Best wood on a classical guitar?

[muzeman]

Hi,

I'm looking into buying a classical guitar that I can mic.

Mostly melody and fingerpicking stuff in a full mix,no real classical work.
I was wondering what the best wood combination would be for this?
Spruce,Mahogany,Cedar,.Rosewood?

I'm looking to spend between 3-5 hundred,(or less)

I was also looking at Flaminco's,any good?

Any tips on brands would be great.

Thanks,
Pete

 

[musikman316]

I don't like any classicals from companies that make one of everything (i.e. Epiphone, Fender), and truthfully, I don't trust classical guitars to companies who make anything else.

I really like Cordoba and Rodriguez... they have models from $2-3 hundred... just don't order one online, you really need to play a classical before you buy it (or any guitar in my opinion).

Later,
Musik

Oh, and I prefer Spruce...

 

[Tom Hicks]

My old Yamaha G60-A is Brazillian rosewood sides and back with a solid cedar top.Cedar is a little warmer sound than spruce.Spruce is brighter.

 

[foo]

What Tom said, and for tops:
Spruce is usually a little stiffer than Cedar, so responds a little slower, but wll not break up as quickly as Cedar.
That's the official line - but I don't think there's a major difference from the player's end of things un that regard.

I think either will work well for you - it's more to do with the way the whole guitar sounds.
Brazilian rosewood is extremely rare these days (read expensive) so don't worry about that.

I would get a guitar you like the sound of and don't worry too muych about what the woods are (as long as they're solid). Based on what you say, I would suggest Rosewood with a Cedar top.

Flamenco guitars usually have a lower action, which isn't necessarily a good thing from the tone point f view, but will make it a little easier to play. They are also designed to be played in the flamenco style, which is generally more vigorous than a classical guitar. They also have a largish 'pickguard' (which is called a galpeador I think) - it's function is to act as a 'percussion plate' that the player taps his hand/fingers against as a percussive part of the performance. Seems to me that it would limit the ability of the top to resonate.

foo

 

[philboyd studge]

Flemenco guitars are built to party, not necessarily to last very long. It that's not you're style, shy away.

Hey, did I just see a deal for you:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=919583077
All solid woods......nothing new can compare.
Try and see if you can get that sucker for $350 or so.

I almost want to bid on it myself but I'm up to my nose in guitars and already have a '69 Guild Mark II...........great tone and records really well.

 

[foo]

Just checked out the link Phil posted- and he's right. Guild's are generally considered to be very well made guitars - particularly those made in Hoboken (they were made there from the mid-50's to the late 60s).

This particular guitar will be cheap - that crack in th etop will scare off most people. If it was professionally repaired, it will be a great deal - and the mahogany looks real nice, too.

You should be able to get it for not much, and you should send Phil half of what's left from your $300!



foo

 

[philboyd studge]

A crack? Oh the horror!

$225............what, no case?...........$175 (an SKB case will set you back $90).

And it'll still blow anything new out the door in the under $1000 market.

This last summer I got a Taylor NS62 CE classical ($1895) and and was a happy camper till I got it home and a/b'd it with the Guild. I took the Taylor back.

I think I paid $300 for the Guild Mark II plus a case and some Schaller tuners.

 

[muzeman]

Thanks guys,I'll definatly check it out.

I have an old Guild F-45,great sound.
I'm so used to it,everything else sounds crappy .
The only thing that comes close is a Martin HD 28 they have over at GC.
Now if I can only come up with $2000 more!

 

[LI_Slim]

That's a tough price range. Of the large companies, Yamaha and Takamine both could have some decent guitars in that neighborhood. Seagull makes a few classicals, and would probably best those. As mentioned, some of the Spanish guitars in that range might be good, but you can't look for any particular brand. Just play them and you might find a pearl.

 

[muzeman]

Thanks Slim,do you know who sells Seagull?
I can go over to the city if I need to.

Pete

 

[TheGuitarMan]

Seagull has a dealer list on their website.

 

[LI_Slim]

Thanks Slim,do you know who sells Seagull?
I can go over to the city if I need to.

Pete

I don't think any of the 48th St. stores sell them. I believe they have them at Rondo Music which is somewhere in New Jersey, and Toys In the Attic in White Plains.

 

[foo]

I just checked the ebay site and the Guild sold for $380. Hope it was you.

foo

 

[philboyd studge]

$380 with a crack plus shipping? That does it, my Alvarez-Yairi DY-88 with the crack in the headstock goes on ebay......soon as I can figure it out.

In the meantime at recycler.com there's a Yairi:

Classical nylon, 1971 Alvarez, Kazuo Yairi, Model 5051, Ser. #3154, beautiful tone & wood, original owner, w/deluxe lever capo, case. Santa Monica. $395.

......that folks is one made by Yairi his own self and it's a deal.

 

[Kasey]

I have a 30 year old Yamaha G-55a, which is made of spruce. The thing was probably 200 when it was first bought by my grandpa, and would probably sell for 100 or less today. It's the cheapest guitar i own but its my baby. It is probably partially because of the wood's age, but it has the warmest, most amazing tone in the world. It's made of orange spruce... check it out.

 

[Light]

At that price, just play as many guitars as you can, and find the one you like. The tonal qualaities of the wood are really secondary to the quality of the build and the decisions of the builder, and in a guitar in the $400-$500 range, those consederations are going to be inconsistant, or, more acurately, inconsidered. You see, great builders do not brace all their guitars the same. They will subtly alter things based on the particular piece of wood they are using and the desired outcome for the guitar. On an inexpensive guitar, you are never going to get that, so you best bet is to simply play as many as possible and find the one that works for YOU.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[XLR]

I have a 30 year old Yamaha G-55a, which is made of spruce. The thing was probably 200 when it was first bought by my grandpa, and would probably sell for 100 or less today. It's the cheapest guitar i own but its my baby. It is probably partially because of the wood's age, but it has the warmest, most amazing tone in the world. It's made of orange spruce... check it out.

I've got an old G-50A from the same time period. It's the family beach guitar... laminated spruce soundboard (orange tint to finish), laminated nato back & sides. Kind of a cool guitar. I put an internal transducer in it and the gtr actually amplifies very well because it's got such a balanced sound (small sound but balanced). And the Yamahas have lifetime warranties, so if your grandfather's still around the guitar's still under warranty!

Speaking of being alive, this thread had been deceased for 3 years before your post, heh-heh.

Tim

 

[gusfinley]

sweet.......

For a great example of a cedar tone, listen to the Beatles' And I Love Her - provided by George's Harrison's Ramirez classical guitar. My friend owns one and oh is it sweet!!