# Problem with classical guitar strings **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 5, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585 "2017-12-05T00:01:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/1 "2017-12-05T00:01:37Z")
I decided to restring my classical guitar this evening. I haven’t done it for a while, so I’ve been looking at YouTube videos. It’s all coming back to me. I had a package of D’Addario Pro Arte Strings, which are the ones I’ve always used, [just like this picture.](https://www.musik-produktiv.com/pic-006702017xl/d-addario-ej45-pro-arte.jpg) I took the new strings out of their sealed baggie and I seem to have two B strings and no G string. The strings are labeled and numbered as follows: 1 - E (nylon) 2 - B (nylon) 2 - B (nylon) 4 - D (silver) 5 - A (silver) 6 - E (silver) I know I haven’t done this for a while… but two B strings and no G string. That’s not right, right? I bought these strings ages ago, so I’m not going to try to return them. But I will take them back to the store and ask WTF. Do I need to open the package of strings in the store from now on? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/2 "2017-12-05T00:19:11Z")
No, it’s not right. Check to see if both the ones marked ‘B’ are the same diameter, although it’s not easy to tell. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/3 "2017-12-05T00:36:49Z")
Yeah, they look the same. I think I will open the new package before I leave the store tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/4 "2017-12-05T00:40:30Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Yeah, they look the same. > > I think I will open the new package before I leave the store tomorrow. You don’t have to buy a whole new package. You can get singles. > **[D'Addario Pro Arte Classical Guitar Single Strings - Normal Tension](https://www.stringsandbeyond.com/dproarsiclgu.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=googleshopping&googleshopping=yes&Gauge=J4502%20B%202nd&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgZTRBRDmARIsAJvVWAvrrN2IybwMnK-9X-e7RDt802RCAvlTgGjQvjlXu6sgTZEj7kTgJ20aAoSREALw_wcB)** > > D'Addario Pro Arte Single Classical Guitar Strings - Normal Tension - Pro-Arte, the world's most popular classical strings are D'Addario's premium classical guitar string sets. All Pro-Arte treble strings are sorted by a sophisticated... ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/5 "2017-12-05T00:52:17Z")
I have been buying guitar strings for 53 years and that has never happened to me. So it’s rare. I would see if the store will exchange them for a good set. They just get credit from the manufacturer anyway so they may not ask for a receipt for a like-for-like exchange. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/6 "2017-12-05T01:04:48Z")
Ok. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/7 "2017-12-05T15:31:01Z")
Nylon strings deteriorate with age even when not being played. Probably best to get a whole fresh set if you’ve had those for several years. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/8 "2017-12-05T15:47:48Z")
These were sealed up in their original packaging. Would your caution still apply? ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/9 "2017-12-05T16:05:53Z")
Yes. The packaging will help prevent the wound strings from corroding but the nylon will still degrade somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/10 "2017-12-05T16:07:13Z")
I was planning on getting a new set anyway. Thx. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/11 "2017-12-05T16:10:19Z")
ThelmaLou’s G string is missing. Oh my. 😉 D’Addario makes good strings. I’m surprised you got a set with two B strings. Glad you’re getting back into playing. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/12 "2017-12-05T17:39:56Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I was planning on getting a new set anyway. Thx. THelma: Play those things until they break. String it with what you have and I don’t think it will make a drop of difference. If it does play harder, and they will break, and you might enjoy it. If the material degraded that’s good. You don’t want them to last forever. I’m not sure why every fact of physics means you need to throw something away. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/13 "2017-12-05T17:45:02Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > ThelmaLou’s G string is missing. > > Oh my. 😉 > > … EEK! :eek: > [@drad\_dog](#): > > THelma: Play those things until they break. String it with what you have and I don’t think it will make a drop of difference. If it does play harder, and they will break, and you might enjoy it. > > If the material degraded that’s good. You don’t want them to last forever. I’m not sure why every fact of physics means you need to throw something away. Well, some of us are just looking for any excuse to shop. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/14 "2017-12-05T17:48:26Z")
Just my experience: I play Jimmy page style “banjo strung” guitar. So most of the higher numbered strings are much lower for me, by a whole string sometimes. I buy strings by the dozen and I have used B strings for G and lots of combos experimenting with string thickness, and using up strings that are left in the drawer. You’d be surprised at how adaptable you are with the string. But I play steel strings. When you try to use a B string for a G on classical the B may snap. You have to give it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/15 "2017-12-05T17:55:18Z")
ETA: or the G may be too slack. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/16 "2017-12-05T18:02:00Z")
**Moderator Action** Since this is about musicians and their instruments (and their G-strings, apparently 😉 ), let’s move this to Cafe Society (from GQ). ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/problem-with-classical-guitar-strings/803585/17 "2017-12-05T18:09:09Z")
If you don’t have a tuner, there are many online. I prefer the Snark SN5X on Amazon for not much money. Brighter display and quicker response compared to the older SN5 model.