D'Addario Pro-Arte Nylon Classical
Normal tension, tie-end
The reference nylon set, and the one most classical guitars are voiced around
Under $15
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The short version
Nylon strings work on completely different principles from steel and must never be fitted to a steel-string guitar: they need a classical bridge with tie-ends and a neck built for much lower tension. Pro-Arte uses clear monofilament nylon for the three trebles and silver-plated copper wound over a multifilament nylon core for the three basses. Normal tension is the standard choice - enough to drive the top without making the action feel stiff. The trebles are sorted to a tighter tolerance than most, which is what stops the third string sounding out of tune with itself.
How we rate it
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
- Brightness
- 6.0
- Sustain
- 7.0
- Durability
- 7.0
- Feel
- 8.0
- Tuning stability
- 6.0
- Value
- 9.0
Specifications
| Brand | D'Addario |
|---|---|
| Model | Pro-Arte Nylon ClassicalNormal tension, tie-end |
| Category | Strings |
| What it is | |
| Strings in the set | 6 |
| Materials | |
| Alloy | Silver-plated copper wrap on the bass strings |
| Winding | Wound basses, clear monofilament nylon trebles |
| Core | Multifilament nylon |
| Coating | Uncoated |
| Measurements | |
| Tension | Normal |
| Fit | |
| Scale length it fits | Tie-end, for a classical bridge without pins or ball ends |
| In the box | |
| Sets included | 1 |
11 verified fields, taken from the manufacturer first and the Amazon listing second. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.
What it gets right
- Trebles are sorted for consistency, which is why they intonate cleanly
- Normal tension suits the widest range of classical guitars
- Silver-plated copper basses give warmth without going muddy
- The most widely available nylon set, so consistency is easy to maintain
Where it gives ground
- Nylon takes several days of retuning before it settles
- Trebles go false with wear long before they break
- Tie-end only: they will not fit a bridge that expects ball ends
Who it is for
What owners report
Patterns drawn from published owner reviews. Summarised, never quoted.
What comes up most
- The consistency of the trebles is what experienced players mention most
- Widely used by teachers, so the recommendation carries accumulated experience
Frequent complaints
- The long settling period surprises players coming from steel strings
- Some owners find the basses lose brightness faster than the trebles
Recognised strengths
- A very long track record with few reported quality problems
Recognised weaknesses
- Tying the ends at the bridge defeats a lot of first-time buyers
The verdict
If you own a classical or any nylon-string guitar, this is the default, and the sorted trebles are the part that justifies the reputation. Two things to expect if you are coming from steel. Nylon takes days rather than minutes to stop stretching, so the first week is a lot of retuning and that is normal, not a fault. And the trebles wear where they cross the frets, going dull and eventually false long before they break - replace them on sound, not on breakage.
We do not publish prices, because Amazon prices change constantly and a stale figure helps nobody. Follow the link for the current price and availability.
Sources
Compared with
- D'Addario Pro-Arte Nylon Classical vs Belfort Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
- D'Addario Pro-Arte Nylon Classical vs D'Addario EJ11 80/20 Bronze Acoustic
- D'Addario Pro-Arte Nylon Classical vs D'Addario EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
- D'Addario Pro-Arte Nylon Classical vs D'Addario EJ27N Student Nylon Classical
- D'Addario Pro-Arte Nylon Classical vs D'Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic
- D'Addario Pro-Arte Nylon Classical vs Elixir NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze Acoustic
Other strings
Belfort · Strings
Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
Light
Cheap phosphor bronze from a brand with no published specification
D'Addario · Strings
EJ11 80/20 Bronze Acoustic
Light, .012-.053
The bright, brash acoustic string the whole category was built on
D'Addario · Strings
EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
Light .012-.053, three sets
The default acoustic string, and the one to buy if you are not sure
D'Addario · Strings
EXL110 XL Nickel Wound Electric
Regular Light .010-.046, three sets
The electric string most guitars leave the factory wearing
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