Steel String guages for 17" uke

Hi folks,

I built a 17" scaled resonator uke but it keeps breaking nylon strings, and they don't stay in tune well.

I was wondering if anyone could recommend what gauge of strings to run if I were to string it with steel/bronze acoustic guitar strings rather than nylon uke strings.

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

Join Cigar Box Nation

Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Hi, if it's the one on your page that you have used a bolt as the bridge then that could be the problem. In my experience nylon/flourocarbon and steel are not a brilliant combination! As the strings are constantly stretching and moving for the first couple of weeks they will be scraping over the steel, any small imperfection in these strings is soon exaggerated with playing. If you do decide to go for steel strings it should be ok, though using small gauge strings they will probably break quicker than you would usually expect. Don't forget that their is a lot of extra tension from steel strings so make sure your neck is really on there! 

    Really nice looking build though!

  • You may have a burr, or sharp edge, somewhere (especially if it breaks in the same place.) 'Martin' classical, is florocarbon. won't stretch near as much. stays tuned better. Steel, is a higher tension, check to be sure top bracing handles it. There is also 'Argentine' style ('silk & steel) at a bit less tension. At 17" I have gotten a .008 to tune an octave above high 'E' on guitar. For a nylon set a 20 pound test fishing line is the next string higher than the 1st or (high 'E') at standard guitar length. If it's breaking at the peg, see 'string installation' on youtube. I'm sure you 'know how' (from doing it before) but looking thru several other methods, helped my 'save' strings, on the 'weirdo' instruments that aren't like 'sensable' people use...lol

  • Ahhh, here we go.  Found it on Ukulele Underground.  Info as recommended by RISA for a tenor scale electric:

    I have a "kidney bean" Tenor, and a while back, I contacted Risa and they sent ma a wonderful chart on what diameter strings to use for the various tunings that would work on the instrument. I'm wondering if it would work for you?  I just posted it on another Risa "Bean" uke about which strings. Since they are both tenors, don't see why this chart wouldn't work.  Contact Rigk to see if this chart also applies to the LP.

    I would recommend for a

    heavy gauge (about 20 lbs tension):
    low-G = 0.030" wound
    C = 0.023" wound or 0.020" plain
    E = 0.016" plain
    A = 0.012" plain

    light gauge (about 15 lbs tension):
    low-G = 0.026" wound
    C = 0.017" plain
    E = 0.014" plain
    A = 0.010" plain

    A 0.018" for C is is okay. You can buy a standard electric guitar string
    set 0.010" and take the first four strings of this set.

    With kind regards
    RISA Musical Instruments
    Rigk Sauer

  • I have a Risa tenor semi-hollowbodied electric uke.  I think I posted my string sizes here for someone.  The stats are on my old hard drive.  I'll try and find the string gauges. 

  • Yeah, if the nylon strings are breaking I don't see that changing to steel will help. You're using tenor uke strings? If so then the only reason I can see they'd be breaking is if there's some sharp edge cutting into them.

    It's about 18 or 19 inches on a guitar from the fifth fret to the bridge, vs. 17 inches from nut to bridge on a tenor uke, so using guitar strings you'd have to run them at about 10% higher tension than on a guitar. I wouldn't expect that to be a problem IF there isn't an edge causing the breakage... but I'd guess there is.

  • Hi Greg,
    I have built many CB Ukes and have never had any problems breaking strings. I have used regular nylon/monofilament types but now I always use Aquila "Nylgut" strings. It takes probably a month or so before the strings stabilize and are done stretching but once they are stretched they stay in tune very well.

    I wonder if there is a sharp edge on your Uke (bridge or nut) that could be causing them to break? Do they always break in the same place? Maybe there is a clue? I haven't used steel/bronze on a tenor Uke but I have on a Baritone Uke, these were also Aquila brand Baritone Ukulele strings.

    Good luck!
    • Agree with you Greg on the Aquila strings. I use nothing else now. My first ukulele I bought came with them and still has the original string set on. That's been used consistently for 3 years now and they are still going strong. You can leave it for a few days and when you come back it's still perfectly in tune. As you say just takes a while to stretch 'em out.

This reply was deleted.