I just watched a two video interview of blues guitarist Larry Johnson. [Larry Johnson Blues Interview & Performance 2007 (Part 1) & (Part 2)]. During the interview Larry said that when he was first learning to play from Rev. Gary Davis, Davis put nylon strings on his guitar because his fingers were tender. He said that enabled him to catch on to what Davis was teaching him much faster than if he had been using steel strings. When I was a kid I quit taking guitar lessons after just a few tries, because my fingers hurt so much. Nobody told me I needed to build up calluses and then my fingers would stop hurting. So comfort for a beginner is another reason to choose nylon.
This year I started learning to play hurdy-gurdy. The luthier fitted it with gut strings. Later I tried steel and nylon strings on it... aaaand they're both cheap imitations of the real thing (although you have to tune gut strings even more often than nylon ones).
It all sounds good but to my ear I always prefer the steel strings. The steel strings ring out to my ear and have a cleaner tone, the nylon always seems muted or dull but then again my ears aren't the best.
In your comparison, I like the sound of the nylon strings. Why not meet in the middle and try comparing acoustic strings vs. electric strings? I use a pack of Ernie Ball 9 or 10 gauge strings for my CBGs. I think they sound better, (not as "buzzy" as acoustic strings) but are also like the nylons (easier on the fingers for newbie players).
I tried making a cigar box guitar using nylon strings but the strings keep breaking, getting it in tune is fine. They break after letting it sit for a while. Any tips?
The nylon is a more mellow tone. They would be good for beginners who complain about finger pain from steel strings. Do you use acoustic strings on all your guitars? I do...even when I have a regular wound pickup and they work fine! Some people say acoustic strings can't be used on an electric guitar...idk???👍😎🎸🎶
@@jeromegrzelak8236 yep. That's true. I use a single coil, I wind myself and also a piezo. I use a 3 way switch to separate each pickup or blend them together.👍😎🎸🎶
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar I just built a dulcimer for my niece and a cookie tin 3 string and a large soup can one string...electrified all 3 .... used regular steel string on dulcimer and a nylon picture hanging string for the 1 string .... used kite string on the cookie tin 3 string..... the kite string sounds good 1 string for top string 2 strings tightly twisted for middle and 3 strings twisted for the low....waxed em with bees wax.... helped the sound and wear... first time I used kite string they sounded crappy so I soaked them with white glue and dried them stretched sounded great but the glue started flaking off and become rough to the fingers..... just got the cookie tin done and trying to figure which strings to use....I built these to start learning.... I'm 58 and had guitars my whole life but never learned.... read about diatonic dulcimer..... half the strings half the frets .... easier to learn.... and it really is..... like to see a good video for starting places on strings to choose....diameters and all details..... everyone says they used the e a g string etc .... but which e what diameters etc... does it matter which of the 6 string set you use ... any ideas on diameter differences between each etc..... this is the one area that most leave out lots of details..... I did use hardware store wire at first.... until I had things set up it saved having to buy real guitar strings while setting up intonation string height etc.. put em on take em off sand put em on..... I would love to start making custom cbg for people for a living.....
I just watched a two video interview of blues guitarist Larry Johnson. [Larry Johnson Blues Interview & Performance 2007 (Part 1) & (Part 2)]. During the interview Larry said that when he was first learning to play from Rev. Gary Davis, Davis put nylon strings on his guitar because his fingers were tender. He said that enabled him to catch on to what Davis was teaching him much faster than if he had been using steel strings. When I was a kid I quit taking guitar lessons after just a few tries, because my fingers hurt so much. Nobody told me I needed to build up calluses and then my fingers would stop hurting. So comfort for a beginner is another reason to choose nylon.
yes
great and needed vid thanx
Interesting tonal differences. I personally think the nylon strings were a better sounding. Thanks for doing this video.
That's the video I was looking for... Thanks for sharing it.
I like the nylon better they just sound better not what I expected.
what guage nylon strings can I use they are wierd numbers on the packet
This year I started learning to play hurdy-gurdy. The luthier fitted it with gut strings. Later I tried steel and nylon strings on it... aaaand they're both cheap imitations of the real thing (although you have to tune gut strings even more often than nylon ones).
It all sounds good but to my ear I always prefer the steel strings. The steel strings ring out to my ear and have a cleaner tone, the nylon always seems muted or dull but then again my ears aren't the best.
Well that's made my mind up. Prefer the nylon sound👍
Both sets are overspun making them sound so similar on this particular acoustic. Interesting.
In your comparison, I like the sound of the nylon strings.
Why not meet in the middle and try comparing acoustic strings vs. electric strings?
I use a pack of Ernie Ball 9 or 10 gauge strings for my CBGs. I think they sound better, (not as "buzzy" as acoustic strings) but are also like the nylons (easier on the fingers for newbie players).
Interesting! Thanks.
For blue's or rock, I would go with steel, they sound gooder 😅👍🙏
More clarity with the nylon strings.
Del how different is the feel of the strings
Great sound on both. What is the fret scale
I tried making a cigar box guitar using nylon strings but the strings keep breaking, getting it in tune is fine. They break after letting it sit for a while. Any tips?
don’t let it sit for a while ..?? 😀
Nylon sound good but seem to stretch forever.
The nylon is a more mellow tone. They would be good for beginners who complain about finger pain from steel strings. Do you use acoustic strings on all your guitars? I do...even when I have a regular wound pickup and they work fine! Some people say acoustic strings can't be used on an electric guitar...idk???👍😎🎸🎶
remember he is using a pizo pickup
@@jeromegrzelak8236 yep. That's true. I use a single coil, I wind myself and also a piezo. I use a 3 way switch to separate each pickup or blend them together.👍😎🎸🎶
@@74dartman13 cheers
@@jeromegrzelak8236 👍😃
Del also uses plain (unwound) steel strings .026 .017 .013 and .020 .016 .012
Nylon strings sound flat. Steel strings got a nicer sound.
😀😁👍👍👍
i use fishing line its cheaper
rubber bands .... sceren door remnants...cat guts... horse hair ... bailing wire...
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar I just built a dulcimer for my niece and a cookie tin 3 string and a large soup can one string...electrified all 3 .... used regular steel string on dulcimer and a nylon picture hanging string for the 1 string .... used kite string on the cookie tin 3 string..... the kite string sounds good 1 string for top string 2 strings tightly twisted for middle and 3 strings twisted for the low....waxed em with bees wax.... helped the sound and wear... first time I used kite string they sounded crappy so I soaked them with white glue and dried them stretched sounded great but the glue started flaking off and become rough to the fingers..... just got the cookie tin done and trying to figure which strings to use....I built these to start learning.... I'm 58 and had guitars my whole life but never learned.... read about diatonic dulcimer..... half the strings half the frets .... easier to learn.... and it really is..... like to see a good video for starting places on strings to choose....diameters and all details..... everyone says they used the e a g string etc .... but which e what diameters etc... does it matter which of the 6 string set you use ... any ideas on diameter differences between each etc..... this is the one area that most leave out lots of details..... I did use hardware store wire at first.... until I had things set up it saved having to buy real guitar strings while setting up intonation string height etc.. put em on take em off sand put em on..... I would love to start making custom cbg for people for a living.....
@@PuckettCigarBoxGuitar Weedeater line. 😉