When I was 13, a few years ago, before dedicating to Argentinean folk, I looked for a guitar teacher to study by music theory, and found only classical teachers. Got advice from some folk players who coincided to recommend me a classical teacher. Fortunately this lovable maestro, Obdulio Lima, taught me the principles of the instrument and music theory leading me to Sors, Tárrega, Granados, Villalobos, but never discouraged me to play folk music, and helped me a lot in that direction. That's what a good teacher should do, in my opinion: enable you to open doors, and then choose.

Continuing the analogy, I would bet that no folk musician would take the risk of a broken guitar in the middle of a concert. They will probably not wear a fine pair of boots, but will own the best instrument that they can afford and a little better, and will care of it as their most valuable posession. Why not their voices, which are not replaceable ?

Un abrazo,
Andrés