Attn: Carbon Fiber Nylon String Guitar players - thoughts and experiences?
I think my next guitar (should one happen) might be a CF nylon string guitar. It would most likely be a custom from Emerald but I'd like to hear from anyone that owns, has owned or has played a CF nylon string guitar. I'd like to hear your likes and dislikes about the guitar, the nut width and string spacing, the scale length, how it sounds unplugged and amplified (and what kind of pickup it has), the durability of nylon strings (frequency of needed changes) and whether you play it strictly fingerstyle, strummed or both. And if you've got a photo or two and don't mind posting, go for it.
Thanks! |
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For me, the X7 nylon had the wonderful Emerald ergonomics but I couldn't get a sound I liked (compared to X7 steel string) no matter what strings I tried. The A string boomed and the trebles were weak. The trebles sounded best with very high tension carbon strings and John Pearse Folk strings. I confess I didn't explore in depth changing the setup to improve things. Emerald had a wood shim under the saddle which I removed without buzz, but the sound wasn't affected much. The larger Emerald nylons have gotten great reviews here so maybe the new X7 would have better results. |
RS Parlor, Blackbird Rider and Super OM, Emerald X10, X10 offset sound hole, X10 thin-body electric, Emerald X10 Slim, and X20--all nylons.
One of the first rules of work is to make yourself comfortable--which explains, in part, my emphasis on Emerald guitars, they are ergonomic. The Parlor and Super OM had 1 6/8 nut width which I find confining. The Rider had a 2" nut width which I found to be more than I need. All of my Emeralds have had 1 7/8" nut widths which fits my comfort zone--good for both finger play and strumming. I've had various pickups. For a while the B-band was my preferred unit, but the Barbera has become my pickup of choice--clean, balanced, and powerful (it is active). Most of my nylon string guitars (including my previous wood instruments) have had long scales. The short scale thin-body electric has been a pleasure and a surprise. I always thought that nylon strings should have a long scale for the extra tension needed for nylon strings. I think that advancements in strings makes a big difference and the short scale serves me nicely. Also, in my experience. nylon strings last a lot longer than in the past. When I started playing nylon string guitars I had the traditional flat fret boards. I've come to appreciate some radius I've always liked the cutaway available on contemporary hybrid nylon string guitars. But I've also felt that a cutaway diminishes the sound of the guitar. With a pickup a cutaway doesn't hurt volume, but I believe a cutaway effects tonal qualities. The RS Parlor, for example, has an openness of sound that I do not get with any of my cutaway instruments. All of the above is based on personal inclinations. As others on this forum will probably point out, there are other inclinations. The best bet is to get your hands on as many options as possible and see what suits you best. I've moved my way through the noted guitars by buying (new and used) and selling with the notion that any loss is a rental fee. Good luck in your decision making. |
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I am "nylon curious," but wouldn't want to spend the bucks for a CF nylon just to find out. Anyone tried the Taylor Academy series A12e-N? Yes, it is (gasp) wood, but that is an inexpensive entry to nylon. |
Jim;
Yes it does, my slip, excuse me. Actually, my buy N sell program has not been too expensive. I've never had a problems selling a CF guitar and it has been fun exploring the various options. |
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Playing with an X10 slim body and so far I like it...don't tell Uncle Evy...he'll think I converted
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I'd like to see Emerald do an homage to Willie's nylon "Trigger". :wild:
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I guess he can put a wear hole in it.
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Methos;
You are welcome. However, I do not still own all the guitars mentioned. I realized early that I could not afford every CF nylon strung guitar. And so I started my buy N Sell program--paying rent for the difference between purchase and sale price. I currently have the RS Parlor, an X10 OS, and an X7thin-bodied electric. You are welcome to try those. I live in a small mining village west of Las Vegas. Kramster: I am right in the next room. I know you covet the new nylon. You really need to have one in your fine collection. Just saying. Yup. |
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"nut width and string spacing, the scale length, how it sounds unplugged and amplified (and what kind of pickup it has)"
Alistair will make any or all of those to YOUR specifications. I own a 2008 X10 nylon string, (the first nylon string guitar that Alistair built) and a 2018 new X10 nylon string with cocobolo veneer. The 2008 X10 looks just like the green X10 in the photo in the website below, except that it has 24 frets, a flat fingerboard, and custom neck / string spacing. It has a B band pickup and I like the sound both acoustic and electric. https://web.archive.org/web/20020205...com/index2.htm Captain Jim kindly posted a photo of my 2018 custom X10 with cocobolo veneer in post # 33 here: https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...65#post5827165 In post 44 of the same thread I offered the following comments about the new X10: Now that I have played my new X-10 a fair amount both standing up and sitting down for a month or so: Every surface of the new X-10 is thoughtfully and ingeniously shaped and contoured for maximum ergonomic alignment and interaction with the human body! - The lower side of the guitar, the side that rests on the guitarist's leg when playing while sitting down, is slightly angled for maximum comfort, positioning and stability. - The scooped out area of the upper bout behind the neck allows maximum easy access to all 24 frets. - Access to all 24 frets is further enhanced by both the cutaway AND the extra beveled contour that is seamlessly integrated into the upper bout of the the guitar where the left hand reaches for those high frets. - The lower bout bevel for right forearm comfort that Alistair pioneered with the X-20 re-design a few years ago graces the new X-10. - The sound hole is perfectly shaped and situated for best player listening and for accessibility to inner electronics. - Smooth neck and fretboard with stainless steel frets. I LOVE the sound of the new X10! It is NOT a loud guitar. I have still not played it plugged in, though. |
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Scott, I get a few minutes at work and late at night, but my job is pretty much 12 hours a day 6 days a week for the past year and probably for another year or 2 at least, so when I have 10 - 30 minutes to play the guitar I just pick it up and play. All the electronic gear, amps etc, is packed away in the garage and only comes out when we (my wife & I) have a gig.
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Since you are a steel string player I suppose you are looking for a crossover nylon guitar.
Keep in mind though that traditional nylon string guitar dimensions are a tried and tested formula. Deviate from those and you enter a grey area with a few potential pitfalls. Steel string players often expect that a lower nut width will make a nylon string easier to play for them. Unfortunately this is not always true. If you do not adapt your technique to a classical hand position this could actually make a nylon string guitar quite difficult to play. That is... unless you (or your luthier) make sure to lower the string height. In my experience a standard nylon string action (4mm at the lower E and 3mm at the high E) does not work at all for a crossover nylon. So what you need are high tension strings to allow for a lower action. My Emerald X7N was set up quite high at 4mm on both sides and I am still in the process of tweaking its action. It is now at 3.8 to 3.5 but I would like to reduce the treble side some more. And then there is the issue of slipping. I have a nut width of 47.6mm (1 7/8") and a string spacing at the nut of 41.5mm. This puts the outer strings quite close to the edge which (in combination with the 16" radius) causes the high E to slip off occasionally. In addition, if I play a chord with an open high E, I sometimes accidentally mute that string. Sure, that is probably just my sloppy playing but it would be nice if this guitar was a little more forgiving. If I could do it over I would insist on getting a 48.5mm (or even 49mm) nut for this string spacing. |
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