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hey all, i'm am still pretty new to guitar building and was considering attempting to build a nylon string guitar. i would like to build one more like the taylor ns than the traditional classical and was wondering if the bracing patterns are different. also would using an om body style work (i have the molds and bending patterns already)? also is the scale length have to be different than a steel string om or 000 would be? could anyone recommend some plans for what i am trying to do (assuming that they even exist). thanks to anyone who can help.

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Brandon........... The Nati.

just found the the taylor bracing pattern online so disregard that question

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Brandon........... The Nati.

An OM is a little bigger. Most classical are closer to a 00 size. Body length is 48-50cm. Scale length for a standard size guitar usually 65cm. Some are 640, some are 660, more or less.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
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That said, the original 000 was a gut strung instrument. Later they switched it from 12 fret to 14 fret neck, and used a flat head instead of the slot head, thus making the OM. I've made a couple of 12-fret 000 size nylon string guitars, and they work fine. You will have to lighten up on the top thickness and bracing, although it would be hard to say by how much. Also, if you make one, use a standard classical style bridge: if you make it with a pin bridg the way Martin did originally, somebody's going to put on a set of 80/20 heavies and rip the top right off.

Oh yeah: don't make it any narrower than 1-7/8" at the nut. Every time I've let somebody talk me into that they come back in a month or two wanting it made wider. Nylon strings need more space in between, and higher action too. It's easy to thin down a wide neck, but tough to go the other way.

be aware that due to less string energy with nylon your bracing pattern, sizes and top and back thickness will be much thinner than a steel string and the way the top is domed is also much differnt. your neck needs to be designed for 660-640mm scale (there abouts anyway) and the width, taper and bridge design is vastly differnt as well.