Yamaha Announces Updated Line of Classical
Guitars
 February 6, 2000
Yamaha announces updated line of classical guitars,
which will arrive in retail stores shortly after their Winter NAMM 2000
debut.
The
entire line of Yamaha classical guitars, ranging from student models through
Concert Classics, has been redesigned for easier play, smoother fingering,
expanded volume and better sustain. Back and side panels are thinner,
as is the finish. The necks have been slimmed as well.
"Yamaha believes it is important to build guitars that make the
playing experience more enjoyable," said David Bergstrom, director
of marketing, Combo Group, Pro Audio & Combo Division. "We’re
proud of our longstanding reputation for making fine entry-level guitars,
but the classical redesign will call attention to the incredible quality
of our higher-end models."
At the GFA convention in Charleston, attended by individual luthiers,
Professors of guitar and serious students from around the world, Yamaha
was the only manufacturer to display a line of handcrafted classical guitars
of a quality level acceptable to these discerning guitarists. Yamaha also
awarded an MD8 multitrack digital mini disc recorder to Lorenzo Micheli
of Milan, Italy, winner of the 1999 GFA International Solo Guitar Competition
held at the convention. Micheli also won $5,000, a guitar, a recording
opportunity and a GFA-sponsored concert tour.
GFA Competition Director Jeff Cogan says the upgraded Yamaha offerings
were well received–even after Yamaha entered its guitars in an informal
"shootout" with other handcrafted models.
"The key difference between guitars is not necessarily for the
audience, it’s for the players," Cogan says. "When you’re
playing an instrument that you enjoy playing, you feel like it’s
expressing what you feel artistically. These seem really nice, really
well-built."
"Yamaha has taken itself out of the realm of just being a manufacturer
that makes mass quantities of lower priced instruments," Cogan notes.
"They’ve shown they’re ready to appeal to the next level
up. I would have no qualms about recommending them to a student, and that’s
saying a lot. They’ve come a long way."
For more information, visit Yamaha's web site at www.yamaha.com. |
