The Steel Guitar Forum

I wouldn't have thought this would work but this gentleman has converted a classical guitar to electric steel and the sound is really beautiful, as is his touch and tone. His name is in Chinese so I regret I can't share it.

https://www.facebook.com/10001061323548 ... 1453263616

Not really an electric steel if it only works unplugged. Nice acoustic sound, though.

I have a couple of acoustic/electric classical guitars with under saddle pick ups, I'll be dusting one of them off and seeing how it goes playing slide plugged in. I'll post my thoughts here but it won't be happening for a few days. Very curious though. I suspect this guy has steel strings though.

I played around with my classic guitar with a steel until my LS arrived. It worked, even on the three nylon strings! Being acoustic you won't get no auditorium volume though. Since the nylon strings worked, I bet a steel on nylon strung ukulele would also. I wish I had a Uke to try it on though. That little tone bar has opened up a world of opportunities for me!

I guess if "steel" guitar refers to the bar you play it with, then the strings can be whatever you like. Steel fiddle, anyone?

The added trapeze tailpiece suggests steel strings, and I think I see a pick-up across the sound hole which would require metal core strings.

That said, the piece is well played which is all that counts!

\paul

Andy,

Forgive my being pedantic, but I think the name is actually Japanese. Japanese names are often 4 characters long, whereas Chinese are usually 3 (surname and two given names). Moreover, I don't recognise the first character as a Chinese surname.

Google Translate, one of my crutches with which I survive in a foreign land, also recognises the name as Japanese and delivers: Toshimitsu Shiina

The wonders of technology!

Thanks, Paul! It didn't work for me.

So I put an extended nut on my Godin Multiac electric nylon string guitar(pictured). I plugged it into a Fender Champion 20 amp and decided I don't like the sound. It's very brittle and the distinction between the wound strings and the nylon strings is too much in my opinion. I did record a short audio mp3 but I can't see any way to post it here. (Not that it's something anyone really wants to hear....) It's played with a regular Stevens type bar and bare fingers. I use fingerpicks normally but the sound was even worse with them.

I thought it was nicely played!
Joe Elk Central Ohio

Again...WHY?

Jeffery Mercer wrote:Again...WHY?

If human’s never did anything just to see what happens, we’d still be living in caves and eating raw meat. It doesn’t matter “why”. It’s different. It’s interesting. It’s enjoyable. Reasons enough for me.

I have played classical guitar for many years. I would never consider nylon strings on a steel guitar or definitely not on a resonator guitar. Why you ask? Nylon strings on an acoustic steel string guitar or a resonator guitar do not provide enough tension on the bridge to excite the resonator or if its an acoustic the top plate.

Tom Keller wrote:I have played classical guitar for many years. I would never consider nylon strings on a steel guitar or definitely not on a resonator guitar. Why you ask? Nylon strings on an acoustic steel string guitar or a resonator guitar do not provide enough tension on the bridge to excite the resonator or if its an acoustic the top plate.

My sentiments EXACTLY...

He confirms in the comments that he is using 'iron' strings on it - not nylon.

Well then, the premise of the original post is moot!