Vinyl strings. The Ultimate Guide to Nylon Guitar Strings: Types, Brands, and Choosing the Best Set

What are nylon guitar strings. How do they differ from steel strings. Which brands make the best nylon strings. How to choose the right tension and material for your playing style. What factors impact nylon string tone and playability.

Table of Contents

Understanding Nylon Guitar Strings: Composition and Characteristics

Nylon guitar strings are a popular choice for classical and flamenco guitars, offering a warm, mellow tone that’s distinct from steel strings. But what exactly are nylon strings made of?

Nylon strings typically consist of three nylon treble strings and three bass strings that are nylon wrapped with various metals. The treble strings are made of a solid nylon monofilament, while the bass strings have a nylon core wrapped with materials like silver-plated copper or bronze.

This unique construction gives nylon strings several key characteristics:

Softer feel and easier on fingertips compared to steel strings
Warm, mellow tone with less brightness and sustain than steel
Lower tension, making them easier to press down and bend
More susceptible to changes in temperature and humidity
Typically longer break-in period to stabilize tuning

Top Nylon String Brands: Comparing Quality and Performance

When it comes to nylon strings, several brands stand out for their quality and performance. Let’s examine some of the top contenders:

D’Addario

D’Addario is a leading manufacturer of guitar strings, offering a wide range of nylon options. Their Pro-Arte series is particularly popular among classical guitarists. What sets D’Addario apart?

Consistent quality across product lines
Innovative string technologies like EXP coatings
Wide range of tensions and materials to suit different playing styles

Savarez

Savarez is a French company with a long history of producing high-quality nylon strings. They’re known for:

Exceptional clarity and projection
Unique Alliance series combining different materials
Popular among professional classical guitarists

Ernie Ball

While better known for their electric guitar strings, Ernie Ball also produces quality nylon strings. Their Ernesto Palla line offers:

Affordable pricing without compromising quality
Clear nylon trebles with silver-plated copper bass windings
Ball-end options for easier restringing on some guitars

Nylon String Tensions: Finding the Right Balance

String tension plays a crucial role in playability and tone. Nylon strings typically come in three tension levels:

Low/Light Tension
Normal/Medium Tension
High/Hard Tension

But how do these tensions affect your playing experience? Let’s break it down:

Low Tension Strings

Low tension strings offer:

Easier fretting and bending
Softer, more delicate tone
Less volume and projection
Ideal for beginners or those with hand issues

Normal Tension Strings

Normal tension strings provide:

Balanced playability and tone
Good volume and sustain
Versatile option suitable for most players

High Tension Strings

High tension strings deliver:

Increased volume and projection
Crisper, more defined tone
More challenging to play, especially for beginners
Preferred by some advanced players for certain styles

Nylon String Materials: Beyond Basic Nylon

While traditional nylon strings remain popular, manufacturers have developed alternative materials to enhance performance. These include:

Carbon Fiber Trebles

Carbon fiber treble strings offer several advantages:

Increased brightness and projection
Better tuning stability
Longer lifespan compared to nylon

Composite Core Bass Strings

Some brands use composite materials for bass string cores, providing:

Improved tuning stability
Enhanced durability
Reduced susceptibility to temperature and humidity changes

Fluorocarbon Trebles

Fluorocarbon treble strings offer a unique alternative:

Brighter tone than traditional nylon
Increased clarity and projection
Less affected by humidity

Choosing the Right Nylon Strings for Your Guitar and Playing Style

Selecting the perfect set of nylon strings involves considering several factors:

Guitar Type

Different guitars may benefit from specific string types:

Classical guitars: Traditional nylon or carbon fiber strings
Flamenco guitars: Typically lower tension strings for faster play
Crossover or hybrid guitars: May use ball-end nylon strings

Playing Style

Your technique and musical preferences should influence string choice:

Fingerstyle players may prefer normal to high tension for better separation
Strummers might opt for lower tension for easier playing
Jazz guitarists often choose fluorocarbon for a brighter tone

Skill Level

Consider your experience when selecting strings:

Beginners: Start with normal tension for a balanced experience
Intermediate: Experiment with different tensions and materials
Advanced: Choose based on specific tonal and performance needs

Maintaining and Changing Nylon Strings: Best Practices

Proper care and maintenance can extend the life of your nylon strings and ensure optimal performance. Here are some key tips:

Cleaning

Regular cleaning helps prevent buildup and corrosion:

Wipe strings with a clean, dry cloth after playing
Use a specialized string cleaner for deeper cleaning
Avoid harsh chemicals that can damage the nylon

Changing Frequency

How often should you change nylon strings? It depends on several factors:

Playing frequency and style
Environmental conditions (humidity, temperature)
Personal preference for tone and feel

As a general rule, consider changing strings every 2-3 months for regular players, or when you notice a decline in tone or playability.

Proper Installation

Correct string installation is crucial for stability and tone:

Stretch new strings gently to help them settle
Ensure proper knot tying at the bridge
Allow time for new strings to stabilize (up to a week)

Nylon Strings vs. Steel Strings: Understanding the Differences

While both nylon and steel strings serve the purpose of producing sound on a guitar, they have distinct characteristics that set them apart. Understanding these differences can help you choose the right strings for your instrument and playing style.

Tone

The most noticeable difference between nylon and steel strings is their tone:

Nylon strings produce a warm, mellow sound with less brightness
Steel strings offer a brighter, crisper tone with more overtones
Nylon strings have less sustain compared to steel strings

Playability

The feel and playability of nylon and steel strings differ significantly:

Nylon strings are softer and easier on the fingers
Steel strings require more finger pressure and can be harder on fingertips
Nylon strings have lower tension, making them easier to bend

Durability

The lifespan and maintenance needs of these string types vary:

Steel strings generally last longer before needing replacement
Nylon strings are more susceptible to temperature and humidity changes
Steel strings are less prone to stretching and detuning over time

Instrument Compatibility

It’s crucial to use the correct string type for your guitar:

Classical and flamenco guitars are designed for nylon strings
Acoustic steel-string guitars require steel strings
Using the wrong string type can damage your instrument

Exploring Specialty Nylon Strings: Unique Options for Discerning Players

Beyond standard nylon strings, there are several specialty options available for players seeking unique tonal characteristics or enhanced performance. Let’s examine some of these innovative string types:

Ball-End Nylon Strings

Ball-end nylon strings offer a convenient alternative to traditional tie-end strings:

Easier to install, especially on guitars with pin bridges
Popular for crossover or hybrid nylon-string guitars
May have slightly different tone due to altered string-to-bridge contact

Polished or Coated Nylon Strings

Some manufacturers offer polished or coated nylon strings, which provide:

Extended string life due to reduced corrosion and buildup
Smoother feel for comfortable playing
Potential slight reduction in brightness compared to uncoated strings

Titanium Treble Strings

Titanium treble strings are a high-end option offering unique benefits:

Exceptional brightness and clarity
Increased durability compared to nylon
Higher tension for improved projection

Silk and Steel Strings

While not pure nylon, silk and steel strings offer a hybrid option:

Softer touch than pure steel strings
Warmer tone that bridges the gap between nylon and steel
Popular for fingerstyle playing on steel-string acoustics

Experimenting with these specialty strings can open up new tonal possibilities and may help you find the perfect match for your playing style and instrument.

The Impact of Nylon Strings on Guitar Setup and Maintenance

Choosing nylon strings for your guitar can have significant implications for your instrument’s setup and ongoing maintenance. Understanding these effects can help you keep your guitar in optimal playing condition.

Neck Relief and Action

Nylon strings exert different forces on the guitar neck compared to steel strings:

Lower tension of nylon strings may require less neck relief
Action (string height) may need adjustment when switching to nylon
Truss rod adjustments should be made cautiously and gradually

Bridge and Saddle Considerations

The bridge and saddle play a crucial role in string-to-body contact:

Nylon strings may require a different saddle height for optimal intonation
Bridge material can affect tone more noticeably with nylon strings
Tie-block design is important for proper string seating and stability

Humidity Control

Nylon strings are more susceptible to humidity changes:

Consistent humidity levels are crucial for tuning stability
Use a humidifier in dry environments to prevent string and wood damage
Be aware of potential seasonal adjustments needed for optimal playability

Fretboard Care

Nylon strings interact differently with the fretboard:

Less abrasive than steel strings, potentially reducing fret wear
May require less frequent fretboard oiling due to reduced friction
Can still accumulate dirt and oils, necessitating regular cleaning

By considering these factors and maintaining your nylon-string guitar accordingly, you can ensure optimal performance and longevity for both your strings and instrument.

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Choice Nylon String Guitars & Accessories

Expertise

As a player, luthier, and guitar tech, I’ve handled and set up countless nylon string guitars over the years. I take pride in helping customers select the right guitar that meets their unique requirements and musical aspirations. With my attention to detail and expertise, you’ll feel heard and understood every step of the way.

Together, we’ll find that special instrument. With so many options available in the market, I want you to feel confident that you’ve made the right choice by working with me. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, I’m here to help you find the perfect guitar that inspires you to play your best.

And once we’ve found your dream guitar, I won’t stop there. As a seasoned luthier and guitar tech, I understand the importance of a proper setup. It can mean the difference between a mediocre guitar and one that truly shines. No guitar leaves my workshop without a comprehensive setup, even if it means spending three or four hours, or even more to ensure optimal sonic performance and ease of play.

So why wait? Contact me today at 828-652-9210 or schedule your appointment and let’s start the journey of finding the perfect guitar for you. With my personalized approach and expert setup services, you’ll be amazed at how much difference it can make in your playing.

One-On-One Attention

Through a one-on-one consultation, I’ll take the time to get to know your story, expectations, and musical aspirations so we can find the guitar that fits you best. I firmly believe that talking to someone before making a guitar purchase is essential. Blindly clicking “Add to Cart” can leave you with a guitar that doesn’t quite meet your needs.

Through my personalized approach, you’ll have the confidence of knowing that you’re getting the best instrument to help you realize your musical aspirations. I’m not just here to sell you a guitar – I’m here to help you find “Your” instrument.

So why not book an appointment or better yet give me a call at 828-652-9210 and let’s find your perfect guitar together? You’d be amazed at how much difference a straight-forward conversation can make in selecting the right guitar and ensuring it’s set up to accommodate your musical needs and preferences.

Guaranteed Results

Finding the perfect guitar can be a daunting task, especially when shopping online. But fear not, because when you work with me, you’re never stuck with a guitar that doesn’t make your heart sing.

Together, we’ll take the time to find the instrument that’s just right for you. And if, by some chance, it’s not the perfect match, no worries. You can return it for a full refund (less shipping costs).

But with my personalized approach, I’m confident we’ll find a guitar you’ll absolutely love. Even just a fifteen-minute phone conversation can make all the difference in selecting the right guitar and ensuring it’s set up to accommodate your unique musical needs and preferences.

So take a deep breath and let’s make guitar shopping an enjoyable and stress-free experience. Contact me today at 828-652-9210 or book an appointment and let’s find the perfect guitar for you!

“(…) You will get the best customer service I’ve ever seen when it comes to selling music instruments (I worked for Guitar Center for 6 years, so I’ve been around a lot of instrument selling!). Thank you to Chuck at All Strings Nylon/Marfione Guitars for a full once over and set up of my Uke. (…)”
– Chris M.

“What a great experience buying from All Strings Nylon. I spent $530.00 on a Cordoba Paco but you made me feel like I spent $3500.00 and really took care of me. The write up on the pre-inspection and set up was awesome…. I couldn’t be happier with my purchase.”
– Michael B.

“I wanted to let you know my guitar showed up today. I am very happy with it and all the detail you put into setting it up! I really appreciate the letter you included describing the setup. I can’t say enough! I will be enjoying this guitar for years to come.”
– Larry A.

“I just received my Cordoba Torres. The 640mm length and small body suited me perfectly and the sound it produces is nothing short of amazing!…A letter from Chuck explaining how the guitar was setup added a “personal touch” which I have not experienced from other vendors in the past…Awesome instrument and customer service is second to none.”
– Dennis S.

“Shopping with you guys is always a pleasure. Wonderful tuning machines and great strings at reasonable prices. I received my order in record time and I still have a smile on my face. Thank you for a great shopping experience.”
– Mark E.

“Magz and Chuck are fantastic answering my emails regarding my Torres guitar. This is the second time that I have ordered from All Strings and my personal experiences have been outstanding. […] Thank you Chuck and Magz for a great experience making business with you!”
– William V.

“Beautiful very well made Uke. The care and concern for quality customer service made the experience all the better! Thank You Magz and Chuck.”
– Larry C.

“Thank you, thank you for the wonderful job you did in setting up my new Cordoba tenor ukulele! […] My uke sounded great right out of the box and it stayed in tune much longer than I expected. I do appreciate your excellent (and affordable) service!”
– Debbie S.

“I am very pleased with these Rubner tuners. They are really good and affordable. The attention to my order by All Strings Nylon was extraordinary.”
– Mario R.

“Beautiful instrument, excellent service and setup from All Strings staff.”
– Robert B.

“Wow…a gem of an online merchant…knows how to set up an ukulele, AAA+”
– Michael T.

“Outstanding communication, fast shipping, great prices, will keep coming back. ”
– Phillip C.

“5 Star seller..superfast shipping ..great communication..highly recommended!”
– Gary W.

My Story

Hi, I’m Chuck Marfione. Over a decade ago I saw the need for an online presence dedicated to the sale of nylon string guitars, and I opened my online store AllStringsNylon.com. The time was ideal to provide the platform, and I worked hard to establish a reputation as a customer-driven online business.

So, here l am, many guitars later, still excited to work with you to find the perfect nylon string guitar. I’ve always been passionate about the nylon string guitar, and it shows in the way I do business.

I’ve never been interested in just selling boxes…I leave that to the big box stores. What I am interested in doing is what I’ve always done best, working one-on-one with each and every client helping them find the perfect instrument whether that be an instrument I personally build through Marfione Guitars or one of the many fine Cordoba, Kenny Hill, Godin, and consignment guitars I offer.

I love the personal touch that comes with working one-on-one with my clients. It’s not just about selling a guitar, it’s about finding the right instrument for the customer. It’s about building long-standing relationships that go beyond the sale. It’s about helping someone realize their dream of owning a great guitar, whether you’re a beginner, a serious amateur, or a professional. So, if you’re looking for the perfect nylon string guitar, I’m here to work with you every step of the way, to ensure you end up with a guitar that you’ll love and cherish for years to come.

Schedule A Free Consultation With Me

Schedule a free consultation with me. Or better yet, give me a call at 828-652-9210. Receive personalized advice tailored to your specific needs, skill level, and challenges as a nylon string guitar player.

Featured Products

You can explore the entire collection of Cordoba, Kenny Hill, Godin, and consignment guitars available on AllStringsNylon. com. Please note that the inventory is dynamic, with guitars arriving and departing daily. If you encounter any out-of-stock items or don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to reach out to me at 828-652-9210. The website allows pre-orders for nylon string guitars that are currently out of stock.

For those who are just starting to learn the instrument and play their first chords, it can be difficult to immediately decide which nylon strings to choose for their guitar. A huge assortment, many manufacturers, carbon, nylon, winding – all this can confuse an ignorant person and complicate the choice of the right consumables. Although even with a complete list of recommendations, you can buy strings that do not suit your sound, because this is an extremely individual matter.

This subspecies got its name because of the manufacturing technology – animal intestines were used to create them. At the moment, they are produced only in the West and it is impossible to buy them in the Russian Federation, and if you find an opportunity, then their price will not be comparable to the service life. In addition, they are capricious – they do not tolerate dirt, high humidity, heat, and so on. Their use is advisable only if you need, for example, historical accuracy.

The first three strings are made of bare material, respectively nylon or carbon, while the bass strings are made of thin threads in a metal round winding. For the latter, silver-plated copper is most often used. This serves two purposes: firstly, aesthetic, and secondly, purely practical – silver does not get dirty, unlike bare copper. The service life of such strings is short, because due to the natural softness of the copper, it quickly frays in the area of the nut and bursts. The use of phosphor bronze and brass as a winding is also widespread.

Carbon strings differ from nylon strings in that their density is several times higher, and their thickness is less. Their first strings are more sonorous and bright-sounding, while the bass strings, that is, those in the winding, do not have any critical difference. So it’s not surprising that manufacturers are trying to save both their money and the money of musicians and the last three strings are made of nylon.

The tension of nylon strings is determined in the same way as for steel strings, with the difference that the differences between strings of different sizes are negligible. This is due to the fact that the scale of a classical guitar is a concept that has long been established and unchanged. It is equal to 650 mm. Although the slight difference in tension between the strings is also due to the fact that nylon (the most popular synthetic material) is several times lighter than metal.

Trying out a nylon string acoustic instead of the metal string acoustic you’re used to might be something you’ve never thought about. At least until this article. We understand everything. The unknown can be scary, but new musical experiences are exactly what will help you develop your musical talent. If your primary instrument is the metal-string acoustic guitar, then we suggest you try its cousin, the nylon-string acoustic, which is often referred to simply as the “classical guitar.” And here’s what you need to know about her:

Many acoustic guitars have metal strings for a bright, sparkling sound. Classical guitars are fitted with nylon strings that sound softer. Metal strings are stiffer, so if you’re a beginner guitarist, they’re more likely to cause blisters on the balls of your left fingers where you press the strings against the fretboard. Nylon strings are softer, so pressing them is easier and more comfortable.

Why limit yourself to one pick when you have five? When playing classical guitar, you don’t usually need a pick: instead, you play with the fingers of your dominant hand (the right hand if you’re right-handed). The advantage of playing with your fingers is that you can get the effect of an orchestra this way. Gretchen Menn, composer, solo artist and guitarist of the Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepparella loves this effect and the versatility that the classical guitar has. “What I especially love about classical guitar is that you can slow down at any moment and experiment with a wide sound spectrum with your right hand. In search of their signature sound and understanding how the sound range works, one more concept comes to mind: polyphony is not only the correct sequence of notes, but also general harmony. A single classical guitar part can sound like a duet,” says Menn.

The classical guitar has an elegant body. When you get your hands on a classic, you won’t see things you’re used to on your acoustic, like pickups, cutouts, fret markers, or strap mounts. However, major structural differences are difficult to see with the naked eye. In the design of a classical guitar, the thickness of the top soundboard and the layout of the springs play an important role. “The top of a classical guitar is thinner,” comments guitar luthier Andrew Enns, “and the springs that attach to it from the back are smaller and more flexible than on guitars with metal strings: such guitars have a thicker top and stiffer springs. The principle of operation for both guitars is the same: the guitar must be strong enough to withstand the tension of the strings, but at the same time, agile enough to vibrate when the player plucks the strings.”

Due to the fact that the fretboard on a classical guitar is wider than on an acoustic with metal strings, it is easier for a player to play without touching adjacent strings, especially during complex passages or arpeggios. Of course, you can play arpeggios on an acoustic guitar with metal strings, but it’s easier to do it on a classical guitar because of the extra distance between the strings.

The string tension on a metal-stringed guitar is stronger than the tension on nylon strings on a classical. As a result, playing a classical guitar is easier than playing an acoustic with metal strings. Another effect of lighter string tension is the softer sound of a classical guitar. “Nylon strings are more agile and have a slow attack and warm tone, while metal strings, when under high pressure, have a fast attack and bright tone,” adds Luthier Enns.