Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

  1. #1

    Default Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    I have a Kentucky KM-150 A style with the D'addario phosphor bronze wound strings, i wanna say the J-74? I've been curious about putting nylon strings on it. Has anyone else tried this? I was imagining only changing the A and E strings to nylon as the G and D would be too thick to use double strings and would rattle off each other.

    Are there any simple ways to change the tone/sound basically? Maybe some suggestions on different style strings to use on an acoustic.

    Any advice would be appreciated!

  2. #2

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    what sound/tone are you trying to achieve?

  3. #3

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    You know that's kinda where I'm stuck, I've just had my same set up for almost a year. It's not that I'm bored with it I just want to explore and when I play now it's like my ear is always searching for a different sound as a whole.
    If I had to be specific I'd say more, blues sound.

  4. #4

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    To my way of thinking, blues is a musical style, not a sound to emulate with a nylon strung mandolin. However, many folks have successfully played the blues on mandolin, just not one strung with nylon strings afaik. I say go for it and experiment with the nylon strings but expect your mandolin to be much quieter with no sustain whatsoever due to much lower string tension. Tuning will be an issue as well as it takes quite while for the strings to stretch out and settle in. Let us know how you like your new sound.

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

  5. #5
    Registered User nrand's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    108

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    It seems to me this would begin to sound close to a Ukulele - small body/nylon strings.
    sapiens populus eo per camelus
    http://www.allsingtogether.com/

  6. #6

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    Quote Originally Posted by nrand View Post
    It seems to me this would begin to sound close to a Ukulele - small body/nylon strings.
    A uke tuned "fleas my dog has".

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

  7. #7
    man about town Markus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Madison, Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,970
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    You might need a new nut. I would think the nylon strings might rattle in the lower frets if nice low action on metal strings.
    Collings MT2
    Breedlove OF
    Ellie eMando
    Schmergl Devastator

  8. #8

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    I agree with you on the blues aspect, I realize the irony in saying I'm trying to get a blues sound on a bluegrass instrument ha. that was the best I could describe what I'm trying to get. It's like i'm looking for a sound I've heard but won't know til I hear it again.

    Yea I don't want it to start leaning towards a Uke sound, definitely why I'm inquiring before just stringing it up with some.

    I guess I just need to grab some new and different strings and start experimenting! Do you guys hear any huge differences between the phosphor strings and the flat top strings. Just out of curiosity. I'll eventually go through all different types and find my sound.

    thanks for the opinions.

  9. #9
    Registered User Rodney Riley's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Effingham IL
    Posts
    1,307

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    My wife got me the M-style of the two prototype nylon string mandolins made by the Boat Paddle Ukelele people. It doesn't sound like a Uke. Just quieter, bass heavy, folk sounding mandolin. Cafe member delray48209 bought the other style. Posted here about them.
    http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...90#post1115690

  10. #10
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Westchester, NY
    Posts
    30,753

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    Quote Originally Posted by kingebeneezer View Post
    You know that's kinda where I'm stuck, I've just had my same set up for almost a year.
    I think that it your first problem. Strings go dead over time and a year is prob more thasn enough time for them to sound tired and even not hold tune.

    Try changing your strings to a new set of J-74s to start and see how that sounds. You can try nylon strings (Aquilas would be good) but I am not sure that they would be enough to really drive the top of your mandolin. Does the Km-150 have a laminated top?

    If you really don't like the J-74 strings, maybe try a stainless steel set like JS-74 or Gibson Sam Bush strings which are monel alloy and prob have a brighter sound.
    Jim

    My Stream on Soundcloud
    Facebook
    19th Century Tunes
    Playing lately:
    1924 Gibson A4 - 2018 Campanella A-5 - 2007 Brentrup A4C - 1915 Frank Merwin Ashley violin - Huss & Dalton DS - 1923 Gibson A2 black snakehead - '83 Flatiron A5-2 - 1939 Gibson L-00 - 1936 Epiphone Deluxe - 1928 Gibson L-5 - ca. 1890s Fairbanks Senator Banjo - ca. 1923 Vega Style M tenor banjo - ca. 1920 Weymann Style 25 Mandolin-Banjo - National RM-1

  11. #11
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    ...Does the Km-150 have a laminated top?...
    All solid wood, pressed top, from the specs.

    Not necessarily a "bluegrass instrument"; that really depends on how you play it. I'd try some flat-wounds, maybe cut down on the brightness.

    A pressed-arch-top f-hole mandolin might be pretty hard to "drive" with lower-tension nylon strings.
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  12. #12
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    The neck/fingerboard is too narrow for more than 4 strings.. ..
    I agree ... new strings, if you feel medium is to hard to play,
    re string with a thinner string set.

    like getting J73 instead of the J74, mentioned earlier.

    .010, - .038" vs, .011, - .040"

    [ I use tghe GHS set of 10-38 strings on my old Gibson A, with an aluminum bridge,
    it has a Bluesy sound if play a bluesy Melody on it.


    as for the Nylon strings, restringing a Gold Tone soprano Banjo Uke
    with 4 Aquila (GDAE), strings, would be better.


    at least you could hear them ring..
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  13. #13
    Destroyer of Mandolins
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    New Jersey
    Posts
    5,017

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    When I think of nylon on a mandolin, it's early music that comes to mind. You know, Renaissance, Medieval, that stuff. You might want to sniff around the archives in the Classical Section. I remember a lot of discussions about nylon there.

    If you're looking for a mellower tone and a softer feel, a nice set of flat wounds will get you much farther, IMO. Modern mandolin designs tend to need a little more energy from the strings to drive them properly. The nylon 'lute' sound seems to come from the guys playing the bowlback mandolins. Just an observation.
    Dedicated Ovation player
    Avid Bose user

  14. #14
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    nashville, tn, usa
    Posts
    110

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    Quote Originally Posted by kingebeneezer View Post
    I have a Kentucky KM-150 A style with the D'addario phosphor bronze wound strings, i wanna say the J-74? I've been curious about putting nylon strings on it. Has anyone else tried this? I was imagining only changing the A and E strings to nylon as the G and D would be too thick to use double strings and would rattle off each other.

    Are there any simple ways to change the tone/sound basically? Maybe some suggestions on different style strings to use on an acoustic.

    Any advice would be appreciated!
    Get a nylon string guitar and use a capo on the 5th fret. Or a Tacoma Papoose and put nylon strings on it. A mando wont give one the proper projection w/nylon strings. One would sacrifice virtually all volume and most of the tone. The body cavity is just too small. JMHO.

    Now an OM, IB, MC or cittern might have the string length/body size to give one the needed separation and tension to get a 'classical guitar/lute' sound. There are plenty of examples of 'double course' guitars and lutes, historically. But, then there's the question of attaching the strings. Nylon strings don't come w/loops ala mandolin family instruments normally.

    Your efforts in thinking out of the box are applauded from this corner. Keep us posted w/your results.

  15. #15

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    You could also try an open tuning.
    Once you got your head wrapped around it, it would sound very bluesy indeed. You could play it with a slide, even.
    I think most people use GDBD for open G on mandolin. Then all you have to do is tune up the A a step and tune the E down a step. No big deal, no setup required.

    I think this will be much more satisfactory than trying to retrofit nylons onto an instrument which was not designed for them. If you want to try that, I'd say a check out a taropatch uke (8 strings), it will sound much better with the proper string set.

  16. #16
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: Opinions on putting nylon strings on A style?

    Any advice would be appreciated!
    contact a builder who will make you a Mandolin designed to only have the tension load
    of a set of Nylon Aquila strings on it ..

    maybe something Lute Like.. inspired by the Baroque Period mandolins..
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •