A few minutes rain at Chelsea was all, but cloudy and chilly. The gardens and plants in the marquee all fantastic. Never look that way at home in our garden.
I made the journey to the Stafford Guitar Centre from Birmingham yesterday. It was my first visit to your Centre and I was warmly welcomed by Sandra. I booked a place on your October Guitar playing course, purchased some strings and discussed the Tenor String Ties that you mailed to me earlier in the week. Sandra asked me to comment on how I found them once I'd fitted them to my guitar.
I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say how pleased I am with my new M-10 and to thank you both for the advice and service you provided. She really is a lovely guitar to play with a beautiful tone. The bases are deep and resonant and are balanced beautifully against rich, warm trebles which are growing in clarity and character every time I play.
Hi Adrian Many thanks for asking for my comments on the Bernabe Especial.
At the price point of this guitar there is a vast choice of superb handmade instruments both new and used available. Guitars from British, German, Italian, Spanish luthiers and more. I knew that the sound I wanted was that of a "Spanish" guitar. I already owned a Bernabe M10 - so I was looking for that type of sound. However, I decided I would try a range of instruments. Of course Stafford guitar made this task much easier, and my previous experience with the M10 made this part of the purchase very easy.
I would have offered some feedback earlier except for time pressures of work and family. Firstly, thank you Adrian for the personal time and attention you gave in helping me to choose the Carillo. Thank you also Selina for your lovely playing which gave me an insight into the range of sound possible with such a wonderful instrument. As soon as I got home I began working on "Birds Flew Over the Spire" and exploring the range of sound colours possible with the guitar.
Not being a very proficient or experienced classical guitarist, rather than trying to give a review in those terms, I’d like to recount my experience of my visit to Stafford Classical Guitar Centre. When time came to retire my 40 year old Vicente Sanchis, I was advised to visit Stafford Classical Guitar Centre. I am no Paco de Lucia but although I play simply, I am fussy about my instrument and the sound it projects. Adrian’s extensive knowledge and experience was of immense value to me.
Now that I am off my cloud of surprise and wonder, I can say since the purchase of this guitar I am discovering new sonorities. The size of the guitar and fingerboard is up to my requirements. This guitar feels well in playing position and it offers ease of playing all across the range. I was thrilled by the sustain of high notes, sometimes needing control of dynamics. As the guitar is new with a spruce top, the daily workouts already open up the future potential, through sound quality. I feel there is much more to hear with this guitar. Great thanks Adrian,Selina,and Sandra, you made me a very happy guitarist.
I really value the candid, careful expert advice provided by you both for my purchase of a quality Alhambra guitar. I have just placed my order with SagePay for the 9P Spruce top. Congrats on the website too-It is very easy to get key information and some pretty useful insights into each Alhambra guitar model but the reviews and your follow-up emails helped me navigate the “select-at-a- distance” challenges. With your comments on the three guitars you examined more closely, I’ll have to admit to a tiny hinge of regret that the 9p cedar top didn’t seem to match the character I was after.
I thought I would just drop you a line to let you know how happy I am with my wonderful Vicente Carrillo 'Gabriela', which I bought from you a couple of years ago. I have found a wonderful teacher in West Yorkshire www.chrismarksguitarschool.co.uk and have come to love learning the classical guitar! I have not rushed things but am just about to embark on getting to grips with the second movement of Concierto de Aranjuez, so I have moved off the beginner's level at last! Chris is a wonderful teacher and a beautiful player, having been a protege of Professor Graham Wade at Leeds as a young man.
Greetings from Downunder, Let me state at the outset, I do not get the opportunity to write this type of email at all. The reason is very simple …………… the world has forgotten or is forgetting about a little thing called customer service, fairness, building trust etc. and retailers care little about their customers.
You will remember that I bought an Alhambra 8P from your website back in January. You asked me to let you know what I thought of it after I'd had it for a while, so here goes. The guitar is very beautiful. Aesthetically is is perfect, with a classic Ramirez shape with fairly unobtrusive decorative elements - a classic design which speaks for itself.
Sandra said you may be interested in some feedback on the Savarez nail kit – here is my experience so far: You need a little patience when removing the backing from the silk and of course, you are applying it with your weaker hand (unless you are ambidextrous). That being said, the kit was not too tricky to apply and the glue cures very quickly.
It has been three months since I have purchased, online, my Tomatito Aguadulce 2a Blanca. Having played the last time 25 years ago, having almost no idea what flamenco means, living in a place where testing a flamenco guiter in real before buying is not a very common option. Adding to that the mundane of small kids and a small enterprise.
A quick note to tell you that the 5P I picked up this morning is now fully commissioned and giving me lots of pleasure to play. The response and clarity are so much better than my previous instrument and I have difficulty in ending practice sessions. Sandra reminded me that with playing, the sound will improve even more over time. Many thanks again to Sandra for her guidance through the labyrinth leading to the most appropriate instrument for me.
Just a quick note to thank you for spending all that time time with me yesterday and explaining all the things that no one has ever explained so well before! Playing my Oscar Teller Model 5, 1965, last night (yes, the fog did clear and my hands started working again!), back to back with the new Bernabe,
Just want to say thank-you for yesterday. I am already madly in love with the guitar but have worn the ends of my fingers off so having to take a rest now! I never knew how much wasted effort i had put in on the wrong guitar until i got this one.
I send you the report of this splendid guitar with big pleasure. I spend happy time with her every day! When I choose the guitar, I think that it is a big risk not to test directly.
A massive thank you for your advice over the phone several months ago, my Carrillo is precisely what I wanted. Buying a guitar online worried me slightly and made me a little cautious but after studying your website for a year and then phoning you for your advice, I needn’t of worried at all! I thought I wanted an Alhambra 9p spruce but after talking to you about the sound I wanted you recommended the Carrillo and I must say that you got it “spot on”.
Dear Adrian and Selina, I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with my Bernabe M-10 and to praise your customer service. I really appreciate the time you spent with me when I first turned up to see you.I valued your advice and experience in suggesting the course of action to take given my circumstances. Having returned to pick up my guitar,
Customer Comments
David Green, UK Antonio Sanchez 1030 - Cedar
Hello Sandra,
A few minutes rain at Chelsea was all, but cloudy and chilly. The gardens and plants in the marquee all fantastic. Never look that way at home in our garden.
Adrian Bennett. England. String Tie's & Savarez Strings.
Hi Adrain & Sandra,
I made the journey to the Stafford Guitar Centre from Birmingham yesterday. It was my first visit to your Centre and I was warmly welcomed by Sandra. I booked a place on your October Guitar playing course, purchased some strings and discussed the Tenor String Ties that you mailed to me earlier in the week. Sandra asked me to comment on how I found them once I'd fitted them to my guitar.
Matthew Dennison. England. Bernabe M5 Spruce.
Hi Adrian and Selina,
When I bought my Bernabe guitar from you last September you asked me to let you have my thoughts on the guitar in due course. Well - here they are!
Paul Pratt. Scotland. Bernabe M10 Cedar.
Hi Adrain & Sandra,
I just wanted to drop you a quick note to say how pleased I am with my new M-10 and to thank you both for the advice and service you provided. She really is a lovely guitar to play with a beautiful tone. The bases are deep and resonant and are balanced beautifully against rich, warm trebles which are growing in clarity and character every time I play.
Matty Lough. Scotland. Bernabe Especial.
Hi Adrian Many thanks for asking for my comments on the Bernabe Especial.
At the price point of this guitar there is a vast choice of superb handmade instruments both new and used available. Guitars from British, German, Italian, Spanish luthiers and more. I knew that the sound I wanted was that of a "Spanish" guitar. I already owned a Bernabe M10 - so I was looking for that type of sound. However, I decided I would try a range of instruments. Of course Stafford guitar made this task much easier, and my previous experience with the M10 made this part of the purchase very easy.
Peter Nickson, UK Vicente Carrillo 1a - Spruce
Daer Adrian and Selina
I would have offered some feedback earlier except for time pressures of work and family. Firstly, thank you Adrian for the personal time and attention you gave in helping me to choose the Carillo. Thank you also Selina for your lovely playing which gave me an insight into the range of sound possible with such a wonderful instrument. As soon as I got home I began working on "Birds Flew Over the Spire" and exploring the range of sound colours possible with the guitar.
Jocelyne Thompson. UK Alhambra 5P Spruce.
Not being a very proficient or experienced classical guitarist, rather than trying to give a review in those terms, I’d like to recount my experience of my visit to Stafford Classical Guitar Centre. When time came to retire my 40 year old Vicente Sanchis, I was advised to visit Stafford Classical Guitar Centre. I am no Paco de Lucia but although I play simply, I am fussy about my instrument and the sound it projects. Adrian’s extensive knowledge and experience was of immense value to me.
Alain Deschambeaux. Mauritius. Bernabe M20 Spruce.
Dear Adrain,
Now that I am off my cloud of surprise and wonder, I can say since the purchase of this guitar I am discovering new sonorities. The size of the guitar and fingerboard is up to my requirements. This guitar feels well in playing position and it offers ease of playing all across the range. I was thrilled by the sustain of high notes, sometimes needing control of dynamics. As the guitar is new with a spruce top, the daily workouts already open up the future potential, through sound quality. I feel there is much more to hear with this guitar. Great thanks Adrian,Selina,and Sandra, you made me a very happy guitarist.
Best wishes.
John Lloyd. Australia Alhambra 9P Spruce.
Thanks so much Adrian & Selina!
I really value the candid, careful expert advice provided by you both for my purchase of a quality Alhambra guitar. I have just placed my order with SagePay for the 9P Spruce top. Congrats on the website too-It is very easy to get key information and some pretty useful insights into each Alhambra guitar model but the reviews and your follow-up emails helped me navigate the “select-at-a- distance” challenges. With your comments on the three guitars you examined more closely, I’ll have to admit to a tiny hinge of regret that the 9p cedar top didn’t seem to match the character I was after.
David Hack. UK Vicente Carrillo Gabriela - Spruce
Hi Adrian and Selina
I thought I would just drop you a line to let you know how happy I am with my wonderful Vicente Carrillo 'Gabriela', which I bought from you a couple of years ago. I have found a wonderful teacher in West Yorkshire www.chrismarksguitarschool.co.uk and have come to love learning the classical guitar! I have not rushed things but am just about to embark on getting to grips with the second movement of Concierto de Aranjuez, so I have moved off the beginner's level at last! Chris is a wonderful teacher and a beautiful player, having been a protege of Professor Graham Wade at Leeds as a young man.
Arif Haque. Australia Alhambra 4P Spruce.
Greetings from Downunder, Let me state at the outset, I do not get the opportunity to write this type of email at all. The reason is very simple …………… the world has forgotten or is forgetting about a little thing called customer service, fairness, building trust etc. and retailers care little about their customers.
Tom Cunliffe. UK Alhambra 8P Spruce.
Hi Adrian,
You will remember that I bought an Alhambra 8P from your website back in January. You asked me to let you know what I thought of it after I'd had it for a while, so here goes. The guitar is very beautiful. Aesthetically is is perfect, with a classic Ramirez shape with fairly unobtrusive decorative elements - a classic design which speaks for itself.
Ray Ormston. UK Savarez Nail Kit.
Hi Adrian,
Sandra said you may be interested in some feedback on the Savarez nail kit – here is my experience so far: You need a little patience when removing the backing from the silk and of course, you are applying it with your weaker hand (unless you are ambidextrous). That being said, the kit was not too tricky to apply and the glue cures very quickly.
Lior Behar. Czech Republic. Tomatito Aguadulce 2a Blanca.
Dear Adrian, Sandra,
It has been three months since I have purchased, online, my Tomatito Aguadulce 2a Blanca. Having played the last time 25 years ago, having almost no idea what flamenco means, living in a place where testing a flamenco guiter in real before buying is not a very common option. Adding to that the mundane of small kids and a small enterprise.
Ray Ormston. UK Alhambra 5P Spruce.
Hi Adrian,
A quick note to tell you that the 5P I picked up this morning is now fully commissioned and giving me lots of pleasure to play. The response and clarity are so much better than my previous instrument and I have difficulty in ending practice sessions. Sandra reminded me that with playing, the sound will improve even more over time. Many thanks again to Sandra for her guidance through the labyrinth leading to the most appropriate instrument for me.
Nic Garwood. England. Bernabe Especial Spruce.
Dear Adrain,
Just a quick note to thank you for spending all that time time with me yesterday and explaining all the things that no one has ever explained so well before! Playing my Oscar Teller Model 5, 1965, last night (yes, the fog did clear and my hands started working again!), back to back with the new Bernabe,
Tom Annable. England. Contreras Double Top Premium.
Adrian
Just want to say thank-you for yesterday. I am already madly in love with the guitar but have worn the ends of my fingers off so having to take a rest now! I never knew how much wasted effort i had put in on the wrong guitar until i got this one.
Katsunori Tanaka. Japan. La Chanca Blanca.
Hello Adrian,
I send you the report of this splendid guitar with big pleasure. I spend happy time with her every day! When I choose the guitar, I think that it is a big risk not to test directly.
Martin Morley, UK Vicente Carrillo 1a Estudio - Spruce
Dear Adrian,
A massive thank you for your advice over the phone several months ago, my Carrillo is precisely what I wanted. Buying a guitar online worried me slightly and made me a little cautious but after studying your website for a year and then phoning you for your advice, I needn’t of worried at all! I thought I wanted an Alhambra 9p spruce but after talking to you about the sound I wanted you recommended the Carrillo and I must say that you got it “spot on”.
Tony Herrmann. England. Bernabe M10 Spruce.
Dear Adrian and Selina, I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am with my Bernabe M-10 and to praise your customer service. I really appreciate the time you spent with me when I first turned up to see you.I valued your advice and experience in suggesting the course of action to take given my circumstances. Having returned to pick up my guitar,
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