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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

265.0. "There are no dumb questions, just dumb answers." by MEDUSA::ZICCARDI (The Moral Mojority Is Niether.) Wed Jun 03 1987 03:00

    
        This may be a stupid question, but here goes.
    
        I have a Yamaha classical guitar. It's not a bad little axe,
      and the price was right, but i really don't like nylon strings.
     
        Can I put some metal classical strings on it, or will this
      completely screw up the guitar? I was afraid to try it since I
      really don't know if it will cause any damage.
    
        All replys, helpful hints, jabs, or insults welcome. 8^)
    
    
                                                   Mike Z.
    
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265.1Do not do it...PARSEC::MELENDEZWed Jun 03 1987 12:138
    Nylon strings do not put as much pressure on the neck as metal.
    Since classical guitar are made with nylon string in mind, I would
    think you will have problems. 
    
    I do not know about Yamaha, but I have a hand made classical which does
    not have the neck adjustment rod. I would recomend you getting another
    guitar with metal strings.
265.2guitarocideDONJON::CROWLEYWed Jun 03 1987 15:1110
    
    
    .1 is right!  Don't do it!  A classical guitar will never hold up
    to the stress of steel strings.  Especially a yamaha (not putting
    them down, I have one.)  You're better off getting a folk guitar
    which is made for steel strings.
    
    ralph
    
    
265.3Double duty acousticDREGS::BLICKSTEINDaveWed Jun 03 1987 16:479
    I believe that at one point, Yamaha (I think it was Yamaha) made
    a guitar that could take either nylon or steel strings.  It had
    classical style tuners, and a neck that was a sorta compromise between
    a classical guitar neck (wide) and a folk guitar neck (narrow).
    
    It was very appealing to me because I liked the width of the neck.
    But I never ended up getting one.

    	db
265.4Silk n SteelBMT::COMAROWThu Jun 04 1987 11:144
    Hold it.  There is a solution.   I don't know if they're still made,
    but Labella used to make a string called "Silk and Steel" which
    was designed for this purpose.  It will not destroy your neck, as
    it matches up in terms of pressure.
265.5I still wouldn't do it...LYMPH::LAMBERTInnocuous little personal nameThu Jun 04 1987 13:1011
re: .4  Not really.  Silk 'n Steel are lower in tension than standard steel,
   	but they will still exert more force than nylon.  S 'n S are really
   	made as a very low tension string for steel string guitars.
        
        Don't know if their still available. I used them once and found they
        lost their tone almost immediately.  Seems the silk in the string 
        "sucks up" any oils/dirt/etc from your fingers (regardless of how
        much you wash your hands) and that deadens the sound.  They did play
        very easily, though.
        
   -- Sam
265.6STOP!DV780::MALKOSKIThu Jun 04 1987 14:1611
    The real issue is in the construction of the instruments.  While
    the Yamaha is not considered a "serious" classical (until you get
    to the $2000 price range) they are still built more lightly than
    a steel string guitar.  The neck are not usually reinforced with
    either steel or ebony and the tops have very light fan bracing that
    will not, over time, withstand the added tension of steel string.
    If you really like the guitar, don't do it.  I'd strongly recommend
    a guitar that was built to handle steel.
    
    Paul
    
265.7RHETT::MCABEEzzzzzzzzzz...Thu Jun 04 1987 14:5812
    I remember back in the sixties there were several guitars available
    that were supposed to handle either nylon or silk&steel.  Martin
    even had one.  The ones I tried sounded predictably bad.  
    
    I did know a guy who put S&S on his Gibson C-1 "classical".  It
    withstood the strain, but sounded lousy.  But you kids at home,
    don't try this!  The C-1 was built like a battleship, not like a
    real classical guitar.
    
    Isn't the tension on S&S about twice that of nylon?
    
    Bob
265.8idonthinkso...BPOV10::LEAHYThu Jun 04 1987 16:129
    I dunno about "twice the tension", but it is undoubtedly more. 
    Beside that, silken strings only represent 3 (mebbe 4) of the 6.
    This leaves the 2 highest pitched, and more importantly, higher
    tensioned strings to exert added tension on the guitar...
    
    Besides, aren't classical guitars with nylon strings sorta sacred?
    
    Jon (BPOV02::NELSON)
    
265.9Stop in the name of love before you break the axeKAOM01::PENNYFrom The Great White NorthFri Jun 05 1987 14:509
    I have been working on guitars for about 4 : 5 years now. I have
    been asked to repair guitars (mainly *YAMAHA* classicals) which
    have had the neck bowed, and the soundboard in the lower bout area
    bellied-up (or out, I hope you understand what I mean) because people
    have put on steel strings. This is a *no-no*, if you want to keep
    a playable axe around for a while. Buy a flat-top axe which is constructed
    for steel strings. A classical axe sounds soooo nice when the number
    calls for one, and it won't be playable when you want it. 
    dep.
265.10I think I get the picture!!!MEDUSA::ZICCARDIThe Moral Mojority Is Niether.Tue Jun 09 1987 03:538
    
     OK OK OK OK OK OK. I think I will buy a steel string. I guess changing
    the strings from nylon to steel would be NOT GOOD VERY MUCH for
    my axe.
    
    Tank-Q for all the inputs. You've all been very helpful.
    
    MIke Z.
265.11No more BERM PLINK!?CHEFS::BFITZGERALDBarryTue Apr 10 1990 10:2620
    Whatever the Bass, (with whatever amp etc) I've always been unhappy
    with the extreme differences in the tone ( for any given setting
    ) from the E string thru A, D to G string.
    
    If I get the E (perhaps with A too) right ; a kind of "thunk",
    then the G string is far too sharp ; "plink".
                                      
    If I get the G string right ; a kind of bright but warm "derng",
    then the E string is far too boomy ; "berm".
    
    So the choice can be a THUNK with PLINK or
                           BERM  with DERNG.
    
    What I want (mostly) is THUNK with DERNG.
    
    I wonder if mixing strings could come close to achieving this; maybe
    E and A metals with D and G nylon wraps?
    
    Any helpful views?
          
265.12IOENG::JWILLIAMSWelcome to the Bush LeagueTue Apr 10 1990 16:354
    Sounds to me like you're unhappy with the pickup positions, OR, you
    may want to try out a fairly precise EQ system.
    
    							John.
265.13sounds vaguely familiarEZ2GET::STEWARTthe leper with the most fingersThu Mar 12 1992 13:556
    
    
    To continue the "stupid" theme...who plays the theme music for the Rush
    Limbaugh show?
    
    
265.14DROMO::BULLARDTue Mar 17 1992 12:5711
    Rush Limbaugh? Watch it, BUCK ripped me apart for asking that very
    same question a few months ago. Seems BUCK disagrees with his political
    leanings. Cool tune
    
    Song: My City Is Gone
    Artists: The Pretenders
    Album: Learning To Crawl
    
    (I jotted this down when one of Rush's callers asked him....)
    
    chuck (Rush Limbaugh fan)
265.15auto psycho killerEZ2GET::STEWARTthe leper with the most fingersTue Mar 17 1992 13:027
    
    
    Well!  I would have recognized that instantly if I'd ever heard the
    show.  I'm still waiting for Chrissy to get over Ray Davies (or
    whomever)...  I probably shouldn't listen to Limbaugh while I'm in the
    car, anyway.