Need info on a 1980 Garcia grade 2 fast

[Myfirstclassical]

I have been looking for a nice classical guitar to take lessons and came across a 1980 Garcia grade 2 that someone is selling. It is in great shape and sounds great to me. The only noticable marking on the guitar is a small dent on the head, but it has not suffered any other damage andI am told it is all original. It has the following:

Solid cedar top, solid mahogany sides and back, solid mahogany neck, ebony finger board, granedillia (sp) bridge and binding and comes with a hardshell case.

The asking price is $399.00. This sounds like a great deal but I would like some opinions before I buy it. Does anyone have any knowledge of this guitar and it's value?

Thanks for any help.

[TheEvan]

A decent Japanese classical. But used i would think $200 is more like it. I've played several Garcias & used to own a Hernandis, its more expensive cousin. Personally I prefer something like a Yamama. A used 245s could be had for about $200. or for the price you mention a Takamine 132s is a great guitar. it has the rare trait (among cheaper guitars) of the trebles not dying out to pathetic plinks as you play up in the higher frets.

[Myfirstclassical]

:shock: Whoa! I really feel confused now. Are there different qualities of the same model of Garcia? The reason I ask is the guitar I'm referring to if for sale at a local shop on consignment and the dude their said it was worth a lot more but the guy only wanted $399.00. There is little or no demand for classical guitars where I live (Jacksonville, Florida) and he also gave me the following link that shows this same model of guitar with a much higher price tag.

theEvan, I also noticed that you said "Japanese" guitar and this guitar is shown on a webpage titled guitars of spain. It this an Ovation, Applause type of thing?

http://www.guitarsofspain.com/garcia_grade2/garcia2.asp

Obviously I'm scratching my head at his asking price and this link. Even though the wood is different, that is a huge price difference so I wanted to ask and see what someone else thought.

Thanks for the reply and anyone else, please let me know your thoughts also.

[TheEvan]

The price you see on that site is Jim Sherry's fantasy. Check the prices you see for Ramirez and compare them to GSI list prices for new Ramirez.

My hernandis #1 is listed on Sherry's site as valued at $5,500. Yeah, right. When I bought it new in '73 the list price was 450 and i paid 350. And the Garcia's on the wall next to mine were substantially less.

Again, it's a decent Japanese classical, but 399 is simply too high.

[TheEvan]

Oh, as far as the guitar being made in Spain, it's not. That's more of Sherry's misleading hype. He got in a great deal of trouble for slapping labels on his guitars that made it seem like they came from a luthier in Spain. Later he changed his labels. Go back to the store and carefully read the label. It will say "final assembly & finishing: Japan".

He was selling guitars labeled "Marcelino Barbero" for instance. No such guy. But it sounds exciting. Marcelo Barbero's son maybe? Macelino Lopez perhaps. Just a made up name.

Doesn't mean it's a bad guitar. I loved my Hernandis. But the hype needs to be peeled away from the reality.

[Myfirstclassical]

Hey, thanks for the update. I'll pass on it and take your word for it as no one else has had any input. You really seem to be in the know. Thanks for the advice.