Hi everyone
I need some help conserning a levin guitar, dont know about the model, all i have is this picture. Now the question is can i put nylon strings on this one or not ?
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From what I can see in the picture, I would say you should put ONLY nylon strings on this. I looks like a classical bridge (wide), and I believe the strings are tied onto the bridge. The large plastic rollers on the headstock also indicate classical. This guitar would not be braced for steel strings and could be damaged, if you used them.

It looks like it has nylon string type tuners on it to me. The nylon strings usually have the horizontal type tuning pegs where the steel string have the vertical tuning pegs sticking up from the headstock. Also the tuning pegs look like they are a larger diameter appx 3/8" where the steel string pegs are less than 1/4". I can't remember seeing a steel string guitar with that type of tuners. Just my own experience. Look at my Avitar & see how the tuning pegs stick up apove the headstock where the guitar you picture has the roller type inside the headstock. Looks like nylon only. Gary

Ok ty wery mutch, im thinking of buying it for 80 dollars, would that be a good deal ?

If you are looking for a classical guitar, and it sounds good, and on inspection is in reasonably good condition, $80 is probably a reasonable price for this guitar. Are you sure you want a classical guitar? If you are a beginner, you are probably better off putting your money towards a steel string guitar, which you can both finger pick and strum, and has a narrower neck.

Jay makes a good point about weighing your needs vs putting the money into something possibly more suitable. In terms strictly of whether the guitar is a good buy for a classical...1) does it sound good? 2) is the neck straight? 3) is the bridge good or separating from the top 4) does the top bulge? 5) is the action low enough to be adjusted to your needs? If these things are ok, it's probably a good deal...you don't often get much for $80.

I agree with just about everything said here. With this one it looks to be nylon only.
With those tuners I think steel strings would break things. But I disagree with nylon string guitar for beginners. If that is what you want go for it. You will get a softer feel to the strings, and bar chording will be easier. You will get a softer tone which will not be a bright as the steel string.

One thing that is strange with this guitar is the sound hole. Nothing wrong with it necessarily just used to seeing actual holes. This looks like it might have amped and thus this sound hole for feedback resistance.

So my advise is buy it if you want.

What you have is a very early Levin most likely made in Sweden around the 1920's it is definitely a nylon strung guitar. They were known and sold as Goyas in USA.

ok ty guys, im on the market for a nylon string guitar because i alredy have a steel stringed one, so if you have any sugestions on that matter please share them

If you don't want to get helpful suggestions for $5K instruments, you'd better give us a budget!

Pineapple, Catman has a pretty good point!

The Levin you pictured is probably a 1955/1957 or so Model nr 112 judging by the sound hole.

Is it worth $80 - to me, yep, just as a collector's item. To you, if all you plan on doing with it is playing it, depends on how playable it is and, if in poor condition, how much you would be willing to spend to have a vintage guitar 'made' playable.

Levin Guitars were distributed in the US under the namebrand "Goya". Distribution rights were bought by Avnet Inc (owner of Guild Guitars at the time)in '68. Avnet then sold the distribution rights for "Goya" to Kustom Electric (the amplifier manufacturer)in '70, Kustom went bankrupt in '72. Dude Inc. then took over distribution and probably sold off the remaining stock of Goya guitars built by Levin. C.F. Martin had, in 1973, bought most of Levin, largely to use the manufacturing facilities to mass produce their line of "Sigma" guitars and instruments.

In 1976, C.F. Martin acquired the "Goya" namebrand from Dude Inc. By 1981 Martin had closed the Gothenburg facility and sold it, the remaining inventory, and the Levin brandname to Svensk Musik AB. Martin started importing Sigma and Goya from Japanese and Korean manufacturers. Both Levin and Goya brandnames lost their reputation due to this and Martin stopped production of Goya instruments in the '90s. Martin sold the brandname to "Goya Foods" in 1999.

Svensk Musik still produces a line of Classical Guitars under the brandname "Svenska Levin AB" out of Mariestad, Sweden and a line of steelstring flatops and Archtop Jazz guitars, based on the old Levin specs, and made in Korea.

Want a 'real' collectors item? Find a Martin D-18 with the label "LD-18 - made in Gothenburg Sweden". Around 200 of these were ever built.

I own (and my youngest son-in-law possess) a 1978 Martin-Goya "D" style sunburst.

OK, I gave you a few reasons to spend $80 on a guitar you may never play. If you are looking for a cheap, entry level type classical, May I suggest either a Fender or Yamaha. Yamaha, even on their lowest level, builds some decent stuff. You can get one for around $120usd. One granddaughter owns a Yamaha 3/4 steel string and another has a 3/4 Fender "Squire". Both of them are decent for what I paid for them.

Did I ever mention I get a bit 'obsessed'?

Wow thank you for the update, well i live in sweden so it would be nice with a swedish guitar but ill guess that will have to wait until i have so mutch money that i can spend a resonable amount on a guitar. Right now i am just wondering what are the suggestions for a guitar if i play alot of finger picking (I alredy have a steel stringed so i am mostly looking for a nylon stringed one) and dont want to spend more then 146 dollar on one, cause i am studying and dont have alot of money

With not knowing the price of guitars in Sweden, I'd say shop around for a second hand Yamaha nylon string, as wiley has already said they are an ok entry guitar.

What happened? Did you buy it?

Yea I second the yahama recommendation. I have a C-40 for which I have had for 8 years now. No problems with staying in tune. As long as the strings are not really old,
intonation is dead on. If you buy a used nylon string guitar, new strings should be your second move.

If you feel brave you might look up a Sunlite GCN-2000F. That is a solid spruce top classical guitar for $159. Personally I am going to try one in the future just to see what I think. But have not done it yet.

No i didnt buy it but i think its best that way. Ill keep looking for some guitars but until i get more money the guitar shopping will have to wait

pineappletrain wrote:
No i didnt buy it but i think its best that way. Ill keep looking for some guitars but until i get more money the guitar shopping will have to wait

Probably a good decision, I think for playing the Levin might not have been a good deal. Never rush what is meant to be an investment in your musical progress mate.

Chas