I've got a new concert scale ukulele with magnetic pickup and so find myself in need of string advice. Can you help? I'm looking for strings that will work on a 15inch scale length and that will also be picked up by the pickup. Good news, I've figured out that nylon strings aren't suitable lol. If you can give some advice I'd really appreciate it as an hour of searching has me still scratching my head. If you can recommend a brand and particular item number /type then even better. I rang a music shop to see if their titanium strings would work and after a bit of a giggle from them was told that the pickup wouldn't read them and I need nickel wound. Only, I can't find any nickel wound ukulele strings anywhere.
Please help. I'm losing my mind here lol.
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The scale length for the advertised guitar is around 17" and with yours being 15" you might need to move up to electric 11s or alternatively tune up each string an extra half step if the strings are too floppy.
Thanks for the help, David. Finally found some but then didn't update here because I fell asleep due to awful sleeping patterns right now. Not to worry (about the sleeping patterns). Thanks so much for spending time looking for the solution, David. I thought something connected to the Risa instrument might work but couldn't find anything anywhere. Problem solved now anyway but thank you so very much again.
Well Dani and Bear, here's the way I approach this sort of problem The notes on a concert uke are gCEa from 4th string to first. Now consider the short 15' scale and what electric guitar strings would be tuneable up to those pitches? I've never actually done this so here's a guess coming from other experiences. I'd start with a light electric set which has a .009 for the e string I believe that would tune up to A440 on 15" scale with no problem for the 1st string. The 2nd string in the set is likely a .011 and could tune to the E note of the uke's 2nd string. The 3rd string of the set could be brought up to the uke's C. Now it gets a bit tricky for the 4th string because most ukes have a higher note for the 4th than for the third but it doesn't have to be. Many players prefer low G tuning and you could use the 4th string from the electric set for that. If you want the more traditional high G you'll need another .009 or .010 to achieve that. Here's a set that should work
Thanks Jim. My hero, as always! I like the for arguments of a low G on a ukulele but will have to decide whether to move away from traditional learning practices by going for low G. I like the idea anyway.
Found these now too so the day may be saved but it depends on the shipping costs with our useless Sterling right now lol. I may give your option a try first and see how it goes. Thanks again you wonderful fella ya!
Replies
Looking here https://www.thomann.de/gb/risa_tenor_ukulele_lpstyle_sb.htm?glp=1&a...
they suggest a set of strings at the bottom which are gauges 10, 13, 17, 26 tuned
low G,C,E,A(i.e. Exactly the same as a set of rotosound electric 10s which would be cheaper to buy.
(If you are unsure of low G tuning read this http://www.gotaukulele.com/2011/02/ukulele-beginners-what-is-low-g....).
The scale length for the advertised guitar is around 17" and with yours being 15" you might need to move up to electric 11s or alternatively tune up each string an extra half step if the strings are too floppy.
Regards,
David
PS more electric ukes here that use electric guitar strings http://www.southernukulelestore.co.uk/c/Risa
I believe that will work too!
Well Dani and Bear, here's the way I approach this sort of problem The notes on a concert uke are gCEa from 4th string to first. Now consider the short 15' scale and what electric guitar strings would be tuneable up to those pitches? I've never actually done this so here's a guess coming from other experiences. I'd start with a light electric set which has a .009 for the e string I believe that would tune up to A440 on 15" scale with no problem for the 1st string. The 2nd string in the set is likely a .011 and could tune to the E note of the uke's 2nd string. The 3rd string of the set could be brought up to the uke's C. Now it gets a bit tricky for the 4th string because most ukes have a higher note for the 4th than for the third but it doesn't have to be. Many players prefer low G tuning and you could use the 4th string from the electric set for that. If you want the more traditional high G you'll need another .009 or .010 to achieve that. Here's a set that should work
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GHS-BOOMERS-009-Roundwound-Electric-Guitar-...
Found these now too so the day may be saved but it depends on the shipping costs with our useless Sterling right now lol. I may give your option a try first and see how it goes. Thanks again you wonderful fella ya!