Cheap nylon or cheap steel

[SilleeSpyder]

My girlfriend has recently taken up guitar and is improving quickly. I want to get her a guitar for Christmas. Right now she is learning on my steel string, but really likes playing on her brother in law's nylon string. She doesnt really play classical so I've been trying to push her to stay on steel string because they seem more versatile and I've heard that as far as quality VS affordability goes, cheap steel string guitars are better than cheap nylons.

 

I am looking to spend between $100 and $150 for her first guitar. I was looking at getting her a Yamaha or Washburn steel string, but in respect of her desires, tell me if I'm wrong about the cheap nylon strings. What would you do in my place? What do you think would be the best choice?

 

thanks, Rick Scott

[SurrealMcCoy]

As I learned today from my visit (& education) to Divine Appointment Guitars...............you will be able to find a better value in a steel string for less money as opposed to the quality in a nylon string instrument, unless you wish to spend alot more. Check out Walden guitars (for steel string). If you decide to go the nylon route.........check out the La Patrie Etude for an inexpensive learning instrument..........

[FingerBone Bill]

You got a lot to learn about women Rick!

 

A cheap anything isn't going to get you anywhere!

 

Whatever you get her make sure you back it up with a little bling-bling.

[SurrealMcCoy]

Originally posted by FingerBone Bill You got a lot to learn about women Rick! A cheap anything isn't going to get you anywhere! Whatever you get her make sure you back it up with a little bling-bling.

 

 

ROTFLMAO :D

[Osmosis]

Hey rick!

 

Jenna (that's her name, right?) probably likes the nylon string because it's easier on her fingers. That said, every factory-produced nylon-string i've ever played (with the exception of a very expensive ramirez) has felt and sounded like a toy. With classicals you don't really start getting good until you get into the (expensive!) hand-built jobs. The construction of a classical has to be much more delicate, i.e. thinner soundboard and finish, etc. than a steel-string, and as such don't lend themselves well to being mass-produced.

 

However, there are lots of good steel-strings to be had for relatively cheap. If you want my advice, just get her a Seagull steel-string and put some thinner strings on it. She'll build more finger strength that way anyway.

 

P.S.--saw your solid-state olympics post...wow, i'm a celebrity! Speaking of that Savage, I just retubed it with NOS Jan GE 6550's, and biased it up properly...110% improvement in tone! You need to hear this beast...

[redstevo]

If you buy a classical, the Yamaha CG101 is good for the money and the cheapest I've seen that sounds ok. If she wants to play classical for musical reasons, buy her a classical!

redstevo

[d15martin]

I believe rondomusic.com has both a solid-top dreadnaught and a solid-top classical (even with cutaway) in that price range.

 

The steel-string is called SX-30 and the nylon-string is the Valencia.

 

(the dred being a Taylor copy as I've heard)

 

I've heard very good things about them and still waiting for others to comment more on them.

 

I am very tempted to get some!

 

(If you don't find them on their website, they also have them on Ebay)

[golfnerd]

 

Originally posted by SilleeSpyder My girlfriend has recently taken up guitar and is improving quickly. I want to get her a guitar for Christmas. Right now she is learning on my steel string, but really likes playing on her brother in law's nylon string. She doesnt really play classical so I've been trying to push her to stay on steel string because they seem more versatile and I've heard that as far as quality VS affordability goes, cheap steel string guitars are better than cheap nylons. I am looking to spend between $100 and $150 for her first guitar. I was looking at getting her a Yamaha or Washburn steel string, but in respect of her desires, tell me if I'm wrong about the cheap nylon strings. What would you do in my place? What do you think would be the best choice? thanks, Rick Scott

Here's a great Washburn to get. Here's a nice Yamaha classical guitar. Here's another Yamaha classical. Also, on Ebay there's a nice selection of Yamaha classical guitars. Any of them would be a good one to get.

 

Owning both steel string and classical guitars, I would get whatever your girlfriend likes to play the best. As far as the cheap steel vs nylon issue, you will find crap guitars as well as great guitars on either side of the fence.

 

Bottom line, if you decide on steel, get the Washburn. If you get nylon, most any Yamaha will do very nicely. Good luck.

[golfnerd]

Originally posted by Osmosis Hey rick! Jenna (that's her name, right?) probably likes the nylon string because it's easier on her fingers. That said, every factory-produced nylon-string i've ever played (with the exception of a very expensive ramirez) has felt and sounded like a toy. With classicals you don't really start getting good until you get into the (expensive!) hand-built jobs. The construction of a classical has to be much more delicate, i.e. thinner soundboard and finish, etc. than a steel-string, and as such don't lend themselves well to being mass-produced.

I have to respectfully disagree. I have a Lucida Concerto that I paid 300.00 for:cool:and that is every bit as good as some of those "expensive handmade" guitars. My classical guitar instructor played it for a while when I first got it and was really shocked at how good it sounded compared to her over 6000.00 guitar. Anyway, there are some great classical guitars to be had without selling off your first born or your kidney.