might be a good option given your price range.
I ended up buying a Hermanos Camps, Primera Negra. To be quite honest i have never played anything like it, the feel, the finish, the sound and the overall construction awesome. I tried the Jose Ramirez FL2 and it was a close call but the Hermanos Camps was way better in terms of feel and playability, the action on it was super low and no buzz. Maybe just a little but its the flamenco buzz.
Good choice! I tried the Camps Primera Negra a couple of years ago in Spain. In my opinion it was the best value (quality-price) of all guitars I tried.
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