Nylon Strings?

Squonk

Having recently acquired a Takamine EG522c Nylon.
I now have to replace the strings.

Where do I start?
does it matter that it is an Electric Acoustic?
I see on the D'Addario site that there are Light tension, Normal tension, Hard tension, Amphibian landing craft tension etc etc.

I would possibly use it for playing live, Finger Picking to Percussive playing.

AlanRatcliffe

Harder tensions are a brighter and have more attack/percussiveness. The tension won't be a problem if you are used to a steel string. Most players prefer the tone and feel of hard tension (Keira's the only person I know who likes softer tensions), but softer tensions can help smooth out an overly harsh undersaddle transducer.

Steve Newman turned me on the the D'Addario composite Pro Arte hard tensions (EJ46C), which last really well without losing tone, even with punishing playing styles. I'm used to three weeks from a set of Savarez 520s and I'm getting two months with the D'Addario composites.

Greg

I've used these and only these for the past 6 years for practice, lessons and concerts:

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3769&productid=232&productname=EJ44C_Pro_Arte_Composite__Extra_Hard_Tension

My guitar teacher was endorsed by them so I managed to buy them at R100 a pop.

I'd change every month and it'd be like having new strings pretty much every day but they have a REALLY long life-span, I don't think I've ever broken one and I'm a very aggressive player (a rather bad fault of mine.)

racman

I must be doing something wrong - it takes me three weeks just for the strings to start settling down and staying in tune!!!

Squonk

Thanks Alan and Greg

For years I just bought the cheapest strings for my beat up Yamaha G230.

A bit of learning curve 8)

Squonk

Just one more question.

These Hard Tension and extra Hard Tension strings will all be cushty?

I know with Steel Strings, there are nut adjustments and some are set up for specific gauges etc?

Greg

Squonk wrote: Just one more question.

These Hard Tension and extra Hard Tension strings will all be cushty?

I know with Steel Strings, there are nut adjustments and some are set up for specific gauges etc?

I've never had to adjust anything on any of my guitars and I've never had a problem with buzz, I think the gauge is the same or at least VERY similar with the hard and extra hard tensions.

And having good strings will dramatically improve your sound.

*EDIT*

You can compare tensions on the sight and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th strings are slightly thicker by a maximum of 0.03mm, so I think you're fine.

AlanRatcliffe

RoyC wrote: I must be doing something wrong - it takes me three weeks just for the strings to start settling down and staying in tune!!!

Do you restring it the way I did? Minimal wraps on both ends are key (and stretching them until they don't drop in pitch any more).

If your strings don't have the little melted balls on the end like the Savarez in the picture, just put a knot in the end.

Take the string over the capstan, through the hole from underneath. Then loop it over itself, back through the hole and take up all the slack before tuning. Basses you don't have to worry - just put a wrap on either side of the end coming out the hole - the friction from the winds will do the rest.

Using this method, it is harder to get the old trebles off when you change strings, but not much. Worth it to get the guitar to settle overnight.

Greg

Yeah, Alan's got it, stringing it like that, stretching them and leaving them overnight will leave it perfectly playable the next morning.