Tell Me About Guild Classicals, Please

[Canard]

On flamencos (in my case a Ramirez), the bracing is different, weight is sometimes different (lighter), and the setup is definitely lower than a classical. Flamenco players generally want some "splatter" against the frets while playing.

Classical guitar playing, traditionally, does not use hammer-ons, plull-offs, or tapping. Flamenco is pretty much an anything goes genre. The lower action makes sense where the speed of hammer-ons, pull-offs, and VanHalen-like tap-and-pull-offs is needed. Also the bodies of Flamenco guitars double as drums more often that do classical guitars. Lighter weight makes them more responsive, something necessary with the lower action, well.

 

[Canard]

Favilla C-5

Sweet folky-sounding guitar?

 

[Canard]

There are two or three instruments of interest listed here currently, a Yamaha CG model, the Guild MkII, and something that purports to be an Estrada Gomez, but isn't.

The most interesting is the Estrada Gomez style guitar, which was made by one of Estrada Gomez's disciples/apprentices.



All are at some minor distance from where I live. If they are still listed when I have time to go look, I will go check them out.

 

[chazmo]

There are two or three instruments of interest listed here currently, a Yamaha CG model, the Guild MkII, and something that purports to be an Estrada Gomez, but isn't.

The most interesting is the Estrada Gomez style guitar, which was made by one of Estrada Gomez's disciples/apprentices.



All are at some minor distance from where I live. If they are still listed when I have time to go look, I will go check them out.

That's interesting, Canard. Do you think this guitar projects more/less with that oval-shaped soundhole? I don't think I've ever seen that before. Was that typical of an Estrada Gomez classical?

 

[Canard]

That's interesting, Canard. Do you think this guitar projects more/less with that oval-shaped soundhole? I don't think I've ever seen that before. Was that typical of an Estrada Gomez classical?

Estrada Gomez is/was one of Argentina's foremost luthiers. He made a variety of "classical" guitar styles, including very traditional ones.

His used instruments seem to list in the $3K US range, +/- a bit.

One of his instruments in this style would have rosewood sides and back with a spruce top. They seem to have listed in the $3K+ range.

The one offered here in the Estrada Gomez style has a western red cedar top with some unspecified hardwood for sides and back, not rosewood judging from appearances. So it will not likely be as loud or have the same dynamics as an Estrada Gomez guitar in the same style.

I do not know what this style of guitar sounds like in the hands of someone who can play. I found one video clip on Youtube of someone sort of playing an EG guitar in this style, but the guy isn't really asking the guitar to do anything, and the strings sound a bit dead, and the guitar sounds out of tune.

 

[davismanLV]

If you're looking for a vintage classical, I have a cool one coming up for sale soon. It is actually Don's guitar. He bought it in 1965 during the Vietnam war. He was on a couple of ships and one layover was in Japan. It's either spruce or cedar top and rosewood B & S. It's been around and played well. Here's a couple of photos.










I have more photos if you're interested. PM for details.

 

[davismanLV]

Just a bit of history as both brothers have passed. They were a formidable pair and worked well together and apart.

"HIROSHI TAMURA
Just like many other famous Japanese luthiers of that era, Hiroshi and Mitsuru Tamura have learned their craft during their stay in Spain in late 1950s/early 1960s. After their return from Spain Tamura brothers were making superb quality flamenco guitars that easily challenged guitars made by the most famous Spanish luthiers. Their flamenco guitars have earned them international recognition and were played by many professional players. Strangely enough, their oldest classical guitars available on Japanese second hand market were made in 1966.

It is quite possible that, during 1960s, both brothers shared the same workshop located in Kochi, Japan. Although both brothers were equally skilled, it was Hiroshi who has gathered more international and domestic rewards. Because his guitars often sounded much better that those made Jose Ramirez, Hiroshi has earned a nickname “Tamirez” As the matter of fact, Hiroshi’s rewards outnumbered those collected by Masaru Kohno.

In 1972 Hiroshi was financially rewarded by Japanese Ministry of Technology. Soon after, he moved to another shop, but not far from his brother’s, hired several associates and started to make his P and C models in greater numbers, successfully exporting many them outside Japan. Only the very top models Hiroshi was making by himself.

Mitsuru Tamura has continued to work as individual luthier, and with just couple of apprentices, was making about 15-20 guitars a month. As the result Mitsuru’s guitars are harder to find on Japanese second hand market and they often reach higher prices than guitars made by Hiroshi.

Sometime in 1976, after his “factory” started to produce financial losses, Hiroshi had to declare bankruptcy and moved back to smaller workshop, making fewer number of guitar with just couple of helpers.

Tamura brothers passed away in mid 1980s. Because I have seen one Hiroshi's guitar made in 1986. I assume it was the last year of his "Earthly Journey". Just like in case of their superb flamenco guitars, classical guitars made by Tamura brothers are equally regarded in Japan."

 

[Canard]

If you're looking for a vintage classical, I have a cool one coming up for sale soon. It is actually Don's guitar. He bought it in 1965 during the Vietnam war. He was on a couple of ships and one layover was in Japan. It's either spruce or cedar top and rosewood B & S. It's been around and played well. Here's a couple of photos.










I have more photos if you're interested. PM for details.

Thank you for the kind offer. I would prefer to get something that I can try first, though.

And getting things to Canada is expensive and problematic.

I can order something from the US, shipped USPS with tracking. It will move quickly to the Canadian border, at which point tracking seems to stop working. It can then take longer to get to me than it took to get the border if Canadian Customs people take an interest in the shipment. I can also end up getting charged brokerage fees, duty taxes, and the service charge for assessing and charging the taxes.

I once ordered a $1.60 US part to fix an espresso machine. It was shipped with tracking, signature for receipt required. When it arrived I was presented with a bill for $82.00 CDN in brokerage fees, taxes, and service charges for doing the taxing. I refused to accept delivery, lied, and said I did not know what the package was.

Couriers can be better because they often do the customs brokerage in house and the cost is just bundled in to the shipping cost. But all couriers are not equal. And still customs sometimes takes an interest in what is being shipped.

I have a mail drop in Point Roberts, a small enclave of the US entirely surrounded by water and Canada. A lot of vendors will ship free within the lower continental states But the costs to Canada are prohibitive--hence, the mail drop. Usually there are no problems getting things back across the border here--the people in the booth mostly are not all that interested in what I am bringing back as long as it is small.

I once almost got into trouble with one of the Canadian booth people, a woman. I was bringing back an expensive dust cover for a high-end German turntable--the cost of the item and the fact that it was stereo and LP related pushed major buttons with her--perhaps, she had a husband who was an audiophile. Don't know. But she was a stereo and vinyl hater for sure.

 

[davismanLV]

Thank you for the kind offer. I would prefer to get something that I can try first, though.

And getting things to Canada is expensive and problematic.

I can order something from the US, shipped USPS with tracking. It will move quickly to the Canadian border, at which point tracking seems to stop working. It can then take longer to get to me than it took to get the border if Canadian Customs people take an interest in the shipment. I can also end up getting charged brokerage fees, duty taxes, and the service charge for assessing and charging the taxes.

I once ordered a $1.60 US part to fix an espresso machine. It was shipped with tracking, signature for receipt required. When it arrived I was presented with a bill for $82.00 CDN in brokerage fees, taxes, and service charges for doing the taxing. I refused to accept delivery, lied, and said I did not know what the package was.

Couriers can be better because they often do the customs brokerage in house and the cost is just bundled in to the shipping cost. But all couriers are not equal. And still customs sometimes takes an interest in what is being shipped.

I have a mail drop in Point Roberts, a small enclave of the US entirely surrounded by water and Canada. A lot of vendors will ship free within the lower continental states But the costs to Canada are prohibitive--hence, the mail drop. Usually there are no problems getting things back across the border here--the people in the booth mostly are not all that interested in what I am bringing back as long as it is small.

I once almost got into trouble with one of the Canadian booth people, a woman. I was bringing back an expensive dust cover for a high-end German turntable--the cost of the item and the fact that it was stereo and LP related pushed major buttons with her--perhaps, she had a husband who was an audiophile. Don't know. But she was a stereo and vinyl hater for sure.

I totally get it. I shipped a D25 to our friend Steffan (can't remember his forum name) that was for sale here in Vegas. Great guitar!! Used USPS to ship.... it was different back then. That was probably 9 or so years ago. Things have gotten complicated these days. Good luck in the hunt!!

 

[Canard]

If you're looking for a vintage classical, I have a cool one coming up for sale soon. It is actually Don's guitar. He bought it in 1965 during the Vietnam war. He was on a couple of ships and one layover was in Japan. It's either spruce or cedar top and rosewood B & S. It's been around and played well. Here's a couple of photos.

Do your homework on pricing. Tamura Mitsuru is a very well respected luthier if not as well known as his skills deserve.

It will probably be a spruce top. B&S might be cypress.