Hi folks
Despite having built 7 guitars, I've never made one with nylon strings like a classical. So, this is exactly the guitar I'm starting to plan. But I'm wondering if there are any pit falls that I might be facing with a nylon stringed guitar?
As you can see from the photo, it's based on a large 3 bottle wine box, which I'm hoping might make a nice enough sound, and I'm intending to use a classical guitar bridge with a rod piezo. I'm a little bit worried that I might not get the bridge in the right place, so I'm thinking of slotting bolt holes in the lid to allow for adjustment. I was hoping not to use traditional classical tuners, as that would need a wider head to accommodate the two wide slots. Are there any single tuners like the run of the mill acoustic types that would work with nylon strings?
I'm not planning on bracing the lid, as the classical bridge will not be pushing down, and the nylon strings won't be as highly tensioned. Is this a mistake? Will it still lift the lid upwards?
Has anyone made anything similar? If so, what problems might I come across? Any advice would be gladly accepted, before I make a pig's ear of it.
Cheers folks
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my number one problem with nylon strings: you're gonna have to wind those suckers forever to get in tune.
as for the rod piezos, check out randy bretz, here on the nation, - he's the rod master.
one cool looking guitar for sure.
Cheers for swinging by and adding a comment. I'll check out randy bretz. Thanks, man.
Why do you think the nylon strings will need constant winding to keep them in tune? I play a classical as my non-homemade player, and the strings keep in tune for ages.
i agree with the nylon strings seemingly winding forever to get them up to tension the first time .. you will also notice they will need time to stretch to eventually stay in tune once left unattended for a bit .. but it gets better with time . they will stretch and stay in tune eventually .
the only other drawback is not being able to wrap your head around why they work soo good with a slide ..
and convincing others of it too ;-)
Thanks Pick!
Slide on nylon strings?! Don't make me laugh!
see .. ya dont believe me .. lol, try it .
Nice idea, kid. I knew I could count on you to come up with a solution.
I grew up playing classical guitars, so I'm used to quieter guitars. That's one of the reasons I'm fitting a rod piezo, like the one on my electro-classical. What did you mean by lighter top? Top end strings, or top of the box?
Wow! That sounds aces! Who knew the Pick was right?
He's got that tuned like a ukulele if I'm not mistaken? Actually, it is a ukulele isn't it?
nylon on tin , with rod piezo , pickin and slidin and amped dirty .
Thanks Ron,
Yep I'm planning for it to be a 6-stringer. I was looking at it being about 25" scale length, as I read somewhere that the longer the scale the louder the volume. I know the bridge was placed a little too far towards the bottom of the box, but for me there is always aesthetic versus function battle. I like your idea of rigging up a test string, I'll have a go at that tonight. I like the idea of having offset tuners, I'll give that some thought.
Cheers man.
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