Proper Guitar strings for acoustic?

[Troy Stotts]

I acquired an Alvarez RF19S 12 fret at the body flat top acoustic guitar with a slotted head. I believe it is meant for steel strings but most guitars I have seen with slotted head has nylon strings. Any input on what I should use would be greatly appreciated.

[Barry Daniels]

I think that is a classical guitar and thus should use nylon strings.

[Bob Gramann]

This description of it shows steel strings. http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/RF19S.htm

[Troy Stotts]

Thank you.

[Barry Daniels]

One way to tell the difference is a steel string slot head normally has metal shafts on the tuner posts whereas a classical has plastic posts.

[Peter Wilcox]

My simplistic way of looking at it: classical bridge = nylon strings. Pinned bridge = steel strings.

[Troy Stotts]

That really clarifies it for me. Thanks

[Troy Stotts]

Mine has both pins and steel tuner shafts so no question. I really appreciate your responses

[Alan Carruth]

Peter Wilcox wrote:
"classical bridge = nylon strings. Pinned bridge = steel strings."

That's probably OK for modern stuff, but, like all simple rules, it breaks down in some cases.

Some years ago when I was doing repairs a fellow called up about a guitar he'd found in his grandmother's attic. It had a pin bridge, but when he strung it up the bridge had chipped, and he wondered if we could fix it. His description was a little confusing, but when he brought it by we understood.

What he had was an 1844 Panormo, with BRW sides and BRW veneer on the back over pine, which was painted inside to look like wood. The ebony bridge had no saddle per se; the pins were in a sort of trough down the middle, and the ridge in the front was the saddle. He'd put on a set of steel mediums, but fortunately one of the bass strings shifted and the winding pulled off a piece of the ebony. If he'd got it up to tension the strings would have pulled off the whole top! Once we got it fixed up and put on the right strings it was a sweet little guitar.

Martin only started to offer steel strings as a factory option around 1922: anything made before then was designed for gut, even though it had a pin bridge. The tie bridge that we're used to on Classical guitars is a Spanish feature, and most European and American makers used pin bridges until the Torres pattern really caught on. Again, that's a simplification too, but less of one.

[Peter Wilcox]

Peter Wilcox wrote:
"classical bridge = nylon strings. Pinned bridge = steel strings."

That's probably OK for modern stuff, but, like all simple rules, it breaks down in some cases.

That's exactly why I used the word "simplistic" - def: treating complex issues and problems as if they were much simpler than they really are.

[Alan Carruth]

"That's exactly why I used the word "simplistic""

I know. It's just that my experience suggests that not everybody does, and I wanted to see that all the basses were covered so that we don't loose any fine old guitars to the simple model.