I'd read somewhere that Maccaferri's first grande bouche guitars were actually meant to be classical guitars. If this is true, then the original bracing was for nylon strings. Correct?
Do the more recent grande bouche guitars (such as my Gitane D-500) have a bracing like the original design?
I know that putting nylons on a normal steel-string guitar doesn't get the greatest results (though I know some who do it and enjoy the results) -- but if the original design was for nylons ... then shouldn't we be putting nylons on our grande bouche Selmacs?
Does this make any sense?
Comments
Mario Maccaferri was a classical guitarist though - that's what got him started in the guitar business. He loved performing and did so throughout his time with the Selmer company. I've heard two recordings of him and have to say - the old guy was pretty darned good.
Does this make any sense?[/quote]
Only if their sheer black and 15 denier.
But bottom line, he's probably trying to tell you the size of strings to use. Given that the tension for classical strings is lower - my "part educated guess and pard wild assed guess" is that the guy is trying to tell you to use larger ones or higher tension ones to get the tension up enough to load the top properly. As for the sheer black - he must believe the clear treble strings don't sound the same. I've heard people say the same thing about Wegen picks - preferring the White or the Black. I prefer the white ones but its because I don't lose them as readily. If Wegen made flourescent orange picks I'd buy those instead of the white ones... but my guess is that Wegen doesn't mind if we lose picks from time to time so I'm not holding my breath waiting on those orange ones
I don't think I'd want to put nylons on my Gitane. I guess it'd be a cool experiment (guess I'd have to widen the slots on the nut and find some ball-ended nylons--or just tie a really good knot).
I wish someone would make a grande bouche classical in the Cigano budget area. Most seem to be $1K+!
Me too. I would snag one of those in a heartbeat. Frankly, if I could buy a Saga Gitane nylon-string guitar at the same price and quality as the DG-300 I'd dive right in.
I'll let someone else make the Dupont joke.
So I guess what I'm saying - is if you want a cheap classical guitar... just go get one - like a Cordoba C5. They're not great, but they're not horrible. They're probably about as good for a classical guitar as a Cigano is for a gypsy guitar.
No, no -- I want a cheap grande bouche nylon-string guitar. I've already got the cheap gut boxes!
and, i know from my own experience with silk and steel strings, that it is a lot easier to get the sound with the rest stroke technique.
Learn how to play Gypsy guitar:
http://alexsimonmusic.com/learn-gypsy-jazz-guitar/
OH - as for strings - yes, depending on the instrument - I do like silk & steel and/or nickel - but mostly I use Argies. I like their sound even despite all their warts (ie. they don't last long & you have to twist them backward when you install them to make sure they aren't dead from the get-go.)