Classical, Nylon, or Gut?

[Stackabones]

I'm tired of typing "nylon-string" or "nylon" to indicate that I play non-classical music on a "classical" guitar.

 

Willie and the boys call it a "gut-string" guitar, which we know is traditionally correct.

 

I think I'll go with "gut-string" guitar. I hear the old-timers around say that in my neck of the woods. "Nylon" sounds like I have a fetish.

 

This poll will settle it and will be binding for all members. So there.

[brahmz118]

I'm kind of in the same boat -- all the traditional labels, in my case, are lies. I don't really play classical, though I wish I could. And I use Nylgut strings, which curiously are neither nylon nor gut. Plus my LaPatrie is made in Canada, so I can't even call it a Spanish guitar.

'Gut-string' makes me think of blues, and 'classical' makes me think of classical music. 'Nylon-string' doesn't really make me think of any particular style, so I guess I'll stick with that, fetish-connotation or not.

Maybe we could take a lesson from banjo world and change 'classical' to simply 'classic.' Or maybe something more modern. Synthetic monofilament guitar?

[nylon rock]

Just voted nylon. That's what the cross-over guitar makers use for their terminology.

And besides, if I voted gut, then I would be stuck with the dilemma of should I change my name to gut rock? It also has a double meaning of does gut rock, as a name, imply playing from the pit of your stomach or have to do with the strings?

Admit that nylon does have some fetish connotation, but who cares, really.

Definitely not classical, though. However, whenever I do hear good classical guitar players playing in the music stores I am always impressed with what they can create.

However, all this leads me to the fact that the correct terminology may well be nylon-string-cross-over. In hindsight, maybe I should have called myself nylon cross-over rock.

[Phlat Phive]

Ooo this is a hard one.

I don't play a classical guitar, I play a flamenco guitar. Within this category, there's also the distinction 'Blanca' vs. 'Negra', based on wood types that are used. To a fellow flamenguisto I'd say I play a Blanca.
But I play a lot of other stuff so I need a more general term.

It isn't strung with guts, so gut-string is out. Also because it sounds... distasteful.

Out of these I'll have to go with 'Nylon'. I prefer 'Spanish guitar', though.

[Terry Allan Hall]

Stack, I chose "gut", as I can dig the viscetral connotations

BTW, did see that Jerry Reed video this morning?...he was playing a Baldwin electro-gut w/ the Prismatone P/U we were discussing a week or so ago! (Yeah, we're easily amused!)

[Dan Hall]

Guts tring

[brahmz118]

And besides, if I voted gut , then I would be stuck with the dilemma of should I change my name to gut rock ? It also has a double meaning of does gut rock , as a name, imply playing from the pit of your stomach or have to do with the strings?

 

 

Sounds like a kidney stone, only worse...

[Stackabones]

Stack, I chose "gut", as I can dig the viscetral connotations BTW, did see that Jerry Reed video this morning?...he was playing a Baldwin electro-gut w/ the Prismatone P/U we were discussing a week or so ago! (Yeah, we're easily amused!)

I saw it, and I think I've seen that whole show on DVD. First rate.

[learn'r]

I voted gut - and I call her La Patty a classical guitar.

I would use the term gut not to be distasteful, but it is part of the instruments history.

I remember the first lesson I gave my grand daughter ..... I told her about the classical guitars ..... she was grossed out but only in a cute sorta way.

[riffmeister]

I've only ever used nylon strings and carbon composite strings on my classical guitars, so I guess I'll go with 'nylon string guitar'. Or is that nylon string 'Spanish' guitar?





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[Dave W.]

Gut make me think of dead cats, so that's out, not much of a cat person anyway. Segovia said that the term Classical Guitar is incorrect. He felt that the classical guitar is the only real guitar, therefore classical is unnecessary, and it should just be called a guitar. Steel string acoustics were some sort of bastard child, and he wouldn't even discuss the electric guitar. I assume he and Les Paul didn't hang out much. While nylon strings can be put on a variety of guitar styles, the term Classical, for me, draws a very distinct picture, ie, a 1937 Hauser. So I guess I will use Nylon in general, and classical when talking about a particular style. That ought to clear things up.

[Phlat Phive]

Gut make me think of dead cats, so that's out, not much of a cat person anyway. Segovia said that the term Classical Guitar is incorrect. He felt that the classical guitar is the only real guitar, therefore classical is unnecessary, and it should just be called a guitar. Steel string acoustics were some sort of bastard child, and he wouldn't even discuss the electric guitar. I assume he and Les Paul didn't hang out much. While nylon strings can be put on a variety of guitar styles, the term Classical, for me, draws a very distinct picture, ie, a 1937 Hauser. So I guess I will use Nylon in general, and classical when talking about a particular style. That ought to clear things up.

I'm not knocking Segovia's contribution to music, but just about any quote I've read from him makes him sound like an elitist twat.

[Dave W.]

I'm not knocking Segovia's contribution to music, but just about any quote I've read from him makes him sound like an elitist twat.

I have to admire his amazing talent, and wish I had seen him play, but I don't think I would care to go have a few beers with him.

[Phlat Phive]

I have to admire his amazing talent, and wish I had seen him play, but I don't think I would care to go have a few beers with him.

Exactly.

[Stackabones]

I have to admire his amazing talent, and wish I had seen him play, but I don't think I would care to go have a few beers with him.

 

Segovia strikes me as a sherry drinker.

[Stackabones]

Old poll bumpage. But I thought I'd get some additional pollage going.

 

If I could, I'd add "Gut Box"!!!

[OldGuitarPlayer]

Gut make me think of dead cats, so that's out, not much of a cat person anyway. Segovia said that the term Classical Guitar is incorrect. He felt that the classical guitar is the only real guitar, therefore classical is unnecessary, and it should just be called a guitar. Steel string acoustics were some sort of bastard child, and he wouldn't even discuss the electric guitar. I assume he and Les Paul didn't hang out much. While nylon strings can be put on a variety of guitar styles, the term Classical, for me, draws a very distinct picture, ie, a 1937 Hauser. So I guess I will use Nylon in general, and classical when talking about a particular style. That ought to clear things up.

Apparently in the 1930's Segovia and Django Reinhardt met at a private function. Of course Segovia showed up on time with his guitar. Django of course showed up late and didn't have a guitar so he played a piece of music on Segovia's guitar. When Django was done Segovia was so impressed that he asked him were he could get the written score for the piece and Django replied "there isn't any...I just made it up"

OGP

[Jonah523]

I think, of the three, classical is the most appropriate. You can use nylon or gut strings on the instrument, or even steel with little rubber bumpers on the bottoms, as in the case of Barrios Mangore (who Segovia didn't like very much, btw...), so calling it either nylon or gut would be incorrect... unless you called it a nylon string when you were using nylons, and a gut string when you were using guts... classical is just as inappropriate though because it's used in jazz, "classical", brazilian, etc..

There are no easy answers...

[MattSkibaIsGOD]

Nylon string. I muddle my way through some classical, but I mainly play folk and a little jazz on it.

[denvertrakker]

What's wrong with "slothead"?

And anyway, it's the guitar that's "classical", not necessarily the music.:poke:

Lord knows, I don't play classical music on my classical. 'Course, there are those who would argue I don't play any kind of music...

[gthom]

I voted 'classical' just because that's what I usually call it. Although it does sort of give the wrong impression if you're using the guitar for one of the many non-classical styles nylons are associated with.

But still, 'classical' gets my vote.

[Stackabones]

I voted 'classical' just because that's what I usually call it. Although it does sort of give the wrong impression if you're using the guitar for one of the many non-classical styles nylons are associated with. But still, 'classical' gets my vote.

 

 

 

I only call it a Gut Box around here! Otherwise, I usually say that I play a classical guitar but I don't play classical music on it.

[Samilyn]

I voted "gut" simply because I'm used to reading "gut-box" in your posts.

Could possibly think up a joke or two about a "pantyhose box" but I'm not feeling much like a smarta$$ today.

[ChiyoDad]

I think it was Aaron Shearer who refers to the classical guitar as the classic guitar because the steel string guitars evolved from it.

 

I voted classical but can understand the problem. Of course, how then does one refer to a flamenco guitar? What about a 7-string Brazilian guitar? What about a 10-string cathedral guitar?

 

Steel strings are probably no different. Gipsy Jazz? Blues? Archtop?

[Pascal]

What's wrong with "slothead"?

Not specific enough?

My nylon-string is a slothead... but not a classical.
My gypsy jazzer is a slothead... but not a nylon-string.
And my steel-string is a slothead too!





I voted nylon-string, BTW.