Newbie question on Yamaha C40

[legan]

Hi everyone,

My friend gave me an old C40 for me to start learning how to play guitar. Reading only, the C40 is meant only for Nylon strings. One site even said changing it to metal strings would damage the neck or something. However the guitar i have has 3 nylon and 3 metal strings. Should I change it back to nylon? If so, what should i specify when i go to the shop to buy?

Thanks

 

[eieio]

Hello legan, 3 nylon and 3 metal(bronze/silver coat) is correct.
However if the strings are too old, a fresh set will definitely sound better.
Thus make your play time more pleasurable, just specify strings for classical guitars.
Coincidentally I just restring mine with a nos pack of Albert Augustine ltd(http://albertaugustine.net/)



String construction

Traditional
The three treble guitar strings are made from sheep or cow intestine, referred to as plain gut, while the three bass strings are made of a silk thread core wound with gut.

Modern
Since the development of nylon guitar strings by Albert Augustine Ltd., the three treble strings are one piece plastic line, usually nylon filament, while the three bass strings are made of a core of fine plastic threads wound with bronze wire or silver plated copper wire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_guitar_strings

 

[legan]

Hi Eieio

I quote from Yamaha website:

Thirdly, this is a guitar designed to take soft strings of nylon or gut. Metal strings could damage a classical guitar, cutting into the wood and overstraining the neck. The soft strings give the guitar a full, but soft and gentle tone. It is not designed for playing heavy metal. It is a guitar for a small room, not for a stadium.

That is why i thought all the strings should be nylon.

 

[eieio]

The classical 'metal' strings different from steel acoustic strings, the are softer.
Maybe the metal strings Yamaha was referring to are those found on steel acoustic?
If you buy a classical guitar string set, 3 is bronze/silver wound & the other 3 is nylon..

 

[legan]

Roger Roger. Thanks.