adapting shapes?

[Cookie man]

Hello everyone (again)

I've got another question: is it possible to use steel-string guitar body shapes for a nylon-string instrument? For example using one of the smaller bodies and simply using different bracing, bridge and so on...?

Thanks.

[woodrat]

I cant see that there would be any problems there...It might not sound exactly like a classical but that would not necessarily matter. I had a thought of building a nylon string guitar that appealed to steel string players in shape and feel. Many players like the nylon sound for certain music but are not enamored with the dimensions and look of a classical, especially the wide fingerboard.
The Phoenix Guitar Co. in America makes what they call a Nylon string OM so others have done it and probably for the same reason.
If braced appropriately you should have a nice sounding guitar with its own characteristics.

Cheers

John

[Allen]

No reason whatsoever. Classical guitar shape and sizing is pretty much set in stone, but there are a lot of people going their own way and building all sorts of different nylon strung instrument without trying to be a Spanish style classical guitar. They're just nylon strung ones.

In ukuleles there are just so many variations on body style and sizing that its bewildering, yet no one seems to mind.

[Mark McLean]

Jonathan
Taylor make a line of nylon string guitars that are based on the same body shapes as their steel-strings. They are pitching them at a market of steel-string players who want another guitar with the nylon sound but which play and feel more like a steel-string than a classical. They have narrower fingerboards and lower action than a classical. Not everyones cup of tea - but they sell pretty well. Check out the Taylor website.
Mark

[Bruce McC]

Hi Jonathan
My last guitar (fourth) was a nylon string OM style. I used the LMI/Scott Antes plan
for dimension/shape but built it as a classical with fan bracing and the neck incorporated
into the body in the Spanish way. The top was Englemann spruce and back and sides
East Indian rosewood. Used a Martin 25.4" scale fretboard with 16" radius from Stewmac,
made it 49mm at the nut and the body joined to neck at the 12th fret.
It sounds ok to me and is a bit easier to play than a tradional classical, although as I am still
trying to learn to play perhaps I should leave it to others for objective comments.
Go for it, it's all part of the journey

[Cookie man]

Thanks everyone for the quick replies

Ok so it seems what I'm planning should be able to work...

Cheers

[woodrat]

Go for it Cookie Man!