Thoughts on classical guitars - Upper entry level to mid-range

Hasie

Hey folks,

I am infected with a minor case of GAS, which will probably let me buy a new/used guitar later on in the year.
I have a very entry level classical guitar which I bought to see if I am going to like it - and I do.

So I am doing research on upper entry-level to mid-range classical guitars. Let's say about R10k is the limit. Maybe then not even mid-range. I do not know a lot about classical guitars.

I have looked at the Yamaha CG192C and it looks great. I am not bothered with it having a built-in pickup, prefer the sound of a cedar top and I think that at least the top should be solid.

Any thoughts on great brands or specific guitars in the price-range?

I am of course going to go out and play lots of guitars before buying, I'd just like a starting point.

EDIT; If I has a lots of money, I would buy a Casimi, even though my playing would disgrace it.

Stoffeltoo

If you had more dosh you should try a Berg guitar as well. Exquisite craftsmanship and sound

Hasie

Stoffeltoo wrote: If you had more dosh you should try a Berg guitar as well. Exquisite craftsmanship and sound

Price range more or less?

Stoffeltoo

Hasie, sending you a PM

V8

Hasie wrote: EDIT; If I has a lots of money, I would buy a Casimi, even though my playing would disgrace it.

A second hand Casimi (CP - Parlour size) could *just* be in your price range. I've had the pleasure of playing one, it was the sweetest classical I've laid hands on yet - I'd have that over all four of my nylon's. That one was sold before I could make my teeny mind up (@ 10k), saw another recently at 12k...*sigh* G.A.S

I have a thing against full size classical guitars (52mm width @ nut) and the typically chunky neck profile. Also the full size body is a bit big for me to play comfortably for extended periods (at the height of fakemenco lessons I was practicing 2-3 hrs/day).

I had a sweet sounding CG170SA (Ex Kiera) that was just painful to play for > 1hr. I've now got a 7/8 size Ricardo Montes CX-21 (slightly bigger than the Casimi parlour) that I can play all day - narrower nut, smaller body, super comfy but -unfortunately- crappy sound :-[

My preference for comfort steered me away from full size guitars (Yahama CG, Alahambra, etc...). I looked at the Yahama NTX (Gabriella Y Rodrigo), comfy but sounds thin unplugged. Cort CEC's (radius'ed fretboard - quasi steel string feel), but the radius'ed fretboard on this didn't not work for me and the unplugged sound was sterile.

I *almost* got a Alvarez 65 Hybrid. Had a good balance of plugged in and acoustic sound, was pretty comfy and the radius on fretboard was subtle. I liked it, but the preamp options were limited at the time and the dealer didn't want to swop out the 2014 preamp for the 2015 preamp - so I carried on looking.

Then I finally found the Casimi CP parlour - I havn't played anything that compares (yet).

Shibbibilybob

Where did you find a Parlour size Casimi? nylon string? I don't think such a guitar has been built.
And to the best of my knowledge the only Casimi nylon string so far is the Flamenco Blanca that belongs to Matthias himself.

You then saw another one? You should have snapped them up dude, because any second hand casimi you find these days will cost you well over 5 times that price.

Are you sure it was a Casimi? Maybe Matthias's old brazilian nylon string that he built when he still worked at maingard?

V8

Shibbibilybob wrote: Where did you find a Parlour size Casimi? nylon string? I don't think such a guitar has been built.
And to the best of my knowledge the only Casimi nylon string so far is the Flamenco Blanca that belongs to Matthias himself.

Are you sure it was a Casimi? Maybe Matthias's old brazilian nylon string that he built when he still worked at maingard?

Actually...I went back and looked again at previous post I made in 2015 - I'm not sure why I made the link to Casimi. I swear I saw a reference/pic on the Casimi site. similar to the guitar I played (at the Gear Junkie, sometime in 2014/5, it was sold to a fellow up in Durbs). Looking now, I just don't see the pic/reference aside from a little content saying they do make a CP sized guitar (a steel string).

The Junkies called it a "Colin Rock" parlour acoustic. This was the other one I was referring to (to be honest it could be the same one, but I don't think so): https://www.olx.co.za/ad/custom-built-classical-parlour-guitar-ID15XFkW.html

Apologies to all for the confusion!

Shibbibilybob

Yeah, their C1 is supposed to be their parlour size guitar, although it is a little bigger than most).

I am not sure which guitar you could be referring to. It may well have been made by them but I don't think it would have been in the Casimi era.

As for that Colin Rock guitar, it certainly seems like it's worth checking out.

I have seen only one of Colin's guitars, while he was still building it, but it looked magnificent.

Hasie

Thanks guys.

I've been thinking about the nut width and neck as well. The C40 I currently have, is hammering my wrist(I can do max 30 minutes on it).
I'd like the NTX's neck profile, just too bad they made the body thinner on the NTX, which makes it sound thin. I am also not bothered by it having electronics or not.
I will go out and play some different ones until I pick up the one that feels comfortable and sounds great.

I will also read up on some parlour size guitars, full size bodies are just too uncomfortable.

V8

So I spotted that 'Colin Rock' parlour guitar I mentioned above at the gear junkie yesterday. It is definitely a different guitar to the previous one I saw at the gear junkie. A tad smaller, different design - reminds me of the guitar shapes around the turn of the 19th century. The body is a little smaller than my 1/2 size acoustic, but the neck is a bit bigger (almost a std width, but a slinkier profile). I preferred the way the other one sat in my lap, it felt natural, this one is a bit odd....but the neck on this one is pretty damn amazing (at least for my hands). It had some old Pro Arte composite strings on, the basses were dead (and the low E a tad flabby), but the trebles pinged in a incredibly satisfying manner - very easy playing. Tonally...without A/B'ing I couldn't say. Two different designs, two different guitars - I reckon each would have their appeal depending on what you play. But they are both winnnnners - great instruments, Colin Rock knows his stuff.