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Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 6
Location: Aguascalientes, Mexico | Hello everybody:
I finally was able to buy my own Ovation guitar. It was hard as I live in Mexico and I am left-handed. I get an LC047 and it arrived me with D'addario EXP16 strings. I do not like steel strings very much so I want to know if it is possible to use nylon strings and what kind are the best for my guitar. Someone recommended me "Dean Markley Nylon strings" but I am not sure.
Can somebody tell me what kind of nylon strings are good for my guitar? |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | You really have the wrong instrument for nylon strings. You could put pretty much any brand on the guitar, it wont make a whole lot of difference. The guitar is way too heavily built to produce a decent acoustic tone from the lower tension of the nylon strings. Also the cambered fingerboard and compensated saddle may be a problem. There are low-tension steel strings available or you could try a set of "Silk & Steel" which are a compromise between steel & nylon. If you absolutely must put nylon strings on your guitar use an extra-hard tension set. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 888
Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Paul:
Do your comments apply to all Ovations or just the ones with steel strings? I'm hoping to buy an Ovation Classical or Country Artist but have been told they may be too robust for a good nylon sound.
I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.
Jim |
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Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 44
Location: Richland, Washington | Jim -
I just received a BRAND new 1863-4, Legend Classic, which is a Shallow Cutaway O straight from the Factory via Al Pepiak and let me tell you it's smooth as silk. It's got such a pure nylon sound that is not overbearing at all. The person who told you Ovation Nylons are too robust has NEVER touched an instrument like this one. Thanks to Al Pepiak of Lost Art Vintage Instruments for setting me up!
Craig
1863-4 Legend Classic (2003)
1612-4 Custom Balladeer (Original Owner since 1980)
1515D-4 Ultra Deluxe 12 String (Bridge Repair on the way!)
Photos soon to come... |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 105
Location: San Francisco, CA | Craig, Paul T's comment is correct. He definitely has touched & played many Ovation nylon string.
If you try some good classical guitars, you will know what he meant. If you are classical guitarist, 1863 may not be the best choice for you. |
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Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 44
Location: Richland, Washington | Ralph-You may have misunderstood me. I wasn't questioning Paul T's comment. He is right on. I was responding to Jim's comment above("I'm hoping to buy an Ovation Classical or Country Artist but have been told they may be too robust for a good nylon sound").
Craig |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 105
Location: San Francisco, CA | Ovation nylon strings, like all Ovation, are too robust or heavily constructed to be GOOD classical guitars.
If you are classical guitarist, you should get a Ramirez, for example. |
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Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 44
Location: Richland, Washington | Ralph - I don’t claim to be “good” at anything...but I’m having a good time. Thanks for your opinion!
Craig |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 105
Location: San Francisco, CA | Glad that you are having a good time. You are new & may not know that we discussed this many times before. For more info, do a search on "classical". |
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Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 44
Location: Richland, Washington | I submit to your long history of expertise on this Bulletin Board, but respectfully Ralph, a search on the word “classical” and “nylon” under your OFC ID only yields this string. You are entitled to your opinion and I am entitled to mine. Thanks again for the search advice and sorry to be such a newbie and not understand the rules of this board. Hope you have a great night in the City by the Bay!
Craig |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | My comments in this case were related to Javo's queston regarding putting nylon strings on a steel string Ovation. But, while Ovation nylon strings make great amplified guitars for latin, jazz, country or anything where a nylon-string vibe is needed, even the best of them do not compete acoustically, in terms of tone, volume & projection with a reasonable traditional classical guitar. That is not to say they are not very useful instruments, but they are in my opinion inappropriate for a traditional classical repertoire |
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Joined:
October 2003
Posts: 44
Location: Richland, Washington | Well said Paul!
Craig |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | We, Las Cruces, are having a Mariachi festival with Mariachi Cobre and I noticed that Pimentel is going to stage a guitar maker's conference, I will try to attend and report on it. I believe they represent the spanish classical nylon string guitar makers.
Bailey |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Bailey;
Pimentel & Sons are based in Albuquerque.
They make both nylon and steel string guitars.
They have some very nice models with intricate (and quite pretty "SouthWest"-look inlay work).
I played some of their quitars in a small shop in Santa Fe last year. Very nice (but expensive). |
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Nylon strings
