Esteve 1 GR 07

Purchased this model for $475 at a Guitar Center's annual sale at 1/2 off.

I had been playing classical guitar for about a year when I decided to upgrade from the Yamaha student model (very solid performer, BTW). I shopped for a few month and played every make and model of classical guitar I could find. For what I could afford, this model gave me the most feel and depth of tone. The machine heads have flawless action. The volume and tone are adequate.

I wouldn't recommend playing this guitar with either extra-light or light tension strings, as it makes fingering on 2nd and 3rd frets difficult (but not impossible)without fret buzz. Medium tension strings sound great on it, and I think produced better volume, as well.
The action could be better, but overall is pretty good.
My tutor has been playing for 30 years and said the thing was adequate. Considering she told me to expect to spend $1200-1600 price range, I feel I really lucked out.

Hand crafted in Spain by Esteve, action set up by Ron Fernandez in Irvine, California. Rosewood front, fingerboard, back, and sides. Finish is laminant. Simple decorations, elegant looking overall.
I have D'Arddio ProArte copper 80/20 strings on it. . .by look, feel, and sound it seems the guitar was built around these strings!

I'm not going to say that this is the best guitar I've ever played. I will, state however, that Esteve guitars do not get enough attention. Members of my ensemble swore by Takimine or Yamaha, saying that if you can't afford the higher-end custom built handcrafted models that the best sound for the buck would be a higher-end factory model. They've all changed their minds because of this guitar.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Made in Spain

This is a guitar that I bought on the internet saw that there is no store that sells well made guitar in my country except the eternal yamaha C40.

Solid cedar.
Rosewood backs and sides
Rosewood fingerboard.

UTILIZATION

Very light guitar

Access to acute difficult because no cutaway

It is easy to get a good sound

Aesthetics is bling bling. This is gold everywhere. I would have liked something a little more sober. I find it hard to get used to the overly bright color. It's pretty far from my entry level Yamaha which certainly, the sound is less but with better presentation.

SOUNDS

The guitar is powerful. To make a solo or accompaniment plated play.
The sound is warm in the full sense of the term.

This is a guitar for jazz mainly when playing chords enriched C9 kind. A recommended for the variety, for that use folk guitars, every kind of music his guitar.

OVERALL OPINION

The finish is not good. There frets that are not well integrated into the handle. I see as gaps, albeit minimal, between the handle and the frets.

The golden mechanics is boring to see in the long run.

It lacks the markings on the fifth fret as it is usually done on other guitars, to indicate the La. I expect a better finish for a guitar of this price. With experience, I would be facing another brand because I require on the finish especially when I am ready to invest myself.

In which country was it made? Spain, handcrafted in Valencia

What kind of stick? fine enough for a classic

table solid cedar and rosewood back

UTILIZATION

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The handle is it nice? very

Ergonomics is it good (in terms of shape, weight ...)? it's very light, and shape is perfect, apart from perhaps the heel is pointed, it can hurt ...

Access to acute (last string) Is it easy? not really but it's pretty normal on a guitar of this type ...

Do you get a good sound easy? yes. Finally, we must know when the master, change the strings often and have good polish. but the bass is easily removed without force, the sound is never scrap without fail for as low mids, and harmonics in the treble and shrill sound "easy"

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SOUNDS

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Are they suitable for your style of music? yeah, it's a classic to play classical and flamenco is perfect. That said, played with a pick (a large plectrum) it sounds very good to play Manouche, the sound may be slammed or round, you can even play the old blues of Blind Lemon Jefferson or even later in the john lee it goes really well.

What are the sounds you prefer, you hate? I like everything, apart strings with very large drawing, the G string has become hard to sound clean and powerful at once.

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OVERALL OPINION

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For how long have you been using it? Approximately 3 years



Did you try many other models before getting this one? yes a lot. Yamaha of Alhambra and especially (yuck the Alhambra)
I played on my old classic for 10 years before. I even tried some guitars together very, very expensive store, and a few originals as models (eg with a ramp between the splint and the table to the right wrist is placed alone) no don ' much more than the "model 7", while "Model 6" takes the comparison too. The Yamaha also hold dear the comparison, but they have less character / features



What thing do you like most/least about it? In fact it is the guitar chose me and I joined was the view above. I have tried many, but this one as soon as I got it in his hands, before even leaving a note, I liked him already. After I played, and I'm married. It's a bit hard to explain but for example the Alhambra was exactly the opposite, as soon as I took one in my hands I had not even want to play, just throw it far away.



What is your opinion about the value for the price? very good, the finish is almost perfect, the wood is well chosen, although clean, it's a good job. In addition she is beautiful! back rosewood is beautiful ... The only downside is the golden Clées that are really kitsch, but it seems that people like this is like the buttons of Marshall amps, I think I'm the only one to find it disgusting ... The sound is great, it really gives something more compared to everything I tried, I like to play as well as for the technical work (it's not why it is easy eh after one hour of range, it hurts when .. mm)



Knowing what you know now, would you make the same choice? yes, even 10 times

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