Acoustic Basses Volume, Tone and Wow!

[Spacewoman]

The guys I play with have a variety of acoustic guitars. NONE of their acoustics are nylon strings. The reason for this is most nylon string guitars are made like classical guitars . . .

I just did a bit of research and discovered that there are such things as ball-end nylon strings that can be fitted to a regular, non-classical acoustic guitar. Apparently they are favored by folk guitarists who want a mellower sound.
Perhaps they could be the solution.

 

[Nephilymbass]

I just did a bit of research and discovered that there are such things as ball-end nylon strings that can be fitted to a regular, non-classical acoustic guitar. Apparently they are favored by folk guitarists who want a mellower sound.
Perhaps they could be the solution.

Maybe but it's still a different feel. Lot of bass players don't like the rubbery feel of u bass strings. Some won't even play tapewounds or flatwounds. So sure it's a possibility but not very likely unless maybe the guitar was yours and you were providing it for such an occasion.

 

[Spacewoman]

. . . it's a possibility but not very likely unless maybe the guitar was yours and you were providing it for such an occasion.

That's what I'm thinking of. I occasionally like to jam with guests outside in my rooftop garden. Usually, I supply the (steel string) acoustic guitar, while someone has to help me lug a bass and amp upstairs and bring them down again later. I also like to practice on the roof, which also involves me lugging the amp. So I tend not to do it that often. (I mean, practice on the roof.)

Now I'm thinking, 'if a decent 2nd hand ABG comes up in my area, why not get one?' One of the factors influencing my decision would be whether I could use it for more than just individual practice outside.

I know everyone says that an unamplified ABG can't cut through against an acoustic. But I assume they're always talking about a steel string; otherwise, they would have mentioned nylon strings.

So I'm curious whether anyone has tried to use an unamplified ABG to jam with an acoustic (classical or otherwise) fitted with nylon strings.

If it doesn't make a tangible difference, I might as well stick with the current situation.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I just did a bit of research and discovered that there are such things as ball-end nylon strings that can be fitted to a regular, non-classical acoustic guitar. Apparently they are favored by folk guitarists who want a mellower sound.
Perhaps they could be the solution.

Nylon strings can't really drive the top of an acoustic guitar designed for steel strings very well. These ball-end nylon strings are really for those who can't/won't deal with tying the ends of the strings to the bridge on their nylon string guitars, for whatever reason.

The main reasons are different top thicknesses, and types of bracing patterns (which include the bridges, themselves) used for nylon, and steel string instruments.