Please educate me on low tension acoustics

Z

zionstrat

New member
Guys I've played classical guitar most of my life, however I've become recently interested in bossa Nova and realize I would prefer all steel strings...

I'd like to look for a classical size guitar that is designed for very light tension steel strings but I'm not entirely sure what to look for.. when I search for low tension, I find strings, not guitars.

I may have learned that low tension guitars are called parabolic guitars but that hasn't helped very much...
 
I haven't heard of a classical type that was designed to take steel strings. They don't have truss rods, so it's not advisable. You could either try those low tension steel strings on a classical to see if it works without bowing the neck, or just fine a very wide scale steel-string acoustic and see if you can play that style on it.
 
Beau, I'm sorry I should have started with the clarification that you definitely cannot put steel strings on classical guitars...

However there's an entire class of small guitars, usually bigger than parlor guitars that have extremely low tension.

The bass strings feel exactly like a classic guitar and the unwound strings are nearly as slinky as a classical nylon.

Here's a Paul David vid...most likely he's playing what I'm talking about, but not definitely....

https://youtu.be/GAtQPaiwMH4?si=eWTw3ej99uSwIjHz
 
I've never heard of a low tension steel string acoustic, so if you find any info, post it here.
 
Ok I had a similar issue with the 25.6 inch acoustic scale of my Martin 00CE1

I love the sound and even with extra light (10s) strings

It was taxing to play

So I got an Epiphone Hummingbird Artist in Blue

The scale is 24.75 inch and with low action and the above mentioned 10s it is a drem to play

I also have a Yamaha TA series acoustic with a 25 inch scale and onboard reverb with the 10s

I love it as well

If price is a concern the Epiphone starla series have that same neck and scale for about $150

The Hummingbird and the Starla both have the 60s thun D necks or at least mine do

With 12 inch fretboard

Not the super flat ones on most acoustics
 
Thanks for all input!

After lots of research and having played a few, I've confirmed there really isn't a name for low tension guitars... My best candidates right now are a parlor Laravee and a couple of O 12 frets. OOs are also on the list.

It seems to be the obvious mix of short scale, low action and light strings (that last one is so weird for me... I play electric 12s) is key

But I also played a few that fit the criteria that didn't feel low tension...

So still searching and will get back when I have more.
 
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Also, I just learned that it is possible I have been loving silk strings and didn't realize it.. One more thing to add into the search!
 
In the video, it just looks like a Washburn parlor and a small body Martin to me. But maybe there's a world of guitars I don't know about.
 
I actually found the video where Paul David describes the guitar.. it was custom made in Texas to fit his specs...

He talks about practically everything else but he never addresses the tension so it could just be that it looks like the kind of guitar that I've played in the past.
 
My Epiphone Hummingbird came with 12s

It was very high tension
And high action

I didn't even adjust the truss rod when I put the 10s on

Laid down perfectly
 
Yeah I've been thinking about either finding a guitar that plays exactly the way I want it or reducing gauge so your experience is definitely a positive.
 
The issue you will come into is that the lower tension you get from guitar strings, the less the body resonates. So if you take a guitar that was built for high tension strings (with fancy bracing and strong woods) and throw low tension strings on it, it might sound sterile. I enjoy experimenting with electric guitars, but acoustic guitars have so many more variables. Don't try to compromise by picking an instrument that's good as-is and trying to modify it to get what you want out of it, it will be a lot less stressful to find what you want as close to off the shelf as possible.
 
Look into the Guild M-120, Larrivee P-03, and Martin 0-15M models. They are small guitars with minimal bracing, throw a low tension set on their and it should get you what you want. I would also suggest trying out a bunch of parlor guitars in person.
 
You can also look at any guitars with a shorter scale length, and tune it standard, but 1 whole step down.
 
Well I had quite the frustrating day at GC today. I played every parlor o and oo and they all were plinky bright narrow narrow necks without the low tension I'm looking for.

At the same time, my friend with the laravee that I like sent me the model and it's their basic parlor model. Specs look similar to just about everything else I've been looking at.

The only one that had the right feeling definitely will not work.. it was a short scale classical and of course I can't put steel strings on that.

So now I kind of get the idea why there is no category... It must be entirely set up. And possibly silk strings. As much as I wanted this for a upcoming recording project, I think I'm just going to have to wait until I bump in the right thing down the road.
 
Ok good news is silk and tune down got me through the job.

But it's definitely not what I'm looking for... The feel midway and up the neck was pretty good but down around the nut, I think the action would have had to come down quite a bit... And I'm pretty sure now that the guitars I played in the past must have been relatively short scales.

I did find this interesting ... A Tailpiece that you can put on a classical guitar to play steel strings... It just shifts the pressure to the end block kind of like arch tops with a floating bridge.


https://turboguitar.com/blogs/guita...fely put,This even includes classical guitars.

I'm definitely not going to go down this road... I want to find a guitar more like I have played in the past.

But I think the still piece could make a lot of sense for somebody that likes the feel of a classical guitar and need steel strings to cut through.
 
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