replacing the tuners on my Cordoba Nylon String

[brad4d8]

>>> the nuts [on nylon string guitars] need to be set up a little differently than steel string nuts.

How so? I mean what is the set up difference you mention?

I've always felt that the slots should have softer ends, so to speak, especially the unwound strings. Because they are bigger than steel strings, they tend to catch on the corner if it's not rounded a bit.
Brad

[PTChristopher2]

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the response.

I know what you mean about loose/soft windings on nylon strings ready to get yanked around.

In my opinion, the back (tuner-ward) end of all slots on all types of strings is better rounded.

The front (bridge-ward) end however is typically set at the exact end of the scale length from which the fret positions are determined. So any rounding on the front end is exactly the opposite or what would generally constitute any useful nut compensation. Rounding the front end even a bit can make for notably sharp notes in lower fret positions.

In my opinion, the slope of the nut slot can be set to make the break at the front a fairly low-pressure event, which I think is measurably better for avoiding string damage potential, and maintaining intonation in low positions.

But this is all still applicable to all string types in my opinion.

Thanks again for the topic.

Chris

[richb2]

Thanks guys. I didn't mention it but I am a tuning fanatic. I appreciate you taking the time to address this issue. I will be spending a week in Granada Spain in November and perhaps need to look for a new guitar. The Cordoba GK Studio seemed like a good guitar compared to the other crappy nylons at Guitar Center. But I recently played a pro's nylon string (which is a custom made guitar) and although I wasn't blown away, it seemed to hold a tuning pretty well. I did just string my guitar yesterday so maybe the strings are still stretching. The Cordoba GK Studio is good for me because it has a built in tuner, has a pickup/mike, is a little smaller than a normal classical. Last and not least I liked the price of it.