So I have to buy a classical guitar...

[drew_half_empty]

I switched from a Lit major to a Guitar Performance major this semester, and my teacher at school, a more or less strictly classical player, told me that I'll have to pass these achievement level things every semester, half of which is classical material, and that I more or less immediately had to buy a classical guitar. I don't know where he gets the idea that I have all this money to just be spending on guitars... if I did I probably would have already bought something else!

I'm looking for something around $300 used though, ideally with sort of a fat neck on it--I tried a couple Ibanez ones in that range and the necks were too thin to be comfortable.

Any suggestions?

Also, if you'd REALLY like to help me out, buy my Gretsch

 

[Wattage]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

You'll find decent student models used in that price range. Look at Yamaha's always had good luck with them you might too.

 

[CTN]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

yamahas are nice, yeah, so is Aria, if you can find em. Just go to a music store and find the cheapest one that plays/sounds really nice.

 

[tmmblues]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

I've had a Yamaha classical since 1968. The finish is all beat up but the neck is still sound. Hope the rest of my guitars age as well as the Yamaha.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

I dont know much about classical guitars, but this is true of all axes: they're all different! remember, dont buy with your eyes only! try them out!

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

If there is a single most important point before you even touch a classical guitar (yes, there are some exceptions), is whethr the top is made of solid wood, or plywood. A solid wood top is generally going to sounds more defined, and lively...at the expense of some fragility.

Spruce tops are generally brighter than cedar. Solid spruce has that "sounds better the older it is" going on, where solid cedar is warmer and stays warmer over time.

Thin necks are a function of the classical hand position. The thumb is anchored under the center of the neck, and the fingers tips are used in more of a pinching of the fretted strings, rather than hanging the thumb on the upper round of the neck while pressing the strings.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

I had a '62 Gibson C-1 that was nice for classical stuff. The neck was a little thin which was nice. You can get those for about $300-$400. I got mine for $150 since some dumba$$ strung it up with electric guitar strings. :smack: I got her to play, but not up to 100%, so I decided to let her go.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

Thin necks are a function of the classical hand position. The thumb is anchored under the center of the neck, and the fingers tips are used in more of a pinching of the fretted strings, rather than hanging the thumb on the upper round of the neck while pressing the strings.

Yes, I know they're thinner/flatter than electric necks, but too much is too much, and the ibanez was too much. I also forgot to mention that I was looking for one with a solid cedar top; maybe that'll help narrow it down

Any experience with the student Cordoba?

 

[phil_104]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

Check out ''La Patrie'' guitars. Made by Godin. Great guitars.

 

[Crane]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

Sell your Gretchen and buy my Esteve 1GR07 so I can buy another Strat....does it ever end

Great condition, with case.
Solid top.
More pics upon request.
Live near me (PA-NJ) ? Save on shipping !
$700

Trades ?
Deluxe HSS Strat ?

Over 500 transactions in ebay, all positive.

LMK
,,,Mike

 

[J Moose]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

I hate to be "that guy" but I gotta ask... do you have any desire to play & get into classical music? Or was the change of majors more about becoming proficient with the instrument?

I ask only because I've had a couple friends go in that direction and wind up really unhappy... usually 6-8 months after they purchase a classical guitar.

Frankly speaking as an ex-performance major myself (dropout!) & working in the biz I've gotta say, there's not a hell of a lot you can do as a guitar performance major. Maybe join the circus... teach music at a school or do transcriptions.

Music business would be a MUCH better choice then performance... but then again, so would a lot of other things.

 

[CTN]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

i have a friend who is currently lamenting the fact that he did a degree in music. because short of being a music teacher, it's absolutely worthless to the rest of the economy.

 

[Got_tone?]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

I hate to be "that guy" but I gotta ask... do you have any desire to play & get into classical music? Or was the change of majors more about becoming proficient with the instrument?

I ask only because I've had a couple friends go in that direction and wind up really unhappy... usually 6-8 months after they purchase a classical guitar.

Frankly speaking as an ex-performance major myself (dropout!) & working in the biz I've gotta say, there's not a hell of a lot you can do as a guitar performance major. Maybe join the circus... teach music at a school or do transcriptions.

Music business would be a MUCH better choice then performance... but then again, so would a lot of other things.

+1 for the truth.

The guitar technique that's learned is priceless, IMO. The theory that's learned is almost never applied to commerical music, though. You go into some jazz if possible. I got as far as learning all of the diatonic material moving towards all the chromatic stuff. I was double majoring at the time because knowing how diatonic seventh chords work ain't going to pay your rent.

 

[J Moose]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

I'm not saying a degree in music is totally worthless, but it really depends on what one wants to do. I mean, I know a guy who recently graduated from a pretty hi-fi jazz program and he's constantly working. Bass player... plays electric, upright... jazz, rock, funk... all sorts of stuff. Has a steady 'oldies' gig... also plays piano among other things and is a nasty transcription dude. If I needed horn parts charted out for a session he's getting the call...

So, it depends.

The classical music world has little to do with rock & pop... harmonic structure & all that is entirely different.

I learned that the hard way myself.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

Hey, awesome, I ask about a guitar and instead get people talking **** on the reason I need it...

Yes I have an interest in classical; I want to learn everything I can, and I listen to classical/classical guitar quite often. I mean it's not stuck in my CD player, but I enjoy it, it's something I want to do.

Also, I'm not doing performance to do performance, per se, I mean it'll be nice for some extra cash, but I'm just doing it as a stepping stone toward grad school, I want to teach music at the post-secondary level. At the school I go to they offer two types of music degrees - education, which is a longer program & gets you certified to teach k-12, which I have no interest in doing, and a performance one, which is more focused on playing your instrument/composing. Most everyone in my position with no interest in teaching kids younger than 18 takes the route I'm taking because you don't need a teaching license to teach college, you just need a PhD or masters in something

 

[scottish]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

i searched for a while for a classical guitar and kept coming back to cordoba. they have some lower end models that are phenomenal.

 

[J Moose]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

Hey, awesome, I ask about a guitar and instead get people talking **** on the reason I need it...

Sorry man, but I sort of assume that anyone going out for a classical performance education at the college level wouldn't be too surprised to find out they need an appropriate instrument.

I mean, its sort of like deciding to play in a hockey league & then being shocked that you need to buy skates & pads. Its not bowling... you don't just rent shoes like that!

Anyway... one of my friends who dropped out of the classical thing ended up with a Takamine that's pretty nice. He still plays it on occasion... think he got it from another student for a couple hundred bucks.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

As for a guitar, look around for a MIJ 80's Fender classical...I have one and despite being low buck piece it's actually rather nice. I can get a model number later if you are interested.

As for the neck profile any decent and correct classical will have a similar neck profile...about 2 inch wide at the nut, flat in the back, semi thinlike a D shape, and no radius...


Classical guitars, good ones anyway are not built for comfort them are built for perfect technique.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

Sorry man, but I sort of assume that anyone going out for a classical performance education at the college level wouldn't be too surprised to find out they need an appropriate instrument.

I mean, its sort of like deciding to play in a hockey league & then being shocked that you need to buy skates & pads. Its not bowling... you don't just rent shoes like that!

Anyway... one of my friends who dropped out of the classical thing ended up with a Takamine that's pretty nice. He still plays it on occasion... think he got it from another student for a couple hundred bucks.

It's all good, I was just joking, I'm used to being told my degree is gonna be worthless

Also, I knew there would be classical, but i assumed it would focus more on jazz since the school I go to is more jazz than classical oriented, and all my lessons with this guy so far have been about jazz, not classical, until I changed my major.

 

[Guest]

Re: So I have to buy a classical guitar...

Yamaha. Cordobas and Allambras can be found that won't break your bank too.

Go with spruce if he's that specific.