odd acoustic question

[D-Rainger]

Crazy idea but, if you've got a steel strung acoustic guitar, can you re-string it with nylon strings?
I'm guessing it might need serious truss-rod adjustment, but other than that, could you do it without the whole thing just.... imploding??

[Chankgeez]

I love odd acoustical questions.

Short answer is "yes", but what's the point?

There're a whole bunch of technical difficulties involved. There's little chance it'll implode as nylon strings require less tension than steel strings. It's much more common to see guitars made for use with nylon strings strung up with steel strings. Great danger of the top caving in there. Also when doing what you propose, the action'll just feel weird when you play it. Save yourself a lot of trouble and just get a guitar meant for nylon strings. It'll be easier all around.

[Mudfuzz]

try it, you might want to get a high tension set for more volume cuz as said ^ steels on a nylon guitar is trouble.. [although I know a guy that use to do that one cheap ones and play them in till they died...] but no you aren't going to hurt it... you might like the sound so what is a set of strings?




thinking.. you might need to mess with the nut though..

[lapsteel]

Yup it is a crazy idea. Classical guitars are braced completely differently and are designed for less string tension. It will sound thin and underwhelming. Moreover the bridges work differently, and unless they make ball end nylons (do they?) it will be awkward to set them with pins.

More importantly: WHY? You will lose all those punchy overtones, volume and sustain that make you acoustic sound nice...go pick up a classical (decent sounding ones are inexpensive) and flamenco away.

[Mudfuzz]

They are called folk nylon strings or something like it.
Also bribge pins have existed longer then ball end strings.
Also also the X brace was originally invented for gut/nylon strings, the dreadnought actually stated out as a nylon strong guitar.. they just beefed u[ the braces over the years.