I have finished construction an excel spread sheet that takes D'Addario Unit weights for their classical guitar strings and converts it into string tension for the 20.125" scale of the baritone uke. From this I have put together four string sets that could be considered low, medium low, medium and high tension string sets and tested them on my baritone ukes, a Pono Acacia Deluxe and a custom baritone with spruce top, A-frame bracing, offset side hole and side sound port. I will simply list the string sets by frequency, D'Addario string number and tension for each set and then follow up with some comments. In general I have been very pleased with the string sets that I have tried.
Low Tension set.
Frequency string number tension
e Nylo29 10.83 lbs
b Nylo38 10.43 lbs
g Nylo022w 10.47 lbs
d Nylo29w 10.54 lbs
Total Tension 42.27 lbs
My Pono loves these strings. They are rectified clear nylon and silver plated copper wound on nylon.
Medium low tension set
Frequency string number tension lbs
e Nylo31 12.37
b Nylo40 11.56
g Nylo24w 11.21
d Nylo31w 11.58
Total tension 46.72 lbs
Medium tension set
Frequency string number tension lbs
e Nylo33 14.02
b Nylo41 12.14
g Nylo26w 14.29
d J2905 13.87
Total tension 54.32 lbs.
My custom baritone rocks on these strings.
High tension set
Frequency string number tension lbs
e Nylo34 14.88
b J4403c 13.54
g Nylo28w 15.91
d Nylo33w 16.19
Total tension 60.52 lbs. If you have a high saddle be advised you will put a lot of torque on the top of the instrument with this setup.
Comments.
Every instrument has its sweet spot for total string tension based on the many variables inherent in design, construction and wood choices, etc. The classical guitar players recognize this and because it is a large market of discriminating players the string manufacturers cater to their needs with a vast array of products refined into low, normal, hard and extra hard tension string sets and a host of composites capable of modifying the nuances of tone. By comparison the baritone ukulele market is tiny and perhaps more casual. (Many uke string sets don't even tell you the string tensions!) This does not mean that we can't catch a ride on the classical market and take full advantage of the wide variety of excellent string choices to get the most out of our instruments. It is widely accepted that a set of strings that matches a mediocre instrument can make it sound pretty good, while a poorly matched set of strings can make an otherwise very good instrument sound mediocre.
Thoughts on total tension. Other than setting up the instrument to have a great action, selecting the total string tensions is the single most important thing a player can do for his instrument. (playing technique aside!!!) Tension is held in equilibrium when the instrument is at rest, and the attack on the string imparts the energy of sound production. Too much tension may cause the instrument to be brash, boomy, lack responsiveness or be difficult to control volume. Too little and the instrument may seem quiet, muddy and unresponsive. Just right, AHHH, the sky opens and the earth moves and all is right with the world.
So how much total tension?? The total tension is translated into torque or rotational force to the surface of the top by the bridge. The bridge width and saddle height control how much torque along with the total tension. If you carefully measure the saddle height from the surface of the soundboard to the bottom of the strings directly in front of your bridge it will tell something about total string tension. A setup of .5 inches would be towards the high end, a setup of .35" towards the low end.
If two instruments had these dimensions and both used 53 lb string sets the .35" instrument would have a low torque of 18.6 inch lbs (53lbs x .35 inches), while the other would have 26.5 inch lbs of torque (.5 inches x 53 lbs) This is a very substantial difference for our relatively small instruments. A target torque of perhaps 22-3 inch lbs might be a good starting point. So to find the total tension divide the 22 inch lbs of torque by your saddle height and it will give you the total string tension to start off with.
An example. My Pono has a fairly high saddle height of .490". It has a thin top and is lightly braced. It responds beautifully picking and light to medium strumming, but begins to break down with an aggressive strum. So all this told me to go with light tension. A 42 lb string set puts 20.58 inch lbs of torque on it and it sound great. To go lower puts insufficient tension on nylon strings in my humble opinion. Much below ten lbs/string and you start to get a rubber band sound.
If this thread is at all useful I have also converted the tensions for baritone uke on a whole host of specialty strings that can modify the tone. Black nylon, composite copolymer, 80/20 brass wound, coated strings. I can add to this thread if this is useful.
My apologies if I get too technical. I have done most of the math to keep it as user friendly as I can.
Happy Holidays and keep on playin' the UKES>
Low Tension set.
Frequency string number tension
e Nylo29 10.83 lbs
b Nylo38 10.43 lbs
g Nylo022w 10.47 lbs
d Nylo29w 10.54 lbs
Total Tension 42.27 lbs
My Pono loves these strings. They are rectified clear nylon and silver plated copper wound on nylon.
Medium low tension set
Frequency string number tension lbs
e Nylo31 12.37
b Nylo40 11.56
g Nylo24w 11.21
d Nylo31w 11.58
Total tension 46.72 lbs
Medium tension set
Frequency string number tension lbs
e Nylo33 14.02
b Nylo41 12.14
g Nylo26w 14.29
d J2905 13.87
Total tension 54.32 lbs.
My custom baritone rocks on these strings.
High tension set
Frequency string number tension lbs
e Nylo34 14.88
b J4403c 13.54
g Nylo28w 15.91
d Nylo33w 16.19
Total tension 60.52 lbs. If you have a high saddle be advised you will put a lot of torque on the top of the instrument with this setup.
Comments.
Every instrument has its sweet spot for total string tension based on the many variables inherent in design, construction and wood choices, etc. The classical guitar players recognize this and because it is a large market of discriminating players the string manufacturers cater to their needs with a vast array of products refined into low, normal, hard and extra hard tension string sets and a host of composites capable of modifying the nuances of tone. By comparison the baritone ukulele market is tiny and perhaps more casual. (Many uke string sets don't even tell you the string tensions!) This does not mean that we can't catch a ride on the classical market and take full advantage of the wide variety of excellent string choices to get the most out of our instruments. It is widely accepted that a set of strings that matches a mediocre instrument can make it sound pretty good, while a poorly matched set of strings can make an otherwise very good instrument sound mediocre.
Thoughts on total tension. Other than setting up the instrument to have a great action, selecting the total string tensions is the single most important thing a player can do for his instrument. (playing technique aside!!!) Tension is held in equilibrium when the instrument is at rest, and the attack on the string imparts the energy of sound production. Too much tension may cause the instrument to be brash, boomy, lack responsiveness or be difficult to control volume. Too little and the instrument may seem quiet, muddy and unresponsive. Just right, AHHH, the sky opens and the earth moves and all is right with the world.
So how much total tension?? The total tension is translated into torque or rotational force to the surface of the top by the bridge. The bridge width and saddle height control how much torque along with the total tension. If you carefully measure the saddle height from the surface of the soundboard to the bottom of the strings directly in front of your bridge it will tell something about total string tension. A setup of .5 inches would be towards the high end, a setup of .35" towards the low end.
If two instruments had these dimensions and both used 53 lb string sets the .35" instrument would have a low torque of 18.6 inch lbs (53lbs x .35 inches), while the other would have 26.5 inch lbs of torque (.5 inches x 53 lbs) This is a very substantial difference for our relatively small instruments. A target torque of perhaps 22-3 inch lbs might be a good starting point. So to find the total tension divide the 22 inch lbs of torque by your saddle height and it will give you the total string tension to start off with.
An example. My Pono has a fairly high saddle height of .490". It has a thin top and is lightly braced. It responds beautifully picking and light to medium strumming, but begins to break down with an aggressive strum. So all this told me to go with light tension. A 42 lb string set puts 20.58 inch lbs of torque on it and it sound great. To go lower puts insufficient tension on nylon strings in my humble opinion. Much below ten lbs/string and you start to get a rubber band sound.
If this thread is at all useful I have also converted the tensions for baritone uke on a whole host of specialty strings that can modify the tone. Black nylon, composite copolymer, 80/20 brass wound, coated strings. I can add to this thread if this is useful.
My apologies if I get too technical. I have done most of the math to keep it as user friendly as I can.
Happy Holidays and keep on playin' the UKES>