Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jerry Jordan on March 11, 2024 at 7:39am

I'm sure plenty of members have their own ideas, but taking a cheap steel string and putting nylon strings is one way.. or get a cheap classical guitar and shave the neck down.,. You could either pull the frets before reshaping the neck, and just re-fret after words.,., or, leave the frets in and shape with an angle grinder.,., and there is always build your own., maybe a cheap used guitar you could build a new neck for,.,. enjoy..!!

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on March 11, 2024 at 11:16am

Hi Tim, I am not familiar with crossover guitars, in fact, I had to look up the meaning of the word and how it applied to the guitar. Although over the years I had converted a few guitars in this manner but never put a name to it.
Obviously, your fingers would handle the thicker nylon strings on a narrower neck, as you have already played on such a setup [unless you have put on some weight in those years, Hahaha].

A few thoughts on the matter that may or may not be important to you.
First, whichever doner guitar you use you have some work to do.
The first consideration is the scale length, steel strings are normally 25.5” and nylon 25” the longer scale may give a stiffer feel to the nylon strings. Not a worry.
The nut width is reduced, is the string spacing at the saddle also reduced?
Cheap steel strings may be overly heavy-braced, will the nylon strings drive the top enough to give a decent sound. This may not be an issue in this case.
The existing fretboard could be re-radiused, not forgetting the saddle too. And deepening of the fret slots.

Making the neck narrower would mean removing the fingerboard and frets, which would be needed to re-radius the board anyway. The amount of neck carving would depend on the width of the fingerboard at the neck/body joint, depending on the string spacing at the bridge.

I would go with a nylon doner guitar as it has the correct bridge, body size, scale length, and break angle off of the nut.

Good luck, Taff.
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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on March 12, 2024 at 2:09am

cheers guys, i already have a yamaha C40 classical guitar and i use it for now. The nut width of 51.7mm and the flat board give me dificulties playing it for long. its ok for finger picking but when i want to practice a song with barre chords , well its difficult and my hand hurts and i stop playing. 

I have 2 steel string 6 strings and a Martin 12 string i recently bought . i have a Telecaster and a Yamaha Pacifica 121D ( S style guitar) .

i just want something easy to play but quiet like a nylon string can be. the classical guitar has a 650mm scale length so thats 25 1/2" ish.... 

i might have to knock up something myself but i know it wont be good...lol

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on March 12, 2024 at 10:55am

Hi, my bad about the nylon scale, oops.

Have you tried covering the soundhole on a steel string [a la Feedback Buster], and fitting silk and steel softer strings? I had a guitar to repair some years ago that was chock full of pillow stuffing. Now that was quiet.
Taff

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Permalink Reply by David L. on March 15, 2024 at 9:12am

Hi Tim,

Late to the party but the dimensions you describe are close to a 7/8 sized classical. Several here to check out the specs of

https://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?smcs=1f3d44_3663&a...

Not sure how common they are in your country though?

Link not opening so try cut and pasting https://www.thomann.de/gb/search_dir.html?smcs=1f3d44_3663&oa=p...

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on March 17, 2024 at 1:39am

Thanks but these still have a flat fingerboard and a 48mm nut width. yes it is down from 51mm on my yamaha classical. The prices look fine but shipping to Australia is going to cost way more than the guitar! not worth it.

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on March 17, 2024 at 8:06am

Seems to me like you would want to stay away from any acoustic instruments if you were trying to be quiet, right? 

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on March 17, 2024 at 12:46pm

Hi Tim, as you are in Australia I may be able to help [he says jokingly]. If only you lived closer.
I have done a few neck conversions over the years, even made 6-string necks narrow to suit 3-string CBGs.

Brian Q’s comment made me think, why not string up a steel string with nylon strings, fit an external piezo bug to the face, fill the guitar with a towel, plug into a small amp, acoustic with headphone out facility if possible, and wear headphones. However, the towel may negate the need for pickup and amp.
Cheers Taff

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on March 21, 2024 at 2:28am

Taff im just down the road in brissie...lol 

Part of the reason was to play a nylon string gently, a big part of the reason is i miss the guitar i had as a 14 year old... nostalgia.  I have a Fender Mustang micro headphone amp. so if only quiet was the reason i would just use that on my Tele... https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/ZoomJpg/10001/2311300000_fen_amp_frt_01_nr.jpg" alt="Gallery image 1 of 17"/>

got all sorts of amp and effect emulation but uses wired headphones. will take bluetooth in so i can play a song and play along with it. 

just an old mans dream of his youth...lol 

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on March 21, 2024 at 2:31am

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on March 21, 2024 at 2:32am

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on April 8, 2024 at 12:52am

https://www.mooloolabamusic.com.au/valencia-vc204h-thin-neck-full-s...

well cant build anything for this little! 

was up in Moolooba for work so droped into the local guitar/music store and $119 AUD i picked up this little guitar. 

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