Hi Booli, the T-I CF-27 and CF-28 are wound strings with metal core. For acoustic ukes we usually use wound strings with nylon core. Will the tension of both T-I strings be too much for the uke and damage it in the long run?
I dont think we are taking the same strings - I would NEVER in a million years install metal-core strings on an acoustic uke, or any other instrument that was not intended to be strung with steel strings as per the construction/bracing/design by it's maker. I have however put 'nylon' and fluorocarbon strings on various instruments that were designed for metal-core strings, with mixed results (lower volume and needing to adjust the truss rod to compensate for lower tension).
I dont have the link handy (cant find it in bookmarks) but IIRC, the FULL set of CF128 strings (6 strings on a classical guitar @ 25.5" scale tuned EADGBE) has ~75 lbs of tension, which averages about 12.5 lbs per string. (I know it's not exact, but for the sake of a simple explanation)
With a shorter scale like on a tenor, but tuned up a 4th like standard uke tuning for the low-G and C strings, when measured with a luggage scale that I rigged to a 2x4 with a guitar tuner at the other end shows 10.8 lbs of tension for the G string (
CF-30) and 11.2 lbs of tension for the C string (
CF-27).
Right now I actually have my ukes tuned DOWN to Bb tuning, i.e., F-Bb-D-G, instead of G-C-E-A, which has a sweeter tone to my ears and more sustain, with LESS tension that I measured for standard tuning. So I do NOT think these strings will have too much tension, for if you look at ANY uke string set from D'Addario or Savarez (which are the only makers that actually PUBLISH the tension info, most individual strings on a tenor scale are betw ~10-15 lbs of tension. I am also not using ALL wound strings, on the uke it's either a wound 3rd string or wound 4th string, and only one uke has 2 wound strings for both 3rd & 4th strings.
To be clear, the ones I use as per above - these are sold as CLASSICAL GUITAR strings (nylon and metalwound-over-nylon), and I have actually seen the inner core of these (yes I sacrificed a
CF-45 and unwrapped one, and the inner core is composed of dozens of white silken strands, nylon thinner than a human hair (my digital calipers do not have measurements small enough for a singel strand - it wont register smaller than 0.01mm), that are flatwound with the outer chrome wire.
Also, since these are loop-end strings, prior to installation, I clip off the loop-end and some of the 3" long red silk outer wrap and can see the same inner white silken nylon. I then paint a dab of clear nail polish over the end, otherwise the red silk gets all frizzy, and the outer metalwrap wire tends to unwind over time.
I've got these on 4 instruments now, and there's no steel inner wire to be found, the SETS I am using are called CF127 and CF128, as you can see them here:
https://www.stringsbymail.com/class...-chrome-165/?zenid=dg1rn8fspdiiqon35v1e0pfo40
https://www.stringsbymail.com/class...ome-3rd-166/?zenid=dg1rn8fspdiiqon35v1e0pfo40
Maybe you are talking about a
different set of strings? Thomastic-Infeld has a very broad product lineup for about a dozen different instruments. (their web site is not helpful in this regard so I have not linked it)
With the inner nylon core, these are similar to all other D'Adddario, GHS, Martin, Aquila metalwound-over-nylon core ukulele strings that I have dissected/inspected, however these 'smoothwound/polished' strings sold by
others are like running your fingertips over Stucco or concrete when compared the the 'CF' chrome flatwound T-I strings I have tried, which are not quite as smooth as glass, but have very LITTLE finger noise from the fretting hand.
@equina - please confirm and report back whether or not you are talking about these same strings that I have described and linked in this thread - Thanks