The three lower strings of the Flamenco guitar, the ‘basses’, i.e. 6th, 5th and 4th, are made of nylon floss wound with fine metal wire. The third (G) string is of plain nylon filament or may be nylon floss wound with nylon filament; the latter type is thicker and its sound tends to have longer ‘sustain’, but it wears out more quickly than the plain filament. The second string may be similarly covered with a winding of nylon, though it is usually plain. The first string is nearly always of plain nylon filament but one or two brands provide a covered first string. Some makes of plain nylon strings have a smooth surface. Others are slightly opaque and rougher to the touch from being milled to provide a perfectly round cross-section and more even intonation.
Both normal and high tension strings are suitable for the Flamenco guitar. Individual tastes differ. Sometimes you may find it best to combine trebles of one tension with basses of a different tension in order to obtain the best balance of sound and action from your guitar. There are excellent strings by Savarez, Luthier, Hannabach and D’Addario etc to choose from.
Cleaning the strings by wiping with a cloth after playing prevents early deterioration from perspiration. Covered strings may be given prolonged life if they are reversed end to end when their brilliance begins to fade. One can wash strings to give them a still longer life but their recovery is so short-lived after this procedure as to be hardly worthwhile.
When the strings are changed, it is essential to do this one at a time so that the tension of the soundboard is not left slackened off for long periods. It is a useful idea, however, occasionally to slacken off all the covered strings (but not the plain trebles) for brief periods of perhaps up to five minutes, then tighten them again after wiping the strings with a cloth. This procedure gives the tone renewed brilliance.
