Updated: Now back up to 5 classical guitars.....newest addition is a Stephen Eden Spruce top Concert (Constructed: May 2013)

Other Classical Guitars:

- Ortega Thomas Zwijsen Signature Model

- Rathbrowne & Brown (Chinese Luthier sourced) Model 'Concierto ' Serial no. GS11915

- Yamaha Silent Guitar SLG200N

- Ortega DS SUITE-C/E nylon strung electro-acoustic

Hi, not sure if this is still active, but I have an Antonion Picado 54 (2001) with a Cedar top. It was sold to me by Barry Mason of the now closed London Guitar Centre. I have been trying different strings recently (Dadario, Hannabach, Knobloch and Savarez) - worthy of a thread in its own right.

Last week I attended a festival with 3 luthiers present and spent some time speaking to Oxfordshire based Oren Myers and tring one of his spruce guitars - lovely instrument!

I have Savarez normal tension strings on my Esteve (spruce) guitar and Galli titanium hard tension on my Alhambra (cedar).

The Savarez high E is quite sharp compared to the Galli which is a little thicker and more comfortable to play. I prefer how the Galli sounds and think I've found my brand.

I'll put these on the Esteve next change and compare with the Alhambra.

I'm practicing El Testament d'Amelia now and finding it much easier with the Alhambra + Galli.

Although I find it easier playing Capricho Arabe on the Esteve. I have more trouble with rolling the E string off the side of the fret board on the Alhambra for some reason.

Plus one on Tavi's suggestion on the Cervantes. That guitar is a real sleeper. For a couple of thousand dollars it will get you really close to the sound of a Ramirez 1a.

An update to what type of guitar I have. The old Vietnamese guitar has been retired and replaced by a Cordoba C12 cedar. Very nice guitar but I found the top to be a little to sensitive. There is a luthier here in Vancouver who makes armrests so I bought one of them and now there is no tonal change when I accidentally change pressure with my right arm.

i am very happy with this guitar.

Rod - can you give more details on the Savarez strings? What did you like the most about them? What model exactly, thanks.

Like most I have spent a Lot of money trying to find those elusive special strings,,Just Purchased and Fitted the new Savarez Premium,,Blown away..Beautiful.

I have 2 guitars,A Godin Grand Concert,And i am refurbishing a Jose Ramirez 3 1987,Just fitted it up with Savarez New Premium Strings,It sounds Beautiful,very pleased with it.

There you go! Always trust your ears and be honest with what you actually like. Reviews can be helpful but not an absolute guarantee.

Interesting - I thought I knew what guitar I wanted by reading reviews, google, research, etc. When I played the one I thought would make me happy, I was disappointed with the sound. I spent 4 hours at a very reputable classical guitar store in Atlanta and went home empty handed and discouraged.

I went back and asked that they let me audition guitars without telling me the price or brand - again just going for how the guitar sounded. I was after a beautiful deep balanced tone. I compared several with my existing classical guitar and others at the store.

The guitar I chose scared me initially, as I was afraid of the price based on how beautiful it sounded. As it turned out, it was not the most expensive at all. I ended up purchasing a Cervantes Rodriguez PE and so far absolutely love it.

Thanks for the info Tavi.

George

Hi George, Cordoba guitars are great, especially the C10 cedar top instruments. Do you want to know the best kept secret of classical guitars? The vintage Takamine 132C, Takamine 140 and the Cervantes 800 and some of the higher grade Yairi are incredible buys for the money. Here is a full recital recorded with a Cervantes guitar (a Ramirez replica). 

Hi Diana

My guitar is one that I bought 20 years ago in Vietnam for $100 US. I think it is solid spruce on top and mahogany sides and back but I’m not sure It is really pretty good for the price I paid , but now seems to be showing signs of age and I am thinking of getting a new one.

If anyone has experience with the higher end Cordoba guitars I would like to hear your thoughts. Or any other guitars in the same price range would be interesting to hear about.

Thanks

George

Hi Diana, Thank you for your kind words. I am afraid that I do not have any links to video tutorials. In the case of this piece, a friend of mine has a hard copy of the music sheet which I used to learn the prelude. It is part of Tárrega's "Endecha y Oremus". I am sure that there are various copies available for purchase online. Sorry that I was not of greater assistance. Regards, Mohsin

Congratulations, Mohsin. I like very much the way you play; even I woud like learn to play that song. Do you knou some youtube tutorial o similar?

I currently have four two of them I purchased from Tavi. The first one is a Ramirez Auditorio. You can see it in the videos on the site called Canco del Lladre and Cancion de Cuna. The guitar is off the charts good with that beautiful Spanish darkness associated with a cedar top. The second is a Alexandru murian that can be found on the videos Preludio-de-adios and Romance de Los Pinos. The guitar records like no other guitar that I have ever owned it's just amazing. It's one caveat is the neck shape I have a partially amputated index finger on my fretting hand so it is a little uncomfortable for me to play. Number 3 is a John Blanchard spruce. John is kind of an obscure builder but sought after in the local area. 4 is a older Lucida one with the real wood top before they went with plywood. I'm going to donate that guitar to the local community so someone with limited means can have a guitar to play. If someone wants to purchase the Alexandru or Blanchard let me know.

I have a Torres replica made by "Milestones of Music". It is a fantastic instrument. Although the original Torres designs have a 640cm scale length and a slightly smaller body, which is similar to the Ramirez 130, my guitar has a 650cm scale length but supports the smaller body which is ever so comfortable. The sound is amazing. Both the trebles and the basses are wonderfully balanced and bring a powerful yet sweet response.

Here is a video of me playing Tárrega's "Endecha":

Mohsin

The Esteve arrived, not much difference in looks to the Alhambra, the body is about 1cm deeper and I think it's a little easier to play. The shop lowered the action to 3.5 as I said the action on my other guitar might be a little high. I'll lower it a bit next time the strings are changed. There's quite a difference with the normal tension strings too, noticeably softer. I'm going to try different sorts as I go along and find a preference.

Congratulations for your new guitar¡¡ The strings I use are: Knobloch, Savarez, LaBella, Hannabach, Augustine...

I bought a cheap (£50) Valencia a couple of years ago but haven't played it much until recently. I'll use this now mostly for learning the notes to new songs, then move to my new guitar to practice playing.

Recently purchased an Alhambra 4P cedar top, beautiful guitar and a big difference in sound quality to the other.

I then became curious about spruce tops, and wanted to know how different they could be. I found an Esteve Madrid model at half price which arrives in a couple of days. I'm told it's the equivalent of an Alhambra 9P. It's having new Savarez strings before being delivered as it was a display guitar.

I'd also like to know what strings you all use. I've ordered some Galli titanium after watching an Ana Vidovic interview.