Nylon Stringed Electric Guitar

4string

Mrs 4String played guitar many years ago and has recently started making noises that she might start playing again. So an excuse to stretch my GAS muscles, even if on behalf of my better half.  There is a problem though - she will only play nylon stringed guitars and is determined to play in a Velvets like distorted/fuzz style, rocking out.

Does any one have any experience of electric nylon playing through an effects units? Sound files would be a bonus.

As for a guitar, there are a few possibilities I am aware of, most obviously a narrow neck Godin Multitac (though serious money even second hand). I also spotted a Fender Strat with a piezo bridge and nylon strings - it was being used by Yngwie Malmsteen to sound like a classical guitar unsurprisingly.  Any other options? At a push I could put together a piezo bridged partscaster in what ever shape Mrs 4Sting likes, but any inspiration or knowledge you can share would be most welcome. 

Danielsguitars

Fernandes p object is a nylon string electric, I thought it was interesting enough to think about making one as I hadn't seen one before that one, it's shaped like a tele

Have a look on you tube to see if there are sound clips 

ToneControl

Cheapest option will be a nylon travel guitar with no body, so cannot feed back

e.g. https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Yamaha-SLG200N-Nylon-String-Silent-Guitar-Tobacco-Brown/191U?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+Yamaha&adgroup=Messe+-+Yamaha+SLG200N+Silent+Guitar.+x3&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=58386d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=124469634559&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpov9tIzN2QIVT7ftCh1HagBrEAQYASABEgJSG_D_BwE

4string

@customkits that is a very interesting guitar... Very much in the Godin mould (though you get MIDI with the Multitac, hence the £800+ second hand price). Only issue I can see is that they are as common as unicorn poop. Never the less, if I find one, it would be a serious contender.

If I built one it probably be a tele shaped, with one of the Start piezo bridges, a standard shaped scratch plate, with no pick up holes and volume and eq controls. I could see maybe a Dano masonite/hardboard tele body (@GuitarWeasel made one some years ago as a prototype for holding demonstration pickups). 

@ToneControl an excellent thought. I walked past a busker playing one the other day and it sounded far more guitar like than its shape suggests. However, the shape may not pass the Mrs 4String test - possibly not rock and roll enough. I will try.

Thanks both for responding, very much appreciated. 

ICBM

I once converted a cheap dreadnought-shape ‘solid acoustic’ type guitar to nylon strings for someone, it seemed to work fine - you just need to pull the strings as tight as possible by hand before you tie them to the machineheads or they won’t come up to pitch until there’s too much string wrapped around the post.

He used it with tons of effects - I think including distortion, although I can’t remember for sure - in a sort of rock ceilidh band...

barnstorm

I've always been curious about the LAG Keziah Jones models, but I've never come across one to try.

Funkfingers

Gibson Chet Atkins CE. Job done. (Back and left shoulder also, possibly, done shortly after.)

ICBM

Funkfingers said:

Gibson Chet Atkins CE. Job done. (Back and left shoulder also, possibly, done shortly after.)

Do these not have a standard classical-size neck?

They also do certainly weigh a ton, going by the only one I’ve ever picked up...

tony99

What about something like the yamaha aex500n, I used to have one, but now I don't

grungebob

There was a richwood model a few years ago shaped like a DC LP jr. played very well. 

carlos

"There is a problem though - she will only play nylon stringed guitars and is determined to play in a Velvets like distorted/fuzz style, rocking out."

Before going down this route I advise you to try out distorting a signal coming from a piezo-type pickup. Every time I tried it sounded awful, steel or nylon strings. And I mean awful not in the grungy, post-punk way, but awful like a radio picking up static. Your mileage may vary.

thumpingrug

Just curious, but why will she only play nylon strings?

ICBM

carlos said:

"There is a problem though - she will only play nylon stringed guitars and is determined to play in a Velvets like distorted/fuzz style, rocking out."

Before going down this route I advise you to try out distorting a signal coming from a piezo-type pickup. Every time I tried it sounded awful, steel or nylon strings. And I mean awful not in the grungy, post-punk way, but awful like a radio picking up static. Your mileage may vary.

You can make it usable if you *drastically* re-EQ - although whether a simple distortion pedal will have enough range on a tone control is debatable... I did successfully use a Taylor 312CE with Fishman piezo electrics through a Mesa DC-5 on the dirty channel - with the graphic EQ set to all mids and no treble or bass, if I remember right. But I will admit that it sounded much better after I added a Rare Earth magnetic soundhole pickup as well.

maltingsaudio

Get one of these sounds epic
https://youtu.be/QKvg0iM6hXo 

musicman100

Funkfingers said:

Gibson Chet Atkins CE. Job done. (Back and left shoulder also, possibly, done shortly after.)

There's better stuff out there.
Personally I think epi atkins was better n cheaper 

DulcetJones

I can record a sample with my Godin electric classical later today, I've been meaning to try that anyway since I bought it last year.  I got a used one that looks a bit like like a multi ? but just has the under saddle pick up and is made for nylon strings.  I'm betting it will sound pretty good on the bass strings but will probably not have good sustain.  I use mine plugged in but I find if I dial all the EQ sliders down to zero and back off all the tone controls on the amp a bit it sounds very authentic as a classical guitar.  I have some things to go do right now, will check in later.  I recorded my entry in the ROTM with it running through a Mustang I with a basic Fender Twin setting.

Sporky

I had a Nathan Sheppard with nylon strings - pretty sure @TTony ; has it now. That was ace with filthy fuzz.

DulcetJones

4string said:

Mrs 4String played guitar many years ago and has recently started making noises that she might start playing again. So an excuse to stretch my GAS muscles, even if on behalf of my better half.  There is a problem though - she will only play nylon stringed guitars and is determined to play in a Velvets like distorted/fuzz style, rocking out.

Does any one have any experience of electric nylon playing through an effects units? Sound files would be a bonus.

As for a guitar, there are a few possibilities I am aware of, most obviously a narrow neck Godin Multitac (though serious money even second hand). I also spotted a Fender Strat with a piezo bridge and nylon strings - it was being used by Yngwie Malmsteen to sound like a classical guitar unsurprisingly.  Any other options? At a push I could put together a piezo bridged partscaster in what ever shape Mrs 4Sting likes, but any inspiration or knowledge you can share would be most welcome. 

I managed to throw this down, it's going through a Mustang I with a Fuzz box setting.  Sounds better than I thought it would.   https://soundcloud.com/dulcetjones/distorted-nylon-string   The picture has nothing to do with it.  That's a one string cigar box guitar I made.

TTony

Sporky said:

I had a Nathan Sheppard with nylon strings - pretty sure @TTony ; has it now.

Someone called?



It's a stunning bit of kit. 

And just the sort of thing that a loving, caring, (and generous) husband would buy his wife too!

Phil_aka_Pip

thumpingrug said:

Just curious, but why will she only play nylon strings?

nylon strings feel like playing on wet rubber bands. why indeed!

4string

carlos said:

"There is a problem though - she will only play nylon stringed guitars and is determined to play in a Velvets like distorted/fuzz style, rocking out."

Before going down this route I advise you to try out distorting a signal coming from a piezo-type pickup. Every time I tried it sounded awful, steel or nylon strings. And I mean awful not in the grungy, post-punk way, but awful like a radio picking up static. Your mileage may vary.

That is/was one of my concerns. However, there are videos on YouTube showing it done reasonably well. Certainly enough to satisfy.
 
@thumpingrug The usual reason - steel strings hurt when you start out. And the lady is not for turning on that matter... 

@ICBM Again, YouTube videos suggest that the piezo needs a pre-amp. Which is where some of the EQ can be done. I have assumed that something like a Zoom G3 (I have one already) might be able to process some life into the signal.

@DulcetJones Thanks for that. That sort of sound would be well within acceptable parameters. I suspect exact Lou Reed fuzz tone is not required, we just have to be in the ball park. 

@TTony I suspect that might fail the aesthetics test, but that is exactly the configuration I have been thinking about. 

Thanks all again for contributing to the thread. I feel as though there are options that are going to sound OK.