I want to buy a classical/flamenco guitar

Just started taking lessons for classical and flamenco guitar and my instructor suggested I get a guitar for that type of music. Right now I just have my Martin steal string guitar. Problem is I don't really know what to look for, which ones are good/popular, or how much I should look to spend. I want it to be able to last forever, so I know it'll be an investment.

Any suggestions? I went to guitar center and the guy there told me that Rodriguez and Ramirez guitars were some of the best. He also told me that I should look to spend at least $1,000-$1,500 for one :( My guitar teacher told me about one made by Yamaha. He said the 151f or 171f flamenco guitar, but I couldn't find any by that name. Only a cgx171sfc or something like that. Those go for about $550 at Guitar Center.

I bought my classical at a used guitar shop about 3yrs ago for $200. It's called a Giannini and I'd never heard of it before but when I picked it up I had a hard time putting it down because there was something about it that I liked. It has a nice tone and plays well, sometimes that's all it takes. Don't know if this helps but that's my story. :)

Thanks for the reply Neal, anyone else have input on this subject?

Hey man I got 2 cents, I just bought an Ibanez EW series with the Koa wood body about 3 months ago and Ive been following the list of tutorials on Chris's page and its great. My guitar was only about 550 (pricetag, we talked them down to 400 and a pair of strings :) ) but she plays extremely well, very light and sweet but with a good action, plus it has a built in amp and tuner (I highly recommend the tuner, as nylon strings seem to like to get out of tune a half step or so every few days). I dont really think you need to have a hand made thousand dollar plus guitar to get one youll wanna keep, just take a day and try them all out (which shouldnt be alot if your buying at guitar center, usually just that one wall to the right of the acoustics)

Also, I would take some time to figure out which style you wanna pursue as far as flamenco versus classical so you can pick the right guitar, when I first began my search I wanted a flamenco too, but eventually settled on a straight classical (albeit with a slightly thinner body and lower action as that guitar comes)

best of luck

Ya I'm leaning towards more of a classical guitar that is built a little like a flamenco like you mentioned. The main thing I'm looking for is the low action of flamencos. I don't want a guitar with high action. Also, I like the "smallness" of the flamencos as opposed to the larger classicals built for sustain. Hopefully I can find a happy medium in there.

I would actually recommend you look at that guitar if its in store when you go shopping, heres a link to it ( http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-EW-Series-EWN28KOENT-Cutaway-Nylon-String-Acoustic-Electric-Guitar-104833868-i1385539.gc ), like I said I bargained mine down to 400 and she plays like a champ, a soft, beautiful, elegant champ. I really like the look too, with an almost-florentine-like cut to it, the picture there lies though its actually a bit darker. Like I said the action is a bit lower, though not quite as low as a flamenco, and its pretty thin. The only thing you might have to worry about is needing a tap plate for flamenco style, I would hate to mess up that beautiful finish

How did you manage to get $150 off? I know Guitar Center is pretty set on their prices now.

well to be honest it was already on sale at 500, but I did talk down the other hundred, and the strings :). When I was there I just talked to the sales lady and we discussed guitars etc while I was trying them out, she showed me that one on sale for 500 and after playing it some I said I really loved the guitar etc. but the price was a tad steep could she work with me some. I actually named the price at 400 and she went to a computer and started messing around with it and told me 400 was cool, last minute I asked for a new set of strings too and she happily obliged (though it probably helped I was also buying a new strap, gig bag and book of tablature). Also keep in mind this was a few months back at the summit of the recession when they were trying to give everything away, though if you time it right they still are, a couple weeks back my local guitar center had one of those complusive surprise sell weekends, advertising some stuff at like 50% off, but you might wanna act fairly soon before the market gets any better (fingers crossed).