Nylon strings with good treble. Asking for recommendations..

Su_H. · #1 03-21-2021, 06:15 AM

I have a classical Yamaha that does not bring out the treble. What strings would you recommend that may enhance the treble?

steveh · #2 03-21-2021, 08:49 AM

Anything fluorocarbon.

Cheers,
Steve

Bax Burgess · #3 03-21-2021, 10:19 AM

Also, there's a possibility that your guitar is bass dominant. As a preliminary, check the saddle with a bright light at one end, to see that there are no gaps between it and the bridge slot. Are the bottom edges of the saddle sharp? Round those off as they can limit the saddle's ability to contact fully with the slot floor. As Steve said, carbon for strong trebles, and for less diffused bass, I'll suggest higher tension bass strings to pair with a lower tensioned treble.

j3ffr0 · #4 03-21-2021, 12:32 PM

I like Savarez Alliance Corum. To me the trebles are smooth with an extended top instead of being overly honky in the mids to upper mids like some nylon strings are (depending on guitar voicing of course). On the wrong guitar though, they can sound bad.

You may go higher tension in the trebles for a little more volume and snap, but I use normal tension.

Gitfiddlemann · #5 03-21-2021, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Su_H.

I have a classical Yamaha that does not bring out the treble. What strings would you recommend that may enhance the treble?

Hi Su,
I’m sorry to hear that. Bringing out the trebles on a treble challenged guitar is a very difficult ask.
If it happened suddenly, then maybe something structural as suggested above might be helpful.
If not, and you’re looking for a string solution, it might be a long experimentation effort. If it were me, I would go the Xtra hard tension route in a clear nylon set. Something like the D’Addario EJ 44. An excellent, and inexpensive, string that I currently use. String by Mail offers them in treble sets. (CNX-3T @ 2.79 each).
But, I don’t know and can’t predict if it will solve the issue for you. I can only hope that it does. At least, it’s not a very costly attempt!
Strings are very subjective tough. Feel free to try a bunch of different ones, and best of luck in solving the issue.

Gtrfinger · #6 03-21-2021, 05:11 PM

I play a Kremona/Orpheus Valley Romida. To be fair I was not originally enamoured with the sound but the strings make such a huge difference. For me the trebles simply sounded wrong. Dull. Plasticky.

Tried several makes, but for ten years now I've been using Savarez Alliance Cantiga, which uses Alliance trebles and Cantiga basses.

They suit this guitar very well, which is a spruce top, solid IR back and sides.

I bought a 1973 Ramirez last year for my girlfriend, which needed some TLC, and so the Alliance Cantiga went on that as well... It sounded unbelievable. Really.

Strings and guitars are funny though. My Lakewood has always loved Elixirs, but my cedar topped Yamaha steel string just doesn't work with them at all.
Maybe Yamaha guitars are too fussy. The Yamaha only plays with D'Addario.

Try the Savarez. They're expensive, but if they work...

Best of luck
Mike.

Su_H. · #7 03-21-2021, 06:36 PM

Thank you for all the suggestions.

When I bought this guitar, I was only wanting something to get me by. I probably will end up getting something nicer in a couple of years. Again, I appreciate the suggestions.

Su

Tom_B · #8 03-23-2021, 05:26 PM

Back in the 80’s, I used Savarez Traditional 520P1 with plastic wound 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (E, B, and G) strings on my Yamaha. Both treble and base sounds improved significantly.

Su_H. · #9 03-24-2021, 02:47 PM

I checked my guitar, around the saddle and bridge, and there seems to be nothing wrong. I ordered 3 different sets of strings: Pro Arte, Savarez, and another. 2 of them have carbon. The other has some type of composite....not sure what it is.

Carey · #10 03-25-2021, 02:01 PM

A couple of fluorocarbon sets I think might be good in your case :

Knobloch Actives CX (prob high-tension); best carbon trebles I've found.
Hannabach Goldin (med-high tension only) very nice, too.

Su_H. · #11 03-25-2021, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carey

A couple of fluorocarbon sets I think might be good in your case :

Knobloch Actives CX (prob high-tension); best carbon trebles I've found.
Hannabach Goldin (med-high tension only) very nice, too.

I'll order the Knobloch set the next time around. Thanks for the recommendation.

Fraz · #12 03-27-2021, 04:57 AM

Yeah I can recommend Knobloch too. If available in your country the Sonatina Titanium Equinox strings are amazing. I made a video comparing some strings recently... more for the context of flamenco but may be useful to you? I put it on YouTube.

Please let us know how you get on and tell us what you find? :-)

Su_H. · #13 03-27-2021, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fraz

Yeah I can recommend Knobloch too. If available in your country the Sonatina Titanium Equinox strings are amazing. I made a video comparing some strings recently... more for the context of flamenco but may be useful to you? I put it on YouTube.

Please let us know how you get on and tell us what you find? :-)

I definitely will. Thank you for chiming in.