transform a classical to a flamenco guitar, acceptable

[mirv]

I have a cheap american brand classical guitar and I am saving to buy a midrange flamenco guitar which would probably take a year or so. Meantime, if I lowered the action on my classical guitar and string it with hard strings, would it be an acceptable subtitute for a flamenco instrument to practice on and not develop any bad habits or crippling arthritis?

[NGiorgio]

I don't see why you couldn't do that. I took an old, easy playing classical guitar, and lowered the action, installed Herco clear guards for tap plates and it served as a reasonable alternative for a while. I still have the guitar. Don't play it much but it has survived. Problem is, the height from the strings to the top of the guitar on a classical is usually too high to execute proper golpes (tapping with the ring finger). It can be done but is a little bit more difficult.

For tap plates, if I was to do it again I would use lamination sheet material. Check out Keith's post on the subject in "finger nail marks" in the "Other Products and Accesories" category in this Forum.

The height of the strings from the top on a Flamenco guitar, is usually about 10mm or less. When you lower the bridge saddle, you can try for about 3.5mm between 6th string and 12th fret and 3mm between 1st string and 12 fret. I set my Flamenco's at 2.5mm and 2mm if I can get away with it. This way I can use hard tension strings. At 3.5mm and 3mm you might like medium tension.

As to bad habits, are you planning to work with an instructor or teach yourself? Is your classical guitar difficult or easy to play now? If you are teaching yourself you must be careful not to get into wrong habits such improper hand positions. A teacher would correct you immediately. If your guitar is easy to play you shoudn't have difficulty playing it with a lower action. Sometimes the tension on inexpensive instruments makes them difficult to play. Also the nut can be a little too high which can make fretting the lower positions difficult. I don't think you can develope arthritis from practicing. I certainly hope not.

Good luck.

[Faya]

I agree with NGiorgio.I even know a few great flamenco guitarist who classicals instead of flamencos,because they prefer the sound. GET TAP PLATES FOR SURE!