flamenco vs. classical ?

[hoffa626]

im new to the classical guitar world, but i am an experienced guitar player. i have recently enrolled in to a classical guitar class at college starting this fall to broaden my playing style and i have also been interested in classical guitar for years.. after doing much research on which classical guitar to buy i am stuck with a few questions? what exactly is the difference between flamenco and classical guitars/music? i had never heard about flamenco guitar until checking out this web site... any suggestions on some examples of music i might be able to listen to get a feel for each? also i know that many major acoustic guitar manufacturers make classical guitars such as Alverez, Washburn, Gibson or Martin... are these the same quality classical guitar as one of the brands on this web site? i guess what i am asking is... what is a good beginner classical guitar for under $1000? also, should i be interested in a cutout or electric pickup? or do authentic classical players not use an internal pickup or cutout? any input is greatly appreciated, i'm in the dark here!

[edwardcav]

Listen for yourself. There are some recordings of the guitars here at guitar Salon, here is the link:

http://www.guitarsalon.com/index.php?site_url=86

Listen especially to Conde Hermanos. What a recording!

Flamenco guitars are more fierce and posess a harsher tone colour, low action and a loud, bity output. Classicals are usually made with Cedar or Spruce, with Rosewood back and sides. They sound smoother and calmer. Both are beautiful instruments, perhaps buy one, and another down the track. I started classical from electric about a year ago, and after ironing out my bad habits and techniques (you'll have them too) I've grown to love both styles, and having just invested a Ramirez 4e, I'm looking for a budget flamenco soon.

I personally would not opt for a Gibson or Takamine or something like that. I think that you'll find that they sound inferior to the ones on this website. Keep your eye out for a Ramirez student guitar, but there are plenty others here.

This site is brilliant, use it to your advantage. There are helpful people that check the forums and a couple of resources found on this page with advice. Check the specials page too :wink:

Hope I could help

[Olly]

Hey Hoffa, i had exactly the same trouble - not being sure whether to get flamnco or classical, but after hearing a few pieces on this site, I have decided to go with Flamenco due to their fierce and sharp sound.
Will be buying my first guitar 2moz, so I hope everyting goes well, and who knows, in a couple of years from now, I might be able to play flamenco guitar (kinda, lol)

Oh well, all the best m8

[keith]

if you want to play classical, get a classical guitar--and vice versa. it really depends on the inner beast that needs to be pacified. yes you can use a flamenco for classical and vice versa but the quality of sound for each respective type will be lacking.

now here is a twist for you: you are an experienced guitar player--i would assume steel string since you are entering the world of nylon strings. there is a huge difference between neck widths. if you want to enter the realm of classical (or flamenco) but want to continue with your steel string playing, you might want to consider a hybrid--those nylon string guitars that have cut-aways and a narrower neck than a classical/flamenco. you can play classical yet play other styles (jazz, etc.). something to keep in mind.

[stubthumbs]

As an experienced guitar player, i agree to what keith said. nowadays, i play my classical guitar more than ever, but id have to say that keeping up with both electric and classical guitar is difficult. it depends on how much time and effort u want to put into it. ive gotten serious into playing classical guitar when i was at the peak of my ability to play my electric guitar, and i thought i was able to keep up both. the differences of the width of the necks made it harder to play both. i stuck with my classical and after being able to play more advanced pieces, playing electric is easier. so if u want to stick to electric and learn classical on the side, i suggest getting a hybrid like keith said.

however, if u really want to get serious, i suggest taking time off ur electric and putting some time into ur classical. but there is a downfall. ive noticed that by playing classical guitar, u use different muscles in ur forearm and hand than u would in electric. if ur a blues man, you'd bend the strings and notes many times, but in classical, there is absolutely no bending(only rarely)(i think, ive only heard them used scantly in this one piece, i cant recall what it was) in ur playing. after not touching my electric for a week or longer, i found that i cant bend the notes as well as before. :( but i was able to pick out the notes faster than i have ever done. :lol:

since ur just getting into the classical world, i suggest hybrid(if u want to stick to ur electric)(and if u dont want to lose any of ur technique on ur electric)
OR
get a classical guitar(if u want to get really serious about it).

thats all i can tell ya right now.