Acoustics

[Vismund Cygnus]

I'm guessing this would be a beginner question. I've been playing bass, but I want to buy an acoustic guitar. I was wondering what the advantages of classical over steel-string were and vise versa. Thanks!

[zhyla]

Classical is definitely easier on the fingers (not such a concern if you already play bass) and the wider neck is easier for people with big hands to start on. If you're going to play classical stuff obviously this is what you want. They have a different sound, more balanced and less jangly. Less sustain. Much less volume than a steel string guitar.

Steel strings are more versatile in that most of the acoustic mainstream music you here is on a steel string. So if you don't want to play classical or spanish kind of music then this is probably what you want.

[Trigger_003]

It depends on the type of sound you want and music you'll be wanting to play as to what you would get.

Classicals have nylon strings which (besides feeling a heap better on your fingers - particularly with long sessions) gives the guitar a softer tone, where as steel strings are a bit more harsh.
Unlike the guy above said, niether is necessarily louder or softer than the other - that depends on how you play them (and, if you need/want to, wire them up to a PA/amp). Good classical guitarists can fill up huge halls with sound - it's just the way they're played.
On a steel string, the fretboard typically meets the body at the 14th fret, and the 12 on a classical. You can get cutaways on a classical, but they're not as common as they are on steel strings.

Classicals are typically used for - obviously - classical and flamenco (unless you have a flamenco guitar). Steels usually are for your typical acoustic music.
But hey, I even play metal on my classical and if you play your instrument well enough it'll sound great.

If you're after playing plugged in, you can buy steel strings with pickups (electric acoustics), but companies like Fishman also make pickups for classicals so...
And there's always the old mic'd option.

It's really a matter of opinion and what suits the sound you're after for your style(s). Probably the best thing to do - if you can play guitar - is to head on down to a music shop and try out several of both types. If you can't, even just playing some bass lines with give you an idea, but try to take a mate who can actually play guitar well along with you, or ask the staff/some customers at the shop to demo them for you.

Hope that helps :).

[swim_guitar]

i dont like classicals, i just dont like the way they feel. also i dont like how the strings move when you have them pressed down

[zhyla]

Ah, man you're missing out, they're really sweet to play. If I only had one guitar it'd be a classical.

[Cygnus 2112]

Ah, man you're missing out, they're really sweet to play. If I only had one guitar it'd be a classical.

troof.

I like both nylon and steel string guitars, so I would say that you may want to eventually get one of each.

[zhyla]

troof.

I like both nylon and steel string guitars, so I would say that you may want to eventually get one of each.

Of course you mean five of each.

[TranquilSoul]

Since you're a bassist, I', guessing the steel vs. nylon on the fingers deal isn't to big a deal so I'm gonna ignore that.

Classical/spanish guitars: Warmer and softer tones. Wider neck and greater distance between strings=fingerpicking. Using a pick with these is a nono since your probably gonna scratch the body and its just plain akward.

Steel: For non-fingerstyle stuff. This is infinitley more versatile that a classical guitar. The tone isnt generaly as warm and earthy as a classical, but its for different genres.

They are used for different things and they are both great for what they are for, get one of each if you want to migrate to guitsr from bass, otherwise get a steel string for the versatility that a classical cannot offer.

I myself prefer classical, I cant get over the tone of a good classical guitar.... *drool*

[Philk]

If I had a choice of strings I would go with classical. It gives off a much warmer sound than steel string.

[wademachine]

i'd go with a classical, i really dislike the sound of steel strings, apart from a few songs i've heard, and classicals are just so fun, by the way i never play my two acoustics (steel string and nylon) i only ever play my electric, and hate everything else, so my opinion isn't much to go by

[WindowLedge]

...

I could swear I've seen that post before...

[Trigger_003]

Well I didn't take it from any of my older ones, so...
*shrug*