Been after a 640 scale guitar and between inventory out there, price, accessibility, I was not finding what I wanted or could afford.Custom builds for this are either out of my range or simply inferior results based on past experiences.When I came across the LA CAÑADA on GSI I was very curious. Having read up on the FE17s original history it peaked my interest.There were very few sound samples/videos online about these and the ones on GSI were duets of 2 woods, and an interview leaving little to the ear to make any proper assessment. Youtube had a few videos showing off these guitars and they seems to sound quite nice.So I reached out to JP at GSI who kindly recorded sound samples of both the Maple and Granadillo backs and there were two models available one being an A for antiqued look the other for reg/new look. The Antiqued pics looked real nice, especially coming from playing a very high end and beautiful luthier made sitka spruce/brazilian rosewood made nearly 40 yrs ago in the 5-7K range.SO with taking a chance I went for it.At first glance the visual is stunning and beautiful, it looks like a beautiful old Torres with French polish and great lines and colors but in new condition. The stock phots dont do it justice.The 640mm scale and wonderful suede case are apparent, its also light as a feather and feels almost like a 3/4 size guitar.Immediately I noticed fret markers on 5 and 7 only, I hadnt seen fret makers since I was kid on my first guitar. If you are like me and switch between size scales daily then its actually a good thing because its easy to under or over shoot a fret/finger placement (I still visually prefer no markers)The smell is divine, the maple back is stunning and almost holographic in nature.It feels like butter and has an ease about how it feels in both the small body hugging you and the left hand and neck. I am a very tiny person so I have small hands and have to work on my 650 over the years. SO making a stretch from Low F on 6th to high C on 1st Index and pinky like in Mallorca has always been work this was not. Like I said with a smaller everything this 640 feels like a 3/4ITs built excellent, all the details of the antique, the lines, the colors the grain and next to my 1986 Prenkert its like the lil brother.From the first note I was impressed, I have played it several hours from yesterday afternoon, evening and this morning - giving it a good workout of pieces ranging from Carcassi op 60 no 14, Guiliani op 48 no.5, Guiliani op 107 Handel variations, some of my own arrangements, and a few more to test drive the tones and colors.This guitar is a little powerhouse of color, tone, depth and separation. I was very impressed and pleased, a sound that my ear liked a lot. The guitars response dialed in immediately. Certain intervals of bass and treble make the bass sound like a drum of depth and color and power, while playing ponticello or sul tasto portamento the colors are full spectrum.Needless to say I am very happy, impressed, surprised and totally rec this guitar for those $3k budgets. It renewed my perception of factory and Made in China, best of all the label doesnt say made in China. Its well made and the inside looks like wonderful supervised craftsmanship.

GSI is an ABSOLUTE joy to deal with. Ive been a customer of theirs since starting my journey in to playing classical guitar back in 2003. Mr JohnPaul Trotter and the rest of their staff are the pinnacle of customer service and professionalism. They set the standard in the classical guitar buying world. I recently received a STELLAR Jose Ramirez 1A that John found for me. I still cant believe I have it. The entire experience as of late is everything youll ever want or need. Save yourself any amount of heartache and dont go anywhere else... Thanks again GSI! Customer for life!

If you live in Southern CA and are looking for a place to purchase a serious classical/flamenco guitar then you MUST visit Guitar Salon International. The selection of beautiful vintage/modern guitars is amazing but more important is the service, knowledge and expertise of its employees. From start to finish you are dealing with GUITARISTS and not salespeople so their opinions will definitely matter and help you make an informed purchase. I had many great conversations with John Paul but the person most responsible for my overall purchase and satisfaction was Andy Lee. Andy is the consummate professional and was patient, accommodating and helped facilitate a great purchase. I ended up with a 1977 Ramirez 1A and extremely happy and content that I worked with Andy & GSI on this purchase. I will DEFINITELY be back for my next purchase and highly recommend that you consider GSI for your serious guitar purchase. Thanks JohnPaul, Andy and the entire team for a memorable experience.

This was my first visit to GSI and I was extremely happy with the trip. Andrew was great in assisting me with information about each of the instruments that interested me and I hope to return soon!

This place is like the e-harmony of luthier built guitars. Theyre not in the business of selling guitars, but creating matches made in heaven. Thats absolutely how the staff make you feel. They are extremely helpful, and extremely patient throughout the entire journey of finding you the best instrument for your needs.I had the pleasure of working Andrew, and ended up purchased the best guitar Ive ever played in my life. I look forward to being a lifelong customer.

I havent seen so many quality classical guitars in one place. Will come back and buy one for sure.

Specialised guitar store for classical and flamenco guitar enthusiasts, with a friendly and helpful staff. Got myself a hand made student flamenco guitar at a reasonable price. Id definitely go back there in the future to browse through their stock for more guitars!!!

Great selection of guitars, knowledgeable staff.

Had the pleasure of making a purchase online. They were kind enough to call me personally to verify the purchase and circumstances of delivery. They have a great selection and are accessible during quarantine. Would recommend them to and guitar enthusiast

I finally found a guitar that matches my needs both in tonal quality and value.Guitar Salon has outstanding customer service and selection. I was able to review guitars and on the second guitar with the help of Andrew (who listened to me and my fickled needs), I found a gem. I now own a Wolfgang Jellinghaus Flamenca Negra a guitar with amazing crispness, bold projection and sound quality.I have tried for years locally to find a guitar with professional tambre and projection with no success.Save yourself time, frustration and energy and view an amazing selection of instruments. Many have high quality videos of the guitars being played by professional musicians, very helpful. Also there are many resources available to learn from and to inspire you.Thank you Andrew and all at Guitar Salon International!

THE place to go to for world class classical and Flamenco guitars. The entire staff, from the President to the Sales Reps, are extremely knowledgeable and helpful to both the amateur and the professional.I have thoroughly enjoyed recording demos for GSI over the past few years and they are my top recommendation for my students and fellow professionals who are seeking to acquire a concert instrument.

Quite positive. I made an appointment and came in with a short list of guitars that I wanted to look at. I recommend this because they have so many. JohnPaul got them out, and then left me alone to play until I needed him. He is very knowledgeable about construction and luthiers, just what you hope for. Good conversation and guidance. I bought one, which I am loving. This is a great shop.

World-class space for great instruments! Recorded here a few times, always a pleasure working with the awesome and highly-knowledgeable staff. Highly recommended!

GSI offers great opportunities to serious guitar students as well as professionals through its professional video recording services. It has a professional team that puts together high quality videos. One also gets to try out a wide variety of quality guitars.

Otherworldly experience at GSI. Andy was tremendously helpful and flexible with my appointment. John Paul was there too, and he was awesome. The guys are just chilled out guitar lovers who know a bunch about what theyre selling. It was an amazing, low pressure situation. Cant recommend this place enough for any classical guitar fan whos anywhere close to Santa Monica.

The best guitar vendor out there! Ive been coming to GSI for as long as I can remember, and the staff, guitars, and atmosphere is amazing. I would recommend every guitarist to visit at least once - if you havent, youre missing out!

Best selection of the most beautiful guitars in one building. Staff is knowledgable and helpful. Customer service is first-rate.

I purchased a new guitar from Guitar Salon International and Andrew was exceptionally helpful advising me of the right choice for my budget. I cannot be happier with my purchase. Thank you Andrew and thank you GSI.

Once they get your money, good luck trying to get it back! They gave me every reason why I cant get my money back. It was a horrible experience that it cost $11,000.00 total for the guitar. Every time I looked at that guitar I felt that upsetting feeling about the whole situation. I will never do business with them again.

If you have a true passion for guitars, this is truly the place to be.I have come to know GSI over the years as this is my regular stop for strings and studio guitars for my students.A few weeks ago, I decided to upgrade my guitar and John Paul and Andrew carefully listened to my needs. They understood how important playability and tone are to me and helped me with finding the perfect instrument. Thanks to their expertise regarding tone, wood types, guitar makers, and strings, along with their wide selection of incredible instruments from some of the best luthiers, choosing my new instrument was a fun and simple process.They encouraged me to play guitars in different rooms including their big show room to make sure I was replicating a concert experience. Not only was I able to play various instruments, JohnPaul and Andrew (both excellent players) also played the guitars for me so that I could hear how the instruments sounded from the audience’s perspective.My satisfaction with the transaction and the service that I received is second to none. GSI’s attention to details regarding every item they offer made this journey memorable for me; I can confidently say that Guitar Salon International is the best place to buy classical guitars and integral for players globally.

I am an overseas customer and I bought two times guitars from this shop. I highly recommend them. They are really running 10 extra miles to make shure that you get what you want.Perfect documentation, perfect shipping. And the most interesting guitars. All said.

I will tell the end of my story first. As a result of contacting GSI I am now playing two of the best guitars that I have ever owned and am enjoying practicing in the most satisfyingly concentrated way in hours of productive pleasure.The story begins with reaching JeanPaul and discussing a (spruce) Jake Fuller that Id seen on the site that I knew would be wonderful. After reaching agreement on price I was floored when the guitar arrived the next day and, as Id imagined, fulfilled my every expectation. As if that were not enough, I got back in touch with JeanPaul to talk about the possibility of sending him a guitar that I owned which wasnt making me happy with the aim of acquiring a (cedar) Giussani that Id had my eye on. The day after this discussion, again, the guitar showed up at my door and, again, a fantastic but very different instrument.What the story is really about, though, is the care, flexibility, enthusiasm, and thoughtfulness of JeanPaul. The man speaks form deep knowledge and experience of guitars and he convinced me from the start that he was interested in meeting my musical objectives reflected in the suggestions and advice offered which I found extremely helpful. I came away from our discussions impressed that the fairness and fun in doing business at GSI will most probably lead to owning an instrument that fits and fulfills all of your personal musical requirements. The compact version of this story: I couldnt be happier with the service .....or the exquisite guitars. Ron Puddu

Gentlemen - I was in Los Angeles in 2016 for the Turner Classic Film Festival, and had made arrangements to come by the salon to look at some guitars. I had been talking with JohnPaul before coming, and he had shipped my a Sakurai-Kohno for a trial which I then tested with my teacher. Rather than making a decision then I waited until I was in the showroom to see and hear a number of instruments. We arrived for our appointment and JohnPaul brought out a number of instruments for me to try. My wife, who is a professional harpist, was with me and provided the expert ear that I wanted and needed to make the best decision. We spent about two and a half hours playing and listening, and ultimately I chose a Cordoba Master Series Torres. I did because the sound it produced was amazing - just bell-like and sounding as if it were in a cathedral of sound. No range overpowered the others, the blend was perfect, and we walked out with my “dream” instrument. Fast forward to today, and I am still playing and loving the guitar. My teacher and I have done a lot of experimenting with strings over the last several years - starting with D’Addario Pro Arte and running the gamut through almost every brand carried by Strings By Mail. We ultimately settled on Augustine Classic Black which produced a marvelous tone, and had stopped experimenting for about a year or so. My teacher found some Galli strings - the titanium and the nylon - and I tried those in that order. Then, last Thursday, we changed back to the Augustines - and the results were incredible. You could have knocked both of us over with a feather. The guitar just came alive - volume was incredible, projection was clear and full, the voices were singing, and my teacher, who has two really beautiful and much more costly instruments himself, couldn’t stop playing my guitar!! I fell in love with it all over again - and this time, with much more appreciative ears.What’s the point of this email? I just wanted to say thank you for initially providing us with a truly memorable experience in the salon, and for your gift of providing music to a world that sorely needs it through the sale of your instruments. Perhaps its because we are all so confined and constricted in our daily lives that we are having a chance to reflect on what is important. I want you to know that I am truly grateful that I have the chance to play an instrument that I love, that can produce beautiful music (in the right talented hands!!), and I treasure all it represents.Thank you!!! Thank you!! Thank you!! Stay safe, stay healthy, stay sane - and keep providing music to the world.

CERTIFIED MUSIC PRACTITIONER AND AUCTION WINNERI am the winner of the first GSI Auction, a 1974 Ramirez 2a. I was very excited to bid on this instrument! The bidding process went smoothly keeping me apprised of new bids as they came in. I greatly appreciated the inclusion of a countdown timer on the bid screen. JohnPaul contacted me and quickly and completely set up shipping. The instrument was well wrapped. It was everything the description claimed. As I hoped, it has a beautiful deep, mellow voice which helps calm, relax and heal my hospice patients, their families and the nursing staff.All of my experiences with GSI has very professional and amazingly friendly. They really know their instruments and care for their customers. Many thanks GSI and JohnPaul!Gil ( o)===:::

I bought a guitar yesterday at Guitar Salon. Because I was not comfortable buying something sight unseen, I drove from Long Beach to Santa Monica to play it in person rather than order it online and risk not being happy with it. I just contacted them - less than 24 hours later - to tell them that my spouse freaked out over how much I spent and was told that the 48 hour approval policy does not apply (listed on their website) because I bought it in-store and not online. I can only exchange it for equal or higher cost. No mention that all sales were final was made to me when I bought it. Admittedly, I see that now listed on their website. So it is my fault for not reading more carefully and investigating their return policy before driving over an hour to their store. But it is their fault for having an insanely strict return policy. I have to admit, I would never buy another guitar from them as a result of this policy, and would not recommend that anyone else does either. Dont buy anything from them in person unless you are POSITIVE that it will work out. Im glad it is a nice guitar, and Ill find a way to finagle the cost (no option not to do so), but it has tarnished the guitar to me a bit because of the memory of the purchase experience.UPDATE: I never said you did not have a good selection, or good service from the sales associate. Yes, you did match the price, and I appreciate that. But in a world where Amazon, Guitar Center, Sam Ash and many Reverb instrument sellers offer a 30-45 day return policy, your failure to permit a 24 HOUR return policy is something I wish I had known before buying this instrument. I recognize that you are entitled to run your business any way you wish, but I think it is only fair that since you have that policy, potential buyers be informed of it. I wish I had been.

Aloha All, I recommend David as honest & very competant. I am a NICU/PICU RN & have the highest standards in medicine. David seems to have similar standards in guitars. Make sure you really want a guitar since sales are final but David deals in exquisite instruments & if there is problem, he will do the right thing as happened with my tuners on one of the fine guitars bought from GSI. We split the cost of Rodgers replacements, a very fair arrangement. Aloha, Mark RN retired HI, CA, MT

These people are the most low key, knowledgeable, respectful guitar sales folks I have ever in my 75yrs encountered. Make an appointment, sit down and play, ask questions and learn. I spent almost 3 hours playing their guitars with virtually no problem, no pressure, no interference. Occasionally someone would check to see if I was doing O.K. or had any questions. I cant say enough the positive atmosphere they create. Check it out. 7 months later and Andrew in particular has spent a great deal of time and attention on my many questions since I bought the Loriente Carmen ( not the most expensive guitar in the world) Lots of great advice and extraordinary patience. Also 2 performance recommendations -Vicente Amigo and Yamandu Costa that were out of this world. Thank you. Enough said.

Great place! JohnPaul sold me a great guitar. Highly recommend visiting this place if you are into flamenco guitars!!!

One of a kind guitar vendor with knowledgeable, professional and friendly staff. A worldwide leader in its field.

My experience with GSI and Andrew Lee was excellent. Not only is the entire staff knowledgeable about each of the luthiers they represent, they are genuine and are interested in matching the player with the right instrument. Each of my purchases have been expertly handled and I would certainly recommend GSI as The best U.S. source for Artisan-built classical and flamenco guitars. Dr. Craig Jordan

I echo the 5 star reviews of GSI -- they combine the largest inventory of top level (and cosmic level) guitars, sales people who are only interested in helping in every way -- including giving you hours of time by yourself if you wish -- and have a beautiful room and acoustic to try out their wonderful instruments.Their level of help is extended even if you are not going to buy from them, but directly from a luthier. They will still bring out guitar after guitar to help you understand just what to ask for.In other words, they love guitars, and helping guitarists get what they need.I have bought several top end instruments at GSI and have been very happy in every respect. David, JohnPaul, Kai, and Andrew are all terrific representatives of GSI.Dr. Alan Kay

Great service from JohnPaul. Would definitely purchase from Guitar Salon again.

Very over priced. Buyer beware of there quality/craftsmanship when you receive the guitar.

Best selection of guitars and great service.

The best guitars by the best builders in the world.

Very nice experience

Very expansive

2021/July/12 12:30am The GSI Duli Building is two-story high, and the performance hall has excellent high echoes. There is no need to park a public fee for parking spaces. John is very kind and senior salesman. He played a total of 8+1, eight first-selected lists + one just arrived in 2021.The salesman walked away completely and let me play two, two and three by myself. The master didnt give low hand pressure. When trying the guitar, he said solemnly, put his right finger on the string and dont put it on the panel. It’s not unfamiliar to take out the Hometown at Twilight by Lin Meicai with ease.9 pieces—>4 pieces—>3 pieces—>2 piecesAll left with the same master’s guitar, so I asked John to perform. I sat 10 meters away and listened to the sound of two guitars. John was very professional. What is the difference between 850 and 1450? Guess.Pleasant experience............, it’s nice to be with my sonExchangePlusThe guitar test can be returned in two weeks, and 70% can be bought back in 2 years, like selling a car. Experienced and smart business model.The guitars on the back wall are all 2021 low-end models, which are afraid of being touched. Where is the collectors edition? Only online! ! ! pity

The paradise of the guitars! An ideal place to find your dream instrument, in a pleasant atmosphere, with very friendly people who provide the necessary comfort and opportunity to try all the guitars you want until you find yours. In addition, they make you some very professional videos with magnificent guitars. Recommended!

Excellent quality guitars for sale and organization of musical events, very professional people, know your business and attentive with customers

Very good