Finding the right first guitar for your child can be a daunting task. When my seven-year-old daughter started guitar lessons at school, I faced this very challenge. Following the music teacher’s recommendation, I ventured to Music Express and came across the Jose Ferrer El Primo range. This led to purchasing not one, but two Jose Ferrer classical nylon-string guitars: a three-quarter size for my eldest and a half-size for my younger four-year-old who was eager to join in the musical fun. The three-quarter model was priced at $129.95, while the half-size was an even more affordable $109. Choosing Jose Ferrer seemed like a practical decision to get them started without a huge investment.
Jose Ferrer El Primo half-size and three-quarter-size classical guitars, suitable for young beginner guitarists.But what exactly can you expect from a Jose Ferrer guitar? A quick online search for “Guitar Jose Ferrer” reveals surprisingly little in terms of official information or manufacturer websites. As a non-expert myself, I wanted to share my experience and thoughts on these beginner classical guitars after a few weeks of use.
First Impressions and Playability of Jose Ferrer Guitars
It’s clear from the outset that Jose Ferrer El Primo guitars are designed specifically as entry-level classical nylon-string instruments. They are built with the beginner student in mind. One of the most important aspects for a child’s first guitar is playability, and in this regard, the Jose Ferrer guitars seemed reasonably well set up. The string height, or action, appeared consistent across the fretboard and not excessively high. This is crucial for young, small hands as it makes pressing down the strings and forming chords much easier and less painful, which is a significant advantage for early learners.
Tuning Stability: A Common Beginner Guitar Challenge
One initial issue we encountered, particularly with the three-quarter size Jose Ferrer guitar, was tuning stability. It seemed to go out of tune quite rapidly after tuning. It took a considerable amount of time – almost three weeks – of regularly stretching the nylon strings and frequent re-tuning before the instrument started to hold its tune more reliably between practice sessions. Interestingly, the smaller half-size guitar seemed to exhibit better tuning stability right from the start. This might be attributed to the lower tension on the nylon strings due to the shorter scale length of the half-size instrument. Tuning issues are a common complaint with inexpensive beginner guitars, regardless of brand, as budget-friendly instruments often use lower quality tuning machines and strings.
Improving Tone and Tuning with a String Upgrade
To address the tuning and potentially the tone of the half-size Jose Ferrer, I decided to replace the factory strings. Having some D’Addario Classic Nylon strings (EJ27N) on hand, I opted to use the half-size guitar as a practice run for string changing before tackling the three-quarter size. Switching to the D’Addario strings made a noticeable positive difference. The tuning stability improved further after a couple of initial stretches and re-tunings, and the guitar also seemed to produce a slightly richer and more pleasant tone. Based on this positive outcome, I plan to upgrade the strings on the three-quarter size Jose Ferrer soon as well. For anyone experiencing persistent tuning problems with a Jose Ferrer or similar beginner guitar, investing in a set of quality nylon strings is a worthwhile and relatively inexpensive upgrade that can significantly enhance the playing experience.
Overall Assessment: Jose Ferrer Guitars as Beginner Instruments
In summary, Jose Ferrer El Primo guitars are undeniably budget-friendly beginner instruments. Their smaller sizes are well-suited for children, and they are reasonably playable straight out of the box. It’s important to have realistic expectations – they won’t possess the rich, resonant sound of a high-end, full-sized classical guitar costing ten times the price. However, for their intended purpose as starter guitars for young students, they are perfectly adequate. You wouldn’t want to send a valuable instrument to school where it might get bumped and scratched. The key requirement is playability, and Jose Ferrer guitars meet this need. If tuning stability proves to be an initial frustration, don’t be discouraged. Simply upgrading to a set of quality strings can make a significant improvement to both tuning and tone, making the learning process smoother and more enjoyable for young guitarists just starting their musical journey with a guitar jose ferrer.
Jose Ferrer El Primo guitar review summary
Quality 7/10
Value for money 8/10
Overall 7.5/10
