Electric Strings on Acoustic Guitar????

[bp_jim]

Hey, I'm in Iraq and I have an acoustic here with me, but I want to start learning more riffs and stuff. Can I put electric guitar strings on an acoustic and if so how do I adjust the neck and what are the downsides? Thanks.

[Lordathestrings]

Without a magnetic pickup, there is no point in changing to electric guitar strings, except that lighter gauge strings would be easier to play.

If you can order strings in from stateside, I suggest {Warning: 3 MB catalog PDF file} >D'Addario (http://www.daddario.com/DAddarioFrettedCatalog.pdf)< EJ10 (0.010" - 0.047") or EZ890 (0.009" - 0.045"). Such light strings will not sound as full and rich as heavier strings, but these bronze-wound strings will sound better on an acoustic guitar than nickel electric strings.

Lighter strings will not apply as much tension on the neck, so the truss rod will need to be loosened a bit. A small adjustment goes a long way, so go easy.

[Dr_simon]

Their is also the possibility that if you put electric strings on a guitar built for nylon strings you will pull the bridge off !

If the guitar is built for metal strings their should be no problem !

[Lordathestrings]

Their is also the possibility that if you put electric strings on a guitar built for nylon strings you will pull the bridge off !...
:eek: Good call. I hadn't thought of nylon-strung guitars!

[bp_jim]

Thanks gents,
I'll give it a try

[Krunek]

Their is also the possibility that if you put electric strings on a guitar built for nylon strings you will pull the bridge off !

If the guitar is built for metal strings their should be no problem !

Possibly, but hard. I had three classical guitars on which I have put metal strings, and no problem with it. But you have to use strings for electric and really light gauge. 0,9 tops, if you can get lighter, better. Won"t do much for the sound, though. And the guy at the music store adviced me, when puting a guitar away, if not in case, put her backwards and lean it up against something. So the strings are facing the wall or whatever it is you are leaning it to. Helps avoiding neck warpin, since classical guitars don"t have truss rods or anything and metal string do pull it in more than nylon does.

[Dr_simon]

I have seen people destroy nylon string classical guitars doing this.

Unlike steel string acoustic guitars the bridge on most nylon string guitar's is only held on with glue. If you put steel acoustic guitar strings on this, well... first the back of the bridge raises and this get progressively worse over time.

Not only does this screw up the tuning and intonation it also leads to the guitar needing the bridge re-glewing or in some cases throwing away.

Im not taking the piss or anything but Id be really interested to hear a sound clip of the nylon string guitars strung up with 9s. If you could post one here, that would be great.

[Krunek]

I have seen people destroy nylon string classical guitars doing this.

Unlike steel string acoustic guitars the bridge on most nylon string guitar's is only held on with glue. If you put steel acoustic guitar strings on this, well... first the back of the bridge raises and this get progressively worse over time.

Not only does this screw up the tuning and intonation it also leads to the guitar needing the bridge re-glewing or in some cases throwing away.

Im not taking the piss or anything but Id be really interested to hear a sound clip of the nylon string guitars strung up with 9s. If you could post one here, that would be great.

Hmmmm... I think I can"t, cause I am not in full access group... Can"t post attachments. But, if you really wanna hear it, try it. If you got a classical at home, some no name that you use for barbeques and stuff (know what I mean :D ;) ) take the nylon off and put 0,9 gauge on. It isn"t that much of a hasle. Like I saed, won"t do much for the sound. The nylon is better, but metal is a bit more loud. And you need loud on barbeques and stuff... ;)