Classical Guitar ... 50th b-day present ...

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downatone

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So I'm looking to buy my pop a new classical guitar for his 50th and would ideally like it to be a surprise. Hoping around $250 is reasonable. I'm not really sure where to begin. Any tips, brands or suggestions I can use before I hit the stores?
cheers in advance
 
Alvarez and Ibanez both make adaquate classical guitars in that price range. You might look over E-bay for a nice older Yamaha model.
 
You might want to take a look at LaPatrie, CDN made, and should be stocked by Steve's Music or Long and McQuade.
 
The La Patries are good for the price. You can also find La Patrie factory blems that can be bought for a considerable discount--at least you used to be able to.
 
You might look over E-bay for a nice older Yamaha model.
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+1

granted i don't have experience with a lot of makes/models of classicals, but i first learned to play guitar on my mom's yamaha classical, and even today i love the way that thing sounds...at least when i get my hands on it - my mom has a nasty habit of leaving the same strings on there for years at a time, but everytime i re-string the thing it sounds absolutely beautiful
 
+++ La Patrie. Very good sound and quality at that price.
 
I would say take him shopping on his birthday, and let him choose one in your price range, or add some $ of his own if he wants to spend more. A guitar is a personal choice for many people.
 
crazydoc said:
I would say take him shopping on his birthday, and let him choose one in your price range, or add some $ of his own if he wants to spend more. A guitar is a personal choice for many people.
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That's very true, and worth bearing in mind.
 
From my experience, just about any classical guitar can sound good, as opposed to a steel string. I remember I bought this used Fender classical for $100. Took it home and played it. To me, it sounded like a kid's toy. So I took it back.

Then I went looking for another one, playing all kinds in the $100-$300 range, then the $500-$1000+ range and they all still sounded like kids toys. :mad:

Then I realized it was how I was playing them. When I figured out how to play them correctly, I regretted returning that $100 used Fender.

I don't hear too much of a difference now between the cheap Yamaha's and the more expensive ($500-$700) from my experience.

Yamaha's are readily available and built very well. In fact, when auditioning a few just a few days ago, I would have personally gotten the Yamaha above all the others there, price considered. But that's just my opinion.

The $1,000+ ones did indeed sound better but not enough to warrant the price. For your price range I'd recommend a Yamaha.
 
danny.guitar said:
From my experience, just about any classical guitar can sound good, as opposed to a steel string. I remember I bought this used Fender classical for $100. Took it home and played it. To me, it sounded like a kid's toy. So I took it back.

Then I went looking for another one, playing all kinds in the $100-$300 range, then the $500-$1000+ range and they all still sounded like kids toys. :mad:

Then I realized it was how I was playing them. When I figured out how to play them correctly, I regretted returning that $100 used Fender.

I don't hear too much of a difference now between the cheap Yamaha's and the more expensive ($500-$700) from my experience.

Yamaha's are readily available and built very well. In fact, when auditioning a few just a few days ago, I would have personally gotten the Yamaha above all the others there, price considered. But that's just my opinion.

The $1,000+ ones did indeed sound better but not enough to warrant the price. For your price range I'd recommend a Yamaha.
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Were you strumming them with a pick?
 
The kind of sound a person likes with a nylon string guitar depends on what'll be played on it. Very common that an electric or steel string player wants a nylon string just to be able to get a different tone, and in that use almost any nylon string gtr will do, really, and they very well might not notice much difference between different classical guitars. But if a person has developed a good technique on the classical guitar, can get a good tone, and is playing music like Bach, Villa-Lobos, Tarrega, Ponce, etc, the demands on the instrument are much greater as far as clarity, balance through the range, and volume of sound. I've played hundreds of classical guitars ranging from the cheapest (Yamaha, Aria, Gianini, etc) to the best (Fleta, Ramirez, Hauser, Traphagen, Rubio). IME the biggest jump in quality of sound happens around the $400-500 range, where you can get a very good quality solid soundboard... and the guitars I've played in that range, with the mass production that's used, seem to sound better when built with the "Spanish heel" construction method, rather than dovetail or other joinery methods, though that's not necessarily the case with high level handmade instruments.

It's very true that each guitar has its own character and that two of the same make/model can be very different from each other.

... so whatever works.
 
I have a 1976 Yamaha G-150 that sounds like ass.

It's also for sale....

:p
 
I agree with XLR and also that you should go play some if you can. I would not buy one online. Find a shop that has both new and used. You should be able to find a solid top even in your price range.
 
I second the post about taking your Dad on a shopping trip. It'll mean more to him than the guitar itself.

As far as the actual guitar goes, I also second a "nice" Yamaha. Keep in mind that the cheaper Yamaha's will be a laminate top. As XLR notes, getting a solid top ($400-500) will probably get you than next level of quality sound your dad may or may not be looking for.

Playability seems to be about the same for all of them (but I'm sure there has to be SOME differences).

The biggest pain with classicals are when you change the strings. They tend to slip and stretch a lot when new. Nice things is that you really don't have to change nylon strings all that often. They don't die out and rust like steel strings.
 
I vote for the Ibanez GA6-CE . It has the most playable neck and the built-in electronics sound great. It is not the loudest on the market due to the laminated woods but the tone is acceptable and , as I said it sounds really good amplified and records very well with the built is electronics.

chazba
 
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