Conference napalm::guitar

    Nylon strings do not put as much pressure on the neck as metal.
    Since classical guitar are made with nylon string in mind, I would
    think you will have problems. 
    
    I do not know about Yamaha, but I have a hand made classical which does
    not have the neck adjustment rod. I would recomend you getting another
    guitar with metal strings.

    
    
    .1 is right!  Don't do it!  A classical guitar will never hold up
    to the stress of steel strings.  Especially a yamaha (not putting
    them down, I have one.)  You're better off getting a folk guitar
    which is made for steel strings.
    
    ralph
    
    

    I believe that at one point, Yamaha (I think it was Yamaha) made
    a guitar that could take either nylon or steel strings.  It had
    classical style tuners, and a neck that was a sorta compromise between
    a classical guitar neck (wide) and a folk guitar neck (narrow).
    
    It was very appealing to me because I liked the width of the neck.
    But I never ended up getting one.

    	db

    Hold it.  There is a solution.   I don't know if they're still made,
    but Labella used to make a string called "Silk and Steel" which
    was designed for this purpose.  It will not destroy your neck, as
    it matches up in terms of pressure.

re: .4  Not really.  Silk 'n Steel are lower in tension than standard steel,
   	but they will still exert more force than nylon.  S 'n S are really
   	made as a very low tension string for steel string guitars.
        
        Don't know if their still available. I used them once and found they
        lost their tone almost immediately.  Seems the silk in the string 
        "sucks up" any oils/dirt/etc from your fingers (regardless of how
        much you wash your hands) and that deadens the sound.  They did play
        very easily, though.
        
   -- Sam

    The real issue is in the construction of the instruments.  While
    the Yamaha is not considered a "serious" classical (until you get
    to the $2000 price range) they are still built more lightly than
    a steel string guitar.  The neck are not usually reinforced with
    either steel or ebony and the tops have very light fan bracing that
    will not, over time, withstand the added tension of steel string.
    If you really like the guitar, don't do it.  I'd strongly recommend
    a guitar that was built to handle steel.
    
    Paul
    

    I remember back in the sixties there were several guitars available
    that were supposed to handle either nylon or silk&steel.  Martin
    even had one.  The ones I tried sounded predictably bad.  
    
    I did know a guy who put S&S on his Gibson C-1 "classical".  It
    withstood the strain, but sounded lousy.  But you kids at home,
    don't try this!  The C-1 was built like a battleship, not like a
    real classical guitar.
    
    Isn't the tension on S&S about twice that of nylon?
    
    Bob

    I dunno about "twice the tension", but it is undoubtedly more. 
    Beside that, silken strings only represent 3 (mebbe 4) of the 6.
    This leaves the 2 highest pitched, and more importantly, higher
    tensioned strings to exert added tension on the guitar...
    
    Besides, aren't classical guitars with nylon strings sorta sacred?
    
    Jon (BPOV02::NELSON)
    

    I have been working on guitars for about 4 : 5 years now. I have
    been asked to repair guitars (mainly *YAMAHA* classicals) which
    have had the neck bowed, and the soundboard in the lower bout area
    bellied-up (or out, I hope you understand what I mean) because people
    have put on steel strings. This is a *no-no*, if you want to keep
    a playable axe around for a while. Buy a flat-top axe which is constructed
    for steel strings. A classical axe sounds soooo nice when the number
    calls for one, and it won't be playable when you want it. 
    dep.

    
     OK OK OK OK OK OK. I think I will buy a steel string. I guess changing
    the strings from nylon to steel would be NOT GOOD VERY MUCH for
    my axe.
    
    Tank-Q for all the inputs. You've all been very helpful.
    
    MIke Z.

    Whatever the Bass, (with whatever amp etc) I've always been unhappy
    with the extreme differences in the tone ( for any given setting
    ) from the E string thru A, D to G string.
    
    If I get the E (perhaps with A too) right ; a kind of "thunk",
    then the G string is far too sharp ; "plink".
                                      
    If I get the G string right ; a kind of bright but warm "derng",
    then the E string is far too boomy ; "berm".
    
    So the choice can be a THUNK with PLINK or
                           BERM  with DERNG.
    
    What I want (mostly) is THUNK with DERNG.
    
    I wonder if mixing strings could come close to achieving this; maybe
    E and A metals with D and G nylon wraps?
    
    Any helpful views?
          

    Sounds to me like you're unhappy with the pickup positions, OR, you
    may want to try out a fairly precise EQ system.
    
    							John.

    
    
    To continue the "stupid" theme...who plays the theme music for the Rush
    Limbaugh show?
    
    

    Rush Limbaugh? Watch it, BUCK ripped me apart for asking that very
    same question a few months ago. Seems BUCK disagrees with his political
    leanings. Cool tune
    
    Song: My City Is Gone
    Artists: The Pretenders
    Album: Learning To Crawl
    
    (I jotted this down when one of Rush's callers asked him....)
    
    chuck (Rush Limbaugh fan)

    
    
    Well!  I would have recognized that instantly if I'd ever heard the
    show.  I'm still waiting for Chrissy to get over Ray Davies (or
    whomever)...  I probably shouldn't listen to Limbaugh while I'm in the
    car, anyway.