The Rodriguez is priced at $500 and has laminated B/S. For $250 more, you can get the Navarro at Lugo's Music which is all-solid and has gotten a lot of kudos. I played one at Guitar Solo and it's far and away better than the Rodriguez in tone, volume and playability (not to mention build quality).

It all depends on your budget, though.

One of the flaws of the Yamahas are the factory strings. I have no idea who makes them. Mine was just great after I changed them.

GuitarVlog wrote:The Rodriguez is priced at $500 and has laminated B/S. For $250 more, you can get the Navarro at Lugo's Music which is all-solid and has gotten a lot of kudos. I played one at Guitar Solo and it's far and away better than the Rodriguez in tone, volume and playability (not to mention build quality).

it would fulfill one of my short term dreams to get my hands on an all solid flamenco. would this be the one? http://www.lugosmusic.com/id9.html
how come they use cedar for the student guitar?

at_leo_87 wrote:how come they use cedar for the student guitar?

Yes. That's it. Jerry may be able to help you select one from his inventory that sounds as good as Navarro's Concert flamencas.

I asked the same question to two luthiers when I was considering this guitar (back when the economy was better and I felt a little more "wealthy"). They told me that good cedar costs less than good spruce and it performs just as well.

They also said that it's a misconception that spruce is brighter. Any good luthier can make a cedar guitar as bright as spruce.

I agree. Anyway, the reason I decided to save up is I decided I wanted to go with a Negra. Coming from a Classical Background and I know ocassionally I would want to do something in between... And Negras aren't really cheap

Now for the future:
Any Negra suggestions? 1500-2000 range?

Tom Prisloe's Pavan Flamenca Negra is $1700. I'd bet however that, for that much money, you might be able to get a custom Navarro Concert through Memorial Music in Texas.

There are some awesome negras in the Montalvo inventory but they vary from model to model. These are guitars you need to play before buying.

I hit the SUBMIT button too soon.

It looks like George and William Montalvo have some new budget flamenca negras. I'll have to visit them and check them out.

N.I.C.E

I have a Pavan Negra. Its an outstanding guitar ~ he installed one of those pick up of the world pickups in it. I use it for gigs and such, very well built. ~