Acoustic Guitar Steel
Is it ok to modify a steel string acoustic guitar to use nylon strings?
Would it be bad for the neck to switch to nylon strings? If I do decide to make the switch, I would probably have a guitar tech redo or replace the nut, but what would have to be done with the bridge?
You really shouldn't do it.
A steel string guitar uses ball end strings to anchor them while a nylon uses knotted loops so this will be your first hurdle. Next, since nylon strings are larger diameter you'll have to modify the saddle, nut, and tuning machines to accept them. Then you'll likely need a truss rod adjustment to reduce the counteraction of strings to neck.
 |
|
Emedia Eg07108 Teach Yourself Acoustic Guitar Pack Steel String $124.92 |
The Loar LH 309 VS F Hole Arch Top Acoustic Electric Steel String P90 Guitar $399.00 (1 Bid) |
New Acoustic Guitar Steel Strings 150XL Gauge 6pcs 1M $2.11 Buy It Now for only: $2.11 |
|
Resonator Steel Guitar Vintage $393.74 Buy It Now for only: $630.94 |
Hohner HR 200CE Round Neck Dobro Duolian Electric Steel Slide Guitar Resonator $239.00 (1 Bid) |
Parlor Size Steel Resonator Guitar national shipping $399.00 Buy It Now for only: $495.00 |
|
Ernie Ball 1010 Electric Acoustic Guitar Plain Steel 010 Single String $1.99 Buy It Now for only: $1.99 |
Oscar Schmidt OGHSB 34 Childrens Acoustic Guitar Steel String Black used $10.49 (2 Bids) |
Dean Markley Blue Steel Acoustic Guitar Strings CL $6.98 Buy It Now for only: $6.98 |
|
SPECIAL BODY WEISSENBORN STYLE LAP STEEL GUITAR BEDIAZ HAWAIIAN LAPSTEEL $161.29 (20 Bids) |
Hohner Essential Plus Steel String Folk Acoustic Guitar $139.00 Buy It Now for only: $159.00 |
Golden Acoustic Guitar Trigger Capo For 6 steel String $4.79 Buy It Now for only: $4.79 |
|
Martin Steel String Backpacker Small Acoustic Guitar + Gig Bag $122.50 (3 Bids) |
5 pieces of acoustic guitar steel strings E 1ST $2.99 Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
Black Cutaway Steel String Acoustic Guitar w acc+bag $29.95 |
|
LR Baggs iBeam Passive Acoustic Guitar Pickup for Steel String Guitars $0.99 (1 Bid) |
Luna Gypsy Quilt Ash Grand Auditorium Full Size Steel String Acoustic Guitar $189.00 |
New Classical Acoustic Guitar Nylon Steel Strings Set $3.88 Buy It Now for only: $3.88 |
|
1930 NATIONAL STEEL BODY WALNUT SUNBURST TRIOLIAN VINTAGE GUITAR $2,995.00 Buy It Now for only: $3,295.00 |
Weissenborn Style Deep Body Lap Steel with P U and EQ Hand made USA Seller $200.00 |
NEW Eleca PRO FULL set STEEL Acoustic Guitar Strings6 $3.99 Buy It Now for only: $3.99 |
|
Squier MA 1 3 4 size Steel string Acoustic Guitar open box $49.00 |
1 Bag Acoustic Guitar Music Steel Strings Set 028 0322 $2.99 Buy It Now for only: $2.99 |
The Loar LO 16 BK Small Body Steel String Acoustic Mahogany Guitar Black Finish $225.00 Buy It Now for only: $250.00 |
|
Hummingbird Acoustic Guitar Cherry Sunburst Steel Reinforced Neck Beautiful $99.99 |
Set of 6 Steel Strings for Acoustic Guitar 150XL Gauge $1.51 Buy It Now for only: $1.51 |
SOJING ACOUSTIC SILENT ELECTRIC GUITARSTEEL STRING $25.00 (6 Bids) |
|
KK Sound Systems PURE MINI Transducer for Steel String Acoustic Guitar NEW $91.00 Buy It Now for only: $91.00 |
The Acoustic Guitar: An Overview
An acoustic guitar is one that relies solely on acoustic methods to project the sound produced by its strings. Interestingly, the term "acoustic guitar" was not coined until the invention of the electric guitar made it necessary to differentiate between the two. Most people are familiar with the appearance of an acoustic guitar. Made of wood, hollow, and usually possessing six strings stretched over a "sound hole" on its face, an acoustic guitar is the image that many people associate with the word "guitar."
Instruments related to what we would call a guitar have been in existence for at least 5,000 years. As best we can tell, the guitar seems to have evolved from an instrument called the cithara (lat.), which was used in ancient central Asia. While it may have been widely used for thousands of years, there is little hard evidence of its use until the Middle Ages. At that time, guitars with three, four, and five strings are known to have existed and been popular.
By the time of the Renaissance, which began in the 14th century, the instrument was firmly established enough to warrant its own name, this being the Renaissance guitar. This guitar, sometimes called a gittern, was carved from a single piece of wood, had four strings, and was noticeably smaller than the guitars of today. After the end of the Renaissance, the guitar continued to be a popular musical instrument. The classic appearance with which we are familiar was created by Antonio Torres Jurado in the middle of the 19th century. However, as evinced by the plethora of instrument styles available today, the guitar continues to evolve according to the popular music of the day
Today, acoustic guitars actually fall into two categories, those with steel strings and those with nylon strings; and within these two categories, there are a variety of subcategories. Those guitars with nylon strings include the Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, Classical (considered the modern version of the original guitar), and Flamenco guitars. Those with steel strings include the Resonator, Archtop, Battente, Lap steel, Lyre, twelve string, and basic steel-string guitars. Not surprisingly, considering the variety of instruments within each category, acoustic guitars can be used in many different kinds of music, from country, to rock, to jazz. Indeed, both historically and in modern times, acoustic guitars are much more varied in their design and construction than their electric cousins.
No matter the category, all acoustic guitars rely on a soundboard and a resonant cavity to produce a discernable sound. The body of a guitar is hollow. When the strings stretched over the sound hole are caused to vibrate, they pass that vibration on to the soundboard. Because the soundboard possesses a larger surface area, it displaces a larger volume of air. The result is a louder sound than can be produced by the strings alone. This sound is then increased once again by the resonant cavity, or the hollow space within the guitar. At no time is any external energy or equipment used to increase the sound produced by an acoustic guitar, which is, of course, what makes it fundamentally different from an electric guitar.
About the Author
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, keyboards, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio. You can find the best marketplace at these sites for acoustic guitars, sheet music, guitar tab, and home theater audio.
You must log in to post a comment.