Nylong String Guitar Help

[Huskyman]

I don't know anything about nylon string guitars but I am in the market for one. I play a lot of fingerstyle and I notice that even though my hands are fairly large and strong sometimes it feels like the steel strings are just killing them.

I would like to keep a budget in the range of around $800-900. The only thing I know and Im not even sure if it's true is that classical guitars have higher action than other nylon string guitars. If that is the case than I would like to stay away from a nylon classical guitar.

I'm ready to be educated!

[johbren]

cordoba c9 might work

[mtdmind]

You might look at the Taylor Academy 12-N. Those are pretty nice.

[The Old Anglo]

Best one I ever bought from GC. Excellent sound and handling...Check it out.

[hammer40]

Here is an article that talks about the string action on classical guitars...maybe this will help you with your question in regard to "action."

https://blog.guitarfromspain.com/201...itarfromspain/

[JERZEY]

Originally Posted by Huskyman

I don't know anything about nylon string guitars but I am in the market for one. I play a lot of fingerstyle and I notice that even though my hands are fairly large and strong sometimes it feels like the steel strings are just killing them.

I would like to keep a budget in the range of around $800-900. The only thing I know and Im not even sure if it's true is that classical guitars have higher action than other nylon string guitars. If that is the case than I would like to stay away from a nylon classical guitar.

I'm ready to be educated!

Consider a Hybrid/crossover. You will get a 48-50mm nut. You can get them with and without a radius on the finger board. It should be an easy transition from acoustic/electric. Full size classical the traditional way is going to feel and play very differently. Yes the action is higher in many cases but the tension is lower. Dont deny yourself the opertunity to try nylon string guitars.

Common flat radius crossovers:
-Cordoba GK series
-Kremona Vera <probably spelled that wrong-traditional tone

Common Crossovers with a radius:
-Yamaha NTX series
-Cordoba Fusion 12 and 14 series
-Cordoba C7, C9, C12 crossover models
-Taylor Academy 12-N-Not a traditional tone, translates well to most acoustic songs. Very Americian.

[czgunner]

I just ordered my new-to-guitar wife a Cordoba Fusion 12. She has had a hard time with the 2” neck nylon sting guitars we have tried.

[Huskyman]

Great info here. I have digested and learned a lot.

Anyone know the difference between the Cordoba Fusion 12 and 14? I see the price the same but can't really find out what the difference is.

[Huskyman]

Originally Posted by Huskyman

Great info here. I have digested and learned a lot.

Anyone know the difference between the Cordoba Fusion 12 and 14? I see the price the same but can't really find out what the difference is.

Frets. I got it.

[DownUpDave]

Originally Posted by Huskyman

Great info here. I have digested and learned a lot.

Anyone know the difference between the Cordoba Fusion 12 and 14? I see the price the same but can't really find out what the difference is.

The 12 has 12 frets to the body, the standard nylon string guitar configuration. The 14 has 14 frets to the body, more a steel string standard. This is an attempt to appeal the steel string players moving to nylon. Except there are also 12 fret steel string guitar, of course

Edit, looks like we were typing at the same time

[birdsong]

Some good suggestions and I'll add my experiences.

I started with a Cordoba GK Studio. The nut is 50mm and the scale length 650mm (25.6"). I found 50mm to be at my comfort limit; I have a bit of neuropathy and reduced finger dexterity. But the GK is a "flamenco" model and somewhat shallower body which was very comfortable. This was my first foray into a nylon stringed guitar, and I loved it.

So I moved up the food chain and got a Cervantes crossover style. Somewhat pricey but I've enjoyed it. It has a 48mm (1.9") nut which I find is 'just right'. And it is 12 frets to the body and also 650mm. Plus a very light radiused fretboard (helps us steel string players adapt).

I have been moving to guitars with shorter scales (<25.4", or 645mm). So I found a used Kenny Hill Player, at a scale length of 628mm (24.7") which I am really enjoying. This model is spec'd by Kenny Hill and made in China. He also makes a model called Estudio which new runs about $900. You might consider one of those (there are variations on the theme).

I tend noodle around with songs that go up to the 14th fret. The Cervantes has a cutaway, which is nice for me when I need that reach. With the Hill Player, I stick to lower frets. Again both are 12-fret models. Most of my steel string instruments are 14 frets but I have found it reasonably easy to go back and forth. It was strange at first but I adapted fairly quickly.

I agree that the 52mm (2.05") nut can be a challenge to some, especially coming from the steel string world. You can start on an instrument with a smaller nut and move up if you decide to seriously pursue nylon. There are reasons for the greater nut width and flat radius but each of us has to figure out this path. For my part, my hands are getting a little worse as time marches on, so I plan to stick with the smaller measurements (I also have a couple baritone ukeleles; which I don't get to play much now, but I am hedging my bets).

I purchased all 3 of these guitars (and most of the ones with steel strings!) via the AGF classified section. I finally resold the Cordoba only b/c I do not need 3 nylon stringed guitars (along with 2 ukes; a lot of nylon, LOL).

That Cordoba was just what I needed at the time, following some serious chemo/radiation treatments. I could not play for a couple years, and then the nerve damage. I got back into guitar with that Cordoba. And now I'm enjoying these others and new songs, styles, etc. I'm a hack at it, but a happy hack. Note: it's "easy" to fret nylon. But it's also easy to over-fret. Just be aware there's a point and it takes some practice, and patience, to get the hang of "enough is enough". All my notes were "augmented" for the first few months.....

J

[offkey]

Most classical guitars have the wide 51 to 53mm nut width and for good reason. I thought I wanted a narrow neck and have tried a few but I find with my average size hands I can play the wide neck much cleaner. Nylon strings tend to play easy so a higher action does not bother as much as one might think.
Standard neck size and spacing is standard for a reason. There are lots of great Mexican players playing wide neck guitars with some pretty stubby fingers.

[M19]

Originally Posted by czgunner

I just ordered my new-to-guitar wife a Cordoba Fusion 12. She has had a hard time with the 2” neck nylon sting guitars we have tried.

I have one of these in maple. Built-in tuner and pick-up. Gig bag. $700 at GC. A very nice sounding and playable guitar.

[Huskyman]

I see Taylor has a 214ce nylon. I am curious as to why that has not been mentioned?

[dosland]

Originally Posted by Huskyman

I see Taylor has a 214ce nylon. I am curious as to why that has not been mentioned?

$0.02: Taylor guitars are great, but in my view their nylon-string instruments tend to be a bit overbuilt, and this makes their acoustic performance a little bit less impressive than it could be. Unless you're a committed Taylorist (or Martinist), it's generally best practice to chase the nylon string specialists. Different construction methods allow more traditionally-built nylon strung guitars to be extremely light and lively.