Upscale Nylon String Guitars: Getting The Classical Tone in a Modern Instrument

Tons of players have longed for the sweet, warm tone of a classical guitar while preserving the modern comfortable features of their favorite steel stringed instruments. Take a look at two great options-- one from Taylor, one from Furch; both comfortable, both elegant, and both with the beautiful nylon tone.
0:00 Intro/Specs
11:54 Demos
15:50 Final Thoughts
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[@PeteA54]

Wonderful playing Chris! The Furch sounds beautiful to my ears..

[@lorigilmore5521]

Wow. With the first not on the Furch I got tears in my eyes. Wonderful. Wow.

[@robertandersen8071]

Very informative. Love your reviews. You two are extremely knowledgeable and your love of guitars shows through.

[@anthonyb2334]

As someone looking to add a nylon string hybrid, the Furch would be my choice. I enjoy the sound of cedar. Great video.

[@cmakely60]

Always enjoy watching you guys. Chris, IMO your soft touch lends itself more to a nylon string guitar like the Furch. Sounds great !

[@dalecoffing8655]

Beautiful Chris! I had a nylon string many years ago. It got stolen in a move. I loved the 2" fretboard. (I have large hands. So much so I couldn't play a Ric 360/12. Bought a 660/12, great guitar). You are so right about inspiration from something different. I've been playing mandolin for about 2 years now. Played guitar for 60+ years. Maybe it's time to go shopping for a nylon too Can't have too many guitars. Cooper....loved your metaphor about ice cream. Excellent!

[@awkipintee]

Great review! Nylon definitely sends you down a different path not only for what you can do but also for the things you can’t. I like the food analogy so far. Cheers

[@gregalderson128]

Great video guys!

[@TommySG1]

When I was very young my pop got me a nylon stringed guitar and a very cheap one I might add. I remembered hating the thing lol, now in my mid 50’s I’m considering buying one again just a far nicer one obviously, great demo guys and I love your feeds 🤙

[@claudiamauro5624]

Great comparison. As my hands get more arthritisy been looking for some low tension alternatives, but the string spacing/nut widths on most classical are a no-go. Had a Stonebridge a while ago (before they became Furch). It was a GREAT guitar. Should have never let it get away. Thank you for your videos

[@gathda]

I just got a Cordoba Stage and it leans more towards an electric guitar in terms of feel (48mm nut width and 16" fretboard radius). It's a very nice guitar, but it isn't in the same league as the upscale ones reviewed here.

[@davidcorsi4665]

Agree the Furch had the more nylon string / classical sound. Both sounded great

[@CameraLaw]

Every morning, I play a classical guitar. It’s my gym and a joy. Getting nuances out of the nylon takes a lot of work, concentration, and sensitivity. When I transition to steel, notes ring out much easier, but now I’ve brought some added control and precision. I highly recommend giving “nylon” strings (not all are nylon) a try, and there are an infinite variety of strings that each play differently, so there is fertile ground for experimentation. Steel players might want to try fluorocarbon trebles (I like Savarez) as they are a bit brighter and thinner. For the old fashioned classical tone, Augustine is a fine brand.

[@krishnaalmeda3125]

Is yamaha c40 good as they say? I played acoustic steel and electric, knows a lil scales but wanna go into classical

[@CameraLaw]

Some of the finest classical guitars are made in Japan. There a loads of great lightly used guitars out there. Yamaha is always a great brand, as is Alvarez-Yairi. But some of the best values are from lesser known (in the West) luthiers and were made in the 1970s, the golden age of Japanese classicals.

[@CameraLaw]

An extra thought for a new classical player would be to look at guitars marked as flamenco. Those have lower string heights, often with a clear pick guard, and with light or medium tension strings are easier to play and sound wonderful. The $399 Yamaha CG172SF won a KZbin blindfold test against a $9000 guitar.

[@norcalranger]

Beautiful playing and sound! Surprised by how different the guitars sounded. Both beautiful though.

[@scribnick]

Awesome review! Really love the Furch. How loud is it when you're not mic'd up?

[@charlottesimonin2551]

Think i prefer the Furch but both sound better to me than some similar priced nylon string guitars. They compete well some classical guitars for tone.

[@fotowissen]

Wonderful video, Tx so much! What is that disturbing sound in the recording of the whole video, please?

[@epicnoodles3633]

I have no doubt that these nylon string guitars can play classical piece really nice too. They are closer to classical guitars than steel string acoustic guitars. The Taylor sounds a little brighter due to being 14 fret and Sitka top but the notes ring out with more separation and projection. The Furch sounds mellow and warm, really close to its classical counterparts.

[@gclaytony]

Cool guitars. Maybe my ears or KZbin, but I would have liked to a play with a regular 814CE to contrast the nylon vs. steel tone. I've been hibernating from my guitar for over two years now because of an injury to my index fret finger. I feel like I"m starting over from the very beginning, trying to get back in the habit of playing.

[@mortonwilson795]

In the late 70s I worked as a guitar salesman in Wellington, NZ. We had lots of terrific instruments coming thru and at that time I was blown away by Jose Ramirez classical & flamenco guitars. In 1980 I bought a K. Yairi Classic, which is still 'the one' for me . . . in front of a mic it projects like a Steinway. I keep an eye on what's coming thru the 2 main retailers in HK and TBH I'm not that impressed. My advice to any prospective buyer for a classic nylon string is to bring along someone who knows what's what . . .

[@scouser2230]

Chris and Cooper, I enjoyed your presentation and Chris’s playing, however you did not mention the nut width of the two guitars. To me this is an important consideration in selecting a guitar, so could you please add this information in the comments section.

[@buljak5]

Very lovely piece that you played. Compliments! Can you tell what that is?

[@Materva-hv6sz]

The reason I like crossovers is because I only enjoy playing nylon, but I have small hands. The 48mm radiused necks are very comfortable

[@sonoma_s]

I have the Furch GNC4-Cr and love. Great guitar with nice neck and tone.

[@ben2808]

Jesus Christ loves you

[@cwsgershwin]

Great demo guys. As always. Quick question for you. How would you compare the thickness of the necks and the height of the frets between these two fine guitars? I have played the Taylor 814cen, and the neck was not quite chunky enough (for me). I have a 712ce 12 fret I really like, so go figure ha. Thanks! I like the higher frets as on the Godin nylons...

[@dalelangehennig161]

Cedar sprinted across the finish line. Much more full. Love the traditional 814CE, but not sure it checks the boxes for me on nylon.

[@audreygiamlayhoon]

Could you review the Yamaha Crossover NTX guitars 🙏🏻

[@jaybrodnax]

Great video! But Is that a humidifier sound in the background? It really bothered me for some reason...maybe pause it for sound demos lol

[@ryanbloom1738]

Good day eating fried chicken and cheese enchiladas while watching. Fat guy loves your videos❤. Sam Beam iron and wine has been using a Taylor nylon in a burst lately.

[@stevenkirkpatrick7258]

Should have included the Martin 00016c nylon in this comparison. I have one and I love it. It’s a real cannon.

[@timsmith8489]

You mention why putting nylon strings on a guitar designed for steel is bad...but I recently had occasion to wonder about going the other way. I was in the middle of changing my classical guitar strings when I noticed my new set of D'Addario EJ45 strings had an extra B string instead of the high E. I happened to also have a set of D'Addario EXL110W electric guitar strings and wondered if I could use the high E string from that on my classical guitar until I could get an EJ45 high E. The EJ45 high E has 16.23 lbs tension, and the EXL110W high E has 16.22 lbs, so it wouldn't be putting any extra tension on the guitar. The EJ45 high E is 0.028 in diameter and the EXL110W high E is 0.010 in, so it would fit. So...would it work and not damage the guitar? And I wonder what it would sound like. BTW it is similar for the A strings. The electric is slightly lower tension and about the same diameter. For the other 4 strings the electric is 3 or 4 lbs more tension per string so would almost certainly be a bad idea on a classical.

[@joelhamilton6720]

Yes

[@hansoto120]

food analogy is next level stuff

[@texhaines9957]

Maybe my 1st Furch?

[@GustavoSanchez64]

If you want a nylon string but in a steel style body get any Ortega hybrid.

[@musicmotorskate7540]

I think I prefer the sound of the Cordoba Fusion 12 guitars.

[@TommySG1]

The 12 fret sounded a bit nicer to me as well.

[@kevinmaillet4712]

Please do a comparison of high end classical (not crossover) guitars ❤

[@kh485]

What’s that scraping sound?

[@dougbeale4847]

Food discriptions are totally valid!! haha

[@sprugian]

The Furch sound way warmer and deeper in my opinion....both beautiful guitars though

[@asylumfrog5003]

I personally feel that the comparison is a bit flawed the Taylor guitar should have been compared against the Furch Master's Choice Yellow Grand Auditorium Cedar/Rosewood as they both have 14 frets and the price are similar, in this comparison the Taylor guitar is almost double the price of the Furch

[@johanbraanen2108]

They talk a lot about how putting nylon strings on a steel acustic is not a good idea, but my gf is a beginner, and the steel strings hurt. I took the ball ends from steel strings, and put them on the nylon strings, and it works really well imho. At least for a beginner who is learning.

[@waynejones6215]

How about Jerry reed

[@steby123]

At our store we have seen 2 or three cases where a customer has been able to get nylon strings on older lower end models of Yamaha dreadnaught guitars with no buzzng but flacid tone .

[@dinkaboutit4228]

Never neglect the Yamaha when your looking at nylon! There will be one in whatever price range your looking for, and it will be a contender.

[@BernardConlon]

Willy Nelson and trigger.

[@jeffsimslmt]

Yeah.., what’s up with that?

[@dividedbytimestudios]

I’m calling it now, Furch is Bob Taylor in disguise ever since he gave Taylor to Andy

[@iexpressonthis]

Price can not be justified.

[@chickenlickin3820]

a bloody awful noise in the background on your playing examples?

[@ska4dragons]

It plays through the whole video.

[@willistaylor4077]

The German one. ❤️❤️🎵🎵

[@bobdelair02]

Czech 😜

[@macfawlty]

Furch is definitely more of the classic nylon classical sound. The Taylor sounds too much like a steel string. Needs a cedar top.

[@ben2808]

Jesus Christ loves you bro

[@anthonyb2334]

I agree with you. Cedar definitely makes a difference. The Taylor sounds like a softened steel string.

[@macfawlty]

@@anthonyb2334 yeh, I love Taylors, have 5 of them. But, their nylon string guitars are not oriented to a classical player.

[@acousticsong-guitarco964]

You’re right, the Taylor sounds just like a steel string guitar. Cordoba uses Sitka for their nylon string flamenco guitars and they sound and play great. (Cordoba GK Pro negra for example)

[@JamesW225]

21 guitars and none of them made me a better player ! Imagine that would ya?

[@tmo7734]

I prefer Cordoba guitars. All of the nylon models are equipped with truss rods. In my opinion, a huge advantage. As a separate note, why would anyone put a pick-guard on a classical guitar? It will only have a detrimental affect on the soundboard…

[@jeffsimslmt]

What? No mention of Willie Nelson ‘s Martin? Come on!

[@nedludd3641]

Hold up lads .... no Yamaha?

[@jaroslavmencl9543]

Hi guys, thank you for a fantastic review! Here is the correct pronounciation kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5WUoKBund54oKs (at time 0:30). I don't know how to transcripbe, maybe Foorkh? Greeting from Furch homeland.

[@gregalderson128]

I was told it is pronounced Furk.

[@robertwallace8533]

Why can companies like Cordoba and Ibanez make great Naylor string electric guitars for a steel string player for way less cost?

[@festushaggen2563]

The Furch sounded better than the Taylor but a traditional classic guitar sounds better than both.

[@kayt9576]

Taylor on sounds terribly tinny. Would never that.

[@stevenslick6839]

Wish you hadn’t plugged in-it colors the tone too much.

[@bobhoof1362]

I think you should have asked a classical guitarist demonstrate the guitars for you. No they would not attack you.

[@dmar3651]

First!

[@johnwashburn3793]

Okay, but you will need to explain it to my wife...

[@axplayer6918]

nice guitars guys but, want something better.

[@jasonmudgarde286]

Wish all these demos focused on playing rather than talking, puts me right off.

[@caniwim12]

output jack....just saying