Forums

Tight ukulele strings?

Posted by Matte Resist on February 8, 2013 at 11:43am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I sold a Ukulele around Christmas and recently got the following message. 

I love it, it sounds great. My only problem is that it doesn't seem to be able to tune to a standard ukulele... the highest I can get is a half step down. I wouldn't mind much if I played by myself, but I got it because I'm in in a band. I don't tune it higher because the strings get really tight and it sounds like it will either snap the strings or break the ukulele.

I'm a bit stumped.  I don't built a lot of ukuleles (don't particularly like nylon strings) but I've never had this problem before and don't recall it being a problem when I tuned it up.  Why would it have tight strings? It's a concert scale uke with Martin concert uke strings.  Any ideas?


You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Dwayne Ray June 21, 2013 at 2:31pm

    Say- I've got a bunch of 3 hole hinges. Where are you connecting the 4th (or middle-ish string) string at?

  • Matte Resist February 27, 2013 at 12:22am

    Well I sent off a couple recommendations and never heard anything back.  Hopefully that means she got it all figured out.

  • kauaijim February 13, 2013 at 3:48am
    Is he using the proper scale length strings? If he's trying to put 15 inch scale strings on a 17 inch scale then there might be a tension problem. The above poster was correct about strings on a uke stretching so he may just need to just tighten more. If the strings are on upside down (4th string in first position in a low g tuning, for example) then this problem might occur.
  • jim February 10, 2013 at 5:46pm

    I would suggest trying a different brand of strings. It is simply a string tension issue. The extra length of string after the bridge has no effect on tuning the scale to proper pitch, as long as the scale length is in the range that the strings are designed for.(just physics, I think there is even a law). It could be that he is used to playing other ukuleles have a different brand/ tension.

  • The Phrygian Kid February 9, 2013 at 7:04pm
    The guy says he is only a semitone short, so I'd say its impossible hes aiming an octave too high at that scale length, can't even be done on a guitar
  • Bluesheart February 9, 2013 at 1:51pm

    If you had it tuned up to correct pitch, I see no reason they would not be able to do the same. There is nothing on that gonna break before a string does, I'd tell em to just tune it, BUT be careful like Dan said and make sure they are not trying to take it an octave higher than it should be!

  • Medicine Man CBG's-Mikel Doktor February 8, 2013 at 10:22pm

    Farmer Ted is 100% right. The strings are not designed for that. That being said, it is a cigar box uke, just roll with it.Capo mabey?

    • Mungo Park > Medicine Man CBG's-Mikel Doktor February 8, 2013 at 11:35pm

      try some metal mandolin strings............Ron

  • Matte Resist February 8, 2013 at 3:50pm

    Thanks for the tips.  I'm sending off an email to see if we can't figure this thing out.

    • Old Fingers Green > Matte Resist February 8, 2013 at 9:01pm

      just my tuppence worth but I always find Martin Co strings are less pliable than Aquila strings and do feel tighter when tunes the same. I have an 8 string which I used both on next to each other and the difference is very noticable. Maybe this is contributing to it? 

This reply was deleted.