Argentine tension compared with classical nylon strings

Jangle_Jamie · February 27

I recently bought a nylon D hole made by Jean Louis Alves de Puga. Just a thought, but how close are hard tension nylon strings to Argentine 10s? I don't want to cause any excess stress on the neck and the bridge, but I'm curious to know what it would sound like with argentines on. It's a great guitar and I love playing all sorts on it!

Willie · February 27

Try Thomastik Infeld KR 110, I put them on that old Höfner classical guitar.They do not cause any neck issue and sound quite right: https://youtu.be/ljLxAcfwpIQ.

https://www.thomastik-infeld.com/de/produkte/guitar-strings/akustische-gitarre/classic-s-rope-core

Edit: I am a bit confused now. I was quite sure about the strings. In the Video I wrote "KR 110", and those surely were 0.10 roundwounds, but I do not find them on the Thomastik website. Only the 0.10 flatwounds KF 110 mentioned above. Thomann sells KR 116, but never in my life I had played the tune on a set of 0.16 strings.

guitarmike · February 27

I once had a J.P. Favino nylon string Gypsy Guitar about 10 years ago.

I was just as curious as you. So I send a message to JP Favino asking him If it would be à good idea to try on a set of .010 Argentine on it. He strongly suggest that I should not.

But Hey ! It’s only me.

Jangle_Jamie · February 27

Are those Thomastik strings noticeably lower tension than Argentines Willie? As Guitarmike says, it's not something I would unless I was absolutely sure I wasn't doing any harm. I often see classical guitars in junk/antique shops strung up with steel strings, and they almost always have terribly warped necks or bridges about to ping off!

Jangle_Jamie · February 27

Hofner sounds great by the way Willie!!!

Willie · February 27

I think the Thomastik Infeld strings are made for having a steel sound on a nylon string guitar. The tension in any case is lower.

pdg · February 27

Another possibility is silk & steel, though those usually substitute for regular steel strings.

Jangle_Jamie · February 28

Ok, I've gone for the flat wound KF110 set. £28! That's by far the most I've spent on strings (apart from my very posh tape wound Rotosound bass strings)