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06-30-2009, 09:20 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 5
| |  Buying guitar for bossa nova...Classical or flamenco?
So I've been playing bossa on my Joe Pass Emperor for a while, but have been wanting to play more authentic and byy a nylon string. What are the differences between a flamenco and a classical guitar? I'm assuming that classical are used for bossa, but do some players use flamenco nylons? Anyone with some info please let me know! Thanks! |
06-30-2009, 09:25 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 418
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Quote:
Originally Posted by anightintunisia  So I've been playing bossa on my Joe Pass Emperor for a while, but have been wanting to play more authentic and byy a nylon string. What are the differences between a flamenco and a classical guitar? I'm assuming that classical are used for bossa, but do some players use flamenco nylons? Anyone with some info please let me know! Thanks! | I've heard a great local gypsy guitarist (Alphonso Ponticelli) play that Django style gypsy swing music on a flamenco--worked out great. The rhythm guitarist accompanying him played on traditional gypsy guitar. Play what ya like that sounds good!
What's the difference between the two? Woods, sustain, action.
You may want to check out an excellent Brazilian nylon guitar maker, if you're gonna play bossas/sambas: Giannini Guitars. I have an old Giannini nylon with cutaway and small pup and it sounds very trebly. Maybe a traditional classical may be have a more boomy sound in the bass..not an expert at this, just some impressions.  |
06-30-2009, 09:58 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 5
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My guess is that flamenco guitars probably have lower action, and more of a trebly sound and classical have slightly higher action with a more bassy tone? Now that I'm thinking about it, I think a flamenco guitar would be a no no for bossa nova. Are their any guitars that are maybe OK for both styles, like some kind of hybird classical flamenco? |
06-30-2009, 11:18 PM
|  | | | Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 469
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It'll probably work either way, but the flamenco guitar will typically favor a brighter attack and quicker decay. Most bossa nova comping is warm and lush to my ears.
If you want to go for a traditional or authentic bossa nova sound, get the cheapest classical guitar you find and make sure you understand ginga. http://www.jovisan.net/EducationalPDFs/Ginga.pdf. |
06-30-2009, 11:29 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stackabones It'll probably work either way, but the flamenco guitar will typically favor a brighter attack and quicker decay. Most bossa nova comping is warm and lush to my ears.
If you want to go for a traditional or authentic bossa nova sound, get the cheapest classical guitar you find and make sure you understand ginga. http://www.jovisan.net/EducationalPDFs/Ginga.pdf. | That PDF is extremely helpful. Thanks! |
07-01-2009, 01:55 AM
| | | | Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 47
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NSJ I've heard a great local gypsy guitarist (Alphonso Ponticelli) play that Django style gypsy swing music on a flamenco--worked out great. The rhythm guitarist accompanying him played on traditional gypsy guitar. Play what ya like that sounds good!
What's the difference between the two? Woods, sustain, action.
You may want to check out an excellent Brazilian nylon guitar maker, if you're gonna play bossas/sambas: Giannini Guitars. I have an old Giannini nylon with cutaway and small pup and it sounds very trebly. Maybe a traditional classical may be have a more boomy sound in the bass..not an expert at this, just some impressions. | I have a Giannini - conventional as opposed to cut-away. It is trebly when compared to a Japanese classical guitar used by my old Japanese teacher. To be honest, I prefer the Giannini partly because it is Brazilian and perhaps has been designed for the Bossa Nova. Could this be? |
05-31-2010, 03:23 PM
| | | | Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mystic CT
Posts: 39
| | bossa guitar
Some flamenco guitars are warmer than others, especially rosewood back. I have found that the rosewood flamenco is really good for jazz in general, the sounds pops right out and they are light and easy to play. The Gianninis are warm and have a nice sustain, although the pickups aren't very good. Replace with B-band or transducers or, if money isn't a problem, the RMC system, which will give you whatever tone you want, with its excellent EQ. The hybrids by Yamaha and Ibanez are good for bossa, and not so wide in the neck, so easier for electric players to switch back and forth. |
06-02-2010, 08:30 PM
| | | | Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,026
| | Bossa
I play a hybrid Ibanez. Not a GREAT guitar....good for classical, good for Bossa, good for CMs, etc........I like to be able to play a big portion of my repertoire on ONE instrument.
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