A good no nails guitar?

[Quinbus]

I like to play without nails...ala Sor, etc. I simply like the feel of flesh much better.

Anyway, at the last guitar workshop I was at I was reminded that playing without nails would be just fine IF they still made the same type of guitars that persisted in Sor's day. I'm told that with the modern guitar, nails are a necessity.

Bah.

Where can I find, or what do I look for in, a guitar that is better suited to us flesh lovers.

TIA

[deAlmeida]

preface: I started playing guitar about 10 years ago and I refused to play with a pick. I played with the flesh of my fingers, and was also playing electric guitar and styles suited to the electric guitar - blues/rock, etc. (and had never picked up a classical or flamenco guitar) I always played strictly with the flesh and never with a pick before I started to learn flamenco

I know this is not what you are looking for, but just in case you could possibly consider playing with the nails, they produce so much better tone (albeit in my opinion) but also you will not be able to reach the same speed possible with nails. in the same way, it will be harder to play things up to speed with fingers than with nails. in order to get an acceptably loud tone from the guitar with the flesh, your fingers really need to snag on those strings, and that is a big hindrance.

on another note, as a result of me playing with my nails now and becoming much more accustomed to the flamenco and classical guitar, I really have a very very hard time playing my electrics now. :(

Quinbus, what is your experience level with the guitar?

[Quinbus]

Thanks for the feed back.

I've been teaching myself classical guitar using Noads books for the last year or so......

[Pepe Vergara]

One word comes to mind when I read about playing without nails (specially if using high tension nylon strings, and not th softer gut strings): Masoquism (sp?). With the use of nylon strings, tops of classicals have to be reinforced in certain way because the tension exerted over the top is higher.

[cdikland]

Masoquism (sp?).
Did you mean Masochism?

BTW: Pepe.. Are you moving? Where is Almunecar?

[sorin popovici]

I'm offtopic .....but I like the sound of that "We the flesh lovers" :lol:


as for playing without nails: I have a friend who has weak nails ,and he also
played for 10 years with a pick ...and because of the nails ....and mclaughlin's duet with katia labeque (he thought classical is impossible with a pick)...he went back to the pick(he tried for a year or so to play fingerstyle with nails) .. but I can assure u he's like aldimeola fast (believe me , I think I know what I'm saying ...he is fast).

The problem is this ....u need strong nails in order to be good ...he could've played with his nails ....but when u have so much speed and so strong atack like his, is very frustrating if your nails exfoliate every couple of days .

It is true ...that he never heard of products to enhance the strength u have in nails ,therefore he never used such things ..but my advice to you is decide what u want : classical ,flamenco ,jazz,rock and if u want classical or flamenco (jazz I think has no requirements in technique)....grow strong nails or use a combo like Todd (anyway , u will need nails also).
I watch Herrero doing alzapua ....and I think he's like a machine ...u have to have strong nails to do alzapua like him (at least that's what I think now).

Try again with nails ....I say ,it shouldnt be so hard ...u have access to many products for nails now and u can get advice probably very easy .
Maybe u dont like to wear long nails, but hey ....u'll have to do...many things that u think u wont like ...before playing good(I dont know that for sure :D )

[Pepe Vergara]

Pepe.. Are you moving? Where is Almunecar?

I recently purchased a retirement property in Almunecar, couple hours from Granada, south of Spain. They have an annual guitar festival, the Andres Segovia Guitar Festival. Not sure about when moving though. In the meantime, I am renting it to German turists. Beautiful small town. You may want to visit it.

[Pepe Vergara]

Adrian: Sorry about the triple posting. I do not know how it happened. Can you delete two of them please?

Also: Does GSI sell a plastic film that is used as fingernail protector (like a tap plate) but that is not glued to the top, but attached by electrostatic energy? It is not for flamenco tapping, it is just for scratch protection.

[adrian]

Yes Pepe,

It's called the "Kling-On" and it's used to protect the top of the guitar. There is now a new product from the good folks at Kling-On called the Kling-On Stabilizer. It helps keep the guitar stationary on your lap.

:arrow: Kling-Ons (http://www.guitarsalon.com/store.php?it=ACKLIXX-00293)
:arrow: Kling-On Stabilizer (http://www.guitarsalon.com/store.php?it=ACKLIST-03561)

[Pepe Vergara]

Thanks Adrian. I will order several tomorrow.