Gretsch G9121 Tenor Strings Dilema

Celticknits

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I have been unable to get an answer anywhere else to this question so hopefully I can get it here.

I have a Gretsch G9121 Uke.
I recently went to change the strings.
In the Gretsch specs for the uke it says to use soprano strings.
Can anybody tell me why they would say to use soprano strings as a replacement?

I am afraid of what is going to happen if I use larger Tenor strings?
I am afraid that the larger strings may produce fret buzz on my low action and also that the additional tenor string tension is going to affect the neck.

I have tried to contact Gretsch, several times, but they have not given me an answer. As a matter of fact, it was Fender Guitars that replied but they never answered my question.

I would appreciate any help you can give me as I am tired of the runaround that I have received from Gretsch/Fender.
 
Concert strings give a lower tension on a tenor uke, a softer feel to fretting, I use Living Water fluorocarbon concert strings, low G, on my tenor scale ukes, because I prefer the feel of them.

No idea why Gretsch would say to use concert strings other than for the reduced tension & feel of them.

(Edited out my reference to soprano as it may have confused.)
 
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They may use the same basic booklet for various ukuleles, or for different sizes of the same model. Or it may just be an oversight. For a tenor, use tenor strings or concert ones (concert strings for less tension as Keith said). Some soprano sets may not be long enough for your tenor.
 
I own that very same ukulele. It was my first uke so it is three years old, has had a lot of playing and many string changes. All the strings I have used were tenor strings, it came with tenor strings. It must be a miss print on the brochure, someone was not paying attention, happens when a guitar company does ukuleles. I can assure you it is designed for tenor strings, it comes with tenor strings and tenor strings will not harm it in any way shape or form.
 
I own that very same ukulele. It was my first uke so it is three years old, has had a lot of playing and many string changes. All the strings I have used were tenor strings, it came with tenor strings. It must be a miss print on the brochure, someone was not paying attention, happens when a guitar company does ukuleles. I can assure you it is designed for tenor strings, it comes with tenor strings and tenor strings will not harm it in any way shape or form.

:agree: yea - go with what Dave said above ^ and you should be just fine.

FENDER is late to the game and their foray into ukes is nothing but a cash-grab, and IIRC Fender and Gretsch are now owned by the same parent company.

Gretsch has been making ukes a LONG time it seems, but Fender should stick to their steel-string electric instruments if you axe me.
 
Thank You all for your quick input.
I forgot to mention that when I first received the uke, a few months ago, it was strung with soprano strings.
I have since been able to contact Sweetwater Music and they confirmed that this is a mystery but they are looking into it and will get back to me soon.
I will let you know what they say.
 
Thank You all for your quick input.
I forgot to mention that when I first received the uke, a few months ago, it was strung with soprano strings.
I have since been able to contact Sweetwater Music and they confirmed that this is a mystery but they are looking into it and will get back to me soon.
I will let you know what they say.

I am curious as to how you "know" it came with soprano strings. Did you measure them with a digital caliper and compare them against the same make of strings in soprano size. Or are you relying on the written material provided. I am just curious as this all seems very strange. You don't have to worry about string buzz when going to a larger gauge string, its actually the opposite effect because the tension is higher. You don't have to worry about the neck getting distorted, Gretsch has the deepest beefiest neck of any uke on the market. As an example Koaloha neck is .660", Kamaka .680", Pono .750", Gretsch .870" it's a baseball bat compared to the others

If Sweetwater has to get back to you about "can a tenor uke use tenor strings" they don't have a clue either. It is a 17" scale instrument which is tenor scale, end of story. Every tenor scale uke I have ever seen or heard of can use tenor gauge strings. Oasis sell one gauge of string to be used on Tenor, concert and soprano, I guess you could use those and not worry. I have measured them, they are the same diameter +/- .002" as every other florocarbon tenor set out there. As the string manufacture they state these strings can be used on soprano concert tenor, right on their website
 
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Ahem, I have a Gretsch (albeit a long-neck) whose neck did distort out of playability, within a relatively brief period of time. But I doubt it was because of the tenor strings, because the higher tension would have warped the neck in the opposite direction (deepening rather than removing the "relief").

Scary. The lack of truss rods in most ukes has always worried me a little.
 
I am curious as to how you "know" it came with soprano strings. Did you measure them with a digital caliper and compare them against the same make of strings in soprano size. Or are you relying on the written material provided. I am just curious as this all seems very strange. You don't have to worry about string buzz when going to a larger gauge string, its actually the opposite effect because the tension is higher. You don't have to worry about the neck getting distorted, Gretsch has the deepest beefiest neck of any uke on the market. As an example Koaloha neck is .660", Kamaka .680", Pono .750", Gretsch .870" it's a baseball bat compared to the others

If Sweetwater has to get back to you about "can a tenor uke use tenor strings" they don't have a clue either. It is a 17" scale instrument which is tenor scale, end of story. Every tenor scale uke I have ever seen or heard of can use tenor gauge strings. Oasis sell one gauge of string to be used on Tenor, concert and soprano, I guess you could use those and not worry. I have measured them, they are the same diameter +/- .002" as every other florocarbon tenor set out there. As the string manufacture they state these strings can be used on soprano concert tenor, right on their website


I discussed this with my uke group, earlier this week, that I attend, and they agreed that the strings I was replacing were not tenor strings.
I measured the strings with a micrometer and that is what finally confirmed my suspicions and started my 'quest' for an answer to this issue.

Sam Ash also sells this uke and confirmed that the specs they have for it are also indicating soprano string replacements.
 
I discussed this with my uke group, earlier this week, that I attend, and they agreed that the strings I was replacing were not tenor strings.
I measured the strings with a micrometer and that is what finally confirmed my suspicions and started my 'quest' for an answer to this issue.

Sam Ash also sells this uke and confirmed that the specs they have for it are also indicating soprano string replacements.

Thanks for the update.......very strange indeed. Are they Aquila strings, I know that is what they use to come with stock. I have Martin M620 florocarbons on mine right now. I've had Oasis and Worth CT (my favorite, though Aquilas did sound good). Best of luck with your search.
 
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Thanks for the update.......very strange indeed. Are they Aquila strings, I know that is what they use to come with stock. I have Martin M620 florocarbons on mine right now. I've had Oasis and Worth CT (my favorite, though Aquilas did sound good). Best of luck with your search.

The specs say they are Aquila but who knows.
The strings I have been using are D'Addario Nyltech. The Aquila Nylgut strings are impossible to find in the rural area I live in and I am not going to pay $5 for shipping Ha. Ha.
Not sure what the difference is between the Nyltech and Nylgut. Maybe just the name that D'Addario is using. They are supposed to be manufactured in conjuction with Aquila.

Thank you for the additional string brand information you are using.
 
Well here is a copy of the email that I just received from Fender/Gretsch.
The explanation still does not explain why there were soprano strings on the uke when I first bought it new.
Oh well live and learn.
i still have not heard back from Sweetwater but I am beyond caring about this anymore.
I will try the Tenor strings as suggested and see what happens.
If the uke is affected by this I will take it up directly with them now that i have something in writing. HA..Ha..

-----------email reply from Fender----------------

Hi David,
I just checked with our Gretsch specialist. Anything that says Soprano strings are recommended is incorrect, I will try to get that corrected. Tenor strings are what's on there.

Nathan Jones
The Voice of Fender
Consumer Relations Representative/Direct
Sales Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
17600 N. Perimeter Dr., Ste-100 Scottsdale, AZ
85255 (480) 845-5133
 
I remembered a thread a couple of years ago about some of their models having some issues. I wonder if that has anything to do with it. The soprano strings would be a lot easier on the instrument.
Here is that older thread from here:
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com/showthread.php?106103-Tilting-bridge-on-Gretsch-G9100-L

Thank you for the link.
Very interesting information in there.
I will have to find my inspection mirror and check mine out to see whats in there.
 
Thank you for the link.
Very interesting information in there.
I will have to find my inspection mirror and check mine out to see whats in there.
No problem. I'm glad you heard back from the manufacturer.
 
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