buying guitar - valeriano bernal

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MarcoSz

Posts: 2
Joined: Nov. 18 2008

buying guitar - valeriano bernal

Hey guys,

i'm very new to flamenco guitar, but i am in barcelona for a while, so i'm taking clases in a flamenco school and also want to buy a guitar. My first choice was a Prudencio Saez Mod. 22 (515€). I really liked it when i tried it but i heard from a few people that the guitar wasn't that good, especially when you advance in playing flamenco.
In the flamenco school they sell guitars from valeriano bernal. The cheapest is 750€ but has no model name and also looks different like the guitars on the valeriano website (the guitar has an orange finish). My theacher told me that he gets kind of his "own model" directly from the builder. When i tried it i also really liked it, except that i'd prefer a white guitar... Can it be worth spending the almost 250€ more? Are all Valeriano Bernals good guitars? Or would it be better to buy the prudencio where i exactly know the details. Or should i look for something totaly different? If yes, which would you recommend me?

I really want to buy a good guitar, because it will also be a souvenir (sounds kind of bad to call a guitar a souvenir ;)) to remind me of my time here in barcelona...

Sorry if the text is a bit confusing, but it's almost two o'clock in the morning and my English isn't that good...

Thanks a lot in advance
Marco

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 18 2008 15:46:42

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: buying guitar - valeriano bernal (in reply to MarcoSz)

In your price level, Bernal and also Sanchis are good buys You should be able to find a Sanchiz in Barcelona.
but test a lot of guitars, because factory guitars can be quite uneven. One of my favorite Bernals is Simons and its a cheaper one than the Prodigio.
Good things are that both have a good resale value.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 18 2008 23:19:29

Escribano

Posts: 6311
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: buying guitar - valeriano bernal (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

quote:

One of my favorite Bernals is Simons and its a cheaper one than the Prodigio.

Yeah, I like it too, very friendly. It was the cheapest in Stephen Hill's shop (in Lewes at the time) - about £450 imported by Jingle. Can't find the model name as it still in Spain, but it is pretty much the same as the Amigo, and not the Prodigo (which is ebony with a 3-piece darted back isn't it?).

Mine is a no-frills blanca with rosewood fingerboard (which I found a little softer on the fingers than ebony, when starting out).

Stephen sorted out the action with new cow bone saddle and bridge. I added Schaller tuners.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 19 2008 3:34:22

MarcoSz

Posts: 2
Joined: Nov. 18 2008

RE: buying guitar - valeriano bernal (in reply to MarcoSz)

Thank you for the fast replies.

I guess I'll go with the bernal... I really need a guitar now. Without practising the flamenco school has no use...

I tried to find a Sanchis here, but I had no luck at all. I haven't found one single shop/luthier/whatever where they sell them.

Maybe you have an idea?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 19 2008 4:48:28

Estevan

Posts: 1891
Joined: Dec. 20 2006
From: Torontolucía

RE: buying guitar - valeriano bernal (in reply to MarcoSz)

Have you tried Camps? I don't know them, but I've seen several good comments about them. They are available in Barcelona (e.g. Casa Luthier).

http://www.ispmusica.com/articulo.asp?id=976

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Nov. 19 2008 13:34:56