What Guitar do you play?
What is the instrument of your choice?
I play a Paco Santiago Marin - XXX Anniversario! This guitar has been with me all my university years, and I have learned so much on this instrument! It has a lot of marks, so I intend to have my top redone within the following years, but I am still in love with the sound of this instrument! But it also has its shortcomings. Itās not very easy to play, guitars with a more modern approach require much less effort!
Feel free to share a picture of your beauty!
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Hey everyone,
So great to see so many beautiful guitars here. I grew up in my guitar years listening to Christopher Parkening. After hearing his recordings I HAD to have a Ramirez. I could never afford the nice ones though at 15-16 years old. I started off with a $100 Yamaha, then a Jasmine, then my first concert guitar, a G.V Rubio, and then off to a Greg Byers. While at school I finally had the chance to buy a Ramirez. I quickly sold the Byers and bought a 1976 Jose Ramirez 2A. Brazilian sides and back, cedar top. It has that quintessential Ramirez sound that I just love. It's super warm, and full, great for the Spanish rep. That 664 scale length is killer on the left hand though. I just adore making music with this guitar. The iPhone pics don't do it justice. I'll take better photos of it soon and post them.
I love the first string on this guitar, especially the 5th fret A. This guitar will be headed off for a re-fret soon as these are the originals, and pretty beat up. I keep it in a flight case, humidified and away from heat. As you can see it needs a wipe down, but I'm posting this between students so I've been teaching all night on it.
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This is a 2023 Steven Walter which is inspired by the late Thomas Humphrey who made the millennium design. The broad strokes are that Steve was taught about this design when they were friends. The guitar has amazing projection and ease of playability. I felt that this type of construction can have a tendency to be a bit too bright for me so he made it with a redwood top and Rosewood back and sides with a koa insert and this really warmed it up nicely without being too muddy. It is finished in a French polish. At this moment I play pieces such as villa Lobos prelude 3 and 5 as well as burgalesa and preludio de adios. These pieces work perfectly on this guitar. 100% my favorite and I own 4 other guitars from different builders, all good but this is next level. I would like to play one with a tornavoz too. So many desires so little timeā¦
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I am an old beginner and own 4 guitars, but the one I am playing right now is the modern version of the La CaƱada, Antonio de Torres - Jellinghaus replica, as you might know, this is the first guitar Fco. TƔrrega purchased from Antonio de Torres in 1864, and played for 40 years. The modern version replica is true in its dimensions and all construction details, but differs in the woods used. The B&S are made of Granadillo, the top is German Spruce cut during a crescent moon. They made even tuners with the brand name used by de Torres at that time. The genius of Antonio de Torres is really manifested in this guitar. I realize the wood difference means there are significant difference in sound quality, but this small body guitar sounds so good, and is easier to play than any of my other guitars. Opening the case of the guitar is a pleasant experience with the aroma of the Granadillo inundating my small office. The two giants associated to this guitar makes for a wonderful motivation in trying to improve myself.
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I was a rock guitarist since the early 70s. Then went into finger style acoustic guitar (Leo Kottke) in the 80s and then into progressive rock style music in the 90s.
Five years ago, I decided to take lessons for classical guitar.
I found a wonderful instructor, Jaclyn Jones, and started learning from her. I was using a mid-level Cordoba guitar and when I heard my guitar teachers guitar, I asked her what it was. She told me it was made by a Luthier by the name of Alan Chapman in Amherst, Massachusetts. I contacted them and Alan and his protƩgƩ Gef Fisher built me a guitar with East Indian Rosewood body, Engelmann spruce top, mahogany neck. It sounded so much better than my old guitar.
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I am very fortunate to be playing a Yulong Guo Chamber Concert Signing Dragon Classical guitar. Indian Rosewood back and sides, Cedar Cedar double-top. The back is 2 layers of Indian Rosewood, arched (like violin style) and brace-less back. The arch supports the guitar nicely. It also has an armrest, 12 hole tie block and very nice tuners (well, nice for what I was used to). Besides the incredible look of the guitar, it is the nicest playing and sounding guitar I have ever had the fortune to hold and play. It is above my stature, and makes (even me) sound great! I went one day in the last six months without playing it and I felt like I did something bad! Due to an illness, playing guitar has replaced almost all of my other hobbies that I've had over the years. I don't have to be good at it to enjoy a great guitar. I like the tone, the richness of the sound, the overall volume (and wow can it be loud if you want it to!!!). It is also the first guitar I ever played with a sound port. All the bells and whistles in a somewhat affordable guitar. And wow do some of you have unbelievable guitars in your collection! I'm so jealous :)
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I play a 1969 Ramirez 1A, 664 mm scale, that I bought at the Ramirez shop in Madrid in 1969. It was built by the legendary luthier, MT (Mariano Tezanos Castro) who built most of the Ramirez guitars that Segovia played. The cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides had been aged for 50 years before being shaped into my guitar. I love the warm sound. Itās especially nice for Albeniz and Granados. I know the extra length makes it more difficult for the left hand, but Iāve never played an instrument that I love more.
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I play on a Martin 00ā18 G guitar, made in 1946. You will notice that the spruce front has a few more pieces than normal because most of the spruce had been used for aircraft wings during World War II. Little was available apparently. In spite of the multiple pieces of spruce, this guitar has good sustain and a lovely tone. It has some cracked finish on the back, and a few dings and scratches, but looks fine.
I bought it rather inexpensive 20 years ago as one of the bracings was loose and the top appeared a bit wavy. It was a low-cost, easy fix for the Luthier to reglue the bracing. The top is perfect now. He also set it up and itās retained a great set up ever since.
I think this is an appropriate guitar for my level ā about 5-6, intermediate, or so on the tonebase scale. I would like to get a better guitar eventually as I think the volume and sustain could be better. Iāve heard good ones some but they were expensive. I think Iāll have to spend a lot, probably thousands to get something that is better. I have no issue with a tonal characteristics of this instrument ā it has a nice warm, balanced sound across the fretboard and projects reasonably well. The frets are well W.r.t. intonation.
The strings are Pro-Arte medium classical with a DāAddario carbon G, hi tension. This flattened the response nicely-the G was a bit duller with the medium set alone.
Finally, when I upgrade, what guitars do you recommend? Iād love to hear from you.
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David:
I apologize, did not see your question till now. I am more familiar with La CaƱada Jellinghaus, but believe he is a serious luthier. My understanding is that in all these replicas he develops the prototype in Germany, then the actual production is made in a small shop in China. The quality of construction that I see in this guitar is just excellent. I even took a boroscope camera and look inside, is just extremely precise and clean construction, you do not see the smallest amount of glue or other sign of disregard for quality. I think he is very knowledgeable and thorough. It is not one of kind type of construction, but the quality is at that level. I bought mine through the Grand Salon de la Guitare in Montreal. They have the Jellinhaus replicas, and you might get a better price with the exchange. You can get them to play the guitar for you, etc. They have a website. If I can be of further service, please let me know. Good luck to you. JosƩ
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I recently purchased a 2017 Darren Hippner, Hauser model. The instrument is based on the 1939 design and has a 48-mm nut. For an older player, having a slightly narrower fingerboard makes it a bit easier to play. The body is slightly smaller and with a bit less depth than many modern guitars, the instrument is very comfortable to play. It is also the first spruce top instrument I have ever owned, and find the tone very well suited to music of the 19th and 20th century. I have never played the music of Tarrega, Coste and Mertz as well as I do now. I suspect the instrument has contributed to my improvements over the last few months. Interestingly, I still feel like I am getting to know the instrument.