classical guitar + p-90?

[leftystratman]

I'm thinking of putting a dogear p-90 to a cheap Yamaha classical, but not sure if the pickup will fit, or of any potential issues. your suggestions are very much appreciated.

[riffmeister]

you will need to put metal strings on the guitar if you want the pickup to work.

[kwakatak]

 

Originally posted by riffmeister you will need to put metal strings on the guitar if you want the pickup to work.

 

 

... which a classical guitar will not handle: no truss rod.

[Stackabones]

[fastvfr]

On a classical you basically have three amplification choices:

 

1. Piezo under-saddle transducer.

 

2. Transducers glued to the inside of the top.

 

3. Microphone, set 6-12" from the bridge (and not in line with the soundhole), running to amp, PA or soundboard/PC.

 

Even silk and steel strings won't give good response with a magnetic pup.

[leftystratman]

 

Originally posted by fastvfr On a classical you basically have three amplification choices: 1. Piezo under-saddle transducer. 2. Transducers glued to the inside of the top. 3. Microphone, set 6-12" from the bridge (and not in line with the soundhole), running to amp, PA or soundboard/PC. Even silk and steel strings won't give good response with a magnetic pup.

 

 

thaks for the useful response:thu: I guess I'm going to try something else.

[Dave W.]

 

Originally posted by kwakatak ... which a classical guitar will not handle: no truss rod.

 

 

Neil,

 

I just got an Alvarez MC-90 classical, it has a truss rod. I think it is becoming more common to find truss rods in classicals. I have read quotes from a few luthiers who are now putting rods in their classicals because it makes adjustment so much easier. That said, putting steel, even silk and steel, on a guitar made for nylon is a strict no no, truss rod or not. They are just not braced for it, at least the decent ones.

[riffmeister]

Originally posted by kwakatak ... which a classical guitar will not handle: no truss rod.

 

good point, I should have mentioned that!

[kwakatak]

I honestly thought classical guitars didn't have truss rods because gut strings don't create as much tension on the neck as steel strings do.

 

[Danocoustic]

Originally posted by kwakatak I honestly thought classical guitars didn't have truss rods because gut strings don't create as much tension on the neck as steel strings do.

True, as far as it goes---but I've had classicals that sure could've used an action tweak, if they'd had a truss rod. I think it's a good idea to have one just for that.

 

Remember when Martin's dreads had nonadjustable truss rods because "they don't need to be adjusted"?

 

[pipedwho]

I have a cheap Monterey classical and even it has a truss rod. It's about 5 years old, so maybe it's something that has been done with classicals in the last few decades.

[Dave W.]

Originally posted by kwakatak I honestly thought classical guitars didn't have truss rods because gut strings don't create as much tension on the neck as steel strings do.

 

In the past that was the rule, but since nylon strings need a good amount of room to vibrate, the neck relief had to be built in. If it ever needed to be changed, because of weather or whatever, it is a major deal. A truss rod lets the luthier build in a bit, then it can be fine tuned from there. A definite improvement IMO.

[Don_Combat]

sounds like a good idea

[kwakatak]

So then, can these newfangled trussed classicals handle steel strings?

[pipedwho]

Originally posted by kwakatak So then, can these newfangled trussed classicals handle steel strings?

 

No they can't. A truss rod gives you a certain amount of adjustment for neck relief, but it doesn't strengthen the bracing/design of the guitar.

 

Steel strings exert a significantly larger tension than nylon strings, and most (ie. 99.9% of) classicals would buckle/warp/separate with that much extra force.

[Dave W.]

Originally posted by kwakatak So then, can these newfangled trussed classicals handle steel strings?

 

The fingerboard area of the neck is not the main problem with steel on a nylon. It's the neck/body joint, top and bridge area that are the most likely to go south quickly.