My Reaction to the Nylon String Crossover Guitar by Daniel Zucali (as a Steel String Player)

► Like the intro tune? Tab available 100% FREE on studywithadam.com - just look under the video for link - it's called "Shelter Island" :-)
In my recent videos, I have used a Daniel Zucali crossover nylon string guitar.
Here are my honest reaction and review of the guitar.
I usually play steel-string, but I am enjoying this "crossover" nylon string guitar for jazz solos in my duo videos. It's called a "crossover model" because it's friendlier for non-classical players to play.
Some "crossover" features : it's got a super pickup system and lower string action.
This helps narrow the gap of playing a steel string vs nylon string guitar!
You can play more easily across different styles.
See timestamps for more detail:
0:00 "Shelter Island" - Free Tabs Available
0:59 Meet Daniel Zucali
1:40 How I found this guitar
3:35 "Black Orpheus" solo
4:18 Guitar specs / wood
4:35 Pickup & Mic system
6:49 Trap door for easy repair
7:52 Round arm rest
8:13 Pros & Cons
8:41 "Giant Steps" excerpt
9:00 Who's this guitar for?
9:57 What I like best about it
10:39 Walking bass lines
11:32 Listening to the pickup
13:52 "Superstition?" Hmm...
14:47 Percussion? on the body
15:29 Contact Daniel :-)
► Nylon "Crossover" built by Daniel Zucali
guitars.zucali.com (English)
www.zucali.com (Int'l)
► Mini Flex Mic
www.miniflexmic.com/
► Shadow SH 4020 Pickup
shadowelectronics.com/product...
-------
► Grab the free tabs to the intro song "Shelter Island" HERE:
studywithadam.com
► Get more cool FREE lessons here:
adamrafferty.com/lessons
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[@adamrafferty]

Hey Gang!!! Enjoyed the video? Have questions? LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW! :-)

[@debbiefleming2893]

Thanks! Enjoyed watching & listening to the review and demonstration.

[@adamrafferty]

Hey Debbie thanks for commenting & best to Rick!

[@MrPalmersong]

Always enjoy your enthusiastic presentations Adam. The guitar indeed comes across wonderfully. There is something special about nylon that is more than just classical (a la Earl Klugh) that you give us an insight into the versatility of the instrument for lots of guitar styles. Keep on doing what you’re doing sir, you inspire me. Peace ✌🏾

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you! :-)

[@hughbeattie8776]

Great review and advice on the crossover guitar🙂

[@hymnplayer]

I watch a lot of guitar reviews. Yours is one of the better ones. Nice job.

[@900672]

I always learn something from you...thank you for this video

[@norbertb.]

Beautiful! Thank you!🙏🏻

[@epserps5055]

Master, I just love your videos. Thanks a lot.

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks & groove on! 😊Epser

[@camarasaguitar]

Incredible guitar, amazing sound, super fabulous construction, you deserve it thanks to give us jealous, my jaw is on the floor.

[@adamrafferty]

Glad you like it!

[@johnshrader1655]

You inspired me to pick up my nylon string guitar. Fine video, thanks.

[@apro6531]

Great video thanks !!

[@alantay9409]

Wow! Thank you for sharing.

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks & groove on! 😊

[@kbkesq]

Great overview and love the musical examples. I’d say most of us are sold heading this. Though money and room are the issues!

[@Bernd_Boeckmann]

Great guitar and review, Adam!

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks Bernd!

[@LOVE2Flute]

Amazing sound! I’m too new pickin and strumming these beautiful stringed instruments to invest in a tool as beautiful as a Zucali creation but I’m thinking they are tasty. 😊 Most excellent presentation!

[@axleblaze123]

It really sound like a lute when your playing without nails. I love this tone

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Tom! 😊

[@426426288]

Very nice tone

[@davestevens1600]

I would love to try that one on. I have been using the silk and steel for a couple of years now, and am also a no pick or nail person since changing. Being a Chet fan myself, desired tone variations are given up with picks, not to mention its so hard to find one that feels natural.

[@PeterKharitonov]

Wonderful instrument!

[@tanausuluis]

Great video Adam I have met Daniel at the holly Grail in Berlin and he is such a nice person and makes gorgeus guitars.

[@adamrafferty]

Hey Luis! I was going to go with Daniel this year, but it was canceled. Hope to see you soon my man! :-)

[@tanausuluis]

@@adamrafferty call me Tana men. I hope yo see you soon I had so much fun teaching and playing together in Altea. Have a good day.

[@LittleMAC78]

I have 2 Yamaha APX, one steel strung, the other nylon. The two guitars are narrow necked which is useful for me with small hands and very unusual in the case of the nylon which is a 6NA that I've had for nearly 20 years. It's a little 'middle' heavy in tone when plugged in but it can be tweaked. I'm not sure on your preferred shape/dimension for a guitar but I love playing mine. I think the newer models are called NTX. The guitar in this video sounds great! :)

[@eleinadzammol]

great guitar, great liuther!!!

[@MrMjp58]

Great review! One of the best I've seen on any guitar. I'd like to add a note of caution for die hard classical playiers. I've got a Córdoba Fusion which is a beautiful instrument, but the narrow gauge neck and fingerboard has played havoc with my accuracy- especially in the picking hand. It might just be me...

[@adamrafferty]

The Cordobas are very particular- one has to get used to them…

[@pickerdad8402]

Those bass runs sounded amazingly like they were played on an acoustic bass. Very cool!

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you David. Each instrument and technique has advantages / trade-offs. The nylon sounding like an upright is an advantage. At the booth I was playing Daniels Baritone :-) and I felt like Jaco Pastorious meets Segovia :-)

[@savagetofu1]

Fantastic!

[@adamrafferty]

Joseph - thank you so much 😊

[@savagetofu1]

I’ve been in touch with Daniel. He’s a super guy. It’s quite an investment. Thank you.

[@StevenBrener]

Wonderful rendition of Mas Que Nada! Do you have a tab available for that?

[@michaelyollick5465]

Hiw dies it compare to Kirk Sands guitars and to Godin Multitiac Nylon guitars?

[@ambu6478]

Thanks for the great video. I just purchased my first nylon string/ crossover guitar and I can't figure out why the three treble strings sound so dead, dull, or dampened? I've tried truss rod adjustment, but no matter what, they don't sound any better. Would you have any ideas? Thanks!

[@adamrafferty]

Bring it to a good shop and see what they can do 😀

[@rgro4645]

Thanks, Adam. Interesting and lovely sounding guitar. I enjoyed learning your Stevie Wonder tunes which also upped my chops. Have you ever done a video on how to build speed on two finger single note runs? After 50 years of playing with a nice delicate touch, I still find runs like in "Isn't She Lovely" a little challenging.

[@adamrafferty]

WIll do - great idea. Standby!

[@rgro4645]

@@adamrafferty Thanks!

[@jrlopez4341]

You are amazing I wish your love to learn a lot more you blow my mind just watching you play remind me of all the songs I’ve learned from Tommy Emmanuel but you are unique and awesome like to know more about that classical guitar

[@demdem4709]

Great guitar and greater guitarist. What an interpretation of Mas Que Nada.

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you Demdem! :-)

[@ralfkrieger7904]

👋... really enjoyed this humorous presentation of the nylonstring! It has a very fine ‚wooden‘ sound and is a good instrument for players who often change with other steel or electric guitars. I personally prefer for my two spanish (blanca & negra) nylonstrings another Pickup System which does not need the Radio 📻 on the top. It is a piezo/Mic combination by AER (Ak15+) and since many years I really enjoy the natural sound. But my guitars don‘t have armrest or cutaway, so I would be very glad to test this fine guitar some day! Keep groovin & Saludos!

[@adamrafferty]

Ralf - yes, any good pickup with a mic & piezo combo usually does a great job. Rock on!

[@LUIZS87]

Can you do a review on the cordoba fusion 12 rose 2 please?

[@evenseb7574]

Wow, what great info and playing! How wide is the nut, and is the fingerboard curved? I have a Godin Nylon SA, and I love the neck on it...

[@adamrafferty]

Hi! It's like a standard classical - please see the Zucali webiste (address in description) - but he can build any measurement you'd like :-)

[@kellmerWF52]

I love my Cordoba fusion, I no longer play anything else, being a classical and fingerstyle jazz and pop player it is perfect The wider neck, wider than an acoustic guitar, makes it easier for my small hands. I have nails, and never use a pick on it. it was designed by kirk sands, who designed Lenny's 7 string and Richard Smith's guitars as well. It is reasonably priced, I just wish i had bought the rosewood version. I have the mahogany/ spruce which is quite bright, yet still balanced. This is not at the level of the Guitar Adam is playing, but you can try this out and maybe go to one of the solid wood models later. Thanks Adam i love your playing

[@adamrafferty]

I have a Cordoba GK - which I had before this. I did not know Sands designed it. Is it a thinner body? And - what top other than sprice do they have - cedar? Thanks man!

[@kellmerWF52]

@@adamrafferty hey, you can get the cedar/ rosewood, or the cedar/ mahogany. sands designed the fusion models, not sure about the GK. The neck is 48mm and has a thin d profile, very comfortable. rosewood has better electronics. no, not a thin body

[@kellmerWF52]

i'm sure Cordoba would let you demo one, ask for the grand orchestra fusion 12 with the L. R baggs electronics

[@orbodman]

yes the Cordoba is great. So great that I built one of my own. 49mm neck, ever so slight radius on the fretboard. Engleman spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides. Mahogany neck. Still 12 fret to the body but with a cutaway. It does sound good if I dont say so myself. I couldn't resist stringing it up and playing it even though I still had the final shaping of the neck to do. Still yet to french polish it, if I could only stop playing it first. Any chance Adam will go fully to the classical guitar? Probably not.

[@johnpower2018]

I haven't seen a right hand positioning like yours before. The way your fingers extend past your thumb rather than stay behind it. Were you trained that way or is that just what feels most natural to you?

[@adamrafferty]

I need to do a vid on what I do, it’s unconventional. Look up “thumb under” LUTE technique here on KZbin and it’s will describe a little what I am doing. I may do an explainer vid 😀. It’s also a little bit like electric bass technique tilted to the side.

[@tulitable]

Dear Adam, thank you very much for your detailed video. This is really a wonderful guitar. Can you tell us something about the neck? I always have problems changing from steelstring to classical guitar because the neck of my classical guitar is wider but also much thicker.

[@adamrafferty]

This neck is thick like a classical - I'd like to discuss with Zucali to make a steel player friendly neck.

[@tulitable]

@@adamrafferty Thanks for your answer 🙌

[@pickerdad8402]

@@adamrafferty would a "steel player friendly neck" also have a narrower fretboard (i.e. nut width) and a 15 or 16" radius? I understand that classical players like a wide, flat fretboard, but I suspect I would find it difficult to switch back and forth.

[@danielzucali7051]

Hello I build guitars which exactly meet the wishes and demands of the musicians. That means that "little things" like a different neck width are always possible to be realized. Best wishes from the sunny Haag.

[@adamrafferty]

@@danielzucali7051 Excellent!!!!

[@markdelacruz1322]

Hey Adam, got a model number for this guitar?

[@moderngaucho1427]

Hi Daniel tour versións of más que nada and supertition were Great ! 💕 I made install a Pickup shadow Model sh 4020 c on an Alhambra 5 op Fp Piñana flamenco and sounds great too ! very nice Pickup ! What a beautiful Guitars Daniel zuccally is making ! 🎵 🎶

[@moderngaucho1427]

Greetings from Argentina 💕!🎶🎵

[@SurvivorStory]

So I'm left wondering IF you wanted to purchase that guitar what would the cost be?

[@adamrafferty]

Cindy, truth is I don't even know exactly. It will surely cost a tad more than a Yamaha :-) I don't want to misquote - so please just shoot Daniel a quick email - his contact page is guitars.zucali.com/#kontakt

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Beginners also love these Guitars because the Nylon Strings are easier on the Fretting Hand.

[@sdpage42]

Super review! And very neat guitar. Does he ship to the USA and what is a rough price for the guitar?

[@adamrafferty]

Steve he will ship anywhere. Costs have everything to do with the specifics of an order / wood / cosmetics/ pickup. Man , go to his site and drop him a line. 😎. I think his url is in the description.

[@adamrafferty]

guitars.zucali.com/

[@oceanwatchesclaudejolly1742]

Thanks Adam for the review of this beautiful guitar but the price sound like a rocket you didn’t mention the price I ‘m looking for a nylon electro acoustic guitar and I love the Takamine model DMP670NC V N for ¥142,780 I’m residing in Japan

[@PaulvanHuet]

Amazing guitarist.

[@adamrafferty]

Paul - thank you so much 😊

[@jimc6687]

Is it a bass player? Is it a guitar soloist? Is it a rhythm guitarist? Wait!! Look up in the sky!! It's all the above...it's super Adam!! Always phenomenal guitar playing on any type of guitar, A.R.!! Jim C.

[@adamrafferty]

It is a bass player, trying to remember he's allegedly a guitar player :-)

[@audaciousbuck5806]

Lovely

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you! 😊

[@andorakotomalala3399]

How much does it cost and whre to buy it online?

[@adamrafferty]

You have to contact Daniel directly and order- they are handmade not available in stores. Please see video description for links! Thank you 😀

[@imuawarriors]

Aloha! I'm an ukulele player from Hawai'i... My late older brother played guitar, but I never was brave enough to really learn guitar... I'm a long-time subscriber of your channel, and am a big fan of your skills... Hearing you describe this guitar is interesting, but most of it is way above my head (and wallet!)... Have a great day! Stay safe and healthy....

[@adamrafferty]

Thansk so much - and yes, they ain't cheap :-)

[@SergeUnplugged]

Congrats on a new instrument sir, are you an official endorser now ;) ?

[@adamrafferty]

Hi Serge! I fully endorse Daniel's instruments as they are excellent! As I said in the video I am a "foster parent" for this guitar - so it's on a long term visit in my house. I refuse to take free guitars from a builder like Daniel as it takes months to build and handmade guitars should be bought, not given away. I'm also learning what features I like best if I were to have one custom built. :-)

[@SergeUnplugged]

@@adamrafferty gotcha that axe is in great hands indeed

[@docjun3588]

Is your guitar better than Yamaha or Taylor?

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Adam Rafferty Taylor & Martin Guitars also make these Guitars.

[@Yngsatchvai]

I enjoyed the opening tune.

[@adamrafferty]

Tab available on studywithadam.com for FREE - look under video foe link - it's called "Shelter Island". :-)

[@Yngsatchvai]

@@adamrafferty sweet! Thanks so much 😀

[@theyjustwantyourmoney4539]

You will not get everything from one instrument but surely this guitar has amazing sound and you will have to put the best suited strings to get the most out of it.

[@migi3976]

Did this guitar have a truss rod?

[@adamrafferty]

I’ll find out. I now own another of his. The neck certainly has reinforcement but I do not know if it is adjustable.

[@migi3976]

@@adamrafferty I see, do let me know whenever you find out, thanks for responding!

[@violao206]

The appointments look very interesting and modern on this instrument. Everything looks pretty cool except that it is a crossover with that crappy tight string spacing which just sucks.

[@adamrafferty]

Actually the one you see here has classical strong spacing. I had one built for me (in my latest vids) with the tighter spacing, but Daniel is mainly a concert guitar builder - standard spacing is no problem for him!

[@dovetomarc]

I guess you never saw a Kirk Sand Guitar out of Laguna Beach, CA. Chet Atkins played Kirk's Guitars many, many years ago. Kirk was the pioneer of this style of guitar long before the one you review here. I am sure Daniel's Guitar is a great guitar but with all due respect it is a stretch (and perhaps a bit misleading) to characterize this as a new an unique guitar unlike anything scene before.

[@adamrafferty]

I had dinner with Kirk a few years ago and boy I love his guitars! In fact I made many suggestions to Daniel Zucali so that his guitars would lean away from typical classicals and play more like Kirks - feel friendly ion the hands of fingerpickers. Thanks for the comment!

[@hamiltonmackenzie3340]

Try the Furch GNC4 ❤️

[@adamrafferty]

Thiose are great guitars!

[@MidoGuitarOfficial]

Adam, I am missing an important piece of information in your video and that is the price. This guitar is beautiful, unfortunately far too expensive. I made a request to Daniel. The Crossover 1856 costs 6370 € :-(. Anyway, thanks for the nice video and message. See you...

[@danielzucali7051]

Hello Mibo I do not build serial instruments ... The musicians who come to me want a guitar which exactly meets their requirements. This means that the choice of wood, dimensions, sound characteristics, playability and much more is adapted exactly to the needs of the musician. All this takes time ... it is not comparable with a serial instrument. There are hardly two identical guitars that leave my workshop. Best regards from the sunny Haag.

[@MidoGuitarOfficial]

Daniel Zucali no problem Daniel. I know hand made Guitar is more expensive as a serijal. That is not a point and nothing against you!!! I only got a Feedback to Adam to add a approximately or exactly price retrospectively in his video. In German: wenn man Werbung macht, dann sollte man auch über Preis etwas sagen. See you...

[@MidoGuitarOfficial]

Daniel Zucali mein Name is Mido!!!

[@danielzucali7051]

@@MidoGuitarOfficial I have already thought a lot about whether it makes sense in my case to name the prices for a certain instrument ... Because my instruments and therefore the prices are very different, I have decided not to quote prices.

[@henkema22]

i usually like adams videos a lot and have always commented positively, but today its different.first of all, if you are not interested in guitar building techniques and pickups and microphones, you can just fast forward to 11:58 to 13:46 - there you can find pure listening joy.and i'd like to add one more thing - i do NOT like adam as a single string player (in germany we say: 'das beste ist feind des guten' as i probably listened too much to the real good non-fingerstyle-players). example: bars 11-13 around 08:57 > this lick is "AUA' ooouch noooo!" to my ears. sounds great on a sax though. just my 2 cents...

[@bosatsu76]

Such a teaser... Went to their site... Afraid to contact him because if you have to ask how much, you can't afford it...

[@dogstrot]

electronics placement doesn't seem the most optimal - playing arm almost touching knobs

[@Sadowsky46]

Nylon strings? That is material for tights. I prefer catgut for strings 😉

[@adamrafferty]

Depends who - or what - is wearing them :-)

[@cdnpunk2270]

Intro reminds me of Jimmy Wahlsteen

[@adamrafferty]

Thank you! 😊

Careful, that 'crossover guitar" will dry-hump you in the middle of the night-sleep with one eye open.

[@johnfritsky3859]

Great player, but the information was mostly about him not the guitar.

[@vogelschrik5232]

Good commercial. ;-)))))))))))))))))

[@adamrafferty]

Thanks! 😃

[@christianlassen3948]

I will only comment on the sound you get when you use a pick on this guitar : The way you pluck the single string with your specific technique causes it to hit the frets every time you pick just a little harder which in turn weakens the fundamental note and over-emphasizes the upper harmonics. It makes this masterful instrument sound much cheaper than it is, I'm sorry to say- no offence intended. I have played some of Daniel's guitars and would certainly own one if funds would allow.... Since this video was shot 2 years ago I reckon you have adjusted to it by now and adapted your picking technique accordingly ! All this besides, I'm a long-time fan of your music !

[@adamrafferty]

Sorry, you don’t like the way it sounds, or the way I sound I should say. Nope this is my technique, and it works for me really well on a steel string, and I don’t need to maintain fingernails. It may not be ideal for nylon string. I love the way fingernails sound when they get a proper tone out of a nylon string as much as the next person does. Unfortunately, I can’t get my rhythmic thing happening with fingernails.

[@christianlassen3948]

@@adamrafferty Hi Adam, I'm sure you could adapt your use of the flatpick to the softer nylonstrings and gain full advantage of the deep and warm tones this guitar is capable of . I started out on classical guitar at a young age and for me it's quite natural to switch from one to the other but for for one thing : i do not use the same pick for both types (steelstrings, also on my electric guitars) so in situations where I do play the nylonstring with a pick I choose a really smooth, thin and stiff one with a rounded tip. Just listen to Metheny's "Under the Missouri Sky" and you'll know what I'm after .... 🙂

[@GaZonk100]

'ambience', not 'ambiance'..

[@jimmymack6820]

Great playing. Too much talking tho. Not enough playing.

[@adamrafferty]

Dude I got a lot of performance vids where I don’t talk, maybe that’s a better fit for ya!

[@DougHinVA]

so he is making the faces as he plays and it is annoying... that is NOT how nylon string players play... at all.

[@adamrafferty]

So then buy my CD so you don't have to watch LOL :-) Thanks for the comment.

[@DougHinVA]

@@adamrafferty No; viewers do not want anything from a smart-ass even if he can play a guitar.