Is It Possible To Put Nylon Strings On A Steel String Guitar

Most acoustic guitars use a bridge pin system.

Is it possible to put nylon strings on a steel string guitar.

Also most nylon string. There are arguments for both and there are reasons why one person might be better starting on a nylon string guitar aka classical guitar and another person better off on a steel string guitar aka acoustic guitar. This is important to note. Let s start with the basics.

Without going into specifics suffice to state you will for all time harm the guitar on the off chance that you do this. Find a way to secure the string to the bridge. Never fear the procedure isn t rocket science and you don t need to be a sailor with advanced knot tying skills. Changing nylon strings differs considerably from the process used for steel string guitars and there are right and wrong ways to do it.

The worst thing to mix is putting steel strings or electric guitar strings on a nylon string guitar. The extra pressure that steel strings put on a nylon guitar can over time cause the top to pull up cause braces to come loose and even pull the bridge off the guitar. In conclusion never go the other way. The bridge top tuners neck and internal bracing is not built for the tension and it is more or less the kiss of death for that guitar.

Don t put steel strings on a classical guitar or a guitar that was intended to utilize just nylon strings. At least the couch cushions are in focus. In fact yes you can but you can t use traditional classical nylon guitar strings if your steel string acoustic is like most where your ball end acoustic strings are held in place with bridge pins classical guitar strings don t have these ball ends and have to be tied onto the bridge. They type of setup you have on your guitar can affect your ability to change out steel strings for nylon strings.

There are no hard and fast rules as to whether you should start playing guitar on a nylon or steel string guitar.