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I've been looking at less expensive guitars that I can tune to standard pitch to use for teaching and maybe doing the odd theory demo. That was originally what that single pickup contour T was supposed to do for me but it just seemed like a really extravagant guitar for such a limited role so I sold the contour T and started looking at low a end archtop .... again. Then today I went to Guitar Center to play a few Artcores and they had a power failure so I ended up trying a couple Cordoba nylon strings. They were a lot of fun. I felt like I might actually find a bit more use for them than just teaching and the nylon strings were easy enough on my nails to be able to dig in a bit, something I cant do on a steel string acoustic. The model I was looking at is the Cordoba GK Studio Negra. They're $700 with a solid spruce top, a cutaway, Fishman pickup and preamp, solid cedar top and laminate rosewood back and sides. I thought it sounded pretty good and it definitely played very well. With the usual GC coupon, I can get one for $625 and it seemed like a lot of guitar for the money. It might even be one that I could enjoy playing. I know Kris has that Frameworks, anyone else have a nylon in their arsenal?
Last edited by Jim Soloway; 05-13-2013 at 11:28 PM.
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05-13-2013 11:17 PM
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Hi, Jim.
My main guitar is a nylon (McGill Super Ace). I love the sound and playability for chord melody, single note, Bossa, and even classical. It is easy on the hands and sounds wonderful amplified whether finger-style or with a pick. I also have a true classical for straight classical/acoustic venues, and a Godin Multiac Ambiance for loud situations. I love the sound of nylon for most types of music.
I also have an L-5 Wes and a 175 (Orville by Gibson) for straight ahead jazz.
I think a nylon-string guitar is a great tool in the tool-box.
BTW--love your guitars and your whole approach to building as well as your playing.
Larry
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Thanks Larry. I just got back from GC with the guitar in hand. I'm headed up to Vancouver tomorrow to set up the move and I think I'll bring it along to keep me company on the road.
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Hi Jim,
I/ve heard goods about Cordoba guitars.
Cordoba GK Studio Negra-I think it has really comfortable neck to play.
Best
Kris
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Congrats on your new guitar. I have an Asturius Classical and a Ramirez flamenco.
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Originally Posted by tstrahle
I have an Asturias as well and have had it for 37 years now a really beauty!
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I really like playing on a nylon string, I have an Alhambra 7p myself. It sounds great and is easy on the hands which is what I like most about it.
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I have two nylon strung guitars - a Valencia Electro Acoustic (shallow bodied classical) and a Yamaha Silent Guitar.The latter sounds like a good electro-acoustic but the visuals get such a negative response......the Valencia sounds more acoustic and also looks the part, plus the action's a little better for single-note playing.
Love a nylon-string, though. Something about them.....and it's a nice colour to add to the tonal palette, especially for Latin tunes.
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I played a cheap Aria cutaway classic w electronics for a dozen years for restaurant gigs. Worked for me, but neck angle issues (higher and higher saddles) made me retire it. I haven't replaced it, but play ukulele chord melody & fingerstyle every day. I guess that's playing nylon, even though technically, they're flourocarbons...
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I recently bought a Victor Anglada "Modelo 180" Spruce top, Brazilian back. Sounds very nice but still have to get used to the neck size as I havent played a classical before.
Last edited by fws6; 05-15-2013 at 02:43 AM.
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I really fell hard for the nylon string sound last year. I bought an Ibanez AEG1One in October which I liked pretty well, but I decided I need something better, so I sold it and bought a Cordoba C10, which has the most beautiful tone, but watch out for that cedar top! You can scratch it just by looking at it. I had fingernail dents in it from playing some bossa nova and tapping on the top before I could say BOO... never would have made a mark on any of my other guitars. Anyway, learned a lesson there. Then for gigging I bought a Godin Multiac Grand Concert SA, along with a GR-55 synthesizer. I could not be happier with that guitar and rig. If I had bought the Godin first, I might not have gotten the Cordoba (so I'm glad it happened the way it did!) I've really neglected my archtops since diving into the nylon thing. It's opened up a new world for me, for sure. (Sounds kinda weird, "I've really gotten into nylons...")
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I've always like the sound of nylon string and wanted an electric nylon string and recently got a great Godin from Jim. The Godin sounds great plugged in, but is loud enough to practice without and amp.
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Ditto on easy on the hands. If I'm feeling any tension or soreness I go to my nylon. It's also the only way to go for Brazilian tunes. I play a crossover with a 1 7/8" nut instead of a 2"+, and composite strings with higher tension to keep it in familiar muscle memory territory.
Not having nails makes it tougher to get great tone on the two highest strings but a flexible pick, like a 0.60 Dunlop, gets you pretty close.
Thumb playing is also nice, a great tone. I read that George Benson plays his nylon almost exclusively with his thumb.
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Based on second-hand information, I'm not sure I'd go with the Cordoba, though they have a reputation for being easy to play and good value for money. I understand they have a nice, full, bassy tone, but the point of having a nylon-string (I'd have thought) is to be able to explore the whole tone range, and I believe e.g. Alhambras (looking at an only slightly higher price level) are better in the treble. In fact, if you were to get as far as performing with a nylon-string, you'd find that what your ears cried out for was treble, then mid-range, and not bass, which tends to muddy your sound. And if you were to teach with it, you might even want one day to get into classical RH technique, free-stroke/rest-stroke kind of things, which require a broad tone range.
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I've played that Cordoba model--pretty nice stuff.
Truth is, the tone of a high end classical isn't always the best for jazz, unless you have good classical right hand technique and know how to get the best sound out of that instrument.
I have a LaPatrie Etude. It would never work as a concert classical, but for jazz and bossas it works pretty nicely--records well too. I did replace the tuners--made a huge difference, and I also put on a clear pickguard because I occasionally play it with a pick.
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Proud endorser of the Godin multiac grand concert. really love that guitar.
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I have a Rodriguez 1A cutaway that I love. Some notes resonate forever inside that body...in fact if I ever had the bread have an archtop custom built I would want it to be the size of my Rodriguez.
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i use a nylon to do a "flamenco esque" set i do as part of my show..... and have been through lots of nylons in the last 30 yrs .... from spanish made to brazillian made and in all that i have found that i favour an old yamaha from late 60's - early 70's i found in a pawn shop i retrofitted an LR baggs ibeam pickup system into it and it sounds and plays amazingly .it has the longer scale length of 660 ( like many ramirez's) instead of the standard 650 or modern 640 scale length ...also a nice spanish heel ...i think yamaha were trying to copy a ramirez .... anyway this is the one in the pic......
and i find the strings you use makes a huge difference ( i use german made hannabach strings) and then that LR baggs i beam pickup makes it all sound so natural ......... ... so it's kinda like with archtops.... if you are gonna be plugged in ... you can look at different requirements but if you want to play just acoustically then you need to look at volume and tone....
but if you only gonna teach with it ... i would find a pawn shop gem.... good value for money but if you planning on playing concerts with it unplugged ala sergovia you need something really loud
the guitar pictured above was cheap and in fact the LR baggs pickup cost more than the guitar 3 times over....... but it sounds amazing and natural
then the guitar pictured below ,... is me playing a hand built /to spec ,luthier made concert classical with double top ...aimed at classical concerts...but sells for about $4000 but is acoustically LOUD and very sweet ...a world class concert instrument as one would expect for that price
so decide what you want from it .... as like with archtops the price ranges from ebay finds to luthier builtLast edited by Keira Witherkay; 05-14-2013 at 11:38 AM.
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I, too, play a nylon string, a Buscarino Grand Caberet. It's a cutaway with a sound port. Nice chord melody instrument.
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this is a great guitar! Originally Posted by Chrome
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Attachment 7189
I've used few years a nylon strings arch-top guitar made by M.Henneken from Finland.
It was very similar to standard jazz box but with nylon strings and Fishman piezzo pick up.
Best
Kris
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I play a turner renaissance RN6H. The neck is their "Hybrid": its a bit narrower than a classical guitar and has some radius to it, so its fairly comfortable if you are used to an arch top. Reasonably priced too. I hate changing the batteries, not to mention the strings....
A few old clips:
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if you like to travel and ever get a chance go to:
Paracho Mexico
about 13 years ago i traveled there and purchased a handmade classical with all the finer appointments: solid spruce top, "palo escrito" sides and back, ebony fingerboard.
there are a lot of great guitars made locally there and very reasonably priced. i think i paid $150 dollars for mine back in 1999. shortly after, i had a tech install a fishman Soundboard Pickup. I have a hard time finding a better sounding classical, acoustic and/or amplified.
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Keira,
What is it that you like so much about the Hannabach strings and which set is your favorite?
Thanks,
R.
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well a student of mine recently tried a set of hannabach's and the comment was 'wow it sounds like a whole new guitar" and that is so true... but as we all know strings are very personal...for years i used daddario pro arte strings cos it was the strings available consistantly where ever in the world i was (as i travelled a lot performing ) but a few years back the local rep for hannabach saw me in the music store , hear i was a nylon player and just gave me a set to try .... i have never looked back .... for my tastes they sound good....and i never find a "bad " set .... also they not too expensive like some .... but sound as good as i've used .....i like just normal tension... but have tried the low and high tension .... Originally Posted by Rustic
try a set ... they cheap ...and if you believe the marketing hype they have a tradition making strings going back a century ...and as i said to me they are 'toneful" or at least offer me the tone i like
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