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August 2003
Posts: 888
Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Just curious...if you have a nylon string guitar, do the nylon strings need to be replaced? I was thinking about how the strings would not corrode like metal ones do. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 848
Location: Canada | I have not used a nylon string guitar in many years, but when I played one frequently I noticed that the wound strings go dull and unpleasant quite quickly, and a fresh set improved the sound markedly. Also the wound strings used to be silver based/coated and oxidized quickly and after a while just looked unappealing. So yeah if I still used a nylon string guitar I would change strings as soon as they did not sound or look good anymore. |
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June 2005
Posts: 489
Location: California | I have played nylon string guitars for years. If you play mainly nylon you will note the wounded strings become dull and the sound turns opaque. If you use a pick, these worn out very quick. +1 D'ovation. Fingerstyle (clean hands) if you have that habit, ~ every 6 months. H
Edited by hwebster 2016-12-22 10:42 AM
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Posts: 270
| Also, be aware that nylon strings take a little longer to stretch out and settle in than steel strings so be prepared to constantly retune for several days.
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Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | If you play a nylon string guitar regularly, then you'll need to change the strings about every 3 months (at least I do). The difference will amaze you. Both the wrapped strings and the nylon strings will go dead over time and become hard to tune.
Changing them takes a little time but is pretty easy. Here's a video showing the process
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98tEv7xtgkI&t=4s
And they do stretch out over time. Have a tuner available every time you pick it up. But when you stop having to tune it up, it's probably time to change them. I get about 3 months out of a set, but by that time, I'm thinking that the guitar sounds really crappy. My current set has been on almost a month and still sound great. I'll probably think about new strings by the end of January. |
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October 2014
Posts: 270
| I enjoy the ads I see on Craigslist and ebay that advertise a guitar as having "original strings" as if it's a good thing. I guess it could e a sign that it hasn't been played much but it's funny nonetheless. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 888
Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Thanks everyone! Sounds like its time to hit Reverb or Strings Are Us to get some new Nylons. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 888
Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Wow....anyone care to make a recommendation on brand, gauge and "Hard or Normal" Tension. My nylon string guitar is a Viper EA 63.
Appreciate the help. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 599
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA | Hi, StellarJim,
I would recommend SAVAREZ, or AUGUSTINE REDS. Nylon strings all have various gauges. BASS strings, and TREBLE STRINGS, often within the same set of Nylon Strings, are like APPLES, and ORANGES. Nylon String choice, and/or tone is a very personal/subjective thing, as it with Steel String guitars. NORMAL TENSION suits most nylon string/classical guitar players. HARD TENSION strings, as the name suggests, have more tension over the entire string's length, and are thus, harder to play. At the same time, they also produce much more volume, and are used by players like LIONA BOYD for churches,/concert hall tours. You may have to try several sets before you actually find something you like. My classical guitar teachers in Toronto told me that "unless you are a virtuoso concert artist, or play with a pick? you cold leave the strings on for as longs as 6 months, or until they became,'floppy'. Your ear will always tell you when to change the strings."
Mike S
Ottawa, ON.
CANADA
Edited by Mike S. 2016-12-23 1:54 AM
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Replacing Nylon Strings