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I built a guitar for my 7 year old grand daughter based on the Antonio Torres SE 117. It is small and has a scale of only 604 mm. So far I've been unsuccessful at finding strings that work well on it. Based on a friend's suggestion I tried a very high tension set of Savarez classical strings, but they feel sort of like rubber bands and buzz a lot when tuned to pitch.

Anyone have an idea/experience?

Thanks,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

You can buy Nylon (or Nylgut) strings individually, virtually any gauge you want. You just decide what string tension you want to play at, probably a bit less than normal or standard Classical guitar tension. 6 Kg is a good starting point.
Then you need to input the parameters into a string calculator. You need the string length, pitch (don't forget to put them into the correct octave), string type/material. 415 or 440 Hz.

http://www.cs.helsinki.fi/u/wikla/mus/NewScalc/

Easy to calculate the required diameters. Once done you can buy them individually or check them against a ready made set.
So your high 'E' will be near .68 mm Nylon, 440 Hz, 605 mm string length playing at 6 Kg in the octave c' b'.
If you want to play at 7 Kg. the diameter shoots up to 0.72 mm's.

The Early romantic Guitar webpage gives a guide to strings on short scales:

http://www.earlyromanticguitar.com/erg/strings.htm

NB. There isn't one single 'correct' tension. This is largely governed by the individual player. For a young child I'd be tempted to go with the lower tension.

Why not use regular or light tension strings and tune them up a couple of steps?

Nylons or fluorocarbons? Savarez KF are "carbons", Savarez Cristals are nylon. Fluorocarbon is getting on for twice the density of nylon so generally runs at both smaller diameter and higher tension than nylon. Savarez makes single strings (available from Strings by Mail) in a wide variety of gauges. So you should be able to find something that works. Don't expect to run any plastic string at steel string actions, though. (If all else fails, there's always the plastic coated braided steel strings). Good luck!

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

Hi Trevor,

I used a set of the Savarez 540 CJ, which incorporates their New Crystal Classic trebles and HT Classic basses. I have them set up for a little lower than classical action.

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Thanks for the input, Michael. I had hoped to get a nice ready-made answer, as I know there are members here that have made short scale nylon string guitars. So, I will do the math if I must. Thanks again for the information.

Best wishes,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

The top string of those savarez is 0.75 mm in Nylon, giving a very high 9 Kg of string tension on a 'standard' classical. Interestingly the other unwound strings they put at 6.5 Kg tension. The high 'E' is normally set a little higher than the G and B but that's quite a discrepancy.
At 605 mm scale the same Savarez high 'E' string will be at some 7.5 Kg tension, more than sufficient.
The Savarez low 'E' will be at 6.3 Kg (instead of 7.3 Kg).
These lower tensions are quite normal for short scale Romantic guitars, which essentially what the small Torres is. In fact they are a touch higher in tension than some.
It's just the 'G' and the 'B' string that are a little low (thin) but even they should be 'playable' at 605 mm's. They aren't ideal though.
The thick Nylon strings (especially the unwound G) can sound a bit 'thick and tubby' - which is why a Nylgut or a Carbon string might be a little more suited. Nylon will still work though.
Increase the action. Perhaps you aren't accustomed to playing such low tension strings. You should try a Lute, they really are like elastic bands - 3 to 3.5 Kg as opposed to some 6 Kg of a Romantic Guitar.

Hi Max, Here is a link to a set of requinto strings (575mm scale) that should be applicable.
https://www.stringsbymail.com/hannabach ... -3002.html

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Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks, I'll give them a try. Let's get together sometime soon.

Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

They are even worse! The Requinto does not have the normal 'E' tuning. Although you can tune to a different pitch (higher) should you want. Just note that doing so with your current high 'E' will increase the string tension.
That's why I gave the link to the string calculator. Everyone should learn the relationship between scale, pitch, string material and playing tension. It's very easy to play around with that calculator, no maths involved.
Your Savarez should work, with the proviso that the B and G strings are a little floppy. Better at 0.88 and 1.12 mm's respectively.

Requintos are tuned: A2-D3-G3-C4-E4-A4 (one fourth higher than the standard classical guitar). Using requinto strings and std guitar tuning will result in less tension.

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Peter

I know but putting those Requinto strings on a 605 mm scale and using standard tuning will result in even lower tension than what he is complaining about eg. the high 'E' will be at 5 Kg. Now that is getting low. If he tunes up to G the Requinto strings will be at 7 Kg, up to A and it will be close to 9 Kg.
An average of 6 Kg for each string will work, with the high 'E' at 6.5 Kg.
This isn't difficult. All the information is on the two links that i gave in my first post.

Chris Henriksen, at Boston Catlines, provides strings for all sorts of things, and has the expertise to help you design a set that should work.

Thanks to all for your input.

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan