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Post by hushnel on Apr 27, 2021 13:33:22 GMT -5
I really like acoustic guitars. I have three steel string guitars. The Martin 000-15s, the 00-15 and the kick around Yamaha CSF1M. I’m not partial to the Dreadnought size, a little awkward for me, my right arm is mostly paralyzed and resting it on the instrument makes my hand go numb, I used dreads back before I broke my neck, cause of the paralysis.
When I leave the house with an acoustic six string it will be a steel stringed instrument. Around the house, most of the time, I’ll grab one of my classical guitars. I’ve always just played what I have but I’m finding out that I like the classicals to have a bit shorter nut. I’ve been heading in the direction of smaller guitars. The Yamaha CSF1M gets a lot of use due to it’s size, and tone.
I’ve been looking at the cordoba c9 and c10 parlor classicals but haven’t had an opportunity to play one, the nut is 50mm, just slightly under the 2” standard. It makes a difference. I can’t afford a Martin N-20, still would like to try one though.
I don’t notice much talk here about classical guitars, I have three but one is loaned out, the old Yamaha I picked up at a flea market for $15.00. I have an other old Yamaha I purchased new in 1984, it ambushed me, and the Kremona Guitar I got a few years back off Craigslist, a really sweet guitar with a solid top. When I contacted Kremona USA they told me this guitar was a laminated top, it is not, I took a picture of the sound hole and the factory guy agreed but couldn’t explain it. The sellers uncle used to work at the Kremona Factory, he took her to the factory and picked out the guitar for her, she lived in Romania at the time.
I was wondering how may of us like the classicals. I play mine at least as often as the steel stings. I’ve been working on Buena Vista Social Club’s “ChanChan” way above my skill level, I’ll tackle impossible tunes from time to time to push me out of my comfort zone. I’ve got the whole intro nailed down. That tune is haunting, I really love how it starts off. I did the same thing with Hendrix’s Intro to “Little Wing” though it takes me a couple try’s before I can nail it. Probably would be easier on the Tele than the acoustic. Can’t remember the last time I played the Tele.
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Post by FlyonNylon on Apr 27, 2021 13:52:07 GMT -5
I play way more flat-picking now than electric or classical but played classical guitar a lot around ages 20-24. Still run through the easy pieces a few times a month but to really get back to a performance ready 60 minute Bach recital or something would take some work. I was a music major at a small school (general not performance) and my school didn't really do rock/blues so I got into it a bit out of necessity. I really did enjoy it though, still have the 2000 grit sand paper for glassy nails and a little nook in the piano room with a nice music stand and foot-rest.
Forgot about this but played around with my camera when I first got it and made this little vid to test the video mode/mic. The guitar was made in 2004 by luthier Petr Matousek, I was living in the Czech Republic at the time and commissioned the guitar since a similar grade instrument would be about 2-3x the price in the States or Western Europe.
Tarrega - Etude in Em
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 27, 2021 14:57:02 GMT -5
Nice playing.
I started on a nylon string (but not playing "classical" music; just learning chords and popular songs), so I was used to the wide nut. I even put steel strings on my first nylon string guitar - which then held up for about two more years before it exploded!
I currently have a Yairi nylon string (Japanese made) from 1976 (my h.s. graduation year). Solid top, well built and nice tones, but I don't play it often enough (although it's out on a rack all the time with my other acoustics).
But you're right, there are times when that nylon string tone is what fits your mood (or the song).
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Post by hushnel on Apr 27, 2021 19:49:49 GMT -5
FlyonNylon, that was pretty smooth, the guitar sounds really nice.
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Post by ninworks on Apr 28, 2021 7:38:42 GMT -5
Very nice FLyon. I used to play classical style a lot when I was in my teens and 20's. Not so much anymore but I love the sound of nylon string guitars. I have an Esteve that sounds and plays very nice. I should get it out and leave it on a stand so I play it more. I wrote and recorded this about 8 years ago. It's the only nylon stringed piece I have ever written. I have posted this before. soundcloud.com/ninworks/solitario |
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Post by hushnel on Apr 28, 2021 7:59:51 GMT -5
Nice, Reminds me that I should stick to the bass "o)
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Post by Lefty Rev on Apr 29, 2021 14:16:14 GMT -5
Yes, very nice composition and playing, ninworks.
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Post by langford on May 3, 2021 8:18:06 GMT -5
Nin... That's a really nice piece of music. I think it's the best I've heard from you. Thanks for posting it here.
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Post by jefe46 on May 20, 2021 11:59:04 GMT -5
I always have a nylon string guitar around. I have owned many including a 1961 Ramirez Flamenco 1A (F) made by shop foreman Contreras. 650 scale, french polished, spanish cypress backs and sides, euro spruce top, ebony fingerboard and friction pegs, and a brazilian rose wood bridge. 5 fan braced, light as a feather, booming , cavernous sound. A very commanding guitar.
I have also owned a few of the 60s era S. Yairi guitars ( not K Yairi) .. model 600, 700, 800, alas no 900.
I currently own a flamenco blanca cutaway made by Carlos Pena for Cervantes.. one of 10. ... as the model suggests, it has Cypress backs and sides, unusual, and a sitka also unusual for a blanca. Most often Mediterranean cypress ( I have some sets of this) and Euro spruce tops. The plantilla
is from a 1930s Hernandez. It has a scrolled end to the fingerboard extending over the sound hole for 22 frets total. Even the rosette is Santos Hernandez patter, as is the head stock scroll. I bought it new, 2003 I believe.
If I had only one guitar it would be a classical with low action or a flamenco.
I am a fan of Gypsy Jazz played on nylon/flamenco/classical. I do not play that style but admire those who do.
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Post by hushnel on May 20, 2021 12:44:53 GMT -5
I’ve never had the opportunity to play a high end classical guitar, I have never found a guitar store that carried them, that I’m aware of.
The older Kremona, I picked up used, is probably the best I’ve ever played. I assume that the first/early
guitars, early to mid 19th century, were gut strings.
We mostly grew up with the sound of steel stringed instruments and we’ve acclimated, but from my early experience with string instruments, everything being gut/nylon, it just seems to me that nylon/gut would be capable of producing the best sounding and dynamic strings. We’ve gotten used to the sound of steel strings, we grew up with them, but listening to them on an acoustic guitar they seem to lack sonic consistency, where the classical harmonic consistency of the nylon/gut strings seem superior.
I would be interested in hearing your opinion of classical strings available to us now. For instance, would a gut string made today be superior to the synthetic offering. I believe I’ve read someplace that some classical musicians are still using hand made gut strings.
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Post by jefe46 on May 25, 2021 14:53:40 GMT -5
Rob MacKillop of Scotland is my go to guy for all things classical. He plays "nail-less" and the latest "gut" strings. Here's a link to his string page.. the rest of his site and YouTube are worth a visit. rmclassicalguitar.com/strings/ |
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Post by jefe46 on May 25, 2021 14:57:43 GMT -5
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Post by Harleyboy on May 25, 2021 19:58:58 GMT -5
I do.. Took lessons for a couple years when I was a young at 62 or 63. I have a really nice Taylor 514N. Plays well, really a lot of fun to play because the 1-7/8" nut is about perfect for my fat fingers.
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Post by funkykikuchiyo on May 26, 2021 10:06:55 GMT -5
A few years back I took some classical lessons for about a year. I didn't get great, but my sight reading improved dramatically and I learned some interesting things about technique. Reading off of a page helps you think about rhythm in an entirely new way, too. I fell out of playing because I found it very hard to maintain the nails. Maybe if I revisited with the collagen supplements or something I'd have better luck. Hard to say.
Regarding the guitars, it was a frustration for me. I went in wanting really just two basic things: ebony fingerboard, and traditional construction. So, no cutaway, no slotted saddle slot with a pickup, nothing weird. I remembered when Rodriguez was a Fender thing and liking those at the price, but they were hard to find at the time. Major manufacturers don't give much love to just plain ol' classicals. Yeah, many make nylon string guitars, but not really classicals.
I ended up finding some of the classical dealers online and looking at their lists of "student" models ("student" in the classical world is a higher quality than it would be for steel string or electric - less like a Squier, and more like a MIM or cheapest MIA, for example). I had the names of a few that looked okay written on a pad. I decided one day to punch a bunch of those names into eBay, and I found a $1200 all solid classical with a starting bid at $499 new and bid on it, and I turned out to be the only bidder. It even came with a case. I had to do a bit of work on it (fret ends were awful, the saddle was garbage, etc.) but otherwise it has been a great guitar. Paco Marin is the maker - to this day it is the only one I've ever seen from him/them.
The Yamahas are probably the best in their category, though that category is a pretty basic one. A lot of the Cordobas are cross over instruments with cutaways, very skinny bridges, thin necks, etc. but there are a couple models that are more traditional and those ones sound and play great. The crossover ones aren't bad either, they just aren't really my cup of tea. As with any acoustic watch the humidity. Cordobas are a bit extra frail because the bridges are extra thin and cedar tops tend to pop glue joints way more often (it is a known issue for luthiers and woodworkers that cedar just doesn't like glue all that much).
The chunky necks are fine if you learn to hold them appropriately and not try to wrap them like you might a steel string, and I don't find the skinnier ones really make them feel more like steel string guitars - they seem like a worst of both worlds scenario to me.
If you buy used, check the neck angle. Neck resets are highly impractical 99% of the time, and the range of movement with the saddle is small. Classicals tend to be built for higher action for projection, and most steel string converts want the action much lower. Of course, in my experience even the classical guys don't really want it at "classical height" either.
If you're not looking at playing classical music specifically, keep an eye out for flamenco guitars. Lighter build and lighter wood, they have more pop to them and are a lot of fun to play, even if you can't play flamenco.
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Post by jefe46 on May 26, 2021 14:32:46 GMT -5
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Post by hushnel on May 26, 2021 20:40:08 GMT -5
Thanks Jeff.
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krrf
Wholenote
Posts: 375
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Post by krrf on Jun 3, 2021 15:33:21 GMT -5
I play a Yamaha Silent Guitar of the nylon string variation after having an old Yamaha classical guitar for years. It is a great travel guitar and really fun for learning classical pieces. My wife can be in the same room as me and not complain when I've played the same piece 50 times in a row to learn it LOL.
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