Can you image what it feels to play your ideal flamenco guitar?
​have you ever considered what type of sound goes along with the way you play and express yourself? Let me give you a number of tips.

First of all, the perfect guitar is that with which we feel most comfortable. It doesn’t matter where it was made, how much it costs and who made it.

The history flamenco guitar has plenty of legends and ‘maestros’, Each of these legends reaches that category through a very personal style and a very specific sound that defines him.

We flamenco guitar lovers are or have been in love with a particular sound. This could be the sound of Paco de Lucia, Manolo Sanlucar, Vicente Amigo, Tomatito and plenty of others.
 
All these legends are perfectly recognisable not only by their playing style but by the sound of their guitars.

This sound does not come only in the way you play and attack the strings. It also comes from a very important factor…

The type of wood used in the guitar construction
There aren’t two identical trees, and there aren’t two identical guitars in the world. But the sound comes from two main factors

• Construction type
• Wood type

How can we know whether a guitar is good, very good or bad?
It is a question of knowledge. The sound waves bounce inside the guitar in a different way depending on the construction and the type of wood utilised.

But… wait!  You need to be careful, because any very well-cut wood can make the guitar look as a high-quality one when in reality a low quality wood has been utilised.

This way we waste our money and even worse, we will in time feel uncomfortable with the guitar. So we lose motivation...

The main types of woods used for the construction of flamenco guitars are:

1. Rib

• Brazilian Palo Santo
• Indian Palo Santo (better not to buy this type of wood because they are in danger of extinction!)
• Cypress
• Fruit trees (Walnut, Cherry, Pear)
• Sicamore and maple

2. Top

• German Fir
• German Pine

​3. Fretboard
Ebony

4. Neck
Cedar

You can guess there are infinite combinations for the construction of each guitar, depending on the Luthier or the needs of the guitarist.

Many of my students have chosen their guitars through my advice, and thanks to it they have achieved great results, comfort and long-lasting motivation.

A guitar does not play by itself, but an ‘excellent’ guitarist helps you improve yourself each day”
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If you are struggling when buying your flamenco guitar, contact me today to discuss how I can help you getting the perfect guitar for you.  

Get in touch

WhatsApp: +34 693 234 620
email: elpichonantona@gmail.com
Skype: elpichonwebsite@gmail.com

how one of my students found his perfect guitar

Álvaro is a wonderful teacher. And for me, studying flamenco with Alvaro in Madrid was also the starting point for a wonderful adventure. I told Alvaro I wanted to buy a good flamenco guitar. He explained that there are many fine guitars to buy in Madrid, but there are many, many more and at much better prices in Andalucia. And how would I find them? Simple: Alvaro went with me to Sevilla.
 
We met at 6 am outside my apartment. From there, an early Ave from Atocha to Sevilla, where Álvaro had made appointments with guitarreros. A simple, delicious breakfast, then on foot through Sevilla (and the July heat!) to look at guitars. I am not a complete beginner, but I was trying to choose a race car, and to do that, you need a race driver: Alvaro. I played the guitars. Álvaro played the guitars. We walked through Sevilla, stopped for a delightful lunch, and after about ten guitars, we found it: my guitar. In Álvaro’s words, “Un cañón!” We made it to the Ave with about 10 minutes to spare: me, my beautiful new guitar, and my teacher and friend, Álvaro.
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Peter Schireson -California- United States.