Classical and Nylon Stringed Guitars

Nylon-stringed guitars have always been poor cousins to the steel-stringed instruments favored by contemporary musicians, but classical and Flamenco guitars produce some of the most beautiful sounds to emanate from an acoustic instrument.

Historically, Spain has been a center for classical guitar makers, as has Italy. In the United States, some of the biggest guitar makers began by making nylon-stringed instruments. Gibson started with nylon, as did Martin.

In particular, Martin has been enormously influential. In the 1950s, its OO-18G, with a spruce body, mahogany back, and rosewood fingerboard, set the standard, and collectors covet such gorgeous examples today. ...

But Martin’s most famous nylon-string guitar is arguably one of the worst looking instruments on the planet. It’s a Martin N-20, which was purchased in 1969 by Willie Nelson. Nelson plays with a pick, even though the N-20 was designed to be played by finger-style player, hence the lack of a pick guard. Nelson calls his beloved Martin Trigger, and he’s rode his axe hard, so much so that he’s carved a deep, ever-widening hole in the front of the guitar between the bridge and the sound hole.

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Recent News: Classical Guitars

Source: Google News

Classical Guitar Weekend set for 13th annual festival at Cleveland Institute ...
Plain Dealer (blog), May 14th

Guitarist Jason Vieaux, head of the guitar department at the Cleveland Institute of Music, will open the 13th annual Classical Guitar Weekend at the institute Thursday, May 23. Jason Boyle and Robin Holland. For three days next week, Cleveland will be...Read more

Classical guitar magic at Square Chapel
Huddersfield Examiner, May 3rd

Hardly surprising then that classical guitarist Jonathan Prag has been delighting audiences at the Edinburgh Fringe for 20 years. Now there's a chance to hear him much closer to home as this much applauded musician plays at the Square Chapel in Halifax...Read more

Genre-Defying Classical Guitarist Jason Vieaux, In The Studio
WNYC, May 2nd

But Vieaux also strives to expand the definition of the classical guitar repertoire. In 2005, he released Images Of Metheny, a recording that featured arrangements of compositions from celebrated jazz guitarist, Pat Metheny. And his latest album, 2011...Read more

REDLANDS: Classical guitar concert set for Edwards Mansion
Press-Enterprise, April 30th

Weston, a classical guitarist, performs Spanish Impressionist showpieces by Francisco Tarrega, who lived from 1852 to 1909 and was considered the patriarch of modern-era classical guitar. Weston also performs works by Tarrega's contemporaries, Enrique...Read more

Locally produced classical guitar show to air on Radio Arts Foundation
STLtoday.com, April 29th

The first of a number of promised locally produced programs will air on the Radio Arts Foundation beginning Monday, May 6. "Inside Classical Guitar" will be heard 7 to 8 p.m. Mondays, and is to air weekly. The host is St. Louis Classical Guitar Society...Read more

Free Classical Guitar Concert Today
hays Post, April 28th

Peter Fletcher will be on the First Floor of the Hays Public Library in the Schmidt Gallery to perform classical guitar today at 2 p.m. It's a free concert. Peter Fletcher. Fletcher has received nation-wide coverage for his classical work, on both...Read more

Emmaus Student Prevails at Classical Guitar Competition
Patch.com, April 26th

Peter Zarrillo, 16, of Emmaus took first place in the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition, high school division, which was held April 14 at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia. The competition is sponsored by the Philadelphia Classical...Read more

Students perform classical guitar recital
The Eastern Progress Online (subscription), April 18th

Hunter Wingate performed his junior classical guitar recital April 10 at the Pearl-Buchannan Theater in the Keen Johnson building. Wingate's performance included six classical pieces ranging from the years 1526 to 1935 including “Fantasia X” by Luis de...Read more