ANSWERS: 5
  • No. The bridges used on classical and traditional acoustic guitars are different. Manufacturers and lutiers advise against using metal strings in a classical guitar, because of the damage that can be caused to the instrument. The nylon strings used on classical guitars are usually anchored by knotting one end of the string through a hole provided in the bridge. The other end is passed through a groove cut into the nut and attached to a tuning peg. Steel strings have a small fitting attached to one end of the strings, usually a small ring to which the wire has been braided. This end of the string is dropped into a hole in the bridge and into the body of the guitar, then secured with a peg or bridge pin. The fitting on the end of the string wedged in place by the bridge pin. The other end of the string passes through a groove on the nut and is attached to a tuning peg. The manner in which strings are anchored on a classical guitar does not provide sufficient strength in the bridge to support the higher tensile forces found in steel strings. Installing steel strings may produce high enough tensile forces to break the bridge. At the very least, the bridge will be damaged, because it is not designed for use with steel strings. The strings may also damage the nut. The higher tensile forces may also warp the neck of the guitar. Conversely, nylon strings have a larger diameter than steel strings and may not fit into the nut. They cannot be anchored on a traditional guitar bridge without installing a fitting similar to those used on steel strings.
  • No way! A steel string on a classical guitar may sound alright. In the long run it will cause big damage to your bridge. Mine broke. The tension of a steel is so strong.
  • You can, but it will sound awful.
  • No, you will warp or even break the bridge.
  • You can put nylon strings on an accoustic, but it will sound crap. If you put steel strings on a classical, you will probably break it - they have a far higher tension than nylon ones.

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