Changing Nylon Strings!

[BluesKing777]

Sorry to divert you from your Hummingbird thoughts and such, but......

 

 

 

In approx 1975, my sister gave me her broken late 60's/early 70's nylon string Takamine classical guitar - she took 2 or 3 guitar lessons to get out of learning piano and then got out of it all when the bridge came off. Dad fixed it with Araldyte! Lasted 3 strums and the bridge came off again!

 

 

SO

 

 

when altering my music room set up, I found it in the cupboard.

 

I decided to give it to my luthier to fix while I was there with my latest Gibson setups.

 

 

So

 

 

I know not one thing about classical/nylon string guitars! I have been looking at some threads about nylon string guitars on AGF and have noticed that - here is the thing - the STRINGS DON'T HAVE ANY BALL-ENDS!

 

 

They have various knots!

 

 

Who Knew?

 

 

So I don't believe you should drive a car if you don't know how to change the tyres etc etc, so any clues and tips about these knots from the forum members here would be a help. (Super-Glue the string to the bridge?)

 

 

 

BluesKing777.

 

 

[BigKahune]

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Worse - you need loop locks at both ends if you got a slothead. . B)

 

I use the traditional method - here's a good illustration - http://www.staffordguitar.com/helpstringtrebles.asp

 

 

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[BluesKing777]

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Worse - you need loop locks at both ends if you got a slothead. . B)

 

I use the traditional method - here's a good illustration - http://www.staffordg...ringtrebles.asp

 

 

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Thanks a lot, BK.

 

I have saved that to my favourites for later study....

 

I'm not sure ole shaky here is going to be able to do that string loops tie thang....only one way to find out.

 

 

 

BluesKing777.

[drathbun]

I like to string from the bass side and wrap the extra with the next string like this:

 

[BluesKing777]

No way Drathbun!

 

Not by me in this lifetime...

 

 

To quote Ricky Gervais: "Are you avin' a laugh?"

 

 

 

BluesKing777.

[TommyK]

I like to string from the bass side and wrap the extra with the next string like this:

 

 

Notice how the last wrap exits beyond the corner of the bridge. This is important on the unwound strings to keep them from unknotting.

 

At the head end, thread the string through the spool hole, make sure the first wrap, as you're tuning up, goes over the tag end to peg the loose end down, then keep tuning.

 

Nylon strings take days, to settle in. The wound basses may take a week before they stop stretching. The unwound trebles? I don't think they ever quit stretching.

 

Frank Ford, at "Frets.com" has a tutorial for this.

[Mojorule]

When you've got the knot-tying at the bridge down, they're much easier than steel strings, BK. The braiding at the top gives grip at the headstock end. No worries that they'll scratch the headstock or the soundboard or any such. You can just get on with it. Fantastic. And yes they take ages to settle down, but once they're in tune, they'll last for ages too. I've not been missing my old classical since I got the Woody, but now you're giving me a twinge of nostalgia... Definitely good for your fingerstyle development.

[BluesKing777]

Thanks everybody.

 

 

Looks complicated! I can see breaking a string at a gig as being a nuke event. (Full Meltdown!)

 

 

I guess I will have to take a closer look when I get it back from the luthier.

 

 

Do they make stick-on nylon strings?

 

 

 

BluesKing777.

[BigKahune]

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Well, they do make them with ball ends - https://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&q=nylon+ball+end+classical+guitar+strings&oq=nylon+ball+end+classical+guitar+strings&aq=f&aqi=g-b1&aql=1&gs_l=hp.3..0i8.13341l15429l4l15852l10l10l0l0l0l2l133l1071l4j6l10l0.cfis.1.&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=97b986a923593356&biw=1768&bih=1019

 

 

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[fortyearspickn]

I would stear clear of ball ends: They look bad and I would guess can dig into the bridge wood over time. It is really fairly easy putting these on once you have a picture. I wrap the 3 treble strings as much as can fit - especially #1, since it is thinner and slipperier. G'luck.

[BluesKing777]

La Garra returns!

 

 

(picked up the guitar from the luthier!).

 

 

So I have been flamenkin' and classicalizin' for 24 hours straight. What fun! I have never owned a classical nylon string and it is fantastic for a change.

 

 

Thanks for all the tips.

(The one about the nylon strings going out of tune a lot for the first few days has stopped me from thinking the guitar is effed! Glad I didn't get the 12 string version!).

 

 

No use worrying about changing strings just yet - I couldn't get any - on order.

 

 

BluesKing777.

[BluesKing777]

I am enjoying the classical guitar for a change and it occurred to me that they all look a bit similar and that Mrs BluesKing777 would probably not notice if I very, very quietly swapped the current cheapie for something a little more substantial when some more cash comes in!

 

 

Chet's old classical from Gruhn's - not badly priced at $25,000:

 

 

 

 

 

BluesKing777.