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Hi all, Thought I'd share some of my experiences from my first trip to Spain.
I had a really great time at Casa Sors. They have a flamenco show in a very intimate setting that holds 20 people. And, Jose Andres Cortes from the flamencoguitarsforsale.net site plays there every night. Saw four shows and got to hang out a bit with Jose Andres and El Sale (singer). My Spanish isn't very good but it was a great time. I even bought a guitar there a 1997 Jose Rodriguez Pena--my second of his. Great dry mid-range sound with a flat neck that is easy to play even for these old arthritic hands.
I also visited Solera Flamenco in Terrassa and bought a Jeronimo Perez 2022 cedar/cypress. What a beast! Now I have too many guitars though...
Happy to answer any questions about my trip. At first the graffiti and crowds were a turn off but I really enjoyed my stay.
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RE: Flamenco at Casa Sors in Barcelona (in reply to devilhand)
Flamenco show was 35 Euros (food and drinks extra)
The Jose Rodriguez was 3600 Euros. I just fell in love with it when I picked it up. Had that seasoned dry blanca sound. Very similar to the one I have but I bit deeper with longer sustain. I'll probably sell my other Jose Rodriguez at some point.
Jeronimo Perez guitar was 6200 Euros. Not cheap for sure. I played some Jose Salinas guitars which were very good for the money as well as a 1982 Barba and a 1987 Gerundino which belonged to Juan Campo and a Pedro Maldonado maple top. They were all great but different.. I had Carlos, Jordi's partner at Solera play the same thing on each guitar with my back turned. The Gerundino had the sweetest trebles and nice mid range bass, like Paco Pena's famous Gerundino. The Perez was by far the loudest and had the best dynamics and projection. The sound just filled the room. Very macho guitar. Trebles are silky and thick with a very short sustain. Also the transition from bass to treble is very smooth. I thought the Barba was amazing but it was already sold. And it was about 9200 Euros. I wanted a more modern, raspy guitar so I chose the Perez. I really love Jose Rodriguez guitars...Very comfortable to play due to the flat neck and they have a nice mid range, old school sound. One thing I walked away thinking was that the guitars sounded much different in person than on the videos. Can't really gauge how well the sound fills the room because the guitars are all miked on the videos. Glad I went. Was a great time!!
RE: Flamenco at Casa Sors in Barcelona (in reply to orsonw)
Hi, I didn't set out to by two. I didn't even know Casa Sors sold guitars...
I DID go to the flamenco museum and Carlota told me the history of the guitars.She is REALLY friendly, knowledgeable and authentic-as were all the people I met. El Saleo was really great and also very friendly.
I didn't ask to play anything so not sure if that is an option. That said, they were recording some videos one day and I got to hear some of the guitars. They had a lot of guitars for sale but they were newer Condes. Nothing against Condes, I have a really good Atocha from 77 that is actually French Polished without a single crack that has that old school woody bass sound. And have played other really good Condes. Just wanted something different.
After I told them I prefer more seasoned guitars, Sator (who's family owns the place), brought out the 1997 Jose Rodriguez. I was planning to buy a guitar at Solera (who I had been in contact with for months) so I came back to Casa Sors after going there.
Bought two! Here is what I have in addition to the Jeronimo now: 1977 Pedro Maldonado Negra that has a very big, but balanced mid range sound. 1997 Jose Rodriguez x 2 = Great mid range, dry sound Alhambra Rosewood (10FP) from 2005 Fantastic guitar for the money $1500 back then. Not a lot of volume and on the trebly side but rasqueos just roll of the thing. 2005 Darren Hipper blanca - Custom ordered from Darren. Good guitar but the sustain is very long on both the bass and treble so rasqueos sound blurry. Great for Classical but I keep it tuned down to D for Danza Mora 1977 Atocha with Wittner pegs (Thanks Andy Denser-amazing luthier in North Carolina)
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