Sevilla Classical Nylon Strings

Worthy of a closer look but not perfect

The strong suite here is the fact that Cleartone produces a quality high tension string that is available with a ball end. This type of string may not appeal to the classical purist, but performing nylon string players--and especially crossover and hybrid nylon guitar players--often find ball end strings to be a better choice for quick changes, secure stretch-in period, and even volume and tone differences from tie ends. As a solo player who includes styles from classical to vintage rock, jazz standards and country/folk, I want a string with a tension that is somewhat comparable to my medium strung Martin acoustic, my usual performing guitar. The Cleartone strings have a nice tension, no squirm with just the right amount of resistance to feel commanding. Intonation seems quite good. I don't think it would useful to offer an opinion on tone, since a semi-hollow electric nylon string is not the instrument to really see what richness a string can pull from the guitar. I will say the tone was pleasing, the feel just right, and the intonation made chords really ring powerfully, all very attractive qualities. Less favored: some quirky details that I would expect a $22 string set not to have. Such as 1) string bridge ends that are wrapped so fat the ball can't seat against the bridge, but extends way from it. I like a tight fit there and the Cleartone does not have that on the lower wrapped strings at all. 2) speaking of ball ends, the fourth string utilized a brass ball rather than the black the other strings have. Is there some reason to do this? It appears to me to be a case of running out of black ones and using what was handy...not what a $22 set should offer. 3) and continuing the "what's up with the ball end?" theme, my first string came with no ball end whatsoever. Just the knotted string end. Again I ask, to what purpose? Is this a plan by Cleartone that has a basis in sound production? Did they run out of the plastic tie ends like the 2nd and 3rd string have? Did someone forget to put one on? Not what I think I should expect to see in a $22 set. Plus the unhappy anxiety of eyeballing that string when it is played hard to see if it is going to slip through the bridge hole and leave a whip mark on my right hand. Will I buy this set again? I can't say for sure. I will play them for awhile and see how they age. They do seem to hold pitch quite well when first put on, so that is a plus. I'll want to do a coupe of gigs with them on before they become my go-to string on the nylon. All in all, a somewhat mixed bag. Minus the detail faux pas, these would get a five star review; But there is that nagging feeling that any string maker that lets a set go out the door in this condition is not going to be consistent in quality. I'll hold off from making that final judgement for now, and if they handle well on stage, I will try them again and see if the small annoyances have been corrected by then.

New strings old guitar new feel

The nylon strings with the ball on the end gave me a hole new reason to play a old guitar love them

nice strings

They feel nice to the fingers, smooth.