Members DeadNight Warrior Posted April 3, 2010 Members Share Posted April 3, 2010 Do they exist? My little brother has a (I think?) 1/2 size student type classical guitar. It's a terrible, terrible instrument with atrocious intonation, but I quite enjoy playing it. The sound is sorta somewhere between a guitar and a uke, and it's just comfy to sit around with in front of the TV or whatever. I can't always be bothered with the weight of an electric, and the acoustic is just too bulky to comfortably laze about with on the couch. So I'm wondering, short of having one custom made, does anyone make a good 1/2 size? Or perhaps does the considerably shorter scale length make it considerably harder to make the instrument have decent intonation? Or does no one bother because 1/2 sizes and whatnot are only ever beginner type instruments? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GuitarVlog Posted April 3, 2010 Members Share Posted April 3, 2010 How much are you willing to spend? Does it have to be 1/2 size (21" scale) or is 3/4 (23.3") good? If 3/4, I've found the Yamaha CGS103A, the Yamaha CS40 and the post-2007 Cordoba Cadet (sometimes spelled Cadete) to be good in the low-budget range. The Cadet has a solid cedar top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maccaminnie Posted April 3, 2010 Members Share Posted April 3, 2010 What about a mini maton? Your in Melbourne no probs getting one there:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Opa John Posted April 3, 2010 Members Share Posted April 3, 2010 I've never tried a 1/2 size, but I have a Yamaha CS40 (3/4 size) that's pretty decent for no more than it cost. I wasn't even looking to buy one when I saw it at a "close out" price and just couldn't leave it hanging on the wall at Guitar Center.......got it for $74.95.....about $45 less than it normally goes for. I put high tension strings on it and use it out on the back porch. I wouldn't call the intonation "perfect" on it.......but then, I don't think any of them are PERFECT! It sounds good enough to me.......it's just a nice little fun type guitar.....I don't play any classical music on it.......I play more blues type songs on it than anything else. I'd recommend it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bax Burgess Posted April 3, 2010 Members Share Posted April 3, 2010 I have the 1/2 Yamaha CGS102A with black nylons, and the 3/4 Cadete with high tensions - close enough in sound quality, though, I find the Yama slightly richer. Both have string spreads of 1 1/2" at the nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeadNight Warrior Posted April 3, 2010 Author Members Share Posted April 3, 2010 What about a mini maton? Your in Melbourne no probs getting one there:thu:Yeah, I thought of the Mini Matons, but aren't they full scale just with a smaller body? They're also steel string, whereas I wanted a nylon for this. I know someone who said he's getting them to make him a 7-string Mini. But yeah, I'm not expecting perfect intonation (or perfect as far as guitar goes anyway), but my lil brother's cheapie just really is atrocious in that regard. Might have to look around at some Yamahas then by the sounds of it. Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted April 3, 2010 Members Share Posted April 3, 2010 I don't know if they are available in the US but the "Jose Ferrier" brand make a 1/2 size (as well as 3/4 and 4/4, of course) that are is not at all bad and very reasonably priced ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeadNight Warrior Posted April 4, 2010 Author Members Share Posted April 4, 2010 I don't know if they are available in the US but the "Jose Ferrier" brand make a 1/2 size (as well as 3/4 and 4/4, of course) that are is not at all bad and very reasonably priced ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maccaminnie Posted April 4, 2010 Members Share Posted April 4, 2010 Yeah, I thought of the Mini Matons, but aren't they full scale just with a smaller body? They're also steel string, whereas I wanted a nylon for this. I know someone who said he's getting them to make him a 7-string Mini. Sorry, yeah I realised after that it was a classical your after, excuse me have a bit of a cold and not feeling so flash.I also have a Yamaha C-40 not a bad little guitar, very light. I,ve had it 15 years and its been everywhere, taken abit of a hammering, even had the headstock broken and it didn,t make a scrap of difference to the sound..Wow a 7 string maton, can you get him to post some pics when he gets it?Cheers:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeadNight Warrior Posted April 5, 2010 Author Members Share Posted April 5, 2010 Sorry, yeah I realised after that it was a classical your after, excuse me have a bit of a cold and not feeling so flash. I also have a Yamaha C-40 not a bad little guitar, very light. I,ve had it 15 years and its been everywhere, taken abit of a hammering, even had the headstock broken and it didn,t make a scrap of difference to the sound. .Wow a 7 string maton, can you get him to post some pics when he gets it? Cheers:thu: Yeah, I'll try get some pics of it at some point after he's got it. I don't see him that often though, and no idea when they're supposed to be finishing it for him. Said he thinks 7s are great for open tunings (he's a country/blues type guy). Can't say any of my electric 7s have ever been in open tunings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeadNight Warrior Posted April 19, 2010 Author Members Share Posted April 19, 2010 Had a look for this thread on 2.0 but couldn't find it anywhere. Well, I ended up getting a lil Yamaha CS40 the other day. Put some nice Savarez strings on there and... well now I can't play the thing properly until the strings settle a bit. But for the two minutes it stays somewhat in tune, it plays and sounds pretty nice. I get the feeling this is going to end up being one of my most played guitars. Saddle could probably be dropped a little bit, and the frets could probably be a bit smoother. Nothing that can't be fixed fairly easily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members maccaminnie Posted April 20, 2010 Members Share Posted April 20, 2010 Nylon strings take a while to settle down but once they do they stay in tune pretty well. Fist time I,ve posted for ages, just couldn,t bring myself to stay with the new format. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeadNight Warrior Posted April 20, 2010 Author Members Share Posted April 20, 2010 Nylon strings take a while to settle down but once they do they stay in tune pretty well. Fist time I,ve posted for ages, just couldn,t bring myself to stay with the new format. Yeah I was aware of it before I did it, but I just wanted some nicer and higher tension strings on there. Think I still want to go higher tension than what's on there for now, but it'll do for now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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