Yamaha Classical???
Taylorp
I seen a few around here and they sound pretty decent, but am not sure of
the quality.
Sam
get a solid cedar or spruce top and have a decent beginner's instrument.
These are production models and compare w/ Takamine, Alvarez, Esteve and a
few others that you will hear about from other posters. As such, I would
recommend you buy it from a reputable source so it can be returned for
adjustment or replacement if needed.
I f you're interested in going over $500 the choices broaden out..But for
the price, barring structural defects, the tone and playability of the
Yamaha's are pretty good.
Good luck,
Sam C.
"Taylorp" <wns...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:8530ug$7ge$1...@news.tdl.com...
Jennifer
wrote:
>Depends on the price range you're in. At the low end, say $300 -$500 you can
>get a solid cedar or spruce top and have a decent beginner's instrument.
>These are production models and compare w/ Takamine, Alvarez, Esteve and a
>few others that you will hear about from other posters. As such, I would
>recommend you buy it from a reputable source so it can be returned for
>adjustment or replacement if needed.
>
>I f you're interested in going over $500 the choices broaden out..But for
>the price, barring structural defects, the tone and playability of the
>Yamaha's are pretty good.
>
>Good luck,
>Sam C.
I agree with Sam about Yamahas. I have a Yamaha GD-10, which is the
most inexpensive model in Yamaha's classical "Handcrafted" line (the
"GC" series). They all have solid tops at the least. AFAIK you can
also choose whether you want a spruce or cedar top for each model.
The line starts at around $500 and goes on up from there. They are an
excellent value, and I played some Takamines and Esteves around that
price range and found that I liked the quality of the Yamahas best.
There are also the non-"handcrafted" Yamaha classical guitars, which
are the "CG" series. The solid-tops begin with the CG-130SA model and
include all the higher model numbers, up to the CG-180SA. The "S" in
these cases typically mean a spruce top and if there's a "C" instead
it means a cedar top. But I think the quality for the price of the
"Handcrafted" series is pretty hard to beat.
You may find that the prices of the higher-numbered models will
overlap into the prices of the lower-numbered "Handcrafted" series...
play a bunch and compare. It really depends on what you are looking
for. I didn't really need any frills -- I just wanted good quality
and sound for the price, and I ended up going with the GD-10.
And for more details on woods and other features, you can always check
out the Yamaha Web site (http://www.yamahaguitars.com/). Click on
"acoustics" and you'll see the links to the classical lines (both the
GC and CG series). It's very graphics based, but useful nonetheless.
And no, I am not affiliated with Yamaha, I'm just a satisfied
customer.
Jennifer
--
To reply by e-mail, please respond to jyw [at] writeme [dot] com.
Caruso
on it when it was only three they don't put real good ones on, it played a
many a gig paid $169.95 when it was new Its always there to Back-up my
Takamine! Caruso!
"Sam" <scul...@ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:iQ8d4.202219$5r2.5...@tor-nn1.netcom.ca...
> Depends on the price range you're in. At the low end, say $300 -$500 you
can
> get a solid cedar or spruce top and have a decent beginner's instrument.
> These are production models and compare w/ Takamine, Alvarez, Esteve and a
> few others that you will hear about from other posters. As such, I would
> recommend you buy it from a reputable source so it can be returned for
> adjustment or replacement if needed.
>
> I f you're interested in going over $500 the choices broaden out..But for
> the price, barring structural defects, the tone and playability of the
> Yamaha's are pretty good.
>
> Good luck,
> Sam C.
>
>
steve
little character, but more consistent than other guitars in the range.
Most interesting low-end classical I've played lately is a cheap
"Vicente Torres" guitar from Valanecia in mahogany. Very crisp,
snappy, and loud. Was thinking of getting one! Believe it is $300 or
so on the web.
Martin Brounstein
world but it's reliable, stays in tune, fairly impermeable regarding weather
conditions. The neck is slightly 'clubby' in feeling but for the price of
around $400 you can't go wrong. Once your price range starts to increase so
do your options.
Good luck!
Marty
Sam wrote in message ...
>Depends on the price range you're in. At the low end, say $300 -$500 you
can
>get a solid cedar or spruce top and have a decent beginner's instrument.
>These are production models and compare w/ Takamine, Alvarez, Esteve and a
>few others that you will hear about from other posters. As such, I would
>recommend you buy it from a reputable source so it can be returned for
>adjustment or replacement if needed.
>
>I f you're interested in going over $500 the choices broaden out..But for
>the price, barring structural defects, the tone and playability of the
>Yamaha's are pretty good.
>
>Good luck,
>Sam C.
>
>
>"Taylorp" <wns...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:8530ug$7ge$1...@news.tdl.com...
Adrian Cham
good with
proper setup and good strings. Nothing special however. Just got an
Alhambra.
Though not as well finished as Yamahas nor as mellow/sweet, the
response is just
fantastic!
Adrian
>steve wrote:
>
> Nice frets and such. Easy to play. Fairly quiet and with relatively
> little character, but more consistent than other guitars in the range.
> Most interesting low-end classical I've played lately is a cheap
> "Vicente Torres" guitar from Valanecia in mahogany. Very crisp,
> snappy, and loud. Was thinking of getting one! Believe it is $300 or
> so on the web.
>
> On Thu, 6 Jan 2000 13:17:32 -0800, "Taylorp" <wns...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
Will Borgeson
: Yamaha guitars are well made and finished. The solid tops can sound
: good with
: proper setup and good strings. Nothing special however. Just got an
: Alhambra.
: Though not as well finished as Yamahas nor as mellow/sweet, the
: response is just
: fantastic!
Yeah well...I'd love to see results of "blind playings and listenings"
along the line of the blind tastings that are done with wines. I think
some Yamaha guitars, with both hard and soft strings, might provide some
"special" surprises in such a context, up against pricier and/or more
prestigious guitars.
Will
Carl Benson
>
> Can any of you recommend Yamaha classical guitars as a pretty decent guitar?
> I seen a few around here and they sound pretty decent, but am not sure of
> the quality.
Geez, I didn't know there was a classical guitar newsgroup!
I have a Yamaha CG-180SA that I've played for a little over a
year. It's now the only guitar I play.
It has a little intonation problem high up on the neck; I
can never get it in tune everywhere. It bugs me because my
Carvin & Gibson electrics have no such intonation problems,
even way way up on the neck.
My Yamaha lacks a little in brightness. New strings help,
but I know there are better classical guitars out there.
Having heard just a few, I think they also differ from
guitar to guitar within the same make & model, so if there
are 2 or more to try, play all of them and pick the best
one.
It is a pretty guitar, though. No problem with the quality.
--CarlB
Taylorp
acoustic. I don't want one that sounds hollowed or boomy if I said that
right. Any suggestions?
Martin Brounstein wrote in message
<854qgq$s9e$1...@nntp6.atl.mindspring.net>...
>I've owned a Yamaha 180 for many years. It's not the loudest thing in the
>world but it's reliable, stays in tune, fairly impermeable regarding
weather
>conditions. The neck is slightly 'clubby' in feeling but for the price of
>around $400 you can't go wrong. Once your price range starts to increase
so
>do your options.
>
>Good luck!
>
>Marty
>Sam wrote in message ...
>>Depends on the price range you're in. At the low end, say $300 -$500 you
>can
>>get a solid cedar or spruce top and have a decent beginner's instrument.
>>These are production models and compare w/ Takamine, Alvarez, Esteve and a
>>few others that you will hear about from other posters. As such, I would
>>recommend you buy it from a reputable source so it can be returned for
>>adjustment or replacement if needed.
>>
>>I f you're interested in going over $500 the choices broaden out..But for
>>the price, barring structural defects, the tone and playability of the
>>Yamaha's are pretty good.
>>
>>Good luck,
>>Sam C.
>>
>>
>>"Taylorp" <wns...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>news:8530ug$7ge$1...@news.tdl.com...
Hmemerson
>year.
>It has a little intonation problem high up on the neck; I
>can never get it in tune everywhere.
Hi Carl,
I was having the same problems with lots of lower and middle priced guitars
that I use to sell in NYC. Then a friend told me to restring with extra hard
tension and lower the action a bit. WOW!!! What a difference good strings make.
Do not be afraid of extra hard tension strings for fretting reasons or neck
bowing problems. They intonate much better than the normal tension strings that
most of the lower priced fare come with from the factory.
It may not make it perfect, but it will make a huge improvement sonically and
mechanically.
If you're already using X-hard tension, then never mind.................
Howard Emerson
Geoff Kennedy
Carl Benson wrote:
> Taylorp wrote:
> >
> > Can any of you recommend Yamaha classical guitars as a pretty decent guitar?
> > I seen a few around here and they sound pretty decent, but am not sure of
> > the quality.
>
> Geez, I didn't know there was a classical guitar newsgroup!
>
> I have a Yamaha CG-180SA that I've played for a little over a
> year. It's now the only guitar I play.
>
> It has a little intonation problem high up on the neck; I
fran...@my-deja.com
"Sam" <scul...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:
> Depends on the price range you're in. At the low end, say $300 -$500
you can
> get a solid cedar or spruce top and have a decent beginner's
instrument.
> These are production models and compare w/ Takamine, Alvarez, Esteve
and a
> few others that you will hear about from other posters. As such, I
would
> recommend you buy it from a reputable source so it can be returned for
> adjustment or replacement if needed.
>
> I f you're interested in going over $500 the choices broaden out..But
for
> the price, barring structural defects, the tone and playability of the
> Yamaha's are pretty good.
>
> Good luck,
> Sam C.
>
> "Taylorp" <wns...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:8530ug$7ge$1...@news.tdl.com...
> guitar?
> > I seen a few around here and they sound pretty decent, but am not
sure of
> > the quality.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
in the Guitar Player's Buyer's Guide that Yamaha makes guitars from
@$200 up to @$4,000! I think that anything below $500 is made in
Indonesia; up to $1,000 is made in Korea; above $1,000 is handmade in
Japan. Because of labor and the cost of living, an "above average"
guitar will cost @1,000 (MSRP)
I trust their quality control; because they have to keep up with
Takamine-Hirade, Alvarez-Yairi, and Kohno in their market + they have to
be as good as the Spanish guitar makers, i.e. Ramirez, Rodriguez,
Contreras, and Conde-Hermanos to compete world-wide.
I learned to play guitar using a Yamaha classical that my brother
borrowed from a friend. I wish I had one!
Francis
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Aisha & Gwydion Elderwyn
to bits. I will never sell it. Its my baby!!! Excellent value for money!
I've had it over 11 years and its still beautiful! And I usually dont praise
Yamaha :)
<contented sigh>
with love
Aisha
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Dave Brichler
"Taylorp" <wns...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Can any of you recommend Yamaha classical guitars as a pretty decent
> guitar? I seen a few around here and they sound pretty decent, but am
> not sure of the quality.
Yamaha Classics have a fine reputation for handcrafted quality and
workmanship, especially in the low-end price range (~<$1,000 range),
which in this day & age seems to be where Yammie concentrates their
marketing abilities. Both the GD10 & GD20 ($760 & $960 MSLRP) have
solid tops (cedar or spruce), rosewood B&S, and ebony fingerboards.
Nothing against their high-end models at all, though the competition for
quality in materials & playability tightens up a bit over a grand or
two. My Blue Book shows list prices of the GC30 through 70 series
ranging from $1300 up to $5300, with resale prices (quite arbitrarily
set BTW) ranging from $375 to $1590 in "Good/60%" condition.
Yamaha steel string and classical guitars enjoyed excellent reputations
among their "offline" handcrafted guitars throughout the '70's. The
FG-500 steel string series comes to mind (I have one I got in '75 or
so). Solid high-quality woods with stunning looks & superbly playable
tones, and over time, their volume & tone really opens up (again, as
mine has). Selling for $500-$600 (back then alot!!), the relative
dollar value of these fine guitars today is at best in the $200 range.
If you're selling one, no one appreciates "an old Yamaha", but this can
be a boon to you, as a buyer.
Best,
Dave
Ian Young
their guitar review section. Look for the CG series under Yamaha.
I bought a Yamaha CG-150CCE for $500, with a solid cedar top
and standard under-saddle peizo with active pickups
(because I wanted to record a bit and didn't want to buy
$100 microphones and a mixing board)
My only complaint? On the guitar I bought, the fretboard was
a mess, with uneven heights and nasty, unfinished fret-ends.
Mind you, it wasn't so horrible you couldn't play, but my other
guitar, an Ovation, in the same price range, has a wonderful
fretboard. Of course, it has a laminated top and that plastic
bowl, so I suppose it's a matter of trade-offs.
My advice is if you buy a Yamaha, either get it from a dealer
who will set the guitar up for your tastes pro-bono, or
talk the guy at the big store down to a price wher eyou
can afford to have adjustments done by a good repairperson.
In the final analysis, I like the guitar and I play it all the time,
but in retrospect, i should have asked about the spruce-topped
Takamine on the higher rung.
Taylorp wrote in message <8530ug$7ge$1...@news.tdl.com>...
Rich Mahoney
easy to play), and an older (1980) Yamaha which I gave to my daughter. I
was recently visiting her and played the Yamaha for three weeks. It doesn't
have the depth or volume of the Oribe or Ramirez, but I found it to be a
very nice guitar. As another poster, I had a problem on the third fret
sixth string. There's something funny going on there. I had to be very
careful with finger placement to avoid a buzz. Other than that, I would
recommend the guitar to a beginner who wants to spend less than $1,000.
Rich