After winning the Battle of the Blues Regional competition, I've had a $250 Guitar Center gift card burning a hole in my pocket. Since I don't have any immediate electric guitar needs, I thought I might spend it on something like a mandolin or a cheap classical guitar. Just to try something different for a change.

Last night I decided to go through the classical guitars Guitar Center had online to see if just for kicks I could find a decent new chinese made Cordoba or Takamine in the $250-$350 price range. But since the search also brought up used guitars, I was also looking through those not really expecting to find anything. I went all the way up to my maximum budget ($350), and they had a Takamine C132S listed there for $349. I had been seeing G Series Taks in the $250 range, and honestly that was what I was going to get, but not knowing a lot about higher end Taks I was curious about the C132S since there wasn't a "G" anywhere in the model number. I did some further research and found that the C132S has a solid top and back, is made in Japan instead of China, and has a street price of $999 new. It didn't have electronics or a cutaway, but on the other I really just want to play classical stuff on it and I probably won't be playing it in front of anyone any time soon, so neither was really something I needed. I decided I was going to call Guitar Center the next morning and see if it had a truss rod and what condition the frets were in.

So I called this morning and found out that the fret wear is minimal and it does have a truss rod. I know that's not traditional enough for purists, but I'd rather be able to adjust the truss rod than to have to take the neck off to adjust anything. I went ahead and pulled the trigger, and now I have it on it's way to the Guitar Center in Houston. I ended up spending about $100 for it total since I had that gift card. So in short, I was able to pick up a $1000 guitar for $100! I can't wait for it to get here, and to start learning some classical techniques. I think it ought to help my right hand and sight reading skills a lot, and it'll give me something else to do besides my usual blues/rock/jazzy stuff.

I'll have an update with pics when it comes in.

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Well , congrats on that I'm sure it will serve you well - you are going to extend yourself and your techniques. Personally I don't care much for the classical guitars -though I've played a lot of classical inspired/classical stuff earlier, mostly on my dreadnaught . I've also tried a good Japanese classical Takamine , and it was great in it's own way. But , as mentioned, I'm a bit more of a 'steel-string-guy'
BTW - I think my first posting here was an answer to you about a guitar you had got - a Levin ?
I can't remember what was the end of that story - does it work- or did it end up as firewood ?
Long time after that - I noticed you had been welcoming me to the forum- thanks

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A-man

Excellent find Rebecca, congrats on the new guitar. Some classical stuff is a must when you don't only play for fun, but study the guitar. Also you could try bits and pieces of flamenco, as it is totally different from blues, jazz and classical stuff. Enjoy your new guitar.
Claude.

Hey TGS,
Congrats on your Battle of the Blues winnings. Once your latest guitar arrives, check out a few Charlie Byrd Youtube videos. Nylon strings do jazz too.

Cheers,
John.E

TGS, sorry I'm late to the party, i just watched that video on the battle thread- very cool - and my 3 year old daughter looks over and says "who's that" - so i tell her it's a lady named Rebecca and she says "She's cute" haha.... very cool stuff. i wish i could play in front of people.... not that i'm anywhere near good enough to keep anyone interested anyway, but even if i was, i've got a terrible fear of anyone i don't know hearing me play.
congrats, enjoy that classical!

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~Dan

lameandcliche you made my whole week..I have played acoustic for decades..and new to the strat and bass thing..in love with it I might add..Im not horrible but Other than my teacher and that took a few months to relax and my poor family I absolutely can not play in front of people..I thought I was the only one with that issue lol..Oh well my chihuahua thinks Im a star haha!

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Mona
"Music is What Feelings Sound like"

yeah, my family gets an earfull now and then, but other than that i only turn the amp up when i'm home alone....i've been playing for about ten years (i'm only 27) but only got serious in the last 2 or 3.... now i'm really regretting not learning when i was younger, and i know it's never too late, but i am always too broke to afford lessons that are actually worth the time/money. i took a couple of free ones at best buy when i bought my jaguar a few years ago (free lessons with purchase of guitar) and didn't really take anything away from it.
well, Mona, you've made me feel better, too. i figured i was the only one on this forum with this problem

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~Dan

The Levin is still safely hidden away in my closet away from the people at work who wanted to smash it. I still haven't done anything to it yet. I have to have time for it, plus work up the courage to actually do something to it.

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Texas GREAT deal I love a bargain! I hope you have tons of fun with it..sometimes its just plain fun to play something different to break it up a bit!

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Mona
"Music is What Feelings Sound like"

Good for you, I do love a good steal!

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"Where would rock and roll be without feedback?"

Congrats on the new guitar! I just hope you don't get charged for theft.

Very cool Texas! There are a couple of techniques for classical style playing. Jack Cecchini and Richard Pick. I preferred the Richard Pick method because of his finger-picking style, but I know some guitarists that studied with Mr. Cecchini and although I found his finger-picking style more difficult those guitarists are great players. Try them both and see which you prefer.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Congrats on your winning and finding a guitar you wanted at a great price.

Well, I'm extremely annoyed right now. According to UPS tracking, I was supposed to have my guitar today. They loaded it on the truck, drove it around, and then said that it was not delivered because "the receiver has moved". I'm pretty sure Guitar Center is right where it's been for the past three or four years, but apparently UPS can't find it. I'm calling the Guitar Center in NJ where I had it shipped from tomorrow to see if they can work things out. Heck, I'd even be willing to drive the UPS shipping facility here to keep it out of the hands of the same drivers who smashed my 40 watt Egnator tube amp earlier this month.

Incidentally, today it hit 100 degrees here which is the hottest it's been since June. I don't want that guitar in an un-airconditioned truck for any longer than is absolutely necessary. Next time I get a guitar or amp delivered, please kick me if I ever use UPS again. Two strikes in one month is ridiculous.

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