Falling in love with nylon

[DownUpDave]

Originally Posted by RJVB

Really, Freudian slip? O:-)
Careful now, we can love nylon strings without getting all religious about it

That's hilarious, I can't be that witty for real. Thanks for pointing out rabbi instead of rabbit, fixed it

[TBman]

I've always had a soft spot for the sound of nylon.

[Red_Label]

Originally Posted by Vyse Hazuky

I've recently traded my 2 Martins for a great concert grade Cedar top classical.. And I'm actually weighing trading my remaining steel string, a Lowden, for a similar quality Spruce top..

Mmmm… Lowden... I would hold on to that one! I've got an Avalon L32c and hope have it for many years. Something special about those Irish steel strings. But everyone has their own journey to travel, so do whatever floats your boat and enjoy!

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by DownUpDave

That's hilarious, I can't be that witty for real.

And to be honest, the stage for me seeing the wit had already been set since a few posts before

[3rd_harmonic]

Day by day, my new nylon string is growing on me. I gotta get a strap button and strap though and then I'll probably wear the darn thing to bed ..... I'm lovin' it so much.

[Vyse Hazuky]

Originally Posted by Red_Label

Mmmm… Lowden... I would hold on to that one! I've got an Avalon L32c and hope have it for many years. Something special about those Irish steel strings. But everyone has their own journey to travel, so do whatever floats your boat and enjoy!

Thanks.. maybe I need to try something different (new strings, new tunes) to rediscover it and make it indispensable for me again..

EDIT: That being said, my classical is getting 100% playing time. I just can't seem to make steel strings sound as expressive without sounding soft.

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by Vyse Hazuky

I just can't seem to make steel strings sound as expressive without sounding soft.

I think that's the main problem I have with steel too, and it may be something where our ears have been "perverted" by amplification too (which allows you to "sound soft" without actually being at a ppp level). Nylon and carbon trebles can sound thin too but that's a sign you need a heavier gauge; find the right gauge and to me they only sound soft/thin when you want them to. And you don't get that impression that you're cutting yourself for nothing

Why not grab a set of nylon ball-end strings (EJ33 for instance) and put those on your Lowden? Action will be too low and the trebles won't sit right in their slots but at least you'll get an idea if there's an interest to adapting it (nut & saddle job mostly). My guess is that the instrument will retain its characteristic voice, and if ever you need to play steel strings again it's trivial to convert it back.

[Vyse Hazuky]

^It certainly won't hurt to try..

[RJVB]

Originally Posted by Vyse Hazuky

^It certainly won't hurt to try..

No it won't, and I'd be really curious to know what you find out if you do!

[Pitar]

Originally Posted by sirwhale

Welcome. I've lost all love for steel strings.

There was a point about a year ago I'd have echoed your sentiment but realized some time later that all I like to do cannot be rendered on classical alone. No matter how I render it, nylon cannot deliver Little Martha like steel can. So, I broke down and bought another steel string for the times I need it.

[dkstott]

Which is why I kept 1 steel string guitar.. Plus, it's a Froggy Bottom, I simply couldn't part with it.. LOL

Originally Posted by Pitar

There was a point about a year ago I'd have echoed your sentiment but realized some time later that all I like to do cannot be rendered on classical alone. No matter how I render it, nylon cannot deliver Little Martha like steel can. So, I broke down and bought another steel string for the times I need it.

[Willie_D]

Originally Posted by maplebaby

I'd love to hear it someday! You made my day - in a perfect world we'd be able to play it together!

warts and all.

[maplebaby]

Originally Posted by Willie_D

warts and all.

that was fantastic! Thanks so much for recording this and sharing with us...beautiful playing and your guitar sounds perfect for this piece. Love what you did with the arrangement and just wish i was in the pew the Sunday you lay it on the folks!!

day made, your fan,
dale

[Willie_D]

Originally Posted by maplebaby

that was fantastic! Thanks so much for recording this and sharing with us...beautiful playing and your guitar sounds perfect for this piece. Love what you did with the arrangement and just wish i was in the pew the Sunday you lay it on the folks!!

day made, your fan,
dale

Thanks! I really appreciate your kind words.

This was played on the Epi Hummingbird I just bought and mic'ed with a Line 6 SonicPort VX in stereo. I'm learning quickly that mic placement can bring out the best (or the worst) of a guitar, and that placing it well can make it sound great.

Yeah, I know I posted a steel-string recording in a nylon string thread, but I learned it from your Nylacaster video and I do play it on my classical sometimes.

[DownUpDave]

Originally Posted by Willie_D

Thanks! I really appreciate your kind words.

This was played on the Epi Hummingbird I just bought and mic'ed with a Line 6 SonicPort VX in stereo. I'm learning quickly that mic placement can bring out the best (or the worst) of a guitar, and that placing it well can make it sound great.

Yeah, I know I posted a steel-string recording in a nylon string thread, but I learned it from your Nylacaster video and I do play it on my classical sometimes.

I got confused when I heard......what I thought was a steel string on a nylon string thread. Thanks for clarifying, thought I was either stroking out or having a 70's acid flashback