Playability: Classical vs. crossover

[wcap]

Originally Posted by 2toss

P.S. wcap....... love your Prairie Wind!

Thanks. That was played on a classical.

Regarding ease of playing: Have you ever tried ultralight strings on a steel string guitar? The playing feel is very nice. Playing my 12 string strung with light Elixr strings (an Elixr light 12 string set is the same gauges as an ultralight 6 string set) felt almost like playing an electric guitar.

[lodi_55]

Originally Posted by charles Tauber

For someone "relatively new to guitar", nothing is easy. The guitar is a difficult instrument to play well.

What becomes "easy" is partly what you get used to and what you try to do on the instrument.

The specifics of the instrument are based upon what players, generally, have found is best suited for the music they are playing and the technique they are using. I'd suggest you start there. If you are wanting a steel string guitar but with the lower tension of nylon strings, or perhaps the sound of nylon, then a "crossover" is likely what you want. If you are playing "hard core", un-amplified classical guitar music, you aren't likely to prefer the characteristics of the crossover.

In short, to some extent, the type of music and technique you use will determine the type of guitar you'd like.

Charles nailed it. I gig a few times a month and play several styles, from spanish guitar to blues. For me, cross-over fits the bill perfectly. But if I was only playing classical pieces, I would be not to enthusiastic about the tone of a cross-over. Crossovers allow versatility and that's the main reason I play one.