Carbon vs. Nylon Classical Guitar String Comparison. (D'Addario EJ46 vs EJ46FF)

Amateur-style comparisons of D'Addario EJ46 nylon core and EJ46FF carbon strings on my Cordoba C7 guitar. I also added samples of the 6-week-old strings (EJ46) that were previously on my guitar for reference. Here are some of my observations:
The EJ46FF strings include carbon trebles and Dynacore basses. The EJ46 strings have nylon core basses and nylon trebles.
I tested each set two days after stringing the guitar.
The packaging states that the EJ46's are "warm, full-bodied tone and consistent intonation." The packaging of the EJ46FF's says "vibrant modern tone" with "bold powerful sound, responsive feel, & improved intonation."
I would agree with both of these assessments! I found the carbon strings to be quite loud and lively with lots of sustain. My first impression was that they almost reminded me of steel strings. They have a higher tension, and the treble strings are thinner than the nylon trebles. When strumming these strings, the fret-buzz sounds more pronounced...almost metallic.
The nylon strings have more of a rounded and warmer tone. They settle-in quickly and last a long time. I thought the 6-week old set sounded good when I took them off to do this comparison.
The thinner carbon trebles take a little getting used to, and my first impression is that the high E string feels too thin and high tension. They are fun to play, however, as the sustain gives almost an electric vibe.
I would like to try the Dynacore bass strings with the nylon trebles.

[@mydroidmarket1385]

Carbons strings give semi steel string feelings

[@bicyclevideos]

Great video! I was wondering about buying carbon strings for some classical guitar recordings and this video help me make my decision. This is the absolute best comparison I able to find for carbon vs. nylon strings. Thank you so much.

[@NC_Coffee_lover]

Thank you for the best string comparison video I've ever seen! Wish I could find as good a video comparing steel strings.

[@sergius28]

Great demo !!!!!

[@SashaPak]

Thank you for the comparison!

[@irwiin]

Excelente video!

[@QuantumDroid]

Thanks for the comparison 😁

[@renecuevas4128]

All the strings sound amazing but it s cause of ur beautiful intonation n playing....ur skills are great. I play about 30 yrs n I do the same Lagrima part n same guitar exercises u show

[@BreauxBobby]

Thanks for this comparison. An acoustic guitar shop set up my Takamine Classical with carbon strings and they fit that guitar well. Both of my classical guitars have Graph Tech Tusq compensated saddlies and the Takamine was having some intonation issues on the G string. With the carbon strings, and some magic from the luthier at the shop, this 25 year old guitar sounds the best it’s ever sounded. The intonation is perfect. I compared the sound of the carbon strings to my Alhambra 9P with Pro Arte EJ46 and I much prefer the sound of broken in nylon for the treble strings. They make the guitar sound like a classical. The carbons work better for the Takamine because they balance that guitar nicely. It projects and sounds confident, although the tone of the treble carbon strings is slightly less than ideal. Overall the guitar sounds better. My preference is old nylon strings paired with a well built guitar. I never change my nylon strings, ever. Until the intonation goes out, maybe 2 years down the road. The harder they get with age, the better. This video really illustrates the differences in sound perfectly. Thanks for sharing it!

[@rockyboy976]

Excellent video. Is it true that D'Addario strings keep stretching longer? The EJ46FF seems to stand out among all in sound!!

[@roblingelbach]

This series of clips demonstrating 3 sets of strings, including a played-in set, is perfect for my purposes, which are: 1) how does the carbon string sound? and 2) what is the difference between it and nylon? ...conclusions for me: after many years playing with my trusty D'Addario EJ46C strings, I'll be ordering the EJ46FFF set and after hoping for the best will most likely order more sets. I'd heard that some players had difficulty with the high E snapping, however. At the moment I have what you might call a high-grade-budget cedar top classical, and have been wanting a little more volume. If these strings hold their sound for long enough- like, 3-4 months- I'll be switching to them. Thanks very much for this video, just what I needed, and keep playing.. :)

[@negrosuenos47]

Thank you bro

[@javiersaulrodriguezmontes3196]

Excelente buen demo y sin hablar!!

[@alvaro1201]

see

[@user-wb5fb9lv1u]

Спасибо, помогли) Выбрала ej 46

[@guitarcare]

very simple and worth a lot 😀

[@rehaozenc]

Really thank you...

[@zaphodbeeblerock]

Nice ... i guess I like the second example best :-) THanks

[@sataboum9214]

thank you :D it helps

[@billderinbaja3883]

Excellent comparison, thanks. My ears prefer the EJ46, which I've been using for many years... maybe my ears are just used to them.

[@polymathematics5837]

D'Addario EJ46FF for the win! Bravo!

[@FrumPilot]

Hmm when he played LaGrima I could hardly hear the high e string with the carbon E strings compared to the regular strings

[@fuckbored4724]

carbon seems to have a bit more projection and sustain, but I like the tone of both.

[@skyc3598]

Just what I needed to make my move to carbon. I replaced my bone bridge and saddle with brass ones and I feel like carbon with brass will work well

[@Shagfoot]

Great demo. I had a hard time noticing a major difference soundwise. However this could be due to the limitations hearing playback on YT and/or limitations in my ears. The Carbons did have a little more bell like qualities. I liked them.

[@avlmountains7842]

Thanks so much! That's what I thought, too...bell-like qualities. When I first put them on, the carbons almost reminded me of my steel string guitar.

[@zues2013]

Need to get a new set of ears then

[@ervinzoom8207]

sir.. did u using a pick? or finger picking? thx...

[@Iwinulost]

Can someone please tell me the song at 3:00?

[@bencetuboly1734]

Is it hard to press down the carbon ones? Like compared to a steel string for example or any other? Btw what is the name of the song at 3:00 ?, I think I'm in love with that xd

[@boshi9]

Carbon strings are a bit harder than nylon, but still much lower tension than steel strings. I've used a calculator on D'Addario's website to look that up.

[@heberthsarmiento6925]

Loco suenan Casi Igual... pero las de Carbon tiene un Sonido con mas Cuerpo llena mas que las Cuerdas de Nylon. Pero en Si las de Nylon siguen Sonando bien para mi. Es solo question de gustos Loco!

[@abhinavnair5117]

Can i use EJ46 strings on my Yamaha C40?

[@juanpabloporraslara5318]

Definitelly no way! You have to use light tensión for the Yamaha C40 because their fretboard it's gonna bend for the tensión . It happens to My friend high tensión it's for other kind of classic guitars like mines

[@aryanbest5230]

@@juanpabloporraslara5318 i want change my string should I change to D’dario EJ46 Hard Tension ?

[@juanpabloporraslara5318]

@@aryanbest5230a hola buddy ! Definitelly do it. All my 9 classic guitars i use Daddario strings always. Aldo i have 3 acoustic guitars AND the reason that i have so Many guitars ITS because i have them in diferent tunings like : Standard tuning , Eb tuning or half step down tuning, Drop D, Drop C, Drop C#, D tuning or whole step down tuning, G Hybrid tuning, F tuning or half step up tuning, Open G, Open F, Open E. In my classic guitars i use Daddario Pro.Arte Nylon Core EJ46 Silverplated Soundtrack. Clear Nylon. HARD Tensión. The Best sustain , tiene, AND no complain. I try oncd the Normal tensión EJ45 AND s couple strings broke. Now i try the mes Daddario XT HARD Tensión classic guitar strings AND they are smooth to play AND sound good. AND It suppossed to last longer. But i recommend to try firstable the EJ 46 HARD Tensión classic guitar strings Daddario. In my acoustic guitaras im learning finger Style AND i started to put HARD Tensión acoustic strings AND after one song my hand AND fingers are hurting. So i just put these Daddario Nickel Bronze NB Acoustic strings .10. .48 , AND they are soft AND better than the .12 .54 or .11 .53. If you use HARD Tensión or thicker gauges in tour acoustic guitar i recommend to tuned It Up in lower tunings like Open G, Open F, Open E, D tuning or whole step up tuning, Drop D tuning AND Eb tuning or half step down tuning. Open tunings are awesome yo use atge Slide. Eb tuning AND Drop D Drop D tuning are my favirite ones. Standard ITS ne. ccessary. Good luck . Sn

[@aryanbest5230]

@@juanpabloporraslara5318 thank you sir. Actually i use Yamaha c40 and i use EJ46 Hard Tension .. i was use Normal Tension but the sounds was low thats why i changed to hard . Thank you sir for your information .

[@juanpabloporraslara5318]

@@aryanbest5230 you are welcome

[@Lburg0s]

Carbon the best

[@ww3032]

Doing some research on carbon strings and its the first time I'm hearing it. Am I right to say that carbon strings bring the sound closer to a steel stringed guitar?

[@JabbaTheHutWasHere]

I would not say that. More like giving it more vibration and sustain and more snap. Seems it brings out more flamenco sound ....To me at least :-)

[@charlesg3118]

The carbon sounds more subtle

[@arataka57]

Carbon are brighter sounding, don't like them as much.

[@akbarkhusain999]

Carbon is better

[@chiragmidha2878]

I liked Ej46 (old) the best, they had the sweetest, warm, and mellow sound. Compared to that Ej46FF almost sounded like an acoustic guitar.

[@DavidGarcia-pi9wn]

that cedar top shines with carbon, the nylon cores make it sound like plastic toy-

[@jjmmjm531]

winner - carbon and hard tension. Nylon sounds dump to me

[@BehzadRaeisi]

Carbon doesn't sound pro imo. The lows are low, and the highs sound dirty.

[@sirpancho]

carbon rules..melow, clear sound, not that plastic

[@kanker5256]

dude stop wasting our time you have a vs in the title. you are comparing 2 string sets and in the video you have old new ej ef ff carbon etc.. make up your mind, pick 2 sets, play them for comparison and call it a day

[@user-bt5xd4lo5n]

Do they not make these anymore? I just got some nylon core on sweetwater and i want carbon now! eh, next time. I wonder why they aren't on Sweetwater though