Your first.......

[ferraby]

Hi.....i was just wondering....to all you people out there who owns a concert guitar (classical /flamenco)....how old were you when you first got them??? (not necessary purchased new,also includes those who inherited it from their parents)By saying concert....i don't mean that it has to cost $30,000...but a nice guitar...u know..something more than say $3000 and the likes of Ramirez 1A,Bernabe especial,etc.
I am just curious to know because i am 21 now..and i go around reading about ppl who owns a ramirez decades older than i am or going to buy guitars that i can only dream of having.....which makes me wonder..being an avid 21 yr old guitar afficionado...is it normal for me not to own such beautiful instruments???

[Jonny Hotnuts]

About 4 months ago I got my first classical (if you want to call it a classical) A Taylor NS-72 LTD http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/models/limiteds/2003/ns72ltd.html
(MSRP 5K)

A month or two after that I found a nice used Cervantes "Hauser" and got it.

And about a month after that I found a sweet little J.R. '81 1A.

I was born in the mid '70's

I have been playing from about 15 years of age, but always found a way to find enough scrach to buy something I liked. I have about 19 guitars total, about 10 are higher end peaces starting from the Les Paul Custom I saved my school lunch money for when I was about 16.

My advice is to buy used.

Wait for a deal and have a few bucks on hand to throw down when someone needs to sell their beloved classical to pay for their new girlfrends wedding ring.

[ferraby]

Wow.....3 nice piece of intruments within those few months....way to go dude !!! I would love to buy intruments used but back here where i come from (Malaysia) ...i really don't get a lot of those.
Also read about the pieces that u could play....really impressed !!

[et041053]

...we will just wait for u to sell your guitar when it is your turn to buy your girlfriend a wedding ring , hope it will be a great bargain :lol:

[nikpearson]

I've only been playing classical guitar for a year, but played steel string from the age of 13 (now 35). Like most people I progressed through guitars from a cheapy £50 steel string to my current Taylor & Lowden instruments. If you play a lot and you can afford a quality instrument it's certainly worth the expense.

When I started playing classical I didn't want a cheap guitar that I'd tire of within a year or so. I ended up buying a Contreras C5 (£850), a very good all solid wood student model. I'd have been happy with this instrument for a good few years if someone hadn't offered me a a 1962 Ramirez 1A for a bargain £800. The difference in quality was instantly obvious - it even makes my amateur fumblings sound pleasant!

I'd suggest buying the best guitar you can afford if playing guitar is your passion and maybe one day you'll buy that Concert instrument.

[ferraby]

So u play steel string too huh....i play them too....just purchased a brand new Taylor 310 a few months ago...i know its one of the low end taylor but man...i love it sooo much.
I would be willing to fork out my hard earned cash to buy a nice guitar but somehow i am not just as lucky (is it just me??) as u guys out there.A 1962 Ramirez 1A for £800???..i mean where and how did u come upon such a bargain???

[nikpearson]

Those Taylor steel strings really are lovely eh?

I know it was a great price for a 1962 Ramirez 1A. The person who was selling was moving to Australia and wanted a quick sale. The guitar has also been refretted and I suspect had the fingerboard planed as the action is very good for an old Ramirez. This may well reduce the value even if it improves playability. I've been offered £2500 already but I don't think I'll be parting with it just yet!

[Dimitri]

I sold my 66 Ramirez flamenco w/ pegs (blue label) last year for $2,500. Now I see that GSI is selling a nearly identical 66 Ramirez flamenco for $5,500!

Point is, you can find a very sweet deal on a good guitar, with a little bit of patience (and it certainly does help when you have complete idiots, like me, who decide to sell their guitars for a fraction of their worth!)

Cheers.
Dimitri

[Dimitri]

No wonder that buyer asked me if I had any other guitars I was selling! lol.