The Difference Between Steel String and Nylon String Acoustic Guitars

Steel String Guitar

You can usually tell the difference between Steel & Nylon string guitars by the way the strings are attached. Steel strings are usually held in the bridge with bridge pins whereas Nylon strings are tied to the bridge. Steel strings exert a great deal of force on an acoustic guitar neck & body whereas Nylon strings exert much less. You should never put Steel strings on a guitar designed for Nylon strings. The results would be desasterous.

Nylon String Guitar

Above is only a general comparison. There are some small parlor guitars around that have bridge pins but are designed for nylon strings. If you're in doubt, take the guitar to a luthier or someone who can properly identify what it needs.

Instructions from Tim Lawson on how to tie Nylon strings to the bridge.

The method that many factories use is the single loop over the top of the bridge where the decorative inlay is sometimes and tuck under where the string enters the bridge. We use the method that wraps the string about 3 times over the top of the bridge and tuck the end by the rear where the strings enters back of the bridge. It kind of looks like a rope or braid across the top of the bridge. http://www.timsguitar.com

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