Hard tension strings

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rombsix

Posts: 7831
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

Hard tension strings

Hola,

I got a set of hard tension nylon D'addario Pro Arte strings that I want to try out (I've been using normal tensions for the past 8 years). I was wondering if they could be used safely on either my Hohner HC-06 or my Ramirez R1 without fears of damaging the instruments or something of the sort.

Is there a way of knowing whether certain guitars can handle hard tension strings or not? Or do ALL classical / flamenco guitars have no trouble doing so?

I know that using steel strings on a classical guitar will cause damage... Was just wondering if hard tension nylon strings could do the same thing...

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2010 23:11:59

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to rombsix)

I have used daddario EJ46 on all my guitars and no problems.
If a guitar should get destroyed by hard tension strings, then i guess something was wrong with the guitars construction. They must be able to handle it.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2010 23:26:52

rombsix

Posts: 7831
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to Arash)

Whoops! Actually, I just looked, and turns out I got the EJ44 EXTRA Hard Tension set. Silverplated Wound, Clear Nylon.

EXTRA Hard? Does that make it unsafe?

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 9 2010 23:54:16

Elie

Posts: 1837
Joined: Apr. 10 2010

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to rombsix)

hey buddy ,
I used before hard tension and extra hard tension strings (La Bella Strings and D'addario Nylon) on my guitars and I never faced any problems or found damage caused by them .
so I think they are safe .

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 4:26:29

Andy Culpepper

Posts: 3025
Joined: Mar. 30 2009
From: NY, USA

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to rombsix)

I think it's only an extra 4 or 5 pounds on the whole guitar (out of about 95). Any good factory guitar should withstand that admirably

Any guitar should really but if you have a really thin top it might slightly accelerate the normal deformation of a top over many years. Don't worry about it.

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Andy Culpepper, luthier
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 4:41:17

rombsix

Posts: 7831
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to Andy Culpepper)

Thanks mates!

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 4:54:54

Ricardo

Posts: 14897
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to rombsix)

OH no take em off they will snap your guitar in half!!!

JK

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 6:06:43

rombsix

Posts: 7831
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

OH no take em off they will snap your guitar in half!!!

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 6:30:21

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to rombsix)

I've used hard tension on all of my guitars before with no problems.

My preference is for medium-hard (normal tension trebles and hard tension for basses) but that can give the basses a bit too much power on some guitars. The trebles can get a little drowned out. On two of my guitars, the combination works perfectly. On the third ... I'll be switching either to all hard-tension or all normal-tension.

Extra-hard should still be okay but you may see a more visible "pull" on the top. You can go to the D'Addario website and check the tension levels for those strings. I use extra-hard basses on one guitar but it uses alternate tunings; so the tension is lowered.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 6:36:50

sean65

Posts: 414
Joined: Jan. 4 2010
From: London

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to rombsix)

As far as I understand it, when guitars were first designed you could only get hard tension strings. Lighter strings are a relatively new thing. So most guitars will take any string but may need adjusting.(?)

So,..as a nylon string guitar can't be adjusted...?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 6:59:09

rombsix

Posts: 7831
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to GuitarVlog)

quote:

You can go to the D'Addario website and check the tension levels for those strings.

And then what?

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 7:43:40

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to rombsix)

According to D'Addario's site:

Total normal tension = 83.6lbs
Total hard tension = 86.9lbs
Total extra-hard tension = 89.7lbs

I'm not a luthier but I think I'd begin to worry at 89.7lbs of total stress unless I knew that the guitar was built to take it or unless the strings were slacked. Kenny Hill tests some of his guitars with hard tension but not with extra-hard.

The Hohner may be okay. I'm not sure about the Ramirez. Maybe you can send an email to them? I've gotten email responses from the Prudencio Saez, Alhambra and Burguet factories.

You may also not like the feel of extra-hard tension.

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Upgraded Yamaha CG171SF
The Guitar Student Journal

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 8:02:00

rombsix

Posts: 7831
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
From: Beirut, Lebanon

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to GuitarVlog)

quote:

The Hohner may be okay. I'm not sure about the Ramirez. Maybe you can send an email to them?

Why do you say that the Hohner might be alright but not the Ramirez?

Do they have information about specific guitars (or brands of guitars) and know how much tension they can withstand?

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Ramzi

http://www.youtube.com/rombsix

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 9:22:01

GuitarVlog

Posts: 441
Joined: Mar. 19 2009
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: Hard tension strings (in reply to rombsix)

I'm speculating on the Hohner. The Hohner's I've played tend to be a little overbuilt like the Yamahas. With hard-tension on my Kenny Hill classical, I can see the pull on the bridge and the bracing because of the thin soundboard. With hard-tension on my Yamaha CG171SF, there's barely a noticeable extra bulge of the soundboard.

I haven't had much experience with Ramirez so I don't know how extra-hard strings will affect it. I also don't know if yours might have a scale greater than 650mm.

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Upgraded Yamaha CG171SF
The Guitar Student Journal

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 10 2010 9:49:35