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the headline of this posts sums up a large part of my Spanish vocabulary, so don't set your hopes too high.
I'm a long-time classical guitar player, my current inventory is a 1979 classical Raimundo that still sounds incredible but is showing the years, a beautiful self-built classical from 2001 (made under professional guidance), a more recent Gibson Les Paul for letting off steam occasionally, and I've now finally ventured into buying a real, hard-core flamenco blanca guitar; a Prudencio Saez mod. 22. With specs way out of its budget-league, it actually does sound spectacular for the money. Spent two evenings setting it up to flamenco-playabilty. Basses are LOUD already; trebles are getting there, I can feel the guitar responding better every day.
The first flamenco guitar I ever held in my hands was a 1927 Domingo Esteso blanca, back in approx. 1982, which belonged (and still belongs, I believe) to an old art painter near Amsterdam. I had been playing for just a year then, and I still remember holding -and smelling! cypress doesn't lose its smell- that featherweight of a delicate instrument, and the almost intimidating volume emanating from it by the lightest touch. Two years later, on a holiday in Spain with my parents, I saw a "flamenco-ized" (sounds awful put like this, but it was done very pure and tasteful) of the classic play Medea. This was in an open amfitheater, and I was totally blown away.
Next step will be to take flamenco-specific guitar-lessons, at 3kms from my home so that's convenient. I've ordered the 27-CD box from Paco de Lucia for good measure, it should be in soon. My current inventory is still limited, about 5 LP's and 3 CD's. So, by starting to play flamenco myself, and also by joining this forum, I'm curious to see whether my flamenco-interest will grow, or wane away soon - I know myself, interests can come and go. Anyway, I'll stop by regularly!
Welcome to the foro and greetings from Rotterdam. The oldest flamenco guitar i ever played was also in possession of an old art painter. We met during a private party were he was one of the guest and i happened to be the hired flamenco performer. When he told me he owned a 19th century Ramirez i obviously replied i would have loved to see/play the instrument. To my surprise he took me to his car, opened the unlocked trunk and there it was. It was extremely flat compared to modern day guitars. Quite recently i tried to buy one of his litho's during auction. It was listed for 2-300 and i was willing/able to pay twice that amount but it was eventually sold for 1000,- to someone with a bigger purse.