BodomBeachTerror |
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Joined: 27 May 2008 Canada Lessons: 2 Licks: 1 Karma: 25
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what would happen if I put nylon strings on an electric guitar? would it kick butt, or be just... butt. or even just plain acoustic strings? just randomly wondering while thinking of ways to get a unique sound |
case211 |
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Joined: 26 Feb 2009 United States Lessons: 2 Licks: 6 Karma: 24
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That's a good question... I think that they might not be as clear as regular steel electric strings though, due to the lack of vibration(Though I'm not 100% on that little "fact"). It could sound really freakin' cool too though... |
apollos |
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Joined: 09 Oct 2009 United States Karma
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i dont think ull get much sound at all |
RA |
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Joined: 24 Sep 2008 United States Karma: 16
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won't even begin to work. Besides all of the many factors of why it won't work(intonation, nut, tunning peg, no ball ends, etc issues) the major one that should jump out at you is the strings are made of nylon how is a magnet pickup going to pick up nylon???? if your wanting to try new strings there are many different types metal strings then just nickel wound(common type I'm guessing you have). you can go for complete steel strings, flat wound, half wounds, Try a wound "G" string(reason why people have trouble with the "G" string is it is meant to be wound not plain), and many others these are just off the top of my head.
go to D'Addario and look at there options. but if the reason you want to try nylon is for a more "mellow" tone go with Flat-wounds there what your looking for. |
BodomBeachTerror |
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Joined: 27 May 2008 Canada Lessons: 2 Licks: 1 Karma: 25
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yea i googled it and remembered pickups were magnets. but normal acoustic strings would work right? but would it sound any different? |
JustJeff |
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Joined: way back United States Lessons: 2 Karma: 21
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The problem with normal acoustic strings is that there is much more tension than with the Nickel plated strings you use for electric guitars. Because of this, you can do a crap ton of damage to your guitar's neck because it is not used to this kind of tension.
Be careful with it. And if you want to try it, try extra light acoustic strings. That would probably be the only one that would work. |
Heather |
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Joined: 21 Aug 2008 United Kingdom Licks: 2 Karma: 19
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Well I'm sure these guys will know better then me (since I don't even own an electric yet) but I'm sure the strings you usually get with electrics seem to feel harder and tighter than accoustics, don't they? I'm sure that must be for a reason. I wouldn't try it, not unless I had a crappy old electric and spare strings to my disposal to test it out on first. But that is an interesting idea. |
JoshJones |
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Joined: 30 Sep 2009 United States Karma: 3
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JustJeff is right. Be careful as you will destroy your neck very quickly. |
BodomBeachTerror |
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Joined: 27 May 2008 Canada Lessons: 2 Licks: 1 Karma: 25
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yeah, i wasnt planning on doing anything like this to my schecter, but if i ever pick up a cheap used squire or peavey or something i might do some experimenting on it
what about banjo strings? |
Heather |
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Joined: 21 Aug 2008 United Kingdom Licks: 2 Karma: 19
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That would'nt really work. Banjo strings have different notes. I do know you'd be missing all the E srings and the A string, banjo strings only go: D, B, G, D, G. I only know about common 5 string banjos though, I've no idea what note you get with 6 string banjos. I think it might just be pointless anyway though, my steal banjo strings seem to be pretty much the same as my steel string accoustic's. Apart from my extra Ds and Gs of course, they seem higher pitched. You could give those strings a go but on a guitar they'd probably sound terrible. |
BodomBeachTerror |
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Joined: 27 May 2008 Canada Lessons: 2 Licks: 1 Karma: 25
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probably, lol |
RA |
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Joined: 24 Sep 2008 United States Karma: 16
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you all are already(maybe not just assuming like always) are playing with a banjo string. The plain "G" string is a banjo string it is really supposed to be wound
D'addario EJ17 medium (acoustic)
(Tension in Kg)
E-13
A-15
D-16
G-16
B-11
E-12
D'addario ECG26 Chromes Medium (Electric)
(Tension in kg)
E-12
A-14
D-15
G-15
B-11
E-12
there is a little difference but it's not huge so the problem with acoustic has nothing to due with tension. That being said every time you change string gauges(even brands in my opinion) you need to have a set-up. There really is no reason to do this bbt I know it's a fun idea but there is so many different types "electric strings" in so many different combos and Styles there is no reason for it. I know i mention the "G" string but that was back in the 1950s/60s when they did it and back then it was this is what we(store) have take it or leave it(obviously I don't know first hand, but it what I have read and they sure didn't have the luxury of the internet). There both designed to do there best in there sonic fields so don't mess with it, there is no need at lest when you still haven't go through the other options.
two add ons about tension
one squire's are beginner guitars and they are made that way. like in the other topic with how there routed to fit humbuckers if you want them. There truss-rods are not made to hold these tensions because what beginner would do it(i really don't know with for sure as i have never mess around/own a squire but my beginner guitar[Cort] didn't and nether did my friends[?]).
Also make sure the guitar your doing it on has a trus-rod that can handle the tension. I'm going to guess these thin little low profile necks won't be able to do it.
Also so some maybe be saying But Tom the only ones who use Flatwonds are acrtop guitarist. Well that wasn't always the case before they were really popular hell higher gauges in general were more common and people swapped out for the lighter ones. and it isn't the case now to but the only ones i can think of are jazz teles
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TheEbida |
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Joined: 26 Aug 2009 United States Karma: 2
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Wow, thanks for this thread... It makes me think for sure. Strings make that much differance?..... OK.... So an acustic/electric when electrified has the same sound right?.....Or is there a different sound all together
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gx1327 |
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Joined: 20 Sep 2009 United States Karma: 9
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ummmmm electric guitars work based on the principle of induction so the metal strings are sort of an important part in that... |
guitarmastergod |
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Joined: 09 Sep 2008 Canada Karma: 8
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what would happen? youre guitar would explode |
BodomBeachTerror |
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Joined: 27 May 2008 Canada Lessons: 2 Licks: 1 Karma: 25
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lol i kinda doubt that
but thanks for the info everyone |
RA |
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Joined: 24 Sep 2008 United States Karma: 16
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TheEbida says: Strings make that much differance?
no not really, they make little tone changes but your hands do the most. the set-up is most important but that's to make your hands and guitar happy.
TheEbida says: o an acustic/electric when electrified has the same sound right
no it is different, but not DIFFERNET. get it? and In my opinion not worth it.
and you guitar can explode(not big one just the bridge will pop of/top will crack) but more likely the neck will warp(depends on type of guitar) if you using a higher tension that's for it.
just check what your trusrod can handle before you do anything. but also just think about it. unless it's a carbon fiber backed neck(Parker) do you think a really thin neck(example ibanez wizard) can do it or even designed for it? NO
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BodomBeachTerror |
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Joined: 27 May 2008 Canada Lessons: 2 Licks: 1 Karma: 25
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sorry, but im digging this. bigsby on an archtop acoustic? |
fender_bender |
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Joined: 09 Oct 2009 United States Karma: 5
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Old topic, but I have to say something about the 'neck damage' using acoustic strings. I'm sure you know who SRV is, right? He used .013 -.058 strings on his strats. Acoustic strings are in the same ballpark. He even went as high as .018 - .074 some say. He had bass frets put on his guitar. All this on a regular '61 rosewood neck. He also tuned everything down half a step, so it is do-able.
Hey BBT, check out some baritone guitars for something a little different. They have a longer scale and bigger strings and different tunings. |
JustJeff |
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Joined: way back United States Lessons: 2 Karma: 21
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It is doable, if you set up the guitar for that type of tension.
Want to try it out? Set up (that means the whole nine yards) a **ty electric guitar with the lightest electric guitar strings you have. Then, change the strings to a heavy gauge acoustic and let it sit for 2 days.
Your neck will be warped. No questions asked.
My neck warps from just raising the guitar a half step and leaving it for a day. |
fender_bender |
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Joined: 09 Oct 2009 United States Karma: 5
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It works the other way too. If you have a guitar set up for heavy strings and you put little dinky .009 or .008 on there the same thing will happen, but who in their right mind would do that without adjusting their guitar for this drastic change in either case. Truss rod adjustments are a given. If the guitar has a trem then the trem springs will have to be adjusted too. Who said this would be done without adjustments? I'm sure people would have told YJM that he was crazy for scalloping the neck of his guitar and look what happened. The people who came up with innovative new things had to try it themselves first. Lets not limit people because it isn't 'normal'. All you had to say was, "make sure you adjust your guitar to work with these different strings and you may have to tune up/down to ease/create tension". Not automatically assume the neck would be ruined.
I'm not trying to kick anyone down a rat hole. It just bothers me when people discard someones idea as stupid/it won't work when it will if you do X first.
/rantoff |
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