#1
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Which steel string builders also build nylon string guitars?
One of my dreams is to travel to Madrid and commission a guitar from Paulino Bernabe -- but since I'm not a classical guitar player, I always thought that such a guitar would be a waste in my hands.
Does anyone here on the AGF build nylon string guitars with "traditional" specs? I'm looking for something that sounds loud and lively -- not some quiet crossover that's meant to be plugged in. I'm a steel string player and this wouldn't be my primary guitar but I'm still interested in getting a good quality instrument. |
#2
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Joe,
Not many top steel-string builders fit the bill as top classical builders. John Mello might be one, and I know Matt Mustapick builds in a classical vein. I recommend a fellow here in Eugene, Anders Sterner. Anders and I have talked quite a bit about nylon string guitars as they might be used for someone like myself...nothing directly in the works yet (for me), but Anders understands and respects fingerstyle music.
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Larry Pattis on Spotify and Pandora LarryPattis.com American Guitar Masters 100 Greatest Acoustic Guitarists Steel-string guitars by Rebecca Urlacher and Simon Fay Classical guitars by Anders Sterner |
#3
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I’ve built a few nylons but they have all been more of a cross-over version. I still consider them a bit of a work in progress compared to my steel strings.
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Harvey Leach |
#4
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I have built nylon guitars as well, with great results, but, steel string is where I carved my nitch. Once you build in one vain, steel string or nylon one will be better than the other. They really are two different animals.
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#5
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I built my first guitar, a steel string dread, in 1972 and first classical in 1978. I continued building both until 1987, when I switched entirely to classical. In 2005 I became interested in building steel string guitars again and have transposed many contemporary classical guitar construction details, like double sides and French polished soundboards, over to my traditional x-braced steel string guitars. If interested, I've got pics and videos of all my guitars on my site.
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#6
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[QUOTE=JoeCharter;2991478]One of my dreams is to travel to Madrid and commission a guitar from Paulino Bernabe
The fact that Paulino is dead, might present a problem... My favorite luthier for such things is Johnny Walker, building classical guitars since 1968 and always under the radar,, great guitars www.Johnnywalkerguitars.com not to be confused with John Walker who is a fine steel string builder. regards, Rick
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Classical guitars, flat top steel string A few banjos and mandolins Accrued over 59 years of playing |
#7
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I suppose there's builders who do both well, but as Dennis said, they're 2 different animals. I would recommend Waddy Thompson to build you a nylon string. Waddy doens't build steel strings though.
http://waddythomsonguitars.com/
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woody b politically incorrect since 1964 |
#8
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions. A couple of them caught my eye.
Quote:
http://www.paulinobernabe.com/ |
#9
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I started as a classical builder back in '74 or so, but got into steel strings pretty early on. These days I make about as many classicals as steel strings.
You're right that classicals and steel strings are different beasts, and you realy have to approach them differently to do either one justice. OTOH, they're both guitars, after all: they have a lot more in common than guitars and violins (which I also make) do. In some ways,once you get the differences clear, making one sort can help you understand the other: things like the differences in top bracing make more sense once you see why it's done the way it's done, and you have a better handle on how to move in different directions with the sound. |
#10
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I can't claim a lot of experience with nylons yet but I'm working on it.
This one is voiced very traditionally with some non-traditional elements. http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=245209 PM sent, by the way.
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Chasson Guitars Web Site |
#11
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How would you compare/describe the sound of your nylon string instruments? |
#12
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#13
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That's a shorter answer. I'll let you know when #1 is strung up. Should be about a month.
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Chasson Guitars Web Site |
#14
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#15
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[QUOTE=JoeCharter;2992099]Thanks for posting. I love this rosette BTW:
Thanks, Joe. I made that one myself in the traditional Spanish method with naturally colored woods. |