classical guitars

[dtb]

a question for you classical guitar owners. do the strings EVER quit stretching? mine is just starting to stay in tune a little after about 10 days. I'm thinking this is normal for nylon, but this is my first experience with a classical. I just got the guitar, and the strings that came on it are probably cheapies. what's a good brand of string and what gauges (if any)? the guitar is a Riamundo 128 with a cedar top. it sounds great.

thanks,

Dan

 

[Track Rat]

It's a pain, ain't it? You can minimize the problem by keeping a minimum of string wound on the tuning posts and by packing the windings tightly together. It takes mine (both of them) about a week to settle down.

 

[dtb]

thanks, Track. I was hoping that would be the case. any thoughts on strings?

 

[JR#97]

I change the string on my nylon about 4 times a year. They always seem to take a good 3 or 4 weeks to really get settled.

 

[dobro]

Yeah, nylon strings take a few days to settle in. Some players change just the lower 3 strings when it's time, cuz you know, those nylon strings don't change much once they've settled in LOL. I find two things significant when I buy a set of nylon strings - first, the thickness of each of the strings - I like lighter on the top and heavier on the bottom - and I wish string makers would print the string thicknesses on the package - some don't.

The second thing is the three bottom strings - they seem way more variable in terms of sound than the three top strings. I can't get 'em in Singapore these days, but one brand I liked a lot was 'Classic N' made by Thomastik-Infeld. Another nice set I used to get was a Spanish make called Royal Classics.

Right now, I've I've got normal tension D'Addarios on the bottom and 3 Classic Ns on the top.

 

[LI_Slim]

I like the D'Addario COMPOSITES. They cost twice as much but they retain their tone twice as long. They also have a brightness that works great for folk/country-type playing. They also have some special newfangled G string that eases the transition between the wound and unwound.

And we all know that a good G string is very very important.

 

[dtb]

thanks fellows, for the info. And Larry, I'm glad you chimed in, cause that makes a lot of sense, about the G string. Are you saying the same brand string is offering this?

 

[Light]

Savarez are probably the best strings, but they are WAY expensive. D'Addario, GHS and Augustine are all good, and I have heard a lot of good things about Lisa strings (but good luck finding them.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[Light]

They also have some special newfangled G string that eases the transition between the wound and unwound.

This is an old idea, started by Savarez.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi

 

[dtb]

Light, did you get my pm, a couple days ago?

and thanks for the info.

Dan

 

[Richard Monroe]

No, they never really stop stretching, it just slows down. A lot of concert classicists keep an extra guitar for worst case scenarios. Fortunately, I play mostly steel strings, so if I break a string on the classical I just switch to different material. I know one pure classical guitarist who carries a couple of sets of gut strings (yes, they still make them) for emergencies, because the break in time is so much shorter than nylon.-Richie

 

[dobro]

dtb - "Are you saying the same brand string is offering this?"

Yup. The last time I bought D'Addario composites, the set had two G strings - an ordinary one and a brown one - player's choice which one to put on the instrument.

 

[dtb]

thanks dobro, seen'em cheaper than 15.00 anywhere? I don't think that's a bad price. If they DO last longer. It sounds smaller if I wait and get some when I order guitar(3), mando, banjo, classical strings all at once. LOL

Dan

 

[dobro]

Yeah, Larry's right - the composites sound better longer.

 

[rpe]

My experience is that high tension strings take less time to "stretch in" than mediums.

rpe

 

[LI_Slim]

thanks dobro, seen'em cheaper than 15.00 anywhere? I don't think that's a bad price. If they DO last longer. It sounds smaller if I wait and get some when I order guitar(3), mando, banjo, classical strings all at once. LOL

Dan

$9.49 at Just Strings:

http://www.juststrings.com/dad-ej45c.html

And it is nice to have the extra conventional G-string just in case. Although nylon g-strings never seem to break; only the lower 3 occasionally do.

Gee, I kinda miss my classical guitar. I've been playing my new Breedlove almost exclusively since I got it; think I'll dust off the old baby this weekend.

 

[dtb]

that's what I'm talking about. 9.49 sounds good. I just got this classical a week or so ago. Been wanting one for ever. It's a cheapie Riamundo with a cedar top. I like it so far, and I guess it should get better with age, and playing. It was a pretty good deal. Got the guitar, a set of Sony 7506 cans, for 512.00, free shipping, 15 months to pay, and a cheapie Carlo Robelli strat comes free (coming direct in another week). I love Sam Ash. LOL.

Thanks for the link, Larry.

Dan

 

[philboyd studge]

I play nylon string guitars in severe desert conditions and out here many string makes don't hold up. Wound Savarez strings have unraveled on me on several occasions.

I've had good luck with these:
http://www.stringthis.com/clasguitstri.html

I get 'em in sets of 4, they are always fresh.

 

[dtb]

studge, my man, thanks for the link. when you buy for all yo instruments, every penny counts.

thanks,

Dan

 

[philboyd studge]

Sure thing.

I think for finer classical and flamenco guitars high end strings matter, but I play a pair of identical custom shop Ovation Country Artists and a Guild Mark II for all my nylon stuff and I just can't justify the cost.