Classical guitars

Wessel · 2008-05-25T23:34:26+00:00

Which new classical guitar would be the best buy?

Classical guitars

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.

AlanRatcliffe

Some of the Ibanez classics are nice. They tend to slightly thinner necks so aren't such a horrendous jump for players coming from steel or electric guitars. Pretty reasonable prices too. Going straight to a concert model classic is a helluva jump for most.