Navarro: Santos vs Conde

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Haltaqi

Posts: 7
Joined: Sep. 18 2016

Navarro: Santos vs Conde

Hello everyone. While looking for a new flamenco guitar to buy, I've run into a few Marlon Navarro guitars student model.
However, I found one that was priced at 1,200$ which was Conde based, and 2 Santos based which were at 1,400$ and ~1,870$.
Now, I'm wondering what's the difference between a Conde Hermanos and a Santos Hernandez bracing patterns in general. Is it much of a difference in sound and tone? Is the price difference worth the jump?
I listened to some Conde and Santos flamenco guitars on YouTube and I noticed Conde tended to be sweet and warm while Santos were sharp and percussive.

Thanks~

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2019 1:40:45

JasonM

Posts: 2051
Joined: Dec. 8 2005
From: Baltimore

RE: Navarro: Santos vs Conde (in reply to Haltaqi)

Ive never played a Navarro but would be curious to hear from someone who has been able to compare these models. But frankly, I would not put much stock in either of these models actually sounding like a Conde or a santos. The Reyes model doesn’t sound very Reyes to me.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2019 16:16:28

Echi

Posts: 1131
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: Navarro: Santos vs Conde (in reply to Haltaqi)

You see, I presume they are not exact copies of Santos and Conde being student guitars.
I presume the Santos model refers to a traditional flamenco blanca and therefore a light percussive instrument with a open fan bracing, while the Conde model probably it's a bolder guitar made with a stiffer box.
Usually the studio guitars tend to be overbuild on their own and therefore in this case I'd go for the Santos model.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2019 16:23:56

Haltaqi

Posts: 7
Joined: Sep. 18 2016

RE: Navarro: Santos vs Conde (in reply to Haltaqi)

Thanks for the info!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 23 2019 17:34:32

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: Navarro: Santos vs Conde (in reply to Haltaqi)

The Santos style is a much earlier model from Francisco Navarro and the Conde style is from his son's model, again from a much earlier Conde model.

The 2003 Reyes style is Francisco's current model and has a decided effect from the other two models.

Since Francisco's battle with cancer, I'm not at all sure if he is building any of these models personally.

But the up side to this is that the guitars are relatively inexpensive and a good buy if you find a nice one, since guitars of this price line are not usually built of solid wood.

Poncho is a good builder and there is no reason for him not to produce good work.

_____________________________

Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 24 2019 14:32:30