Members slapnutz Posted December 23, 2004 Members Posted December 23, 2004 I have a Washburn D10s. Just a regular Dreadnought acoustic.I rarely play it anymore and was thinking about putting some nylon strings on it for a classical sound. Are there any mod's that i need to do. Nut, Bridge Tuners????
Members riffmeister Posted December 23, 2004 Members Posted December 23, 2004 I don't think it will sound like a real classical guitar. Nylon strings have less tension than steel strings, so you wont hurt anything by doing it.
Members Tony Burns Posted December 23, 2004 Members Posted December 23, 2004 I tried this once , the sound suffered as well as the volume being alot lower. In the early 60's alot of folk players did this to their acoustics, and they got that Folk guitar sound- not as twangy and mellower , hey strings are cheap- if its not your most favorite guitar you probably wont do any damage as long as you dont cut the groves wider on the upper nut. if it rattles a bit , just do what the old folkies use to do and put a small piece of paper in the nut to clean up the sound- but not so at the bottom of the groove hangs out and rattles against the string-- use a real cheapey guitar if possible. Have fun !!!
Members GN-Nick Posted December 23, 2004 Members Posted December 23, 2004 why don't you try some silk and steel strings?
Members slapnutz Posted December 23, 2004 Author Members Posted December 23, 2004 what are silk and steel strings
Members Lawton Posted December 24, 2004 Members Posted December 24, 2004 Nickel Flatwounds -- be sure to get a gauge down from what you're currently using (flats typically have greater tension).
Members GN-Nick Posted December 24, 2004 Members Posted December 24, 2004 Silk and Steel with give you a more folky sound. They have less tension and less zing than regular strings.
Members slapnutz Posted December 25, 2004 Author Members Posted December 25, 2004 Thanks for the input. Can someone explain why the nylon strings wont give that classical sound. What the difference beside the head stock and tuners?
Members likkafella Posted December 25, 2004 Members Posted December 25, 2004 Steel strings have a lot more tension, which requires a stronger guitar. Therefor a steelstring guitar is build sturdier than a classical and you need to put on a decnet enough gauge of steel strings in order to make the top vibrate (preferably 0.12 and up). Nylon string won't cut it on a steelstring guitar, the strings have too little tension to make the top of the guitar vibrate.
Members Smilin' Bob Posted December 26, 2004 Members Posted December 26, 2004 Originally posted by slapnutz Thanks for the input.Can someone explain why the nylon strings wont give that classical sound. What the difference beside the head stock and tuners? A guitar made for nylon strings uses thinner wood and is braced differently than one made for steel strings. The nylon strings won't put enough energy into the steel string guitar to make it vibrate correctly and develop the volume and harmonics that steel strings would. However, I think the Rainsong nylon string guitar uses a special high tension nylon string that might work better than nylon strings made for classical guitars. But silk and steel are probably your best bet for getting a folky sound from your steel string guitar.
Members fingerstyleman Posted December 26, 2004 Members Posted December 26, 2004 Originally posted by likkafella Steel strings have a lot more tension, which requires a stronger guitar. Therefor a steelstring guitar is build sturdier than a classical and you need to put on a decnet enough gauge of steel strings in order to make the top vibrate (preferably 0.12 and up). Nylon string won't cut it on a steelstring guitar, the strings have too little tension to make the top of the guitar vibrate. This is a common misconception, ask at you local store for a pck of D'Addario 11's or 12's ten compare the tension ratings to a set of ProArte Nylon, there is no real difference, infact the tesion is slightly higher in some instances. As for stinging you stell guitar with Nylons, they aren't ball end, the stringing method is completely different, how are you going to hold them on?
Members GN-Nick Posted December 26, 2004 Members Posted December 26, 2004 Nylon strings exert about 90lbs of tension, steel can do anywhere from 150-200 You can get ball end nylon, if I could only remember from whom. ....and google says: http://www.daddario.com/STRINGCT/folk.htm
Members fingerstyleman Posted December 26, 2004 Members Posted December 26, 2004 Originally posted by GN-Nick Nylon strings exert about 90lbs of tension, steel can do anywhere from 150-200You can get ball end nylon, if I could only remember from whom.....and google says:http://www.daddario.com/STRINGCT/folk.htm Look up the ratings for Hard and High tension Nylon strings, I think you'll be suprised.
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