Hello all. As I've mentioned on a number of other threads, I'm in the process of replacing my classical guitar with a steel-string. This is because a number of people have told me that a steel string would be better suited to my purposes (strumming or fingerpicking chords to accompany my own voice and play with other musicians, no interest in classical guitar music), and because I never seem to see anybody else playing a classical and I figure that this consensus must count for something.

But I want to know what exactly are the differences between classicals and acoustics. Why would a steel string be better for me? I don't mean the anatomical differences - I think I understand those OK - but rather what kinds of playing/players the two kinds work best for.

I ask for two reasons:

1. I'm having difficulty explaining to my mother why the guitar the family chipped in and bought for me isn't good enough any more, when my decision right now is basically founded on peer pressure.

2. I actually sold the classical a couple of days ago (found someone who agreed to buy it a month and a half from now, actually)... and now when I play it I'm suddenly discovering what a soft, sweet instrument it is with action like butter and devastatingly beautiful appearance, and I'm suddenly developing ambitions to arrange gentle instrumental settings to folk melodies. So I need to have some logical reasons to switch before I let my emotions take over.

Thanks, Marion