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I was just looking at the LMI guitar kits on their website. Thinking I might want to build a classical as I watch Robbie's DVD. They have another kit for a flamenco guitar. I always thought they were the same thing. Anyone know what the difference is?

Joe Volin

A flamenco is usually built much lighter. It also has much lower action for a more percussive sound, and a lot less sustain. I believe the cypress used in a flamenco is much lighter than rosewood. Usually the top, back, and sides will be much thinner to help with this style of sound. A flamenco will also have different tuners, bracing patterns, etc.

Building probably won't be too different, just different styles and sounds.

John

IN a nutshell... When you are thinning your top, tap it and keep working until you get that nice tap tone you are looking for. Once you have it, keep thinning the top until it is gone! There you have it! A flamenco guitar.

The differences in the _kits_ is that the classicals come with rosewood B&S and mahogany neck, whereas the flamenco comes with cypress b&s and a cedar neck. Plus, the classical comes with a classical plan, and the flamenco, well, flamenco.

You could easily buy either kit and build either kind of guitar - its all about the lightness, action, top graduation, as pointed out above, more than the materials.

Now I understand why I've never seen a used flamenco guitar. They break before their owners are done with them!

Joe

They usually put those huge double pickguards on them to hold them together....

[QUOTE=Joe V]Thinking I might want to build a classical as I watch Robbie's DVD. They have another kit for a flamenco guitar. I always thought they were the same thing. Anyone know what the difference is?
Joe Volin[/QUOTE]

Flamenco negra (Brazilian or EIRW back/sides instead of cypress) is gaining in popularity as the trend towards solo Flamenco performance continues to grow, including greater music complexity, often with slower melodic material. The Brazilian back/sides and slightly different thicknessing/bracing help support this trend.

If you are interested, you can follow the construction of my negra:



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