It doesn’t take long for nylon strings to start sounding dull. When you can’t stand the intonation offered anymore, it’s time to replace them.
You’ll also want to change the strings on a classical guitar if they won’t stay in tune, start to rust, and look like they’re unwinding.
When you look at the nylon strings, you’ll notice that they can have a ball end or a tie-on formation.
It would be best to replace the exact type and composition to make the instrument playable once again.
Although steel strings work on other instruments, you don’t want to use them with your classical guitar.
Can You Put Steel Strings on a Classical Guitar?
You cannot put steel strings on a classical guitar. The instrument doesn’t have truss rods to protect the instrument’s neck from the increased tension, leading to warpage, cracking, and permanent damage.
The only exception to this rule involves a classical guitar with truss rods that deliver enough support.
Although you won’t find this option on entry-level or mid-range options, a few manufacturers are equipping them for country musicians.
You must look at the specs of a guitar with truss rods to ensure it can handle steel strings.
Most of them warn you not to explicitly use that option, especially when they use the classical design.
If you find a guitar that supports steel strings, it’s likely not an authentic classical design.
■ What Damage Could Occur When Using Steel Strings
Should you decide to experiment with steel strings on a classical guitar despite everyone offering an emphatic “no,” you’ll encounter three potential problems:
- The bridge often pries away from the soundboard to make the instrument unplayable.
- You can bend the neck to create a warping effect that negates playability.
- The tuners can get ruined, refusing to turn so that you can swap out the strings again.
If you put a heavy-gauge steel string set on your classical guitar, it could literally implode.
Do you already have steel strings on your instrument? If so, take them off immediately.
You might want to take the guitar to a local store to have it inspected for damage.
When you want to play steel strings exclusively, several acoustic and electric guitars offer this option.
How to Restring a Classical Guitar
When it is time to change your classical guitar strings, you’ll want to follow these steps to have a successful experience.
- When you need to restring a classical guitar, you must remove and replace them one at a time. It might help to invest in a string winder to speed up this process. You should not remove all six simultaneously.
- If your guitar accommodates ball-end strings, you only need to run it through the corresponding hole in the bridge. Once you’ve completed this step, you can skip to Step #8 in this process.
- When you use a tie-on classical string, you’ll need to feed the string’s end through the bridge’s corresponding hole. Most people need 2-3 inches of slack to make the work easier.
- You’ll double-back across the bridge during this step, passing the string’s end underneath itself. It must be done correctly to avoid damage or tuning complications.
- Feed the string underneath itself a second time so that you achieve a stronger knot for the instrument.
- Pull on the string to help the knot lock itself into place. It needs a firm tug, which means you might want to wear gloves for the thinner strings to reduce injury risks.
- You might be tempted to tidy up the loose ends after securing the knot, but you’ll want to keep the extra length in case there’s a future problem.
- You’re ready to move to the guitar’s headstock. Feed the new string through the correct machine head post. As you start winding it up, you want to be on top of it instead of underneath.
- You can place nylon strings through the hole twice to give it some extra grip.
Once you reach this point in the restringing process for your classical guitar, it is time to tune the instrument.
Stretching the strings will save you time during this process. Unless you need to play the instrument immediately, try tuning the guitar to a step higher than you require.
Let the guitar rest overnight at the higher tuning range. When it’s time to pick it up to play, you’ll be closer to what you actually need.
Some strings might need another tuning and stretching session before they’re conditioned to play correctly.
Once you have confidence in how well the guitar stays tuned, you can trim the excessive string lengths from the guitar.
At this point, your instrument should have more stability, improved tone, and better intonation.
These steps are evidence of why nylon strings, not steel ones, are necessary for a classical guitar.
The extra tension from the step-up process is enough to damage even well-constructed instruments.
Nylon Strings vs. Steel Strings Comparison
If you have a guitar that can play steel strings, it can also get hooked up with the nylon variety. You’ll find passionate people on both sides of that debate.
When you’re new to playing the guitar (or you’ve been away from the instrument for a while), steel strings are harder on your fingers.
You have a higher chance of experiencing pain while paying until the callouses develop.
Nylon strings require less force to generate a crisp tone, but a steel string offers the potential for more sustain.
Here are some more of the conversation points you can find when comparing nylon strings to steel strings.
| Nylon Strings | Steel Strings | |
| MUSICAL GENRE: | Jazz, classical, and bossa nova musical styles use nylon strings more often because the product offers a lighter attack and mellower tone. | Most popular music genres today are played with steel strings. It delivers a bright, crisp style that creates more compositional power. |
| GUITAR CONSTRUCTION: | Most classical guitars are slightly smaller than their modern counterparts. You won’t find any electronics built into the body. Most won’t even use fretboard markers or cutaways. | Steel-string guitars have bodies that typically start at the 14th fret, which is two more than the classical design. This design makes it easier to reach high solo frets in compositions. |
| TUNING PROCESSES: | Nylon strings require frequent tuning, even after you stretch them overnight. The softer material experiences more expansion and contraction when exposed to heat or humidity. | Steel strings provide a consistent playing experience that requires minimal tuning. This benefit is so powerful that most pianos use this product to create sounds from each hammer. |
| PRODUCT COST: | Entry-level nylon strings are priced around $5 per set. You’ll need to look for the tie-end or ball end models to fit your classical guitar. If you select an option with titanium cores, the price can get as high as $30 per pack. Most players can find a product they love for about $10 to $15. | Steel strings for beginners start at $4.50 per set if you use 80/20 versions. If you select a silk-wound product, the median price is about $25. If you want nickel-plated steel long scale strings, you can pay more than $50 for today’s top brands. |
Differences between Acoustic and Classical Guitars
Have you ever seen someone go up to a guitar and describe it as a beautiful classical design? Did you wonder how they knew that it was that guitar type?
When you compare a classical guitar to an acoustic one, the most obvious difference is the pickguard.
This feature sits on the soundhole on an acoustic guitar, providing a spot where your picking work won’t damage the instrument.
It allows you to get bright action, perform power chords, or do fingerpicking work without worrying about your investment.
Most classical guitars feature an inlay around the soundhole instead. There won’t be a pickguard on the instrument’s body at all.
That means you shouldn’t perform that style of play when you own this guitar. You’d damage it almost as much as if you’d put steel strings on it.
The second difference is the neck. A classical guitar features a broader area for the strings to hum so that you can develop a mellow, warm sustain.
The thinner style on an acoustic guitar requires precision finger placement for chord development, which can worsen when you have steel strings attached.
If you prefer a guitar that has some size to it, the acoustic is your better selection. It has a larger body compared to a classical guitar, providing more playing options with capos or alternative tuning methods.
Best Classical Guitars You Can Buy Today
When you want to play a classical guitar, you must be careful when shopping. Although most acoustic guitars come with a pickguard, some electric models don’t offer that feature. You might even see the inlay around the soundhole!
Your best option is to look at the manufacturer’s description. You cannot call an acoustic guitar “classical” with truth-in-advertising laws if it doesn’t meet the design specifications.
Here are some of the best classical guitars that you can get today. Please remember to keep the steel strings as far away as possible!
| Ortega Guitars Six-String Classical | – Features a 3/4 size that makes it playable for all ages. – Uses 540CS strings for added comfort. – Comes with 18 frets and a two-way truss rod. – Offers a mahogany back, spruce top, and a red, glossy finish. |
| Cordoba CD Classical Guitar | – Offers comfortable playability with a cedar top and a mahogany back. – The nylon strings you need for playing come with the instrument. – It delivers a lightweight result without compromising the sound quality. – Delivers a full sound despite having a slightly thinner neck at the nut. |
| Kremona Six-String Classical Guitar | – Features a cedar top with sapele sides and back. – Uses a dovetail neck joint to replicate an acoustic guitar experience. – Comes with a padded gig bag that offers additional neck supports. – It is more of a student or entry-level option, but it delivers a beautiful sustain. |
| Yamaha CG-TA Classical Guitar | – Uses proprietary trans-acoustic technology to deliver an excellent sound. – Has electronics built into the guitar for chorus, reverb, or room reverb effects. – It features a rosewood bridge and fingerboard for excellent sound quality. – The top is made from spruce, while the body and back are Ovangkol wood. |
Can You Ever Put Steel Strings on a Classical Guitar?
Although you can theoretically put steel strings on a classical guitar when it has enough bracing and support to manage the tension, it’s still not a good idea.
The action you get from the steel strings creates enough vibration to impact the instrument’s body. You’d find imprints from the movement destroying the finish in a handful of sessions.
Since you’d likely use a pick to work on those strings, that movement would add further damage to the instrument!
That means the risks are too high to use steel strings on a classical guitar. Your first and best option should be nylon strings instead.
If you don’t like the idea of using pure nylon, some guitars can use phosphor bronze, silver plating, or silk variations that deliver different outputs.
You’ll need to refer to your instrument’s guide to guarantee that you won’t damage the guitar or void your warranty.
