It had been a while since any flamenco guitars other than the ones I usually play had passed through my hands. The truth is that I use the “Raimundo Midi” in very different musical situations, as well as a few “Sanchís Carpio” guitars. So the idea of trying something different struck me as interesting, especially since David Martín, the magazine's director, told me it might be worth it.
It certainly was. It's also worth noting that this guitar is endorsed and certified by Manuel Granados, a well-known flamenco guitarist and teacher. Right off the bat, it's a guarantee when someone backs the quality of an instrument with their signature and reputation. I doubt any professional wants their name tied to a mediocre instrument.
So let me tell you about my experience with the guitar.
The Sound
The instrument's acoustics are good and the volume, while not excessive, is more than acceptable. More than one reader will think, not without reason, that it all depends on what we compare it with. Obviously, there are thunderous guitars that cost 10,000 euros.
The sound is “flamenco”; many would surely recognize it as “very flamenco,” in terms of EQ and expressiveness. Clearly, this instrument doesn't pass for a classical guitar, as sometimes happens with other models. There is a very evident presence of mid and high frequencies. It's not that the bass doesn't sound, but the bass strings, and especially the 5th and 6th, don't have that dark sound so characteristic of other types of guitars.
This guitar is rather bright and very lively. The note response is very quick, though it's also true that the strings are of great quality. I think I recognize a carbon third string. The sustain is also good, about three seconds at the twelfth fret of the first string, and the sympathetic harmonics are even stronger, yet they add up to a clean, pleasant sound. We can therefore say that the timbre, within a balanced whole, tends toward the upper mids. It reminds me of the flamenco guitars made in the sixties and seventies; I say this because a few I have tried left me with a similar feeling.
The Body
I would be lying if I didn't say that, beyond the sound, what caught my attention most about this guitar is the comfort. It's an instrument that “lets itself be played,” in the literal sense of the phrase. In recent years several guitar makers have opted for rather large models, increasing the scale length of the fretboard, the width of the ribs, even the surface of the top. And of course the width of the neck. This is a bit uncomfortable for those of us who also play electric and acoustic guitars, since the difference in string spacing and neck dimensions can cause some disorientation when switching from one to another, especially if the difference is very large.
On this model the dimensions are quite comfortable.
The scale length is 650 mm which, as I mentioned, unlike those measuring 660 mm, makes playing more comfortable and accessible. The neck width at the nut is 50 mm and at the 12th fret it is 60 mm. The top is spruce, the sides and back are cypress. The neck appears to be cedar and the fretboard ebony.
The width of the body at the 12th fret is 85 mm and at the heel it is 90 mm.
The headstock is white and of good quality; it tunes perfectly and gives a remarkable impression of precision.
All in all, I spent a few hours playing this guitar. The feeling of effortless playing, which I imagine is what we are all looking for, comes naturally. It wasn't especially hard for me to adapt to it. The string height is right and the tension isn't bad either. This guitar comes with high-tension strings; for anyone who needs something softer, medium-tension strings would be more than enough.
The finish is simple, with no frills, rather austere, I would say. Personally I prefer that to loading the instrument with irrelevant motifs, often somewhat tacky.
I also prepared a short audio file of a little over a minute playing the guitar; I added a touch of reverb and the EQ is flat. I think you'll be able to listen to the demo and so get an idea of how it sounds. The excerpt is played over soleá por bulerías backing tracks, and the microphone I use doesn't color the signal too much, so I was able to stay quite faithful to the original timbre.
Conclusions
In conclusion, this guitar is an option to be considered by those who want a flamenco guitar without spending too much. The price is apparently around 900 euros, a ridiculously low figure compared with what you can find lately on the guitar market. For its comfort, I see the guitar as versatile for those who come from playing other types of guitars and want to add a flamenco color to their sound. And for those looking for a good or very good guitar... it's all a matter of trying it. In my experience no two guitars sound alike, and you can find a treasure where you least expect it.
