differences between classical and acoustic guitar?

Acoustic guitar - larger body, truss rod in the neck, steel strings, played with a plectrum, plenty of volume in the sound. Can be very expensive

Classical guitar - smaller body, no truss rod, nylon strings, played with the fingers, quieter. Can be insanely expensive

Don't put steel strings on a classical guitar, you'll rip the bridge off. Don't put nylon strings on an acoustic guitar, it'll sound awful. Don't get a classical guitar if you want to play rock n roll - it ain't the right tool. Don't get an acoustic if you want to play Bach, or Tarrega - you'll rip your fingers to shreds.

Best,

A :-)

Most of those aren't true in all cases, Alan....

Body size: steel string guitars vary a lot. Dreadnought, jumbo and super-jumbo sizes are larger than classical guitars, but auditorium size guitars are the same size (any of my classical guitars fit in my Martin 000 case). Older steel string guitars can even be smaller than the standard classical.

Truss rod: most classical guitars don't have one, and most steel strings do... but there are variations on both ends. Antique steel strings (prior to about 1930) usually don't have one, and I own a classical guitar that does (a Gianinni)

Using a pick vs. fingers: you can play a steel string fingerstyle, and a few people play classical guitars with a pick (Willie Nelson comes to mind)

Here are the typical differences I'm aware of - like Alan's list, they may not be true in all cases.

Strings: classical guitars have much lower string tension, as Alan mentioned. In addition to nylon, they may also use catgut or newer synthetics (like carbon fibres). Classical strings are traditionally tied on to the bridge block, although some ball-end nylon strings are available.

Bridge: Steel string guitars usually use bridge pins to hold the strings, or a trapeze bridge. Classical guitars have a bridge block for tying the strings on.

Neck width: steel string guitars are about 1-3/4" wide, unless it's a 12 string. Classical guitars are much wider, about 2-3/8".

Fretboard radius: many steel string guitars have a radiused fretboard; classical guitars have a flat fretboard.

Neck joint: classical guitars by tradition join the neck to the body at the 12th fret. Most steel string guitars join at the 14th, although smaller steel string guitars sometimes join at the 12th.

Peghead: classical guitars use either a slotted peghead with rollers for the strings, or violin type friction pegs (usually found only on antique instruments). Some steel string guitars are fitted with rollers, but most use tuning machines with posts for the strings.

Bracing: classical guitar designs usually use a fan bracing system under the top; steel string guitars usually use an X-bracing system. Steel string guitars will always have a bridge block (a reinforcing piece of wood directly under the bridge); classical guitars don't.

Weight: classical guitars are always lighter... due to the lighter top bracing.

Pick guard: Steel string guitars usually have a pick guard. Classical guitars don't, unless they're specifically made for flamenco style.

End pin: Most steel string guitars are fitted with an end pin for using a guitar strap; classical guitars never have an end pin.

as stated in subject. thanks for the replies
It all comes down to which artist and what songs do you want to emulate most of the time. Some things are easier to do on a relatively light guitar with generally a wider fretboard and nylon strings. Other sounds are easier to make on a slightly heavier guitar with a narrower fretboard and steal strings.

Classical- softer strings, wider fretboard, need to grow and groom fingernails to sound good in fingerstyle. Finger picks sound bad (metal ones anyway). ( classical is mostly fingerstyle)

Acoustic- hard thin strings harder on fretting fingers but louder and more 'jangly', narrower fretboard (harder for fingering individual strings without touching adjacent string), thumb and fingerpicks better than fingernails for fingerstyle but introduce their own issues.

May as well get used to the idea that they are different instruments.
Some pieces sound better on one instrument than the other.

Get one (or more) of each :-)

Classical - BASICALLY, wider fretboard (therefore easier to play complex note patterns), bottom three strings are NYLON, and the bass comes through more than in a normal acoustic.. Also, as you might have assumed, classical guitar is more for... classical music... I also believe that strumming is harder on a classical guitar due to the fact that the bass comes through so strongly, therefore if you hit all 6 strings, you will barely hear the bottom three strings (G,B,E)

Acoustic - all steel strings, it hurts MY hands to finger pick classical songs with these strings... great for strumming

both have varying sizes

if you're a beginner, i'd choose classical just so you can learn a lot of classical songs, then you will develop very strong fundamentals and strengthen your fingers better than just playing chords... then also, you'll get much better at finger picking

if you're a beginner, i'd choose classical just so you can learn a lot of classical songs, then you will develop very strong fundamentals and strengthen your fingers better than just playing chords... then also, you'll get much better at finger picking

I look at it this way unless he has a love a classical music, as a beginner the last thing he is going to do is take a pop instrument, perhaps the pop culture instrument and study classical on it. Unless a parent forces lessons on him given by the classical stylist. After a few years to broaden his craft he might begin that study.

I go back to my initial advice determine what sound you want to make and choose the type of guitar best suited for that. Be it classical, acoustic or the different types of electric.

if you're a beginner, i'd choose classical just so you can learn a lot of classical songs, then you will develop very strong fundamentals and strengthen your fingers better than just playing chords... then also, you'll get much better at finger picking

I look at it this way unless he has a love a classical music, as a beginner the last thing he is going to do is take a pop instrument, perhaps the pop culture instrument and study classical on it. Unless a parent forces lessons on him given by the classical stylist. After a few years to broaden his craft he might begin that study.
Studying classical guitar as a child is why I originally began and ended my guitar studies in the 3rd grade.