Fransico Bros B40F????

[randymoon]

I been playing guitar a long time, but I'm so new to flamenco, I am almost clueless as to what constitutes a "good" flamenco guitar. I have a cordoba 55fce thin body acoustic electric, which is great but I want full body non-electric traditonal flamenco guitar...

I came across one that seems nice, a Fransico Bros b40f, but out side of them being made in Spain, I cant find any info...is any one familiar with model?

At $650 shipped from new from Spain, amd I getting a good deal?

Thanks to anyone who can help with any of these questions.

[randymoon]

I canceled the order. I not sure it's good idea to order a guitar from Spain even if it looks great, when so little information exists about the maker. The web page looks great...but making great web pages doesn't mean great guitars. I guess I'll go with the Cordoba 30 student model for a while.

[Black Sheep]

It seems very cheap for a solid wood guitar. But I have no reason to doubt the site. It seems genuine.

I bought a guitar from Granada - a German Perez Barraco - and I couldn't find much about them until I searched YouTube and found footage of the maker playing an unfinished guitar. I took a chance and ordered and I love the guitar and I think I got what I paid for... no more... no less. In Australia the shop price was $2200. I landed it with customs paid for $1000.

If you are realistic and understand that you may not have bought the bargain of the century but now own a great flamenco that give you a smile each time you play and are happy with the price, go for it.

But note... when mine arrived it was very 'green'. I don't think it was more than a couple of months old. So for the first 6 months it was really finding it's voice. When it had settled in after 6 months I paid a luthier to reset the action and now it's a sweet package of similar specs to yours.

In the end it is a gamble. But, isn't everything...

[randymoon]

Thanks for your insight. Very reasonable thoughts. When you feel right about a guitar, that counts for a lot. I need to get a round more flamenco guitars but none of the shops around here have any! I look forward to hearing from you as I progress in my flamenco style.

[deteresa]

I haven't played one but the word on the street is that the Yamaha CG171SF Flamenco guitar is a steal for the price (I think about $350). It's factory made but most people agree that it sounds and plays like a handmade $800 to $1000 instrument. Just something to think about...
I good Flamenco guitar should have pretty easy action and a bright, aggressive tone, although it's kind of hard to tell at first because most instruments take up to a couple of years to develop into their full potential.