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Silk and Steel’s?
Anyone ever put light guage Silk and Steel strings on a classical? I have played Taylor Nylons for years now and I have always used the most high tension nylons I can find. I have often wondered what the tension level is of light silk and steel’s vs the highest tension nylons (Hannabach 815 HT: 102lbs).
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Light gauge silk and steels will have somewhere in the area of 122 lbs or more, which might be the difference between a playable guitar and one with a bridge that is pulling away from the top. The steel strings will not be kind to the plastic string rollers either. Having said that, I was in my local Guitar Center the other day and there was a used Takamine classical with steel strings on it.
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As already said, that's too much tension, but if you want that sound you can get it easily:
https://www.stringsbymail.com/thomas...6-43-5408.html |
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I recently bought a set of the T-I Folk to try the next time I need to change strings. Thought I might like them on my Gibson C-0.
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The G and B strings are exactly the same. The high E string is different however and I think maybe brighter in the John Pearse set. The basses in the John Pearse set are normal nylon basses. In the Classic S set they have a metal core, so they behave and sound very differently. The JP set is cheaper, and I like it better. Although however, I prefer carbon trebles over anything else. I'd go to the Thomastik Infeld site, as they have other original strings there that are built for a nylon string. http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/site...er_06_13sc.pdf There is another Classic S set called KF110 which has metal trebles (again, with a tension for a nylon string), but instead of nylon flatwound on top, it has steel flatwound on top. I've never seen these strings but would be happy to hear a review. |
I just ordered a set of the KF110’s. I will report my thoughts.
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I strung up the KF110’s. I am liking them but not as much as I had hoped. Definitely an in-between sound. Has the treble twang of steel strings with some (only some) of the warmth of the normal nylon sound. I am going to play them for a little while and see how they break in. I will report back.....
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Do you prefer them over the Classic S KR116?
I'd imagine the nylon would trebles would give more warmth and I wouldn't expect pure steel strings to give much warmth. Maybe try the John Pearse set as a final try? Like I said the basses are proper nylon basses (which I prefer) (or of course you could just put on any basses you like). The top E string is different in the JP set from the one in the KR116 set (it seems like a brass coated steel string, where as the KR116 one seems like a "rope core" version). I've just looked on Strings By Mail and there you can buy the PJ116 (the john pearse) trebles as a separate package (without the basses), if you already have basses you like. |
Here is a quick video I did with my ipad (built in mic). The more I play them the more I actually dont like them. They give you neither the warmth of the nylon nor the zing of steel. Its more like “the mushy in-between” than “the best of both worlds” if that makes sense.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=It5DEq...ature=youtu.be |
I have been playing a set of Martin’s new Magnifico strings on my little Córdoba C5. They have a higher tension and the trebles are smaller diameter so the feel is more familiar to steel string players. But the warmth of nylon is still there. They are supposed to be more like the gut strings of old.
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Silk and Steel strings will mess up your classical guitar. We're talking eventual neck warping, bridge separation, and most likely, damage to your tuners.
I use high tension strings and I absolutely love Bella Reds. It's what I use 90% of the time. But only use them on a classical that has a truss rod in the neck. Otherwise, stick to normal tension strings. When they are set up right, and played with heart, nothing sounds more beautiful than a well-made classical guitar. |
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I'm currently using Knobloch CX carbons and very happy with the carbon trebles. |
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