Nylon string squeak! How do I stop it?

[Mincer]

Well, anything that makes the job of restringing a nylon easier, I am all for. I've done it 100s of times, and I am really good at it. But it still takes 10x longer than stringing an electric. Those bridge designs are interesting, but I think a total redesign is in order. Throw out the old, I say. Don't get me started on the tuner side.

 

[Aceman]

I changed up my nylon a couple of months ago. It was not a big deal.

As for squeak,
- I expect it, and don't care
- Use GHS Fast Frets

But then again, I'm a madman who is ok with P-90 hum also...

I'd think a little judicious Parametric EQ could greatly reduce it without butchering tone.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Hm, those LaBellas might be interesting, they make good stuff anyway. I wonder if it's like with electric (semi)flats, where the tone is noticeably different compared to rounds.

About bridges and stuff – since nylon strings are quite low tension compared to metal ones, it's necessary to have a sufficient break angles at the bridge and headstock so they are playable and the instrument is able to have a robust sound. Think about lutes here as well – they have those 90˚ headstocks for similar reasons, as they are very low tension instruments. When Frank Falbo was developing his acoustics with the new bridge design, I asked him whether he would apply this to nylon strings; he said it would be interesting to do but I don't know if anything came of it, it's been a few minutes!

Alternatively, keeping the existing instrument geometry but redesigning the strings.

 

[Securb]

I am interested in them too. I wish there was a better picture as their description isn't great. If you do order them, I'd love a review.

Too rich for my blood and they do not have silver, though I could easily switch this guitar to gold and wouldn't mind.I would have to do the strap pins once the tuners were on.

We have discontinued the NyLoc tuners due to lack of sales . We do have some parts .We have Black / Gold String Post , or all Gold Plated planted . We make each order by hand .

The price per set $ 180.00 plus shipping .
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[Mincer]

Too rich for my blood and they do not have silver, though I could easily switch this guitar to gold and wouldn't mind.I would have to do the strap pins once the tuners were on.

Maybe lack of sales because no one knew they made them. $180 for tuners is insane.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Not at all bad for classical tuners . Just look up Rodgers, Alessi or Graf.

 

[Mincer]

Not at all bad for classical tuners . Just look up Rodgers, Alessi or Graf.

Oh, I know. What makes them so expensive? Have they improved anything over regular classical tuners? Do they stay in tune better? Or is it just a fancy design on more expensive instruments?

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Yeah, it's about the gearing and specifics regarding the rollers, so they have fine tuning, minimal friction and significant longevity. These makers also basically do it by hand, everything is machined, no cast/stamped stuff.

Can read about Rodgers here: https://issuu.com/orfeomagazine/docs/orfeo_11_en.

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, it's about the gearing and specifics regarding the rollers, so they have fine tuning, minimal friction and significant longevity. These makers also basically do it by hand, everything is machined, no cast/stamped stuff.

Can read about Rodgers here: https://issuu.com/orfeomagazine/docs/orfeo_11_en.

Interesting. I still think that if they weren't bound to looking a certain way, or fitting in a certain space, one could design high ratio/super accurate tuners that not only work better, but are super easy and fast to re-string.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

I don't know how conservative people are about tuners, since everyone's looking to have good tuning, but when it comes to woods it's a big deal. People can't wean themselves off tropical hardwoods, though in a blind test are unable to distinguish between those and non-tropical varieties.

As you probably know, flamenco guitars traditionally have had a solid headstock and friction pegs, though these days people, when doing this type, install modern variants with planetary gears, so you get that look but functionality.

 

[Mincer]

As it becomes almost unethical these days to keep mowing down exotic trees because 'that's what they've always been made out of' seem kinda silly these days. Every flamenco player I know has gone to regular tuners, though. I guess that's a step.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Yes. I think if you get 'fresh' and legal brw these days, for instance, it's harvested from stumps of trees that were logged long ago; reclaimed; or 'nos'. Of course, logging is still a big problem globally, so some of it might get through the proverbial cracks, I don't know. And there are other exotica which are similar but not listed, so builders end up going with what customers want.

It's interesting also that Torres, the father of the classical guitar, used reclaimed wood for a big part of his output! Most of his guitars do not have bookmatched spruce tops, and several have more than two pieces. He understood wood and how to get out of it what he needed, he wasn't always worried about aesthetics (though he build some visually stunning guitars).

Yeah. Some people still use pegs if they have a vintage guitar or for a vibe (with the planetary gear pegs) but most people use regular ones these days.