Through neck CBG uke.. can I use classical guitar strings?

Hi all,

I am hoping to build a couple of through neck cigar box ukes and use classical guitar strings and am hoping the guitar stings will give the cigar box more energy to make more volume. I am not sure what guitar string to use for each comparable uke string.This would be using 20 inch baritone uke scale.

I want to tune to the standard GCEA Uke tuning and am wondering if anyone has experience with classical nylon strings to know what tuning up they can withstand.

For the uke G sting can I use the guitar E string and go up +3 to G with out snapping?

Can the guitar A sting be tuned up +3 to C ?

If I tune the guitar G -2 to E and the guitar B -2 to A will they be too slack?

Can anyone suggest a better strategy to use guitar strings for uke tuning?

I would like to do this using the familiar building techniques that I have used for my standard CBGs. As gifts for a couple people with the deadline of their birthday I just don't have time to learn and experiment with other building techniques.

Any insight on using classical nylon stings on these CB-Ukes would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Ordinary uke strings are cheap and they are the right gauge - don't make things any harder for yourself than needs be. Don't make it with a through neck and floating bridge - use the box with the thinnest top you can find and use a conventional glued-on uke bridge. Uke strings are very low tension compared with steel guitar strings, and a floating bridge set-up just doesn't transfer enough energy to the top to give a good sound - it will be very quiet. My advice isn't based on theory, I've made quite a few ukes and from my trial and error experiences am offering my take on it. If you make it with a through neck and floating bridge it will be disappointingly quiet (it really will be waste of time unless you build it as an amplifed instument wth a pickup and decent pre-amp), and most uke players will hate metal strings. No rules, but some things work better than others.

Replies

rodger moore May 10, 2018 at 8:16pm

Check out Southcoast strings for sets of baritone strings.
http://southcoastukes.com/stringuide.htm
Also, Living Water string in the UK, he will make you custom sets, and his strings are really good. Shipping isn't too bad either.
http://www.kenmiddleton.co.uk/living-water-strings/
Best of luck with the build and keep us posted, I love baritone ukuleles!
- S Elgin > rodger moore May 10, 2018 at 10:10pm
  
  Thanks for the tip on strings. I will post pics and video when I get this finished
Kigar May 7, 2018 at 8:41pm

Ukes are low stress like the others said. Without knowing any better I have made a couple ukes with a cigar box and bolt on neck. I just glued a block of wood in the box and attached the neck. Glued on a normal uke bridge and no troubles yet - maybe two years old.
Titch the Clown May 6, 2018 at 6:39am

I bought this stuff https://www.jarviswalker.com.au/catalogue/fishing/line/monofilament...
At around 4dollars a spool
Tenor 17 inch scale recipes 50 80 60 40 for GCAE tuning.
60.100 80 50 soprano 13.5 inches.
Lots more. I have are strung up about 150 so far with no signs of running out.
- S Elgin > Titch the Clown May 6, 2018 at 9:45am
  
  Titch did you use this as strings on a neck through design or built as a uke with strings tied to bridge? My concern is not cost, but acoustic sound on a neck through design.
  - Titch the Clown > S Elgin May 10, 2018 at 5:42pm
    
    I had not thought that would be an issue. With fishing line you can cut to length you need.
    
    For the record I have never gone all the way through on a uke. I do go all the way to the end just not all the way through. Then I usually add a tailpiece. Usually screwing it on.
    
    See https://www.instructables.com/id/Ford-mini-glovebox-guitarukulele/
    - S Elgin > Titch the Clown May 10, 2018 at 10:04pm
      
      Titch.... thanks for that instructable. .... gives me some ideas !
ChickenboneJohn May 6, 2018 at 5:50am

Ordinary uke strings are cheap and they are the right gauge - don't make things any harder for yourself than needs be. Don't make it with a through neck and floating bridge - use the box with the thinnest top you can find and use a conventional glued-on uke bridge. Uke strings are very low tension compared with steel guitar strings, and a floating bridge set-up just doesn't transfer enough energy to the top to give a good sound - it will be very quiet. My advice isn't based on theory, I've made quite a few ukes and from my trial and error experiences am offering my take on it. If you make it with a through neck and floating bridge it will be disappointingly quiet (it really will be waste of time unless you build it as an amplifed instument wth a pickup and decent pre-amp), and most uke players will hate metal strings. No rules, but some things work better than others.
- S Elgin > ChickenboneJohn May 6, 2018 at 9:42am
  
  John,
  
  I really appreciate your input, but I just don't feel comfortable giving away a build where I have limited time and 0 experience building that design. It is a birthday present for a friend. All boxes are different and bracing and putting tension on the entire box is very intimidating, especially when I will barely have enough time to meet my deadline, and then handing it over and simply hoping my first time is good enough that it does explode in a few months. That is why my thought of using nylon guitar strings feels like my only option. Maybe getting heavy or high tension guitar stings will do the job along with high break angles and gluing the bridge to the box top? I will be adding a pick up, but am hoping that it can be played acoustically.
  - ChickenboneJohn > S Elgin May 6, 2018 at 4:56pm
    
    A cigar box uke with a thru' neck and a floating bridge will sound quiet and weak, It's a fact, unless, unless either get lucky or really know what you are doing. Go for a longer scale as you can get more tension into the strings for a given string gauge, this will help a little with the volume.
    
    Forget guitar strings, use uke strings -the people making the strings know what they are doing!
    
    If you don't know how to do it, just admit it and pass on this one. Sometimes you have to learn when to say "no".

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