String Choice, Scale length, Action. Classical/Flamenco guitar. Pete Carter.

The scale length of your guitar has an effect on string tension, so choice of strings needs to reflect this for a given instrument.

[@justinring3235]

Exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for posting this video

[@duendedude2345]

Glad I could help!

[@garyh.238]

Very informative. Thanks Pete.

[@BESTEVAAR]

I have played Classical and Flamenco for 50+ years. I have seen that it is practice, practice and practice. The rest is just justification why it is the guitar that is at fault when it is actually the player that is at fault from his/hers sort comings.

[@chcotydf1]

Thank you Pete!

[@Chrisgreece55]

great video!thanks

[@ivanarapov5495]

Very helpful. I lowered the action on my prudencio saez classical guitar thinking that it would be better for flamenco. However i lowered it too much and then put a really thin piece of wood underneath....with the normal tension strings it feels and sounds comfortable at home, but playing a live show it felt 'clampy' and couldnt hit the strings too hard for both rasgueado and single notes. Now im trying the EJ46 ones for sure. Thanks Pete!

[@ocpourvoir]

I found, a trick in an other youtube video, to have a saddle with variable action possibility. It's to install a saddle a little bite longer, than the original one, for instance with maybe, 5mm more on each side of the original, like this, you can lower or higher the action depend of the need... pushing the saddle in one side or on the other to change the action...

[@stevepethel6843]

Wise advice...

[@duendedude2345]

Thanks Steve.

[@SAGAR0606]

Very helpful video👌🏻👌🏻

[@duendedude2345]

Glad it was helpful!

[@pnw3603]

Thank you

[@duendedude2345]

You're welcome

[@michalzaw5575]

Need advice/ help. On my very expensive flamenco guitar the E, A &D strings snapped back & made 3 dents by the bridge. Emailed cordoba & the rep is telling me that this shouldn't of happened. What should I do?

[@duendedude2345]

This is not a problem with the build and I have never had a broken string on a nylon stringed guitar. Did you wind them up too tight?.If you can't live with the dents, maybe a luthier could do an invisible repair. Personally, I don't worry much about appearances and would just enjoy playing it.

[@artvandelay1555]

Hi Pete. Strings aside, how much if any does scale length affect the ease of playing? I am talking about a flamenco guitar that is. The one i am looking at is 662 scale length and i see often 660. Is it just the maker's preference? Thanks for any insight.

[@duendedude2345]

Firstly. With the same strings, the string tension will be greater with a longer scale length,when tuned to concert pitch. `Also, the frets are slightly further apart with a longer scale length. 650 seems pretty standard ,these days, for classical and flamenco guitars,while some makers still make longer scale guitars. My 1980s classical has 655 scale length and my newer yamaha 650 scale is much easier to play. NOTE that most flamenco players use a capo on the first fret or higher.( watch out for this on videos) This brings the action down at the capo and shortens the scale length,without affecting string tension. I never use a capo on my 650. If you are looking for ease of playing I would go for 650 and just try heavier strings if you want more tension. Unless you are buying mail order,( something I would not be happy doing unless absolutely essential) try as many as you can ( take a measure with you as shop staff may not know the scale length). 660 or 662 would be too long for me.

[@artvandelay1555]

@@duendedude2345 Thank you very much D.D. This answered my question. As suspected, i probably should stick with a 650. I see some now and then that are more than this and always wondered in the ease of play was affected for the average Joe.

[@HotZTrain]

Don't see why anyone would build a flamenco shorter than 656mm. I've gone back to 664mm Oribe.

[@PcBguitarLibrary]

@@HotZTrain Im 5'4 I got short fingers

[@guidodezwaan]

I like my classical action while i only play flamenco, the tension and sound is even harder when its higher, which i like.

[@lyndvisuals]

i dont knwo why i thought he was gonna speak spanish

[@HotZTrain]

I would totally disagree with you. All things being equal, ( and they're not) the longer scale will feel looser than the shorter scale, even though it take more tension to bring the pitch to A-440. You're comparing a spruce top flamenco with a cedar top classical . You need to compare two of the same type guitars with different scale lengths. Read Jose Oribe's book, "The Fine Guitar," page 32 &33. He talks about this. I have a 664mm David Schramm classical redwood top and it feels very loose in compared to any 650mm classical I have. Again, all things being equal...and your comparison is not. BTW, I use D'Addario J-45 normals also.

[@duendedude2345]

Both guitars are spruce top. Thanks for your input .

[@icap8830]

We’re talking physics here I guess, the longer length the more tension required to tighten! Therefore, the sound would be brighter.

[@HotZTrain]

The Aria looks like cedar...read Oribe's book. Ruck, Brune, Schramm and many other luthiers all say what Oribe wrote. If you were correct, then an even shorter 630mm scale would feel looser that a 664mm. That's just not the case.

[@muhemmedabdalmejid7577]

What mean Body shape: Classical, Flamenco

[@duendedude2345]

There can be some variation in both types. Flamenco models may have a smaller body size, particularly in the depth. This produces a brighter tone, but , I guess there are no hard and fast rules these days with flamenco guitars being designed for the solo concert performer as well as traditional accompaniment roles. Then you have Andalusian guitars ( Ruben Diaz) that have large ,deep bodies, yet still sound bright due to other design factors.

[@muhemmedabdalmejid7577]

@@duendedude2345 Ruben Diaz I think his dealer for Andalusian guitar 🎸 those flamenco Andalusian guitar good guitar and expensive

[@duendedude2345]

@@muhemmedabdalmejid7577 I have no experience of them apart from seeing his videos. I do not have means to buy expensive guitars ,so I use what I have and try to become a better player.

[@muhemmedabdalmejid7577]

@@duendedude2345 I am same like same think no expensive guitar love guitar 🎸 with mahogany Neck

[@stavrosk.2868]

Always amazed by guitarists tinkering with their instruments to 'sound better '. Wanna sound better? Play more.