Is It Easy to Place Nylon Strings on Steel String Guitar?

[kiacarr]

Hi Everyone!

I am almost new in guitar world. Actually, my 16 years old son recently purchased a new guitar. He already has one beginner one and now he got an intermediate level. Last week, he asked me to put nylon strings on his old guitar after removing the steel ones. Honestly, I don't have enough knowledge about such DIY activities and found these sources little helpful:


www.happynewguitarday.com/can-you-put-nylon-strings-on-a-steel-string-guitar/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROPzAgn9o_k

I can understand if many of experts would suggest to allow him but do you think as a beginner guitar repair etc he can do it? Probably, his friends suggested him to conduct this activity but due to some financial issues, I am not happy to bear any loss. I am here to know your suggestions. If you have done this for your own guitar then please share your experiences as well.

Waiting for your suggestions. 

[dnic]

Replacing strings is not difficult but there are some things to know. Steel string guitar string have ball ends that hold them into the bridge. Most nylon strings guitars do not have ball ends but you can buy nylon strings with ball ends so you just have to be aware there is a difference. Also nylon strings stretch a lot. The tuner posts on nylon type guitars are bigger in diameter but steel string tuner posts are smaller. So when you install the new nylon strings be sure to pull all the excess out or you will have way to much string on the posts. As far as how to attach the string to the bridge and the post there are lots of videos out there. Good luck

[Deleted]

I need to ask, why is he wanting to switch from steal to nylon?

 I see some people that want to switch from Steal to nylon because they think it's easier on their fingers. Not so. Now I have put nylon strings on a few guitars that were set up for steal strings. But the guitar will require some set up for the nylon strings.

 Like Dane said, there is a lot more stretching in of the strings to make them stay in tune. If the guitar is a steal string guitar, I would rather see you go with a liter gauge string.The guitar will still need some set up.

 But I also like the sound of a nylon sting on an acoustic guitar. I have owned a few classical guitars. There is something really cool about them. I need to get me another one. LOL!

 I don't know if I was much help. But welcome to the forum. 

EB

[kiacarr]

Mar 2, 2021 8:56:29 GMT -6 dnic said:

Replacing strings is not difficult but there are some things to know. Steel string guitar string have ball ends that hold them into the bridge. Most nylon strings guitars do not have ball ends but you can buy nylon strings with ball ends so you just have to be aware there is a difference. Also nylon strings stretch a lot. The tuner posts on nylon type guitars are bigger in diameter but steel string tuner posts are smaller. So when you install the new nylon strings be sure to pull all the excess out or you will have way to much string on the posts. As far as how to attach the string to the bridge and the post there are lots of videos out there. Good luck

Thanks for suggestion. Actually, he was also talking about ball ends, I just recalled it from your reply. I am not sure how he is going to handle this nylon string stretch issue. 

[kiacarr]

Mar 2, 2021 12:46:15 GMT -6 @eagleblues said:

I need to ask, why is he wanting to switch from steal to nylon?

 I see some people that want to switch from Steal to nylon because they think it's easier on their fingers. Not so. Now I have put nylon strings on a few guitars that were set up for steal strings. But the guitar will require some set up for the nylon strings.

 Like Dane said, there is a lot more stretching in of the strings to make them stay in tune. If the guitar is a steal string guitar, I would rather see you go with a liter gauge string.The guitar will still need some set up.

 But I also like the sound of a nylon sting on an acoustic guitar. I have owned a few classical guitars. There is something really cool about them. I need to get me another one. LOL!

 I don't know if I was much help. But welcome to the forum. 

EB

Thanks eagleblues. As a mother if I would say he is going to change it because steal strings hurt the fingers or he is looking an easy way to play guitar then it would be wrong. I know how much my son is passionate for playing guitars. Probably, he is trying something new to get unique sounds. I am only concerned because it could be bad venture for both of us. I am finding some more information about this stretching thing because I think it could be an issue.

Thanks for welcoming me here.  I would like to be an active part of this place because I need to learn more about guitars. Maybe as a mother of a guitarist      

[antares]

It was half a century ago now, but I still haven't forgotten that starting out was very painful even with nylon strings. In fact to this day, if I don't play regularly (let's say if I leave off for a couple of weeks- it can happen!) it gets a little uncomfortable once more, but the finger tips soon harden up again.

My first guitar was a cheap no-name plywood box with a floating bridge and steel strings. When I started classical lessons, the first thing my teacher did was to change my strings for nylon ones, as much as anything to fit in with her blinkered view of guitars and how they should be strung appropriate to the material under study. I have no recollection how that was achieved vis-a-vis ball ends on the strings or otherwise. As I said, even with the perhaps more forgiving nylon strings, it still hurt until my finger tips hardened up (which seemed like an eternity at the time).

These days, although I do have a classical guitar, it's a bit of a "case queen" and I prefer to play the "classical" pieces I can still remember on a steel strung instrument.

You won't damage a steel string guitar by putting nylon strings on it, although with the reduced tension there may be some adjustment(s) needed as Dane said, but for future reference down the line- never put steel strings on a guitar designed for nylon strings. And welcome to The Forum from me too.

e&oe ...