How many people here play nylon string guitar?

**Woody Sound** · 05-14-2013, 02:22 PM

I've owned many, mostly fine traditional classics. But since I've been playing more jazz than classical over the last years I now have a few nice crossovers. A Cordoba Fusion 14

and a Carvin CL450

Carvin.com : CL450 NYLON STRING CLASSICAL GUITAR

and a Godin

http://www.godinguitars.com/godinacskoap.htm

I also have a Bartolex 10 string classical that I use in a violin/guitar duo with my wife.

NEW: Bartolex SPS10CEL 10-String Classical Guitar BartolexUSA Schoeps CMT30FN M934b Presonus ADL600

I really enjoy playing jazz on them, especially bossa stuff.

WS

**carlescountry** · 05-14-2013, 02:55 PM

I'm waiting this hybrid Martinez guitar in a couple of days

**bmw2002** · 05-14-2013, 03:45 PM

For anyone who lives in or plans to visit the NY/NJ/Philly area, you should check out The Classical Guitar Store in Center City Philadelphia. I wandered in there one day a couple of years ago (my son goes to school in Philadelphia) and walked out with a nice Orpheus Valley classical guitar with a spruce top and walnut back and sides. Nice folks and, as you would expect, very knowledgeable about classical/nylon string guitars.

The Classical Guitar Store ...since 1967 - Home

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 05-14-2013, 04:08 PM

I noodle on a cheap Yamaha classical guitar my wife bought for herself a long time ago.

Every so often I think of getting a cutaway nylon string, which I thought would be blasphemy to classical players. It's cool to see so many cutaways in this thread.

**Woody Sound** · 05-14-2013, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by carlescountry

I'm waiting this hybrid Martinez guitar in a couple of days

I almost bought one of these a couplle of years ago but they couldn't or wouldn't communicate about the nut width or radius. Where did you order it from?

**Doctor Jeff** · 05-14-2013, 05:07 PM

I currently play an Alvarez AC-60SC A/E. It's got a very nice tone, acoustic or amplified--wide neck, not radiused. The preamp is very versatile for shaping the tone and getting rid of squawk. Prior to that I had an Alvarez RC-20SC (no longer made)--had a VERY narrow, radiused neck that was great for jazz but lousy for classical repertoire.

I would like to get one of the cheaper Taylor nylon-string A/E's. They have a medium-width neck with a shallow radius and are both comfortable to play and great-sounding.

I would also mention the Sadowsky nylon-string that is IMO the best hybrid electric nylon-string I have ever heard live. A bit expensive though.

**Jim Soloway** · 05-14-2013, 08:45 PM

Greetings from an anonymous Starbucks somewhere north of Seattle and thanks for all the responses. I figured there would be a few but I'm really a bit surprised how many of the folks here play some nylon string. A lot of what's been said here confirms what I was thinking when I made this move yesterday. The next week is going to be pandemonium with a quick run up to Vancouver today and then the actual move next Tuesday but I'll try to check back in with a progress report and maybe even a bit of recording as I get a little more comfortable with this guitar.

**Rich724** · 05-14-2013, 08:54 PM

I have a Gibson Chet Atkins classical that I take out on occasion. Its a nice change.

**Moonray** · 05-15-2013, 12:22 AM

I have used a borrowed Gibson Chet Atkins nylon string on quite a few occasions.

The one my generous friend has is the narrower neck model.
I find it takes me a few minutes to adjust to the narrow fingerboard,
and additionally I find I have to play with a much more sensitive touch than
on a regular classical guitar, which I have played on and off for many years.

The other odd thing with the Chet is when you pick it up it feels [weight wise]
just like a Les Paul.

So quite a hybrid all in all.....but I've used it in situations where a normal amplified
classical would just be howling.......like one time playing a fairly upscale show with
a diva who had done the role of Eva Peron in "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" in the
West End production.

This show involved some exposed nylon string parts....and this was with like a 40 piece
orchestra.
The Chet just sailed through it all and sounded great in the mix.

However, that's not how I like to hear a nylon string.....I've had a few 1A Concert Superior Ramirez's,
Contreras, Kohno, and the last real gem was a Manuel Valasquez.
....Sadly all are now gone but I still don't feel right if I don't have a nice nylon string guitar around.

Currently that is a Spanish made Cuenca Model 40R [really just an advanced student model]
Once it was played in..cedar doesn't take too long...it showed a strong [loud] and balanced sound.

...I was really quite surprised just how much guitar you can now get for reasonable $$.
...Especially the Spanish makers who have tooled up to take on their Asian competitors.
I haven't tried Cordoba [Sp.?] but I can certainly go along with the people who have had good
experiences with Asturias and the Cuencas are also well worth checking out too.

This is a modestly priced instrument....c.900 NZ$ [it's a loaner too...people are nice]
Solid cedar top, laminated rosewood back and sides....Don't be put off if a classical has laminated
back and sides....Ramirez started doing just that on their [very] high end 1A's in the 70's...and they
were cannons.

But these days it's pretty much full time Gibson/flatwounds/Fender Concert amp....and 1000's of songs
to learn.

Hope you find the right nylon string for you Jim.

**carlescountry** · 05-15-2013, 02:27 AM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

I almost bought one of these a couplle of years ago but they couldn't or wouldn't communicate about the nut width or radius. Where did you order it from?

I have ordered the guitar in Madrid (Spain):
Guitarras de Luthier

The radius is 15" and the nut witch 48mm. Here more information:
Luthier Guitar - Martinez Stage-Pro Cross-over Custom Series

**mangotango** · 05-15-2013, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

I've owned many, mostly fine traditional classics. But since I've been playing more jazz than classical over the last years I now have a few nice crossovers. A Cordoba Fusion 14

and a Carvin CL450

Carvin.com : CL450 NYLON STRING CLASSICAL GUITAR

and a Godin

Godin Guitars

I also have a Bartolex 10 string classical that I use in a violin/guitar duo with my wife.

NEW: Bartolex SPS10CEL 10-String Classical Guitar BartolexUSA Schoeps CMT30FN M934b Presonus ADL600

I really enjoy playing jazz on them, especially bossa stuff.

WS

That Bartolex 10-string looks fascinating....how is it tuned?

Also, I understand that some neck relief would be essential - but the neck looks bowed and the action looks very high in those pictures - maybe it's just my eyes?

**brad4d8** · 05-15-2013, 09:06 AM

I played straight classical for many years, mostly on a Guild Mark V (cedar top, EIRW B&S). Also have a Gibson Chet Atkins CE (narrower neck) and a Godin ACS for louder situations. Even though I'm playing mostly steel strings these days, I will still pull out a nylon for some fingerstyle arrangements.
Brad

**Woody Sound** · 05-15-2013, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by mangotango

That Bartolex 10-string looks fascinating....how is it tuned?

Also, I understand that some neck relief would be essential - but the neck looks bowed and the action looks very high in those pictures - maybe it's just my eyes?

You can tune it any way you want

Some people tune it like a lute (for lute music), some tune the lower 4 for certain sympathetic vibrations, and some tune the lower 4 for certain notes or tunes - that's me. I use the lower four to extend the range of the guitar. My wife and I do a violin/guitar duo. Beside the jazz & latin stuff, we do classical pieces. Violin sonatas, concertos, etc. I adapt the piano or orchestra part for the 10-string. My normal tuning for the lower 4 is a straight descending scale from low E: D, C, B, A. But I change it for different pieces. For example, if a tune is in F, I'll change the B to Bb. If a tune is in D, I'll change the C to C#. Etc.

Here's a nice overview: The Online Encyclopedia of Tunings / classical ten string guitar

As far as the bowed neck and action, I do see what you mean. Those pictures are not of my actual guitar. Mine is the same model but without the port, and with the Fishman Presys mounted on the upper bout. The action on mine is just like a normal classical guitar, with slight relief. It's possible that the camera angle distorted the view of that guitar.

**FrankBlack** · 05-16-2013, 09:30 PM

I've tried quite a few and each have a strength and weakness. I settled on the Yamaha NTX 700 because it sounded alright unplugged but fairly decent amplified. I played tons of guitars that sounded better unplugged, but most of them didn't make amplification a priority or they just were too prone to feedback. I also did an A/B test of the NTX 700 vs. the higher-end NTX 1200. I honestly didn't hear the difference that would warrant double the price tag. It has a nice, thin body, a spruce top, a narrower nut/fingerboard and decent amplification. For $500, it is a very good deal.

Jim, you should whip up a nylon string guitar for us to buy. Sadowsky has a nice solid-body model that sounds good, but I bet you could make a fantastic instrument too.

**bohemian46** · 05-16-2013, 10:11 PM

I currently play a flamenco cutaway made by Carlos Pina.

I have owned many flamenco and classical guitars including a 1961 Ramirez 1F made by Contreras, Velasquez, Sanchiz Carpio etc.

Technically the Ramirez 1A guitars were not "laminated" but were lined with cypress.

Were I to have only one guitar it would be a classical or a flamenco.

**Jim Soloway** · 05-17-2013, 12:43 AM

Originally Posted by FrankBlack

I've tried quite a few and each have a strength and weakness. I settled on the Yamaha NTX 700 because it sounded alright unplugged but fairly decent amplified. I played tons of guitars that sounded better unplugged, but most of them didn't make amplification a priority or they just were too prone to feedback. I also did an A/B test of the NTX 700 vs. the higher-end NTX 1200. I honestly didn't hear the difference that would warrant double the price tag. It has a nice, thin body, a spruce top, a narrower nut/fingerboard and decent amplification. For $500, it is a very good deal.

Jim, you should whip up a nylon string guitar for us to buy. Sadowsky has a nice solid-body model that sounds good, but I bet you could make a fantastic instrument too.

I considered both a nylon string and a steel string a few years ago but it never got past the drawing board stage. Now with the move to Vancouver I'm not sure if we build anything beyond what's already currently underway (ad that's not very much). Those are decisions that I'll get too after we'e moved and I have a chance to breath a bit.

**henryrobinett** · 05-17-2013, 01:13 AM

I HAVE a couple of nylon strings. As to whether I can really play them, the verdicts been in for some time. Not really. But that's mainly because my pima right hand needs a lot more work. And they just don't sound good with a pick, for the most part.

**guitarmikey** · 06-02-2013, 01:08 PM

Laguna thinline Nylon, probably chinese, but happy with it. Good sound, truss rod neck, very playable and portable. Got it SH so I don't know much about it's origin... My choice when have to play jazz, or cafe. Different amps on 15" Eminence Delta 15A (Super Champ X2, Ibanez TSA5, HB CG 10X, frontman 65R or 25R).

**tonedeaf** · 06-02-2013, 11:59 PM

The Fender/Guild GN5 has a neck much closer to a typical jazz box than most other nylon string guitars.

**Encinitastubes** · 06-03-2013, 03:44 PM

I love classical guitar, but it requires a ton of work just to get a good sound and to be able to play traditional pieces. I notice that if I take a few days off, it just sounds like crap. (Segovia once said that if he took one day off, he noticed the difference; if he took two days off, the audience would notice the difference, and if he took three days off, the critics would notice the difference).

I played a Takamine EC-132c for years when I was just putzing around. When I got more serious, I bought a Jose Oribe with a redwood top and Brazillian back and sides. It is my best, loudest, most resonant classical guitar, but has too much information when playing extended chords. I recently bought one of his old Pro-A models where the back and sides were made in Japan and he assembled them with one of his standard tops. The one I have has a spruce top and Indian back and sides. It is not as vibrant as the redwood, but is much better suited to jazzier applications.

**IbanezAS100** · 08-15-2013, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by carlescountry

I'm waiting this hybrid Martinez guitar in a couple of days

Hey carlescountry,

I'm interested in this guitar too, so I would really appreciate your comments about the acoustic tone as well as the overall quality of the instrument. Did yours come with the Fishman or the B-Band pickup? Are you still happy with it after a few months?

Thanks!

**Woody Sound** · 08-15-2013, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by IbanezAS100

Hey carlescountry,

I'm interested in this guitar too, so I would really appreciate your comments about the acoustic tone as well as the overall quality of the instrument. Did yours come with the Fishman or the B-Band pickup? Are you still happy with it after a few months?

Thanks!

I've seen this Martinez available with rosewood or maple back/sides. Fancy port, round port, no port. Wish I knew how/where to really find out what's available.

**lauwing** · 08-16-2013, 12:51 AM

I am very tempted by this Traveller with Nylon strings

**carlescountry** · 08-16-2013, 04:50 AM

Originally Posted by IbanezAS100

Hey carlescountry,

I'm interested in this guitar too, so I would really appreciate your comments about the acoustic tone as well as the overall quality of the instrument. Did yours come with the Fishman or the B-Band pickup? Are you still happy with it after a few months?

Thanks!

Martinez is a project of english masterluthier Kenny Hill.

Mine has solid spruce top and rosewood sides and back.

It is a well built guitar for the price it has. The action is good and quite naturally balanced sound.

It weighs very little and plays with great pleasure. The sound port door makes yourself hear perfectly the sound when you're playing, and the sound hole projects a good amount of volume.

The B-Band is simple but it works pretty well, sounding quite natural when played amplified.

It is a good and affordable choice for jazz and bossa nova with a lovely look, IMHO

**IbanezAS100** · 08-16-2013, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by carlescountry

Martinez is a project of english masterluthier Kenny Hill.

Mine has solid spruce top and rosewood sides and back.

It is a well built guitar for the price it has. The action is good and quite naturally balanced sound.

It weighs very little and plays with great pleasure. The sound port door makes yourself hear perfectly the sound when you're playing, and the sound hole projects a good amount of volume.

The B-Band is simple but it works pretty well, sounding quite natural when played amplified.

It is a good and affordable choice for jazz and bossa nova with a lovely look, IMHO

Thanks for the review, sounds like a great compromise between acoustic and plugged in sound. There are a couple of UK distributors so I'll definitely check it out. Enjoy yours!