[crobson12]

Hey everyone, what are your thoughts on the Alhambra Model 7FC/10F? I am thinking that this will be the flamenco guitar that I am interested in buying as it is being sold at a place called the "12th Fret" near where I live. However I don't want to drive 40 minutes to get to Toronto to find out that it is a bad guitar. I couldn't find any videos of it in action either, so it would be helpful if someone could post a video of it being used to play Flamenco!

Regards, Cory.

[at_leo_87]

Hey Cory,
This probably isn't what you wanted to hear but here it goes....

Guitars are highly variable things especially factory guitars. You also have to factor in hand shape, nails, technique, style, etc.

I would try the guitar in person before making any judgement.

[David and Anne]

Dear Cory,
I have an Alhambra 'model 10F' made in 2001 (according to the label). I adore it. Its finish is traditional light-coloured flamenco (cyprus back and sides, spruce top, and rosewood and ebony neck and fingerboard), although its tuning is machine rather than pegs -- which of course makes it easier to tune. It has very low action and the traditional shallow flamenco body, and a bright red, geometric mosaico on the boca, which I love too, as I don't really like some of the flowery, pinkish/yellowish mosaicos I've seen (not that the look is the most important thing, because it is the sound, of course!). It is said that a guitar gets better with age as the wood settles in and the sound mellows. I see no reason not to think that this must be true. It is for my Alhambra.
Remember, however, that it is the individual guitar that you choose. Having begun to learn on a Japanese made "Maya" flamenco guitar, which was OK and not too expensive, but had a deep body and white golpe plates (I prefer clear ones), I saved up my pennies and went to "El Mundo Flamenco" in London (I live in southern England) with 'mi profe' Juan Ramirez. El Mundo Flamenco is a great place, with the flamenco stuff downstairs (The Spanish Guitar Centre is on the street-level floor). There is a small hardwood floor area with chairs and you can try out flamenco dance shoes and boots and sit and try the guitars. Juan Ramirez and I were there for about four hours(!) and he made me try every guitar in the shop, one after another from the cased guitars (costing as much as £5,500! -- which was way over my budget) to those on the three-tiered rack with maybe 75 guitars on it. I tried named brands and ones I'd not heard of. Some 'recommended' brands (I won't name them because that wouldn't be fair -- as said, it is the individual guitar and even 'famous' brands can have duds). In the end, we'd set aside two guitars: an Alhambra (in fact the only one in the shop at the time) and another. The Alhambra was the more expensive, but, with a little bargaining I got it for within my budget. So that's the one I bought (4 years ago) and I adore her!
My advice is: play the guitar -- give it some 'welly' as we say here in Britain -- and if you like its sound and action, and if it's within your budget -- buy it. Don't be too conscious of the name/brand, if you like playing it you'll not regret your purchase and you'll feel good (and improve) playing it. Well, that's my "ha' penny's worth" as we also say in England. Good shopping! Regards, David

[britguy]

Originally Posted by crobson12

Hey everyone, what are your thoughts on the Alhambra Model 7FC/10F? I am thinking that this will be the flamenco guitar that I am interested in buying as it is being sold at a place called the "12th Fret" near where I live. However I don't want to drive 40 minutes to get to Toronto to find out that it is a bad guitar. I couldn't find any videos of it in action either, so it would be helpful if someone could post a video of it being used to play Flamenco!

Regards, Cory.

Hello there:

By coincidence , I was up in Toronto at the 12th Fret today looking at guitars, and I tried the Alhambra 7FC/10. I'm not crazy about amplified cutaway Spanish guitars, but I thought I'd try one, just for the hell of it. And I was quite surprized. (Not that I'm such an expert. )

The guitar actually played pretty good I thought. Nice sound, good action, solid bass. Little heavier than a typical flamenco guitar, and the fingerboard seems a little narrower than the usual width. But I was surprized how good the sound was in the acoustic mode.

So, it might be worth your while to make the trip up the Danforth and give it a try. If you find its not for you, they have literaaly dozens of others - in all price ranges - you might try while you are there.

I've been shopping at "The Fret" for almost twenty years. Their staff is really professional. If you need special advice, ask for Grant, one of the co-owners. He's a mine of information on guitars and can probably help you a lot.

Good luck,

Britguy
(in Oakville)