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Buenos dias, que tal? Hi everyone. May I first introduce myself.. My name is Victor, I come from a spanish family where flamenco has always been part of how we were raised, with castañuelas around the house and what not. (but currently live in NJ) Even my sister is a semi-professional flamenco dancer.
I have been playing guitar since I was 13, currently 28. Started off with electric guitar, since that was what I liked at the moment. Lately all I play is acoustic guitar. I've got a nice collection of acoustics and electrics.
Recently I have been very interested in Flamenco. I am very sure these kind of questions I am about to ask have been asked many, many times ( I have membership in other guitar forums so I know how it is ) but I am sure the forum will point me in the right direction and won't mind my ignorance. My questions are as follow:
What flamenco guitars, either from luthier or manufacturer, are good & would recommend for people who are serious about flamenco? Budget between $2,000-$4,000, may consider anything above that, but would like to stay within that range. Any flamenco guitar online sites here in the US or that ship to the US? Hermanos Sanchis vs Hermanos Camps vs Jose Ramirez vs Cordoba vs Manuel Rodriguez? What, which and why would you recommend one is better than the other, etc..?? Again, please excuse my ignorance.
RE: From electric to acoustic to fla... (in reply to meanmr.mustard)
Welcome to the foro and greetings from Holland. I'm sure you'll get some replies on your questions but you might also find some interesting posts in the foro's history (if you select "home" or enter a name in "search" you can enter a world of information...if your'e patient and lucky :-)
RE: From electric to acoustic to fla... (in reply to Erik van Goch)
Will definitely do, have been doing my research.. Funny, I usually type this kind of answers to replies like my question in other forums. I just wanted some kind of orientation as to what guitars stand up to their names.. In the electric guitar world there is fender, fender custom shop, gibson, PRS, Suhr... In acoustic guitars there's always the 'Martin' everyone respects, Taylor, Collings, etc..
Wanted to get an idea of which flamenco guitars have a good reputation and the ones to avoid..
Besides, this is what a forum is all about, people who are eager to help, acknowledge, recommend and provide opinions vs rebuttals.
RE: From electric to acoustic to fla... (in reply to meanmr.mustard)
I think you should look for someone local or at least in the USA, since you have to try before buy.
I live in Spain and wanted an acoustic. I went to Madrid looking for a Martin, found four, all C*RAP, one signed by Eric Clapton.
A young assistant in one of the shops told me to look at the new range of acoustics by Alhambra (Valencia). So now I have a great Alhambra for 800 euros, better than any of the Martins.
If you lived here, I could find you a killer flamenco for 2000 euros: if I lived in USA you could find me a killer Martin
RE: From electric to acoustic to fla... (in reply to meanmr.mustard)
Hola.
Por 2000 euros, Jerónimo Perez de Algodonales. Su precios van a subir pronto porque los buenos tocaores de Jerez le han encontrado.
Si tuviera 6000 euros, José Romero de Madrid, pero recuerde que Alhambra tiene guitarreros de casa (eg Vilaplana) quienes hacen guitarras a mano a precios razonables.
RE: From electric to acoustic to fla... (in reply to meanmr.mustard)
In my honest and humble opinion, I do not know from whom you should get the guitar, but I would strongly recommend NOT getting one from a Brand name guitar producers. I suggest supporting luthiers directly, like Andy Culpepper, Francisco Navarro, Anders Eliasson, etc. With that price range you can get a beautiful, hand-made guitar vs a mass-built brand name guitar.
The most important (imo) reason for going towards a single-luthier-built guitar vs more popular brand names is the fact that you know the majority of your money spent is going towards the actual quality and hard work required to build your guitar vs a brand name guitar producer where a large portion of the money spent is actually going towards the overall advertising and promotion of the brand (website management, sales division, etc.)
RE: From electric to acoustic to fla... (in reply to meanmr.mustard)
If I were you I would start out by checking youtube for videos from Andy Culpepper. Make sure to route through a decent sound card and good earphones. Will you hear hoarse flamenco sound on steroids with mids as punchy as it gets? Do you feel drool culmulating?
Now you only need to make sure how pristine things be live. See if you can visit Andy in his new shop. Currently I think he has even several guitars there to show you. And before you go try to make up your mind about dimensions that suit you best. Scale length, neck shape, spacings ...
From what I have gathered from his recordings his guitars rival top notch production for a price that is rather considered pocket money in that kind of shelf. And to crown it all, the man is a no BS and more than fair, in fact generous fellow to boot. He works like a friend doing you a favour.
I wished I could hang out at his place from time to time and steal a bit from his art. Anyway, you are in New Jersey? Just saddle that old jade and take a ride to Antonio de Culpeppero´s shop!
And when back, please write us a report about the trip to the maestro.
RE: From electric to acoustic to fla... (in reply to thedurphy)
quote:
ORIGINAL: thedurphy
In my honest and humble opinion, I do not know from whom you should get the guitar, but I would strongly recommend NOT getting one from a Brand name guitar producers. I suggest supporting luthiers directly, like Andy Culpepper, Francisco Navarro, Anders Eliasson, etc. With that price range you can get a beautiful, hand-made guitar vs a mass-built brand name guitar.
The most important (imo) reason for going towards a single-luthier-built guitar vs more popular brand names is the fact that you know the majority of your money spent is going towards the actual quality and hard work required to build your guitar vs a brand name guitar producer where a large portion of the money spent is actually going towards the overall advertising and promotion of the brand (website management, sales division, etc.)
So true!
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