Strings Using classical guitar strings for tenor uke
- Thread starter Andy Chen
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Jon Moody
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In my experience, none of the nylon tie end strings (that are used in classical or ukulele - yeah, they're the same string) have enough stiffness to sound good in a low G tuning; they get boomy and flubby sounding and overwhelm the rest of the strings.
If you can find one that's a bit more than a .043, you may be in luck.
Jon Moody
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Not one that will work on a tenor uke with any good results. Best I found was the .035 fluorocarbon we have and even then, it's borderline.
SteveZ
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The other problem is at the nut end. Since most ukes come from the maker with the nut slots set for high-G GCEA strings, the thicker unwound low-G nylon strings need to have the nut slot widened to accommodate the string's diameter to guide the string properly. Once that's done, smaller-diameter wound/unwound strings now used in the widened slot tend to slide a bit when fretted or buzz when unfretted. I've found it better to use wound low-G (or low-whatever depending on tuning) and only set the nut slot (if necessary, sometimes not) for the narrower wound string.
Jon Moody
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That's one of the reasons I bought my custom ukulele from Jerry at Boat Paddle. His nut isn't slotted, but uses a pin to allow the string to stay against. I can change strings to whatever gauge I want and never have to adjust the nut. I wish he'd allow us to get those as a retrofit to other ukuleles, as I'd put it on all of mine.
kypfer
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I'd like to try and help here, but I suddenly realised I didn't know what tuning you were using!
If it helps, I bought a Barnes & Mullins baritone ukulele a couple of weeks ago specifically for use tuned in 5ths (like a tenor guitar). The lowest note, fourth string open, is the "G" the same as the 6th string 3rd fret on a guitar. For this I used a guitar "E" (6th) string. It's fine as the scale length of the ukulele is shorter than a guitar so the string tension isn't too high. This is an 0.043" string from a cheap generic set of guitar strings.
Hope this helps
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Jon Moody
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Is the string you're using wound? Because the OP would like an unwound low G.
You don't really need that heavy of a wound string for a low G; I've used the 4th string (.029w) and 5th string (.033w-.034w) with excellent results, depending on the feel your after.
Jon Moody
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In truth, wound strings will eat into your frets. However, the reality is that for a ukulele player, that is going to be so far down the road it's not really a consideration (unlike an electric or acoustic guitar, for example). The tie end strings that are wound will have either an aluminum, phosphor bronze, or a silvered copper wrap around a nylon core. These will be a softer metal than what's used on ball end guitar strings (nickel-plated steel, stainless steel, nickel-iron, etc..). Even flatwound strings (which are usually a stainless steel ribbon wire) aren't going to affect the frets that much.
Your skin pH, how much sweat you generate and how aggressively you play are going to have bigger repercussions on your ukulele and the frets over a tie end wound string.
I agree with all that One Bad Monkey has said. And I haven't found an unwound string I like, either. Honestly I'm tired of trying. Best ones for me in feel and tone have been wound. They're the Fremont soloist squeakless low G, the La Bella polished wound (the 100 series concert/tenor uke string, not the classical guitar strings they also offer), and a mighty expensive polished wound guitar 4th string from Savarez.
For unwound strings I've heard good things about Living Waters, but haven't tried them. Afraid of further disappointment I guess.
Best ones for me in feel and tone have been wound. They're the Fremont soloist squeakless low G, the La Bella polished wound (the 100 series concert/tenor uke string, not the classical guitar strings they also offer), and a mighty expensive polished wound guitar 4th string from Savarez.For unwound strings I've heard good things about Living Waters, but haven't tried them. Afraid of further disappointment I guess.
kypfer
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ooops, sorry, missed that
... maybe some heavy-duty fishing line if you can find such. Time was thick monofilament like this was readily available, these days most people I know all use braid.Not sure I see this as a problem, certainly not any more than it would be on a guitar with the same strings, unless you have plastic frets? In the event of a metal fret wearing sufficiently for it to be a problem, surely it's only a few minutes work to replace it ... or have I missed something again? On guitars, I've seen marks on well-played wound strings where the frets have rubbed, but I don't think I've ever seen the opposite, though doubtless it happens
SteveZ
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ooops, sorry, missed that
Not sure I see this as a problem, certainly not any more than it would be on a guitar with the same strings, unless you have plastic frets? In the event of a metal fret wearing sufficiently for it to be a problem, surely it's only a few minutes work to replace it ... or have I missed something again? On guitars, I've seen marks on well-played wound strings where the frets have rubbed, but I don't think I've ever seen the opposite, though doubtless it happens
An unwound low-G for a tenor is available as a single string from Aquila (72U) @ .0385 inches. However, we're back to the "nut slot" issue if used.
As far as fret wear from a wound string, I agree that unless the frets are plastic (like on a Flea) this is a non-issue. It takes a LOT of wear to indent a decent fret to the point where refretting is necessary. Have never needed a fret job on any guitar or mandolin I had or have. A mandolin has the potential for fret wear, but that is impacted by its double strings set-up and a LOT of use. So, for all the previously mentioned reasons, can't see why a would low-G wouldn't suffice.
FWIW, all of my ukuleles except the Flea Soprano have wound low-G strings and sound/work well. On the plastic-fretted Flea are Aquila Reds including an unwound low-G which required resizing the nut and saddle slots in order to fit properly.
OP
OP
Andy Chen
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I really appreciate everyone's input.
Coming from acoustic guitar, I have seen my frets suffering grooves where the thinnest two strings (E and B) are and this was only after five years of moderate playing. So naturally I was concerned about fret wear when I switched to ukulele six months ago.
If fret wear is not a concern for long time uke players who have used wound low G strings, then I'm happy and more than reassured to use wound strings too.
Thanks!
Coming from acoustic guitar, I have seen my frets suffering grooves where the thinnest two strings (E and B) are and this was only after five years of moderate playing. So naturally I was concerned about fret wear when I switched to ukulele six months ago.
If fret wear is not a concern for long time uke players who have used wound low G strings, then I'm happy and more than reassured to use wound strings too.
Thanks!
drbekken
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If you check out Herb Ohta, Sr on youtube, you will see he uses a wound Low G (fourth string) on a soprano ukulele. That string is probably a classical guitar string. It looks weird, but it sounds wonderful.
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Why would you want to use guitar strings on a ukulele....please explain this to me....am I missing something?
Jon Moody
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Chances are you already have been, but never knew it.
Here's there the difference is. You (the player), think of strings in terms of "This is the A string for the ukulele, this is the E string for the ukulele, etc.."
Whereas I (the guy that works at a string company), think of those same strings in terms of "This is a .022 tie end, this is a .028 tie end, etc.."
Technically, there is no such thing as a "classical guitar string," or a "ukulele string." It's just a tie end string that we package for classical guitar, and may also package for ukulele, or any other instrument that utilizes tie end strings on their bridge, depending on the specific needs of that instrument.
It's the same with a loop end string. The instruments that use a loop end string are mandolin, banjo, dulcimer, and more. They use the exact same strings; it is only when they are packaged is where the delineation lies.
I agree with all that One Bad Monkey has said. And I haven't found an unwound string I like, either. Honestly I'm tired of trying.
For unwound strings I've heard good things about Living Waters, but haven't tried them. Afraid of further disappointment I guess.
I have Living Water low G strings on my Pono tenor and the combination is very nice. Currently doing the string chase for my Clara and the right set is proving elusive.
kypfer
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Everything that One Bad Monkey said, plus, if you just want a single string to replace a prematurely broken one on your ukulele, or maybe a low_G replacement, buying a single guitar string in your local music shop is likely to be a lot easier and quicker than ordering the same thing on line with a different label on the packet
This is quite an interesting thread, and having a real string specialist involved is much appreciated. So, here is my question, following on what you have said...
Is there any difference involving the pressure/pull placed on a ukulele when considering scale length that the strings were intended to be used for and what about the "rated" tension of the strings (i.e. low tension, high tension, and whatever other tensions there may be). I see classical guitar strings having this nomenclature, but do not know if strings intended for use on ukuleles have this distinction.
I have read and been told that intonation can be a problem when using classical guitar strings on a guitarlele, for example, and that the problem is better addressed by using high tension classical strings. Also, with the guitarlele, some may be able to use classical guitar strings tuned up to A-A rather than leaving them to standard guitar tuning EADGBE, while others can't (mine included). Do these types of issues likewise exist for the ukulele?
Any other comments addressing these types of issues are welcome, since these are just some obvious issues off the top of my head at the moment.
Thanks,
Tony
