Restringing Classical Guitars is Stupid

[Chistopher]

I just spent 20 minutes restringing my classical after the low E came unwound and have determined that's enough for one lifetime.

I'm going to modify modify the bridge to have string ferrules, and apparently Sperzel sells locking classical tuners.

I'll keep yall updated.

 

[beaubrummels]

I never had a problem stringing mine. I've even used an actual Spanish classical guitar, where the tuning pegs were literally a conical peg that you turned to pitch then had to shove the cone into the headstock to set and lock it.

 

[Chistopher]

Yeah, it's not so much that it takes a long time rather than it takes way longer than my other guitars. It's funny how electric guitar players get clowned for hating change when the classical community refuses to use tuners designed in the last 100 years.

 

[Mincer]

Amen, brother. A lot of innovation dies in the face of tradition, and it is ultimately stupid that we have to tie classical guitar strings on, much less wind them forever around tuners that badly need to be re-designed. Don't tell me a classical guitar/ string system can't be redesigned that sounds as good as a traditional system. It is about time some forward-thinking mechanical engineers tackle this issue.

 

[Chris Pile]

You guys are blaming the guitar, when the problem is a nickels worth of plastic string that continues to stretch until it sounds like slapping a dead fish, at which point you put on new pieces of plastic and start the problem over again.

 

[Chistopher]

You guys are blaming the guitar, when the problem is a nickels worth of plastic string that continues to stretch until it sounds like slapping a dead fish, at which point you put on new pieces of plastic and start the problem over again.

I don't care how old the strings are, a classical guitar will never sound like slapping a bass :bigok:

 

[Mincer]

You guys are blaming the guitar, when the problem is a nickels worth of plastic string that continues to stretch until it sounds like slapping a dead fish, at which point you put on new pieces of plastic and start the problem over again.

I am all for designing a new type of string, too. But classical tuners and slotted headstocks are woefully inefficient and in need of updating. I have a slot head steel string, and it sucks to restring, too.

 

[beaubrummels]

I am all for designing a new type of string, too. But classical tuners and slotted headstocks are woefully inefficient and in need of updating. I have a slot head steel string, and it sucks to restring, too.

But the orientation of the tuning key is ergonomically correct for humans. Electric guitar tuners are only correct if your arm comes out of your ear or your hip.

 

[Securb]

Call me crazy, but I enjoy tying on nylon strings. When done correctly, it looks like artwork.

 

[Mincer]

But the orientation of the tuning key is ergonomically correct for humans. Electric guitar tuners are only correct if your arm comes out of your ear or your hip.

Ergonomically, the only part that makes sense is which way the tuners face. The rest is a mess.

 

[Chistopher]

Call me crazy, but I enjoy tying on nylon strings. When done correctly, it looks like artwork.

I do like how clean I tied the strings onto my 12 hole bridge, but I haven't figured out how to tie the tuners well. Would it work on the plane strings to not even tie a knot but leave enough slack to simply wind over the excess string a couple turns?

 

[Securb]

On the thinner strings I loop them through the tuner hole twice which seems to give me great tuning stability.

 

[Blille]

Martin M160 Silverplated Ball End Classical Guitar Strings, High Tension https://a.co/d/8GsLzvT

 

[Mincer]

Looping and tying...it all seems so unnecessary. :lmao:

 

[NegativeEase]

I don't know, there some kind of visceral connection to the history of guitar making those loops, if I was changing classical strings at the rate of electrical strings, I'd be looking for innovation -but as it is, I don't mind the tradition in this case.

 

[orangecountycarl]

These days at least 1/2 my time is on nylon string guitars. Once you do it a couple of times it's easy. I love the way the looped strings look at the bridge.

 

[Mincer]

I am actually really good at loop making, and I restring them pretty quickly. I still think the whole process is stupid.

 

[GuitarStv]

Yep. They're dumb.

 

[Wattage]

Yes but ....

 

[Mincer]

Yes but ....

Wow, watching someone else do it really shows you how silly it all is.