Nylon string guitars

[fmm]

is it reasonable to flip a right-handed nylon stringed guitar and flip it around to play left-handed?
Someone here will know.

[edwardofhuncote]

Most fan bracing I've seen has been symmetrical enough that I can't imagine a problem. You may have to have another nut made, or at the least, have the nut re-slotted if the intent is to string it for left-handed play. The holes through the bridge the strings loop through may also need to be enlarged for a couple of the extremes.


Good luck. 

[mario_farufyno]

If the bridge is not angled (usually isn't), it will work right.

[mario_farufyno]

... or left (sorry for that)

[cozmik_cowboy]

I just took a quick look at mine, and it looks like the nut slots might be close enough to the same size for it to work.  But, worst case scenario - assuming you do want to restring it leftie rather going the Hendrix/Dale route - would be a new nut, and that ain't no thang.

Peter

[lbpesq]

I believe Jimi did restring his guitar.  He used a righty Strat strung like a lefty so that the higher strings would be shorter, hence with less tension and easier to bend.  Also, the orientation of the slanted bridge PU to the strings changed so that the higher strings were over the PU further from the bridge resulting in less ice-picky highs.

Bill, tgo

[edwardofhuncote]

If the bridge is not angled (usually isn't), it will work right.

I have only seen a couple nylon-string guitars with compensated bridges, but Mario is correct... verify the bridge saddle is straight, as in; parallel to the frets, and not slanted. That would indeed foul things up. 

[cozmik_cowboy]

I believe Jimi did restring his guitar.  He used a righty Strat strung like a lefty so that the higher strings would be shorter, hence with less tension and easier to bend.  Also, the orientation of the slanted bridge PU to the strings changed so that the higher strings were over the PU further from the bridge resulting in less ice-picky highs.

Bill, tgo

Now that I think about, I think I knew that; don't where that brain fart came from.  But, while the bridge-p/up thing makes sense, the headstock wouldn't affect the tension, as the speaking length of the string has to be the same tension to get the proper pitch.

Peter (who would like to amend his original statement to cite Albert King rather Mr. Hendrix)