Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: gwEm on May 22, 2011, 10:03:00 PM

Title: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: gwEm on May 22, 2011, 10:03:00 PM
i'm not really much of an acoustic man, but maybe my ways are changing.

i tried an old nylon strung classical guitar of a friend, it had an ebony fingerboard, which struck me as unusual(?).

anyway, it was a hell of a lot better than the cheapo nylon acoustic i first learned on, and really opened my eyes to the possibilities of these instruments, which i'd previously dismissed.

does someone have a recommendation for a mid-range classical guitar, with ebony board if possible? i'm quite sure there must be hundreds out there, but i'm interested to hear what you guys are using.

thanks!
Title: Re: classical/acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: gwEm on May 22, 2011, 10:11:20 PM
hehe ;) it seems about half of all medium range classical guitars have an ebony board. theres still a bewildering range of makes out there though..
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: MDV on May 22, 2011, 10:29:08 PM
I use one that was made about 40 years ago by a probably-nobody-but-very-talented luthier in spain called Victor Garcia

It sounds utterly gorgeous.

It has a rosewood fretboard. Not sure about the rest.

I know this is of no use, I just dont often get to brag about it :lol:

I also cant play it for shite :(
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: Philly Q on May 22, 2011, 10:30:15 PM
Blimey G, not a clue.  Now that I think about it, they don't even review classicals in the usual guitar magazines.
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: gwEm on May 22, 2011, 10:30:52 PM
I use one that was made about 40 years ago by a probably-nobody-but-very-talented luthier in spain called Victor Garcia

It sounds utterly gorgeous.

It has a rosewood fretboard. Not sure about the rest.

I know this is of no use, I just dont often get to brag about it :lol:

I also cant play it for shitee :(

its useful in the fact that someone else reckons classical guitar can sound great :)
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: viking on May 23, 2011, 12:47:13 AM
I learned classical guitar first and it's still my main instrument.In 1999,i sold a gorgeous and pristine vintage LP (cherry sunburst 60's LP Deluxe,a real "closet queen"  :() to afford a trip to Madrid to buy a Ramirez...btw,Mark Knopfler was leaving the Ramirez workshop when i went in the first time  8)!Anyway,i ended up buying a beautiful Concert Contreras instead!I had the chance to visit many workshops from some of the best luthiers in Madrid.It was a great experience! Nowadays,there is a vast choice of mid-range classical guitars.Look for a solid-top (not laminated),Ebony fingerboard ,good intonation & mechanics...For the rest,it's all about your budget & preferences  :).
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: sgmypod on May 23, 2011, 07:44:51 AM
I learnt classical first, teacher had a ramirez. Always wanted one, she also had top end ovation but never wanted one of them lol
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: Elliot on May 23, 2011, 08:16:34 AM
I have an Admira Soledad (ebay purchase at £150 but new I think about £350) which is fits yours description - Can't say I play it with enough dedication but it sounds good.
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: viking on May 23, 2011, 02:27:02 PM
I learnt classical first, teacher had a ramirez. Always wanted one, she also had top end ovation but never wanted one of them lol
  My 1° teacher also had a Ramirez... 8)
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: Bob Johnson on May 23, 2011, 06:06:08 PM
There are a lot of really good Concert / Flamenco guitar makers in the Granada region of Spain, too many to list. The difference between a Concert guitar and a Flamenco guitar is quite pronounced. The concert guitar having a richer softer sound than the Flamenco guitar, the Flamenco guitar is of lighter construction and is brighter with more attack. Another major tonal factor is the difference between mahogany and cedar necked guitars.
Treat yourself to a week in the Granada region and just try dozens of great guitars. It'll probably come out cheaper than going to a specialist supplier in the UK. Ebony fingerboards are pretty standard on classical guitars.

Cheers, Bob Johnson

Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: WezV on May 23, 2011, 06:17:10 PM
Treat yourself to a week in the Granada region and just try dozens of great guitars. It'll probably come out cheaper than going to a specialist supplier in the UK.

+1

often a more affordable option than you would think
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: Bob Johnson on May 23, 2011, 07:32:32 PM
Of course there's also all that wonderful Andalusian food, great Tapas bars and the fantastic scenery through the Sierra Nevada national park; if you're into mountain biking (like me) it's single track Nirvana!!
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: sgmypod on May 23, 2011, 07:45:19 PM
Sold me on going now back to guitars lol
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: MrBump on May 24, 2011, 03:11:37 PM
Sold me on going now back to guitars lol

... sold me on a shopping trip to Spain!!!
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: ToneMonkey on May 24, 2011, 03:30:35 PM
she also had top end ovation

My wifes top end gets standing ovations.
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: choucas09 on May 24, 2011, 04:16:34 PM
Pics would be helpful.
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: jonathanf on May 24, 2011, 05:15:22 PM
Of course there's also all that wonderful Andalusian food, great Tapas bars and the fantastic scenery through the Sierra Nevada national park; if you're into mountain biking (like me) it's single track Nirvana!!
uhh... no... OK, i don't know about the price of classical, hand made, whatever guitars in granada but in sevilla everything is waaayyyy more expensive. Everything is, a ps3 game is 70 euros for example.
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: gwEm on May 24, 2011, 06:26:16 PM
this clearly needs more research on my part. but everything i read here is very useful, not to mention fascinating.. thanks all.

i tried to learn some basic pickings last night on my strat, but the string spacing wasn't really helping me.
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: gwEm on May 24, 2011, 06:26:55 PM
Pics would be helpful.

yeah, it would get the GAS going too :)
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: Bob Johnson on May 25, 2011, 05:39:18 PM
Of course there's also all that wonderful Andalusian food, great Tapas bars and the fantastic scenery through the Sierra Nevada national park; if you're into mountain biking (like me) it's single track Nirvana!!
uhh... no... OK, i don't know about the price of classical, hand made, whatever guitars in granada but in sevilla everything is waaayyyy more expensive. Everything is, a ps3 game is 70 euros for example.

There are lots of classical guitars out there. I have a very expensive Japanese concert guitar and a relatively cheap Spanish guitar. The  Spanish guitar is not as well finished but it sounds a lot better. It has Acacia sides, a Mahogany back and a Cedar neck with a rosewood fingerboard. Made by Azaha in Valencia. It cost me about two thirds of the price in Spain as it would have done in the UK. Most Spanish guitar makers have a factory shop, you may pay a little more than the UK importers do but it is still going to be a lot better than the UK High Street price. Work it out. No importers margin, no retailers margin and no UK VAT on the profit margins. DUH ! :)
Title: Re: classical acoustic guitar - recommendations?
Post by: Bob Johnson on May 25, 2011, 06:00:47 PM
Of course if you want to spend a couple of thousand on a really top notch classical guitar there's Kenneth Leftwich who lives and works just down the road from me.