New strings for classical guitar

New strings for classical guitar

It's been nearly 40 years since I have used nylon strings and have no idea
what type/gauge/brand to get to replace the ones on my girlfriends classical
(no ball at the end of the string) guitar. She is a beginner so has no
callous buildup at all and has very small hands (I question whether she
shouldn't be using a guitar with a narrower neck but it is what she has) so
am thinking a lighter gauge then normal but I really don't know.

Any suggestions or guidelines?

Don Freeman
--
Ever had one of those days where you just felt like:
* cosmoslair . com /BadDay.html ?
(Eating the elephant outside the box, one paradigm at a time)

Re: New strings for classical guitar


"Don Freeman" <freemand@sonic . net > wrote in message
news:481236a3$0$34548$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
> It's been nearly 40 years since I have used nylon strings and have no idea
> what type/gauge/brand to get to replace the ones on my girlfriends
> classical (no ball at the end of the string) guitar. She is a beginner so
> has no callous buildup at all and has very small hands (I question whether
> she shouldn't be using a guitar with a narrower neck but it is what she
> has) so am thinking a lighter gauge then normal but I really don't know.
>
> Any suggestions or guidelines?
>
> Don Freeman
> --
> Ever had one of those days where you just felt like:
> * cosmoslair . com /BadDay.html ?
> (Eating the elephant outside the box, one paradigm at a time)
>
>
Hi Don I have only ever used the Pro-Arte normal tension and
my 5 year old grandchildren use the same strings on their half size
classical guitars. Because their guitars are a shorter scale I guess
the strings are not as taut also.

Heres a couple of links

* w w w .daddario . com /DADFClassic.aspx?ID=4
* w w w .stringsdirect.co.uk/products/645-d_addario_ej_pro_arte_classical

Regards John

Re: New strings for classical guitar


"Jaygo" <jaygo999BREATH@hotmail . com > wrote in message
news:67f2fqF2nj9djU1@mid.individual . net ...
>
> "Don Freeman" <freemand@sonic . net > wrote in message
> news:481236a3$0$34548$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
>> It's been nearly 40 years since I have used nylon strings and have no
>> idea what type/gauge/brand to get to replace the ones on my girlfriends
>> classical (no ball at the end of the string) guitar. She is a beginner
>> so has no callous buildup at all and has very small hands (I question
>> whether she shouldn't be using a guitar with a narrower neck but it is
>> what she has) so am thinking a lighter gauge then normal but I really
>> don't know.
>>
>>
>>
> Hi Don I have only ever used the Pro-Arte normal tension and
> my 5 year old grandchildren use the same strings on their half size
> classical guitars. Because their guitars are a shorter scale I guess
> the strings are not as taut also.
>
> Heres a couple of links
>
> * w w w .daddario . com /DADFClassic.aspx?ID=4
> * w w w .stringsdirect.co.uk/products/645-d_addario_ej_pro_arte_classical
>

Thanks John, now I won't sound totally clueless when I go in to get them. I
use D'Addario strings on both of my acoustic guitars so I will go with the
Pro-Arte.

Don

Re: New strings for classical guitar

Don Freeman wrote:
> It's been nearly 40 years since I have used nylon strings and have no
> idea what type/gauge/brand to get to replace the ones on my
> girlfriends classical (no ball at the end of the string) guitar. She
> is a beginner so has no callous buildup at all and has very small
> hands (I question whether she shouldn't be using a guitar with a
> narrower neck but it is what she has) so am thinking a lighter gauge
> then normal but I really don't know.
> Any suggestions or guidelines?

Tension means very little for nylon strings
if we're trying to estimate perceived
fretting difficulty. There's so little tension
in nylons, and they are large in diameter.
Fretting strength is not a factor.

I use/sell Martins and D'Addy's, natural
and composites. That's the three styles I
use.


Lumpy

In Your Ears for 40 Years
w w w .LumpyMusic . com

Re: New strings for classical guitar

On Apr 25, 2:53 pm, "Don Freeman" <freem...@sonic . net > wrote:
> It's been nearly 40 years since I have used nylon strings and have no idea=

> what type/gauge/brand to get to replace the ones on my girlfriends classic=
al
> (no ball at the end of the string) guitar.  She is a beginner so has no
> callous buildup at all and has very small hands (I question whether she
> shouldn't be using a guitar with a narrower neck but it is what she has) s=
o
> am thinking a lighter gauge then normal but I really don't know.
>
> Any suggestions or guidelines?
>
> Don Freeman
> --
> Ever had one of those days where you just felt like: * cosmoslair . com /=
BadDay.html?
> (Eating the elephant outside the box, one paradigm at a time)

I'm a fan of Pro-Arte (D'Adderio) J46 Hard Tension...I find the
normals/medium too floppy, but then, I don't do Flamenco.
Here's a link that may be of some assistance:

* w w w .classicalguitarbuilder . com /march news/October Newsletter.html

Cheers, CS

Re: New strings for classical guitar


"Cyberserf" <cybrserf@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:ce7b07ea-47c9-44d4-baaa-5d514b814fcc@w7g2000hsa.googlegroups . com ...
On Apr 25, 2:53 pm, "Don Freeman" <freem...@sonic . net > wrote:
> It's been nearly 40 years since I have used nylon strings and have no idea
> what type/gauge/brand to get to replace the ones on my girlfriends
> classical
> (no ball at the end of the string) guitar. She is a beginner so has no
> callous buildup at all and has very small hands (I question whether she
> shouldn't be using a guitar with a narrower neck but it is what she has)
> so
> am thinking a lighter gauge then normal but I really don't know.
>
> Any suggestions or guidelines?
>
> Don Freeman
> --
> Ever had one of those days where you just felt
> like: * cosmoslair . com /BadDay.html?
> (Eating the elephant outside the box, one paradigm at a time)
=================
I'm a fan of Pro-Arte (D'Adderio) J46 Hard Tension...I find the
normals/medium too floppy, but then, I don't do Flamenco.
Here's a link that may be of some assistance:

* w w w .classicalguitarbuilder . com /march_news/October_Newsletter.html

Cheers, CS
====================

Yes it was, I've narrowed down the criteria now to steel wound instead of
bronze wound. Not because of sound or playability but rather it's ability
to stay in tune longer. Nice clue on the site on how to extend the life of
the bass strings.

Re: New strings for classical guitar

Don Freeman wrote:
> ...I've narrowed down the criteria now to steel wound
> instead of bronze wound...

I don't know of any steel wound classical strings.
Typically they are silverplated copper windings.


Lumpy

In Your Ears for 40 Years
w w w .LumpyMusic . com

Re: New strings for classical guitar

Don,

I liked Savarez high tension on my old Aria but that may not help you.
Your girl friend needs to try out different strings to see what strings she
likes on her guitar. I'd suggest that she keep a notebook as she tries
different strings. I also found that it took several days for the strings to
settle down so don't change these strings just before a performance.

Dave M.

Re: New strings for classical guitar


"Don Freeman" <freemand@sonic . net > wrote in message
news:481236a3$0$34548$742ec2ed@news.sonic . net ...
> It's been nearly 40 years since I have used nylon strings and have no idea
> what type/gauge/brand to get to replace the ones on my girlfriends
> classical (no ball at the end of the string) guitar. She is a beginner so
> has no callous buildup at all and has very small hands (I question whether
> she shouldn't be using a guitar with a narrower neck

Small children play them.

but it is what she has) so
> am thinking a lighter gauge then normal but I really don't know.

Depends on what sound you want and what you play.

>
> Any suggestions or guidelines?
>
> Don Freeman
> --
> Ever had one of those days where you just felt like:
> * cosmoslair . com /BadDay.html ?
> (Eating the elephant outside the box, one paradigm at a time)
>
>
>
I would say that the choice of strings has little difference in how hard you
have to press them. I would start out with D'Addario EJ45 Normal Tension
strings. The EJ45's feel a bit mushy to me. I prefer the EJ46 Hard Tension
strings.

Bob