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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

226.0. "Classical Guitar Advice (Yamaha 110)" by PANIC::SANGER () Wed Apr 29 1987 11:06

    
    
    Hi,
    
    I'm about to buy a classical guitar after messing about with
    a folk guitar for some years. I've looked around the music stores
    here in London and there seems to be quite a selection for the price
    that I want to pay (less that $160). I've seen the Yamaha 110 classical
    (not solid head) in most shops but haven't had a chance to play it yet.
    There are a number of other solid head Spanish made guitars with
    solid head for similar price.
    
    Has any one had experience of the Yamaha? Would I paying extra for
    the name or is it a good guitar?
    
    Any other ideas?
    
    
    						Mike
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226.1Spanish vs JapaneseTMCUK2::MODWed Apr 29 1987 12:3332
    Hi, I'm based at Basingstoke (SPYDER::BRIGGS) where's PANIC?
    
    Like you I messed around on folk guitar for years and bought myself
    a classical just before Christmas. A condition for me was that the guitar
    had to be cheap enough such that I wouldn't worry about leaving
    it out of its case say in our lounge (means I can just pick it up
    on a whim). The point about this is it's likely to get damaged by
    my kids! I figured 100 pounds was about the limit. It goes without
    saying that I wanted the best sound at this price.
    
    I was advised that an essential part of a classical guitars sound
    is the change in tone when playing over the sound hole as opposed
    to say near the bridge. I was also told that this is where the cheaper
    Japanese guitars fall down compared to Spanish ones. I must say,
    I didn't compare. I was also told a solid top gave a better sound.
    I ended up buying a Spanish GRANADOS classical guitar for about
    100 pounds down Denmark St. Later on I saw the same guitar for 15
    pounds less in Basingtoke. London isn't necessarily cheaper!
    
    I thoroughly enjoy playing it (see my note re: tablature). I still
    enjoy a good 'bash' on my folk guitar though. My next ambition to
    fulfil is to get a red and white (its got to be that colour!) Fender
    Stratocaster as used by Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler and the king
    of them all...
    
    Hank Marvin!
    
    Did I hear someone disagree?
    
    Richard Briggs
    UK SWAS, Basingstoke.
                        
226.2Was it a GRANADOSPANIC::SANGERWed Apr 29 1987 15:1215
    Hi Richard,
    
    PANIC is SWAS's VAX 11/750 in Central London. It sounds like your
    purchase criterior were the same as mine. Thanks for the the info
    on the Japanese guitars. I was in Denmark St yesterday (it's two
    minuets walk from the office) and I think I tried a GRANADOS (it
    sounded good) but I'll go back and check. 
    
    Maybe you can look forward to the Strat at your next pay rise..
    
    ...or maybe not?
    
    
    
    						Mike
226.3'NOT'TMCUK2::MODWed Apr 29 1987 15:453
this pay rise meant a 'NOT'!
    
    Richard
226.4Just another opinion...FGVAXU::MASHIAFast falls flatten flutesWed Apr 29 1987 18:0811
    I have owned a Yamaha classical guitar - can't remember the model.
    I eventually sold it because I never had time to play it.  But I
    thought it was an exceptional guitar for the money. I think I paid
    around $200 for it, five years ago.  But it sounded better, to my
    ears, than guitars costing twice as much that I auditioned.
    
    I think that if you're after a good quality, low cost classical,
    you probably won't regret getting a Yamaha.  But, if you do...
    well, I'm on another continent.  :-)
    
    Rodney M.
226.5Take a look at YahamaGENRAL::ALBERTUSThu May 21 1987 18:129
    Can't comment on the Classicals by Yamaha but I do have a (somewhat
    cheapie model @~$350) 12 string (seems like 420-12) and have played
    several Yamahas none of which have been bad guitars.  For the money
    (in the less expensive range) I think you won't go bad.  Just play
    a few to get the best you can find in that particular model.  Also,
    I'm not sure but I do believe that Sigma (made by Martin in Japan)
    has a Classical, too.
    
    AA
226.6You might check out the Alvarez...BMT::BAUERWed Jul 15 1987 15:3513
    I don't know how US prices for various makes and models compare
    with the U.K. (for example the only low-price Spanish guitar of
    any quality available here is the Artesano @ $200 discounted retail
    the one you guys mentioned you can't get here) but 
    
    -- now that lengthy qualifier is over -- 
    
    I just purchased an Alvarez (made by Yairi) and for the bucks ($139)
    I found nothing that touched it in terms of action and tone.  I'm
    really enjoying the instrument (had it about a month) and have found
    that its improving my steel string playing as well.
    
    - Evan