Classical guitars

Wessel

Which new classical guitar would be the best buy?

AlanRatcliffe

What price range? I'm in at Bothner's the next few days and can probably take a look around. There aren't many of the high end nylon guitars around, but up to about R10K is readily available.

Wessel

About R2500.Which company makes the R10k?

AlanRatcliffe

Some of the Admira, Takamine and Yamaha classics. R2.5K puts you in the student guitar range, but there's a few decent ones from Yamaha and Admira.

To be honest, the only classic guitars I've ever really liked have been well over R10K. They're not the same as electrics where you will find a few manufacturers making really good value for money instruments, with classics you always get what you pay for. If you scout around http://www.guitarsalon.com/ , you'll see a number of the big names like Ramirez, Rodriguez and Hauser all well over $10K (that's Dollars).

I've got an old Ibanez GA100, which has matured very nicely, but is still just a good student guitar. I would like to lay my hands on a Takamine Hirade H8SS. I also want a Godin Multiac SA, but that's another story...

Mr-M

The Crafter Classical Guitars seem to be a very good option from around R3000 - R6000 (the ones I've seen anyway). They seem to do a pretty big range of classical guitars (the C & CE Series are the ones I've seen in JHB) of, IMO, very good quality & sound for the money. I'm actually eyeballing the CE-15N for myself... http://www.crafterguitars.com/
A mate has a DE-12N (a Dreadnought Steel String) which he's very happy with. That kind of "awakened" me to Crafter. Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Laminate DAO back/sides with LR baggs pickup/preamp. Made in Korea. Very good finish & build quality, pickup sounds very good IMO and acoustically much better than I expected. Think he paid R3000 for it.
Don't know who does them in CT, but I'd think Marshall would be your best bet.

NorioDS

And here I was thinking that Yamaha was the shizzit for classical ?

Mr-M

And here I was thinking that Yamaha was the shizzit for classical

They are actually. Just alot pricier if you want a decent one IMO. The base models are laminate Indonesian stuff that doesn't sound great IMO. The more expensive Yamahas are great though!

I've been in search for a decent Nylon-string with a pickup for live use for quite a long while, so I've played just about all of them, and from what I've found the Crafters seem like the best looking AND sounding in that R3000 - R6000 bracket.
Another alternative is the Walden stuff if you want quality on a (very) tight budget. They are on the plainer looking side, but the the sound is still good for the money (around R2000 - R4000 with a pickup).
I really like the concept of the Line6 Variax 300 Nylon. It sounds awesome through a PA because of the built-in reverb & body type models. Won't be good in studio though. Last I checked R9000+, and R7500 when I asked for a discount.

Riaan

I also was after an electro-acoustic nylon string, but I always found the wide classical guitar neck very uncomfortable. I eventually found a Yamaha APX on EBay which I bought for about R4000 - this guitar has a neck similar to a steel string acoustic or electric. This might also be something to look at.

Riaan

...though I'm not sure if the classical purists would accept this kind of guitar ;D

Mr-M

Riaan wrote ...though I'm not sure if the classical purists would accept this kind of guitar ;D

Probably not, but APXs are very comfortable for us electric-slingers.
BTW R4000 is very cheap for one of those. Good buy!

Wessel

Im playing with an ibanez classical that has an cut-away body its an GA 5. I am looking for an full on classical sound.And bigger and brighter tone than i am getting.Is a real classical guitars bigger neck and bigger body better for this?Or could i get the same tone from an classical with an cuta-way.Is this kind of guitar also called an classical?

sepheritoh

Yamaha is good enough IMo for the slightly better than budget range if you do not want to go for the really expensive stuff. I got the APX steel string and the CGX classical. I'm happy with playability and sound.

Mr-M

The bigger body of a full-size classical will generally give you a fuller acoustic tone, depending on the tone woods & construction. Then again flamenco nylon strings are generally smaller bodied and brighter sounding.

The cutaway on a nylon string/ classical does take away a little of the fullness of the acoustic tone, from what I've found, but it's generally a little easier to play leads on higher up the fret board. You won't notice much difference, if any, through the pickup system of the same model with and without a cutaway plugged into a PA. In fact, playing live through a PA, as long as the guitar has a good pickup/ preamp system it will normally sound as good a much more expensive guitar with the same electronics.

If you want, I have an old issue of Guitarist Magazine that has a great article on Nylon/ Classical guitars that i can scan in if you want a very good explanation of the instrument and its various incarnations. Let me know.

Wessel

Thanx I understand what your saying , I think its just my own guitars lack of brightness and power that made me think of guitars with cut-aways as weaker sounding.I prever to have more frets because I use the extra frets allot but I did not want to compremise the tone so i would have bought an normal classical. So this can help me allot ;D

Riaan

Would something like one of the Fishman Aura Acoustic pedals, or the LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI help with improving the amplified sound of a nylon string?

Attila

Hi Guys,

Seems like when we are talking cut away we are not talking classical .....classical.... for the purists

I saw some pretty good looking and sounding Romondo's at Marshals in woodmead, They seem to start from the 6k range. oh yes they are made in Spain.

This is quite a subject and dependant on how much loot/sense you have one can go bos and have one built JUST for you, with Engelmann top and Indian rosewood back and sides.

After coming to terms with myself... I have commissioned someone to build me one and at the same time taken further lessons to up my game and justify the spend. (to the boss)

Regards

Attila

Mr-M

Riaan wrote Would something like one of the Fishman Aura Acoustic pedals, or the LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI help with improving the amplified sound of a nylon string?

Yes, these can make quite an improvement. A little Compression and Reverb makes alot of difference to an amplified acoustic guitar. For alot less money you could also check out the Korg AX3A Acoustic Effects Processor. Sounds very good IMO for R800. Got one for my steel-string, but it should work just as well for Nylon. I think Zoom & Boss do simiar units as well.

AlanRatcliffe

I'm glad to see some recommendations here. I had a quick look in Bothner's, but they didn't have anything that floated my boat in that price bracket.

Mr. M, the main difference between flamenco and classic guitars is the construction. Notably the bodies are much thinner and there is a slight difference in the bracing structure. They are the same size aside from the flamenco being a little shallower. Some point to the woods (cypress and spruce) and say that's the main difference, but that's known as a Flamenca Blanco (white flamenco guitar) and just as many players today use the Flamanca Negra, which is the same woods as a classic.

AlanRatcliffe

Mr M wrote Yes, these can make quite an improvement.

Yes. They also make one specifically for the nylon string guitar. But it's modelling only, so if you want other FX for your (lots of) money. Yer screwed.

For alot less money you could also check out the Korg AX3A Acoustic Effects Processor.

I've looked into those and was intrigued. But haven't got around to checking one out yet. I'm primarily looking for something that can work on an electric's piezo bridge on the odd occasion I want it to sound more like a real acoustic. The Boss AD series and the sim in their GT-PRO didn't work very well at all, IMO.

The only other thing to try would be the D-Tar Mama Bear, which looks very good. Still modelling only, but it does something that the Fishman doesn't - it lets you turn your electic acoustic into any number of acoustic guitar styles.

Wessel

The reason I wanted to get an classical is that I want to get used to the bigger neck and the feel of it . I am not so worried about the sound or price right now just want to practice on something real? I am rather saving up to get a real quality guitar for live performances and recording later.