| Buying a new guitar is always an exciting
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| | help bring out the upper frequencies.
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| process for the beginner or experienced
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| | Play single notes throughout the guitar's
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| guitarist. A basic knowledge of the
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| | range and listen to how they sustain.
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| instrument and an assessment of your
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| | Listen to the relationship of the bass
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| musical goals will help you make a wise
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| | notes to the treble. The bass should be
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| purchase, a purchase you can enjoy for
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| | firm with a long sustain. However, the
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| years, perhaps even a lifetime All
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| | treble notes must be able to stand out in
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| guitars produce sound through the
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| | relation to the bass so you can project
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| vibration of the strings. Classical
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| | the melody. Finally, have someone play
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| guitars transmit the vibration of the
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| | the instrument so you can judge the
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| string to the soundboard via the saddle
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| | projection. What's the difference in
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| and bridge. The combined resonance of the
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| | sound between a $300 guitar and a $3000
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| strings, saddle, bridge and soundboard
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| | one? Budget guitars are less resonate and
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| are, in turn, amplified in the sound-box
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| | have a smaller tonal and dynamic range
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| or body of the guitar. The design and
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| | than expensive guitars.
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| quality of the, saddle, bridge and
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| | Workmanship
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| soundboard have a major impact on the
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| | Whether you are a beginning or advanced
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| guitar's sound.
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| | player, a quality guitar is crucial to
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| Have in mind before buying...
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| | your success and enjoyment. A fine
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| Nylon produces a round, mellow sound and
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| | instrument is easy to play, exudes
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| is the preferred sound for classical,
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| | workmanship, and sounds resonant and
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| Low, medium, normal and hard tension
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| | responsive. A quality instrument inspires
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| strings create a tension up 75-90 pounds.
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| | you to practice and excel as a musician.
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| Less string tension makes a classic
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| | Buy the best guitar you can afford and it
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| guitar easier to play. The fingerboard,
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| | will greatly enhance your learning and
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| 50-52 mm at the nut, provides room for
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| | enjoyment. Note the quality of
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| intricate finger picking. The longer
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| | workmanship in the seating and polish of
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| string, 650-655mm length from saddle to
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| | the frets, the binding between the top
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| nut enhances the bass response and
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| | and sides, and in the finish. However, in
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| sustain. The classical guitar body style
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| | all fairness, you normally get what you
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| is smaller than most other acoustic
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| | pay for. Budget guitars cost less because
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| designs which make the instrument easy to
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| | cheap materials and lesser workmanship
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| handle and feel. Always remember, when
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| | are used to trim costs. Budget guitars
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| buying a handmade guitar, you are buying
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| | should be playable but will have numerous
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| a live instrument. Temperature and
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| | finish defects, unpolished frets, messy
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| humidity are the main factors to ruptures
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| | glue joints, unsanded bracing and poorly
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| and instrument deterioration if not cared
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| | adjusted action (a good dealer will
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| according to the maker's instructions.
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| | adjust the action if needed). Premium
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| See" taking care of your guitar" below.
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| | quality guitars will have a near perfect
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| Setting Goals
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| | fit and finish of all components. Even
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| What are your goals? Are you anticipating
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| | the interior bracing will be neatly glued
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| a serious hobby or majoring in music? If
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| | and sanded smooth! Before purchasing a
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| so, buy the best solid top guitar you can
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| | guitar, confirm that the tuning heads
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| afford. An inexpensive guitar is a good
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| | turn smoothly and allow reasonable pitch
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| choice if your goal is merely casual
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| | control. Fortunately, cheap or broken
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| enjoyment for a semester or so (or if
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| | turning heads are relatively easy and
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| you're really poor!). Do you need to be
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| | inexpensive to replace.
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| amplified for church or stage? If so, an
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| | Price Ranges
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| acoustic-electric classical will afford
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| | Professional classical guitarists play
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| maximize versatility. Before shopping,
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| | instruments handcrafted by individual
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| decide on a budget so the dealer can show
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| | makers, e.g., Fleta, Hauser or Gilbert.
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| you guitars in your price range.
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| | Depending on the maker's reputation,
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| Trying Out a Guitar - Action
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| | these guitars cost $3,000 to $20,000.
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| Each guitar is unique in feel due to
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| | Guitars made by a specialized group of
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| variations in neck thickness and shape.
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| | builders in a small shop cost from $1000
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| If the neck is comfortable, the guitar
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| | to $10,000 e.g., RamÃrez, Hirade or
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| will be easier to play. The string height
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| | Asturias. For most people these
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| above the fingerboard--the action--also
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| | instruments are out of each. Most
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| influences playing ease. The action may
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| | beginners are looking for an inexpensive
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| vary according to personal taste and
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| | guitar. Buyer beware: most guitars
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| playing style. High action is difficult
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| | retailing for under $100 are
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| to play but allows buzz-free high volume
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| | disappointing junk. Don't throw your
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| playing. Low action is easy to play but
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| | money away on a cheap toy, pay a little
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| buzzes during aggressive playing. A
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| | more and get a real guitar. Really cheap
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| compromise between the two is best for
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| | guitars have unacceptable compromises in
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| most players. Fortunately, the action can
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| | design, materials and construction
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| be adjusted to suit your needs. If you
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| | quality. Fortunately, there are many
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| are a steel-string player, remember that
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| | factory-made guitars costing from $150 to
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| classical action is higher than
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| | $300 that make fine beginning
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| steel-string action due to nylon's lower
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| | instruments.
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| tension. Listen carefully to the timbre
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| | Recommended Classic Guitars
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| (tone color) of the guitar. A balance
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| | These models are excellent values in
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| between dark and bright is the most
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| | their respective price ranges. Granada
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| versatile. However, timbre preference is
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| | guitars from Sevilla- Spain range form
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| subject to taste and playing style. If
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| | $299- $499, Prudencio Saez - guitars form
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| your right hand technique is on the
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| | Torrent - Spain. range from $380 -$1,800.
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| bright side, a dark sounding guitar will
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| | Amalio Burguet guitars- Catarroja- Spain,
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| help balance your tone. If you play
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| | range from $999- $4,500.
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| without nails, a brighter guitar will
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