Hello from tto, what's the state of affairs with steel-stringed solid bodies?

Hello, first post, nice to be here.

So I have owned a KonaBlaster and a RISA Eukulele. The latter was pretty good, but both are gone now. I have been playing an electric/acoustic concert uke lately, but I am now really wanting more sustain. It's time for another steel-stringed solid body.

So far I have seen the RISA LP and it looks like there is a steel-stringed eleuke version on amazon. I'd like to avoid the uke sticks and RISA solids if I can, preferring a headstock/body design, but I am hoping for a mid-priced or cheaper solution. The RISA LP is a real stretch for me pricewise and I'm guessing most steel solids cost even more.

Please advise and thanks in advance, tto

Hard to beat these for the mid-200's: http://electricuke.com/ukulele-guide.html Hmmm, was looking at the eleuke LP style when I copied and pasted the link.

Out of Sight website!

I have an idea you mean this one :


http://www.amazon.com/Eleuke-Ukulel...ie=UTF8&qid=1396601228&sr=8-1&keywords=eleuke

Could a clever fellow restring it for reentrant GCEA? That kooky tuning would confuse me to capitulation. Otherwise, yeah, looks great.

PhilUSAFRet said:

Hard to beat these for the mid-200's: http://electricuke.com/ukulele-guide.html Hmmm, was looking at the eleuke LP style when I copied and pasted the link.

Click to expand...

Yes, that's the one. There are some others on Eleuke's home page. You can absolutely change strings. Here are Risa and D'Addario's string recommendation for the tenor Risa I have:

I have a Risa tenor, here are Risa's and D'Addario's recommndations:

heavy gauge (about 20 lbs tension):
high g - .014"
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):
high g = .012
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

And D'Addario's Recommendations:

Unit Weight Scale Length Frequency Gauge Tension
(Lb/in) (in) (Hz) (in) (Lb)
.00001601 19.00 466.20 A# = PL0085 13.00
.00001794 19.00 440.00 A = PL009 12.98
.00003190 19.00 329.60 E = PL012 12.95
.00004984 19.00 261.60 C = PL015 12.75
.00009184 19.00 196.00 G = NW022 13.18
.00001999 17.00 466.20 A# = PL0095 13.00
.00002215 17.00 440.00 A = PL010 12.83
.00004037 17.00 329.60 E = PL0125 13.12
.00006402 17.00 261.60 C = PL017 13.11
.00010857 17.00 196.00 G = NW024 12.48

NO!!!
Don't do that to yourself!

Although larger in size you'd be much better off with a Soares'y Fourcaster. that can be tuned like a baritone or tenor uke.

Thanks for your help folks.

I should have mentioned that I am not a string player by background, so alternate tunings and other learned and skillfull things are out for me. Also, this is mainly for recording - I am a drummer by trade and don't gig uke. Intonation, tone and sustain are my first priorities.

QUESTION - Am I correct in thinking that nylon-stringed solids with fixed bridges are not going to give me a long sustain (without using compression or the like)?

I guess I am a bit shy of the eleuke at this point, having found a fair amount of negative reviews. CB56's vid definitely makes me leery. On my home instrument I can fix almost anything, but for uke I don't have the savvy needed.

I would really like to stick close to a tenor or even concert scale if possible, but if I have to go larger, the Soares y looks pretty great. I also admired the Eastwood Warren Ellis but it's a good bit more dough (looks like $550.) Am I correct in thinking the tenor guitars are about 23" scale length (baritone uke size)?

I'd be all over the MandoBrird if the neck wasn't so absurdly thin. That neck's only big enough for 3 strings!

QUESTION - Is there a steel-stringed version of the RISA Solid (uke stick)?

cb56 said:

Although larger in size you'd be much better off with a Soares'y Fourcaster. that can be tuned like a baritone or tenor uke/

Click to expand...

Yes Tenor guitar is usually 22-23 inch scale.
Another option would be a Konablaster, but your choice is soprano or baritone only.
http://elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=konablaster&x=9&y=8

THere is a used one in the UU classified ads
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...ter-blue-burst-for-sale&highlight=konablaster

Steel strings are the future, I say.

tinkeytoneorchestra said:

Hello, first post, nice to be here.

So I have owned a KonaBlaster and a RISA Eukulele. The latter was pretty good, but both are gone now. I have been playing an electric/acoustic concert uke lately, but I am now really wanting more sustain. It's time for another steel-stringed solid body.

So far I have seen the RISA LP and it looks like there is a steel-stringed eleuke version on amazon. I'd like to avoid the uke sticks and RISA solids if I can, preferring a headstock/body design, but I am hoping for a mid-priced or cheaper solution. The RISA LP is a real stretch for me pricewise and I'm guessing most steel solids cost even more.

Please advise and thanks in advance, tto

Click to expand...

what a shame. I have a baritone konablaster and i love it.
I find the sustain, tone and action perfect its like playing a strat.
I also find the look very unique and its nice to have a no factory hand made instrument made right in the usa and not china in a factory.

the RISA ukes are nice but their just to expensive, i see blue star as the blue collar american version of RISA.

cb56 said:

Yes Tenor guitar is usually 22-23 inch scale.
Another option would be a Konablaster, but your choice is soprano or baritone only.
http://elderly.com/search/elderly?terms=konablaster&x=9&y=8

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http://bluestarguitarcompany.com/ukuleles/1811901

thats not true bruce will make tenor scale or any custom electric uke you desire
any shape or size. and his pricing and care i think is much more worth it than risa
especially if you live in the USA.

cb56 said:

THere is a used one in the UU classified ads
http://forum.ukuleleunderground.com...ter-blue-burst-for-sale&highlight=konablaster

Click to expand...

that was mine and its no longer for sale, i was trying to raise money for a new place cos i was being evicted from my old house.
I was able to borrow the money, so its no longer for sale ( i really did not want to sell it anyone i love it, i'm glad i dont have
another uke on my regret list of being sold).