What classical guitar should I look for?

TheBigDipper

So, in lockdown, I've found myself playing some old classical pieces on my 0-16NY (wide, classical-style flat fretboard) and really enjoying it. To the point where I've decided to buy my first classical guitar for 40+ years. 

My last classical guitar was a £40 Yairi I bought from Ivor Mairant himself in 1970 at the tender age of 12. I played quite seriously at that age (RCM on Saturdays) and never even touched an electric until I was 17. 

Budget is up to £750 if it knocks my socks off, but I'd be happier spending half that. I don't need a pickup nor will I be playing recitals - it's just for personal pleasure. I have a case to keep it in (at home, at least) if it doesn't come with one. I'm not against crossover guitars as long as the tone is good and the playing experience is right. 

EDIT:  One final thing or two - I'm very likely to prefer a cedar top to spruce for this one. Generally sound a bit smoother and I like the look. All my steel-strung acoustics are spruce tops, so I'd like a change. I'm not looking for a Flamenco guitar with its more robust top and less sweet tones. 

OK, you classical players and acoustic specialists out there... What should I be looking at and why? I will be travelling to shops to audition instruments. Where would you recommend I should go?

Over to the might of tFB classical division...  :-) 

octatonic

Do you want traditional classical nut width or something more friendly for electric players?

ToneControl

Buy used
second hand classicals are often stupidly cheap, especially tradition non-cutaway models
Buy a Spanish brand, check the model against new prices. If you can get a £1500+ for £750, it should be just what you want. I have done this myself 

TheBigDipper

octatonic said:

Do you want traditional classical nut width or something more friendly for electric players?

I've already got an 0-16NY, which is a Martin parlour guitar with a 12 fret flat radius neck and a classical-width nut. So I'm comfy with that, but open to trying a crossover classical (it's a thing, apparently) with a slight radius or narrower nut. But I'm not looking for an "electric friendly" guitar.

TheBigDipper

ToneControl said:

Buy used
second hand classicals are often stupidly cheap, especially tradition non-cutaway models
Buy a Spanish brand, check the model against new prices. If you can get a £1500+ for £750, it should be just what you want. I have done this myself 

Indeed. I've no idea what a good £1500 classical guitar vs a bad one would be, though. I'm totally out of touch in this market. What did you buy, out of interest? 

If anyone can suggest a good guitar selling for £1500 brand new, I'd appreciate knowing so I can scope my search a bit better. 

hassleham

They get a lot of classicals at the Gardiner Houlgate auction in Bath, which is a good place to try out and compare a load of them across a wide range of values. That's if they're allowing people to physically examine guitars at the next auction though!

KKJale

Feel free to drift into the classifieds and eye my cedar top Rodriguez... 

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/163406/fs-rodriguez-model-a-classical-as-new#latest

ToneControl

TheBigDipper said:

ToneControl said:

Buy used
second hand classicals are often stupidly cheap, especially tradition non-cutaway models
Buy a Spanish brand, check the model against new prices. If you can get a £1500+ for £750, it should be just what you want. I have done this myself 

Indeed. I've no idea what a good £1500 classical guitar vs a bad one would be, though. I'm totally out of touch in this market. What did you buy, out of interest? 

If anyone can suggest a good guitar selling for £1500 brand new, I'd appreciate knowing so I can scope my search a bit better. 

just get familiar with these brands and model numbers:
https://www.classicalguitar.co.uk/onlinestore/classical_guitars_guitars_above_1000.html

Raimundo, Almansa, Contreras, Ramirez (the Gibson/Fender of these names)

I suspect people buy a decent guitar, to learn from scratch, then give up

ToneControl

TheBigDipper said:

octatonic said:

Do you want traditional classical nut width or something more friendly for electric players?

I've already got an 0-16NY, which is a Martin parlour guitar with a 12 fret flat radius neck and a classical-width nut. So I'm comfy with that, but open to trying a crossover classical (it's a thing, apparently) with a slight radius or narrower nut. But I'm not looking for an "electric friendly" guitar.

I bought an excellent crossover one, but as someone experienced with a real classical, I did not like it. Strings too close, and also not as responsive as a lightweight classical

Devil#20

Here you go. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nickelodeon-Spongebob-Squarepants-Model-SBJGOFT-Classical-Guitar/184372125442?hash=item2aed6f5f02:g:JrIAAOSwHr9fF3pS

TheBigDipper

Devil#20 said:

Here you go. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nickelodeon-Spongebob-Squarepants-Model-SBJGOFT-Classical-Guitar/184372125442?hash=item2aed6f5f02:g:JrIAAOSwHr9fF3pS

Too kind.    Do you think they'll throw in a set of strings? 

Nogoodboyo

If its for classical pieces I would try Juan Hernandez, Camps or Paco Castillo either new within your price range, or preferably a used higher model

eoinzy

-

TheBigDipper

Thanks, folks. Keep it coming if you can - I'm starting to visit people and play some things as of next week.

maltingsaudio

Recently scored one of these from Mansons secondhand for about £500 and fallen in love with it
https://reverb.com/uk/item/33197792-martinez-mscc-14-ovangkol?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1726164661&merchant_id=112510346&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9b6m8N6Y6gIV1YBQBh0uGAmSEAQYAyABEgIQHvD_BwE

its been along time since I bought classical strings bit shocked at the cost £22 for Savarez high tension !

ArchtopDave

maltingsaudio said:

Recently scored one of these from Mansons secondhand for about £500 and fallen in love with it
https://reverb.com/uk/item/33197792-martinez-mscc-14-ovangkol?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1726164661&merchant_id=112510346&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9b6m8N6Y6gIV1YBQBh0uGAmSEAQYAyABEgIQHvD_BwE

its been along time since I bought classical strings bit shocked at the cost £22 for Savarez high tension !

A couple of years ago, I paid to have a piano restrung. If you ever do that, then you realise guitar strings cost peanuts.

domforr

I was going through the same process a few months ago and it's not easy to navigate with so many brands out there. I finally settled on an old Japanese Matano 600 which I'm very happy with. So don't rule out the old japanese guitars from the 70's and 80's as they are very good value for money and are very well built. Something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ryojo-Matsuoka-M60-Classical-Guitar-including-hard-shell-case-1-owner/264697488750?hash=item3da133256e%3Ag%3AdqsAAOSwWapekuso&LH_ItemCondition=3000

domforr

I was going through the same process a few months ago and it's not easy to navigate with so many brands out there. I finally settled on an old Japanese Matano 600 which I'm very happy with. So don't rule out the old japanese guitars from the 70's and 80's as they are very good value for money and are very well built. Something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ryojo-Matsuoka-M60-Classical-Guitar-including-hard-shell-case-1-owner/264697488750?hash=item3da133256e%3Ag%3AdqsAAOSwWapekuso&LH_ItemCondition=3000

Apologies for double post!

ToneControl

maltingsaudio said:

Recently scored one of these from Mansons secondhand for about £500 and fallen in love with it
https://reverb.com/uk/item/33197792-martinez-mscc-14-ovangkol?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=1726164661&merchant_id=112510346&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI9b6m8N6Y6gIV1YBQBh0uGAmSEAQYAyABEgIQHvD_BwE

its been along time since I bought classical strings bit shocked at the cost £22 for Savarez high tension !

you have to shop around for these strings, but the best are expensive

a note to all - be careful if you buy carbon strings, they sound very good, but you need to tie them far more securely because they are very slippy, the clear strings can escape and damage the soundboard

digitalkettle

ToneControl said:

a note to all - be careful if you buy carbon strings, they sound very good, but you need to tie them far more securely because they are very slippy, the clear strings can escape and damage the soundboard

I don't use carbons...do they still slip if you melt a ball-end onto them?

ToneControl

digitalkettle said:

ToneControl said:

a note to all - be careful if you buy carbon strings, they sound very good, but you need to tie them far more securely because they are very slippy, the clear strings can escape and damage the soundboard

I don't use carbons...do they still slip if you melt a ball-end onto them?

that's one way, I just use double the number of twists