Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utcsrgv.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!elf From: elf@utcsrgv.UUCP (Eugene Fiume) Newsgroups: net.music.classical Subject: Re: Opinions on buying a classical guitar Message-ID: <4520@utcsrgv.UUCP> Date: Mon, 11-Jun-84 14:34:50 EDT Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.4520 Posted: Mon Jun 11 14:34:50 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 11-Jun-84 15:22:47 EDT References: <671@abnjh.UUCP> Organization: CSRG, University of Toronto Lines: 31 I thought I'd follow up on Jim's inspirational message on acquiring a classical guitar. I think the single biggest problem with buying any instrument is that unless your technique has been perfected--and whose is-- what sounds good to you now may change with the improvements (or in my case degradation) in technique. Classical guitars are particularly prone to this problem, especially when you start buying so-called handmades (e.g. Ramirez, Kohno). These are typically very well made guitars with individual characteristics. For example, high quality classical guitars have either cedar or spruce tops. Cedar-topped guitars tend to sound louder and brighter than spruce-topped ones, all other things being equal. That doesn't mean cedar is better. But certainly the characteristics of the guitar affect (perhaps unconsciously) one's technique AND choice of repertoire. It can be hard to judge how one will be affected by an instrument. My solution is the obvious cop out: own more than one guitar. Another thing to worry about is humidity. Depending on where the guitar was made, the sound (and health) of a guitar is optimal somewhere in the 30-60% relative humidity range. The precise figure is depends greatly on the instrument, and it is wise to choose a guitar whose requirements are not at odds with your environment. Lower-priced guitars can often be surprisingly good. My first guitar was a pretty cheap Yamaha (less than $200 Canadian, about 10 years ago), which I kept for a long time. Takamine makes a super cedar-topped instrument for just over $250CDN. In fact, T makes two low-priced models. The cheaper one has always sounded better to my ears. From my experience, the Japanese (e.g. Yamaha, Takamine) have it all over the Americans (e.g. Fender, Martin) wrt budget-priced classic guitars. Eugene Fiume U of Toronto utzoo!utcsrgv!elf