HFT 445 Acoustic. Any owners tried using nylon strings?

[wootiegirl]

Are there nylon strings that won't be too wide  or in any way warp this guitar? 

It has been in the family since it was born, but virtually unplayed. 

New martin string rip my girlie fingers to shreds, but the narrow neck makes me wonder if

nylon strings would work at all.

 

Anyone??

[GuitArtMan]

Nylon strings won't damage the guitar, but they won't sound that great either.  Nylon strings exert way less pull on a guitar than steel strings do, about 80lbs for nylon vs. around 190 lbs for medium gauge steel strings (if my memory serves me right).  They just wont have enough oomph to get the top moving as a steel string guitar is built heavier to with stand the greater pull.  What you can try if you need a lighter feel is Silk and Steel strings. 

[specs]

My Taylor acoustic came with medium gauge Elixers. I put Elixer Custom Lights on it and it made it much easier to play. You may want to try this.  Also, adjusting the action can make alot of improvement for playing ease.

 

Also, show us a pic of the HFT 445.

[Dick Seacup]

On my acoustics (well, acoustic-electrics, Ovation and Adamas), I found when I started playing them that I had to drop down a gauge or two on the strings until my callouses really thickened up.  Then I gradually moved back up to 13s.  Electrics, at least the ones I've owned, all seem to have a lot less string tension on them than acoustics.

 

I'd give the lighter strings a go, and maybe try the coated ones (although I really do not like coated strings...the reason they last so long is they're dead right out of the box, IM!HO).

 

And yes....

 

:uwp:

[chico]

Your fingers hurt?  Why, you are just not playing enough! 

 

15-20 min/5 or 6 times a week = callouses in no time.   

 

Ray P.

madison, wi.

445 owner (among others) 

[Gitfiddler]

Welcome, Wootie Girl!

 

Try some light gauge acoustic Elixir strings on your 445...and play a little each day as suggested.  Soon you'll be writing threads here asking about putting heavier strings on your gits.